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TOP PAC continues to move the needle of progressive political power in Texas, fighting off right-wing hate and disinformation

March 6, 2024

The following statement is from Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of Texas Organizing Project (TOP), reflecting on TOP PAC’s efforts in the 2024 Texas Democratic Primary:

“TOP PAC launched an intensive candidate screening process at the end of 2023 with the goal of endorsing primary candidates who are unwavering in their commitment to enshrining our rights, protecting our freedoms, and fighting far-right MAGA extremism ― all while transforming our state into a place where Black and Latino Texans can thrive. The result was a slate of 13 endorsed leaders ready to champion progressive policies that will benefit ALL communities across our state.

“These past four weeks, TOP PAC’s get-out-the-vote campaign knocked on 128,567 doors in Bexar, Dallas, and Harris counties, informing working Texans not only about our endorsed candidates, but about issues that affect their daily lives ― ranging from housing and healthcare, to immigration reform, legal system reform, and public education. A coalition consisting of TOP PAC, Working Families Party, Working People’s PAC (Gulf Coast AFL-CIO), Unemployed Workers United, and Texas Justice & Public Safety PAC collectively knocked on more than 160,000 doors in Harris County over the course of the primary.

“TOP PAC’s comprehensive voter engagement work is critical in connecting everyday issues to the ballot box and, ultimately, the officeholders who we elect and work to hold accountable. We saw this in real-time Tuesday, as TOP PAC’s GOTV program helped unseat Harris County DA Kim Ogg, an incumbent who strayed from implementing reforms, and who was using her elected office to launch political attacks on county officials.

“This on-the-ground consistent voter engagement work is such an important part of our mission to create a true Texas that reflects our values and uplifts each and every person ― regardless of age, race, gender, income, or faith.

Dr. Doshie Piper, TOP Board President, added:

“We understand that there is no way to establish progressive power in our state — to actually create a Texas that works for everyone — without meaningful and consistent voter engagement in Black and Latino neighborhoods.

“Each and every election cycle, TOP PAC works to expand and strengthen the progressive infrastructure in our communities, which allows us to connect with these voters and mobilize them around issues that matter deeply to them. This is how we change the political landscape in our state and put more power into the hands of Black and Latino Texans. This is how we win the change all Texans deserve.”

TOP PAC congratulates the following endorsed candidates in advancing or winning their Democratic primary races:

Harris County

Sean Teare for Harris County District Attorney (Win)
Christian Menefee for Harris County Attorney (Win)
Sheila Jackson Lee for Congress, TX-18 (Win)
Molly Cook for Texas Senate, Dist. 15 (Runoff)
Lauren Ashley Simmons for Texas State Representative, Dist. 146 (Runoff)

Bexar County

Kristian Carranza for Texas State Representative, Dist. 118 (Win)
Rebeca Clay-Flores for Bexar County Commissioner, Pct. 1 (Runoff)

Dallas County

Cassandra Hernandez for Texas State Representative, Dist. 115 (Win)

Travis County

José Garza for Travis County District Attorney (Win)

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About Texas Organizing Project (TOP) PAC:
TOP PAC runs the largest, independent get-out-the-vote political field programs in Texas, focusing on expanding the electorate of color, with an emphasis on turning out Black and Latino voters. To date, TOP PAC has mobilized hundreds of thousands of voters across the state with the aim of building a reflective democracy — one that looks like us and shares our values. Learn more at toppac.org.

This press release was sent out March 6, 2024.

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TOP PAC Powers Harris County DA Candidate Sean Teare to Victory in Democratic Primary

March 5, 2024

The following statement is from Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of Texas Organizing Project (TOP), in response to TOP PAC’s efforts to help Sean Teare defeat incumbent Harris County DA Kim Ogg in the 2024 Texas Democratic Primary:

“Tonight, Sean Teare’s win in the Democratic primary for Harris County District Attorney is a huge victory, and a significant milestone in our ongoing mission to reimagine our legal system, one district attorney at a time. Teare’s win also underscores that progressive legal reform policies are popular, and respect the dignity and advance the prosperity of all Harris County residents – regardless of race, class, or gender, or ZIP Code. Through our comprehensive get-out-the-vote (GOTV) program, TOP knocked on more than 94,000 doors across Harris County, informing voters of Sean Teare and the impacts that this electoral race has on everyday working families.”

Brown continued, “TOP’s overall commitment to electing reform-minded district attorneys is driven by an understanding of the pivotal role they play in our legal system — from making charging decisions to setting bail recommendations, and from prosecuting cases to recommending sentences. The power district attorneys hold can either perpetuate a cycle of incarceration, or pivot toward a more restorative, equitable legal framework that truly serves the community.”

Laquita Garcia, TOP’s Right2Justice Policy Coordinator, echoed TOP’s strategy and the importance of accountability post-election:

“With Sean Teare’s advancing, TOP has once again proved the thesis of our two-pronged strategy to transform Texas: mobilizing people power and wielding political power. By focusing our large-scale get-out-the-vote programs on increasing the participation of Black and Latino voters, we’re not just electing individuals; we’re ensuring that the voices of those most affected by the legal system are heard loud and clear.”

Garcia continued “Our work, however, doesn’t stop here. The real work begins the day after the election in November. We remain steadfast in our commitment to holding elected DAs accountable, ensuring that they stay true to their promises of reform and justice for all communities. This victory is a step forward in our broader mission to dismantle systemic barriers and forge a path toward a more just and equitable society.”

TOP will continue to fight for equitable justice reforms that prioritize the safety and dignity of all residents, demonstrating the power of community-led advocacy in shaping a more inclusive and just society.

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About Texas Organizing Project (TOP) PAC:

TOP PAC runs the largest, independent get-out-the-vote political field programs in Texas, focusing on expanding the electorate of color, with an emphasis on turning out Black and Latino voters. To date, TOP PAC has mobilized hundreds of thousands of voters across the state with the aim of building a reflective democracy — one that looks like us and shares our values. Learn more at toppac.org.

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Paxton Impeachment Trial: TOP Condemns Cowardly Acquittal

September 16, 2023

A Failure of Democracy, Far-Right Extremism is Emboldened, & A Win For Voter Suppression

Today’s sham acquittal of Ken Paxton is an affront to the rule of law and a betrayal of every democratic principle we hold dear. Paxton has proven himself unfit for office, throughout his tenure he used his role to service wealthy donors and a far-right extremist agenda. A Trump and MAGA acolyte, who participated at the January 6th rally ahead of the insurrection at the Capitol and wasted at least $45,000 of taxpayer dollars trying to overturn the 2020 election, Paxton is still also under indictment for securities fraud which has been an ongoing investigation since 2015.

The following is a joint statement from Texas Organizing Project (TOP) Co-Executive Directors Brianna Brown and Michelle Tremillo, on Paxton not being convicted on any of the 16 articles of impeachment:

Michelle Tremillo stated, “From Trump, to Clarence Thomas, and now Paxton, we are witnessing a grand display of the normalization of corruption and far-right extremism. This must stop.”

Brianna Brown added, “Paxton isn’t just a singular corrupt individual; he’s part of a larger corrupt ecosystem that has compromised healthcare for millions, endangered the basic rights of millions, and eroded the very foundations of democracy. We’re sick of Texas being the GOP’s lab for anti-democratic policies while their party leaders erase decades of progress.”

With this trial outcome, TOP calls on the Texas State Bar to revoke Ken Paxton’s license to practice law. While the Attorney General of Texas does not need to be a licensed attorney, the revocation of his license would force Paxton to delegate critical responsibilities, further highlighting his unfitness for office.

Additionally, because of this acquittal verdict, we’re forced to place our hope in federal institutions to do what our state elected officials lacked the courage to do in rooting out political corruption. The FBI’s ongoing investigation into Paxton is a small beacon of hope that justice may yet prevail.

This acquittal is also a wake-up call. TOP will continue to do what we do best: organize and mobilize Black and Latino communities across Texas. Come November 2026, we’ll defeat Paxton at the ballot box, if he isn’t already found guilty in his securities fraud trial, of course. We demand better, and we will continue the fight to elect officials who represent the democratic principles and human decency that Texas and the U.S. deserve.

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About Texas Organizing Project

Texas Organizing Project (TOP) organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris, Bexar, and Fort Bend counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.

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TOP Calls For Paxton Accountability As Impeachment Trial Set To Begin

September 4, 2023

Former Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has proven himself unfit for leadership time and time again. During his tenure, Paxton abused the power of this office, using his role to service wealthy donors and a far-right agenda. A Trump and MAGA acolyte, who participated at the January 6th rally ahead of the insurrection at the Capitol, he has also been under indictment for securities fraud since 2015. The following is a joint statement from Texas Organizing Project (TOP) Co-Executive Directors, Brianna Brown and Michelle Tremillo, on the start of Paxton’s impeachment trial:

Brianna Brown, TOP Co-Executive Director, said, “Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial is not just a reckoning for one man’s corruption; it’s a referendum on an Attorney General who has consistently made life harder for many Texans, particularly Black and Latino communities. From voter suppression to leading the effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, his record is a laundry list of policies that harm the most vulnerable Texans. And let’s not forget Paxton’s audacious attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, another glaring example of his willingness to undermine democracy for political gain. Paxton’s behavior is a betrayal of Texans’ trust and an affront to the principles of justice and fairness that should guide any Attorney General.”

Michelle Tremillo, TOP Co-Executive Director, emphasized, “Unlike Paxton, Texas deserves an Attorney General who actively champions voter engagement and defends democracy. Our communities want an Attorney General who fights voter suppression under the Americans with Disabilities Act and protects constitutional rights by scrutinizing counties that criminalize voting. It’s time for an Attorney General who serves the interests of all Texans and expands access to the ballot box.”

The Paxton impeachment trial is an essential step in restoring Texans’ faith in democratic institutions and ensuring that future elected officials know that if they exploit their powerful positions for personal gain, there will be consequences.

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About Texas Organizing Project

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Battling voter suppression every inch of the way

April 8, 2021

Fueled by lies, paranoia, and racism, Texas Republicans are laser-focused this legislative session on making it harder for Black, Latino, and younger voters to cast their ballot.

Senate Bill (SB) 7, a Texas bill cut from the same cloth as the voter suppression law just passed in Georgia, made its way out of the Texas Senate last week, meaning it’s a dangerous step closer to becoming law. HB 6, a similar voter suppression bill in the Texas House, currently sits pending in committee.

Large Texas-based companies American Airlines and Dell voiced their opposition to these voter suppression bills in the last few days, and more are following suit. We need to urge our state representatives to say NO to Jim and Jane Crow 2.0.

TAKE ACTION: Click here to call your representative to demand they oppose SB 7 and HB 6.

WATCH today’s press conference featuring TOP, progressive statewide allies, as well as Black Voters Matter, Beto O’Rourke and Julián Castro in response to these racist voter suppression efforts.

For more information, call or text Devin Branch at (832) 705-2291.

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We’re endorsing Biden and Harris

October 5, 2020

We’re proud to announce the endorsed candidates TOP and TOP PAC will be pushing to the 1.6 million voters of color we are engaging this cycle, the new voices of Texas who will make the difference in flipping the state. TOP members screened more than 40 candidates this year, including during the primaries, in six counties across Texas. The endorsements were earned by candidates who have shown a commitment to centering the concerns and issues of Black and Latino communities, and who will fight with us to deliver policy changes that will improve our lives.

In this political moment, when our communities are hurting and putting their lives on the line because they’re frontline workers and are on the streets fighting for justice, our leaders felt the need to lean in on the issues that matter. Our leaders fully understand the challenges of passing more progressive legislation and want to stand behind elected leaders who will share our values on key issues and commit to figuring out how they use their office to move us closer to systemic policy shifts. We are ready to fight to elect the candidates who will fight with us. Then, once they’re elected, we’ll keep pushing them to deliver.

For 10 years, TOP has worked to grow the electorate in Texas by engaging Black and Latino voters with little or no history in voting. And for the first time in decades, Texas is a battleground state. Already, our program has sent more than one million texts and called more than 900,000 voters. We’re not just trying to win an election; we’re building a movement. This is how we’re building our power. This is how we’re going to change Texas to work for us.

View a list of our endorsed candidates here.

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Energize and mobilize Texas voters with TOP

Early voting in Texas starts next Tuesday, October 13. We need your help contacting voters across the state to remind them of the high stakes of November’s election and help them cast their ballot. Our mission in 2020 is to further push our state toward a progressive future that will shift power into the hands of Black and Latino Texans. With your help, we can get one step closer to accomplishing this.

Join us for texting training sessions this Tuesday at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. In these trainings, we will show you how to use an app to turn out your friends and families to the polls.

Text or call Tempestt McHenry at 214-704-8114 or tmchenry@organizetexas.org to get the Zoom link to these trainings.

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Let’s Talk About Voting

September 22, 2020

In the most consequential election of our lives, we have to do everything we can to make sure everyone who can vote does vote. And a big part of that is getting people excited and informed. TOP is taking part of several online discussions to connect voters of color, talk about the issues we care about and talk about what it will take to win in November.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, our executive director, Michelle Tremillo, will join Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sec. Julián Castro for a town hall with Univision titled Destino 2020: Votar es Poder (Destiny 2020: Voting is Power) on the importance of the Latino vote. Catch the livestream at 6 p.m. at live.berniesanders.com.

On Wednesday, our deputy director, Brianna Brown, will join activists, organizers and lawyers from around the country to talk about the work being done right now to grow the electorate and secure our democracy. Join us at 8 p.m. on Facebook for the Rise Up for Justice: Voter Suppression and the Right to Vote panel hosted by Black Voters Matters and the Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley. Share the Facebook event here. Spanish translation will be provided.

Last week, Crystal Zermeño, TOP’s director of electoral strategy, joined a panel on the Texas Tribune Festival to discuss TOP’s efforts to grow the Latino electorate. This year, TOP will connect with and engage more than 800,000 Latino voters who have rarely or never voted across five counties in Texas. Joining Crystal on the panel was Voto Latino President and CEO Maria Teresa Kumar. Watch the panel here.

Election Day is nearing. Make sure you are registered to vote here, and once you are registered to vote, sign up here to get important updates and reminders to help you cast your vote.

If you have any questions about voting or want to volunteer to help others vote, call or text Tempestt McHenry at 214-704-8114.

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Get the vote out with TOP

September 8, 2020

It’s crunch time! Texas is a battleground state, and our aim in 2020 is to further push our state toward a progressive future that will shift power into the hands of Black and Latino Texans.

The 2020 election is a critical opportunity to engage our state’s rising electorate and to elect progressive champions who will fight for the issues we care about.

If you want to help us turn out voters of color by texting and calling voters, contact Tempestt McHenry at 214-704-8114.

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