A Guide to Help North Texas Democrats Participate & Enjoy the Process on March 4th
From the Texas Values in Action Coalition

We have a unique opportunity this year in Texas. For the first time in recent history, our Texas voices will make a difference in the selection of the Democratic Presidential candidate.

Under the Texas system, each voter in a precinct can be significant to a candidate’s delegate strength.

On paper, if you read all the delegate selection rules, it may sound complicated, but in person – it’s rather easy and there will be people and forms to guide you at every step in the process.

There are two steps in the process. In Texas, we select delegates to the Democratic Convention by both a primary and a caucus.

Texas has been allocated 228 delegates to the Democratic National Convention (to be held in Denver in August.)
126 (55.3%) of those delegates are chosen via the primary vote on March 4th.
67 (29.4%) delegates are chosen through the caucus system.
35 (15.3%) of the Texas Delegates are so-called “Super Delegates” who are chosen because of their office or status.

Please click "Read More" to continue this Guide.

See the post below for the listing of offices on the ballots in North Texas.

See the post below that for links which can provide you with further information.

Note: All content in these 3 posts is for Informational Purposes Only. The Texas Values in Action Coalition does not endorse candidates in Federal races.

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Your Ballot Will Have More than Just the Presidential Candidates on It.
From the Texas Values in Action Coalition

A Further Note about Voting:

Your ballot will have more than just the candidates for President on it.

There are important contested Democratic primary races Statewide and in North Texas. Please read about the candidates beforehand and vote in all the races on the ballot. The links to the League of Women Voters “Voters Guides” will be in the next post and they are a great place to get good information about candidates and their views on the issues.

These are the contested races that should appear on your ballot in North Texas:

Statewide:

- President
- U.S. Senator

- Railroad Commissioner
- Texas Supreme Court, Place 7
- Texas Supreme Court, Place 8

Dallas County Only (County-wide race unless indicated)

- Sheriff
- County Tax Assessor-Collector
- Criminal District Judge, Court No. 2
- Criminal District Judge, Court No. 3
- Criminal District Judge, Court No. 4
- District Judge, 14th Judicial District
- US Congress - District 32 (Mostly Central and Northern Dallas County)
- State House District 104 (1 District out of 15 in Dallas County)
- State House District 105 (1 District out of 15 in Dallas County)
- Constable, Precinct 5 (1 Precinct in Dallas County)

Tarrant County Only

- County Commissioner - Precinct 1 (1 Precinct in Tarrant County)
- Constable - Precinct 8 (1 Precinct in Tarrant County)
- Democratic County Chair (Countywide race)

In Portions of the North Texas Region:

- US Congress District 3 (Parts of Collin and Dallas Counties)
- US Congress District 4 (Parts of Collin County and all of Rockwall County and more)
- US Congress District 6 (Parts of Tarrant and all of Ellis County and more)

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For More Information about the Primary & Precinct Conventions
The Texas Values in Action Coalition Suggests:

For Further Information on Delegate Selection, see:

How to Be a (Texas) Delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention (a 4 page brochure)

The Texas Delegate Selection Plan for 2008 (37 pages)

The Texas Democratic Party Rules for Conventions

For Further Information on Party Organization, District/County Conventions, Precinct Chairs and More


Collin County Democratic Party


Dallas County Democratic Party


Denton County Democratic Party


Tarrant County Democratic Party


For Further Information on Candidates:

The League of Women Voters: Voters Guides:

State Guide

Local Guides:

Dallas or Tarrant County or Collin County or Denton County

General Information:

National League or Texas State League

For sample ballots, polling locations, precinct information, and voter registration information:


Dallas County Elections

Tarrant County Elections

Collin County Elections

Denton County Elections

For Information on Resolutions, see:

A Guide to Resolutions

The Texas Democratic Party Platform

Links to Other Organizations with Useful Information for North Texas Democratic Voters:

Mid-Cities Democrats

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Standing up for Texas Values

The Texas Values in Action Coalition (TEXVAC) was founded by North Texans to have an honest impact on local and state government. We are supported by individuals in North Texas who believe in government accountability. TEXVAC believes that from the schoolhouse to the courthouse to the statehouse the Republican leadership has failed us.

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GOP allies primed for his defense
By Susan Crabtree - The HILL

A Texas grand jury’s decision to indict former Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) may have caught many people in Washington off-guard, but those in DeLay’s inner circle had spent the past few days bracing themselves for the worst and were ready for the political firestorm when it hit

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Prosecutor Takes Attacks in Stride, Mostly
By RALPH BLUMENTHAL - New York Times

HOUSTON, Sept. 28 - Being vilified as a "rogue district attorney," a "fanatic" and "an unabashed partisan zealot," among other epithets, was not the worst part of his day, said Ronnie Earle, hours after announcing the indictment of Representative Tom DeLay and two associates.

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Another Bush? No way

Re: "Fair shake – Lawmakers can't ignore Social Security problems; a generation's future hangs in the balance," by George P. Bush, July 1 Viewpoints. So President Bush's nephew has started his first campaign for elected office here in Texas – just an opinion piece written by George P. or, more likely, the Bush family handlers. George P., who has no discernable expertise on Social Security, nonetheless had his piece published. Why? Because he's the president's nephew. Certainly that makes his opinion worth something, right? Wrong. The last thing Texas needs is another Bush in office. Ed Ishmael, Dallas

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TEXVAC Under Attack by DeLay and GOP Front Group

Dallas, TX – Over this Fourth of July weekend, the Free Enterprise Fund, another Washington DC based DeLay front group, has announced it will air a national television ad attacking democracy. This time, they’re specifically attacking Travis County DA Ronnie Earle and the Texas Values in Action Coalition (TEXVAC). While most of us in the county are celebrating our independence, our country’s freedoms and honoring our troops in harms way, DeLay followers are attacking a group of local North Texans who have come together to have a voice in their state government.

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Mayfield Should Explain Role In Jail Crisis
TEXVAC Raises over $100,000 at first fundraiser

(Dallas)--Today the Texas Values in Action Coalition called on Dallas County Commissioner Ken Mayfield to explain his own role in the jail crisis that has plagued Dallas County and his record of failing to address jail issues in a timely way. “It is outrageous that Ken Mayfield would try to blame the problems in the Sheriff’s Department on Lupe Valdez, who has only been in office six months,” said Russell Langley, TEXVAC Co-Founder. “Mayfield is worried about his own re-election next year and is trying to find someone to scapegoat for his failed leadership on the Commissioners Court.”

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Speaker Jim Wright Challenges Dems With Rousing Address
by edward3615 as seen on Daily KOS Mon Jun 20th, 2005 at 07:36:27 PDT

by edward3615 as seen on Daily KOS Mon Jun 20th, 2005 at 07:36:27 PDT The event was billed as "Legends and Rising Stars," and after making his way cautiously to the podium, while the over-flowing crowd gave him his first standing ovation, the 83 year-old former Speaker of the US House looked out over the crowd through those signature shaggy eye-brows and said, "In case you were wondering, I am one of the legends." The over-flowing crowed roared.

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TEXVAC - New North Texas Democratic PAC - Rolls Out in Dallas
TEXVAC Raises over $100,000 at first fundraiser

NEW NORTH TEXAS DEMOCRATIC PAC- ROLLS OUT IN DALLAS; TEXVAC Raises over $100,000 at first fundraiser: The Texas Values in Action Coalition (TEXVAC) raised over $100,000 at its kick-off fundraiser last Thursday in Dallas. The event, which featured guest speaker Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, far exceeded the original fundraising goals set out by TEXVAC’s co-founders. "The outpouring of support is proof that people in North Texas are fed up with politics as usual and ready for change," said Ed Ishmael, TEXVAC co-founder. "TEXVAC will work to hold North Texas officials accountable when they vote against the interests of our community and fail to put the people’s interest first - which is the end product of corrupt leadership in Austin." he added. TEXVAC is a Democratic North Texas state PAC co-founded by Dallas civic leaders, Ed Ishmael, Tom Solender and Russell Langley. Its mission is dedicated to returning fair-minded, honest and progressive officeholders to all levels of Texas government. "We will work hard to take back Texas for everyday Texans," said Tom Solender, TEXVAC co-founder.

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