What do Texas donors really want before they invest—and what will it take to fund a winning path for Democrats in Texas?

In this episode of Mission: Texas, hosts Kate and Alex talk with leading Texas Democratic fundraisers Claire Dewar and Howard Klion about the donor mindset and the infrastructure needed to win long-term.

In this episode:

• What Texas donors want to see before they give
• Why “big shiny” statewide races aren’t enough
• The demand for results, ROI, and accountability
• Building real infrastructure: precinct chairs, county parties, and year-round organizing
• Why candidates can’t keep “building the plane while flying it”
• Where time and money make the biggest impact

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On this episode of Mission: Texas, Kate and Alex sit down with Chris and Kathleen from Progress Texas—a 15-year-old progressive media organization (and podcast network) built to fight disinformation, keep attention on the long game, and help Texans stay engaged before, during, and after campaigns. 

And we even play “Obsessed,” a game from our friends at "Pod Bless Texas," for a little holiday fun.

In this episode, we also talk about:

• What Progress Texas is (and why “campaigns come and go”)
• The Daily Dispatch: a 7–10 minute weekday show designed for real life (aka “one shower long”)
• Why digital video is exploding for them—and why most views come from non-followers
• The difference between being good at messaging vs. investing in messaging
• How to be a political communicator without turning into a boring lecture
• Whether Democrats are disadvantaged by truth/accuracy—and how to make facts compelling
• Why talking to your neighbors still matters as much as TikTok
• Texas as a voter-suppressed state, and why “state-of-the-art circa 1980” voter registration hurts turnout
• A practical challenge: be loud, be human, commit the “faux pas” of talking politics

Follow Mission: Texas on all socials: @MissionTexasPodcast

Support and follow Progress Texas: ProgressTexas.org (and search “Progress Texas” on your podcast app)

Richardson Area Democrats (RAD) invited Mission: Texas to moderate a special panel of Democratic veterans and military civilians running for office across North Texas for an urgent, in-depth conversation about Venezuela, war powers, and the future of American democracy.

Former service members and current candidates from Congress to the Texas House and Senate break down what’s happening, what it means for U.S. foreign policy, why congressional authorization matters, and how unchecked executive power puts service members, families, and global stability at risk — and what voters can do right now to change the trajectory. 

In this episode, we cover:

• What led to U.S. military action in Venezuela and why it matters
• Why Congress has a constitutional role in declaring war
• How modern foreign policy decisions affect everyday Americans
• The real risks to service members and their families
• What’s at stake for global stability, democracy, and the 2026 midterms
• How voters can take action locally to protect democratic norms

We were joined by: 

Kevin Burge - CD 24

Keenen Colbert - TX SD2

Milah Flores - CD17

Zach Herbert - TX HD112

Evan Hunt - CD3

Ernest Lineberger - CD26

William Marks - CD25

Nathan Smith - Tarrant County District Clerk 

🎧 New episodes every week.
👉 Follow @MissionTexasPodcast for Texas politics you won’t hear anywhere else.

As Texas heads into a pivotal election year, Kate and Alex kick off the new year with a special recap and resolutions episode inspired by The West Wing. From precinct chairs and working-class messaging to gun safety, faith, and grassroots turnout, this episode breaks down what Texas Democrats must do to actually win. 

Channeling Sam, Toby, CJ, Josh, and President Bartlet, the hosts revisit their first twelve episodes and lay out concrete resolutions for flipping Texas.

We also spark a little friendly Texas rivalry by revealing which major cities are actually showing up on the ground — and which ones need to step it up — based on the percentage of precinct chairs filled in each area. 

In true West Wing fashion, this episode is both a roadmap and a rallying cry — a reminder that “what’s next” isn’t waiting on a blue wave. It’s built by people who decide to stand up, get organized, and do the work.

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A Giffords leader, Army combat veteran, Texas gun owner, and Democrat Steven Kling joins Mission Texas to dismantle one of the biggest political myths in Texas — that being a Democrat is somehow in conflict with being a gun owner. Steve Kling of Giffords Gun Owners for Safety explains why common-sense gun safety laws protect the Second Amendment, preserve public trust in responsible gun ownership, and keep Texas communities safe. 

As Texans head into the new year, this is a must-hear conversation about public safety, responsibility, and what it really takes to build a winning majority in Texas.

In this episode, we also talk about:

• What Giffords Gun Owners for Safety is and how it differs from the NRA
• What Texans really support on gun safety, including background checks and red-flag laws
• Dangerous gun bills quietly moving through the Texas Legislature
• Why schools and communities are being put at risk by current gun proposals

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Learn more: giffords.org/stats 

In this episode of Mission: Texas, we talk with State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, a Democratic candidate for Texas Lieutenant Governor, about why this office holds outsized power in Texas politics and how that power impacts everyday Texans. 

We also discuss Dan Patrick's leadership (or lack thereof) and how the past Democratic candidate, Mike Collier, is now running as an "independent." (right...)  We also discuss: 

• Why centralized power in the Texas Senate blocks bipartisan solutions
• Public education as the foundation for Texas’ future
• Healthcare, affordability, housing, and water as core kitchen-table issues
• What it takes to flip Texas long-term through grassroots organizing and party infrastructure

Note: This conversation was recorded before the filing deadline for candidates. Since recording, additional candidates have filed to run for Texas Lieutenant Governor.

Follow us on social media: @missiontexaspodcast and @goodwin4texas. 

Subscribe, share this episode, and leave a review to help more Texans find the show!

Kate and Alex sit down with Congresswoman Julie Johnson on Texas’s filing deadline day—the moment when the political map was shifting in real time. As Jasmine Crockett entered the Senate race, Colin Allred abandoned his Senate candidacy and jumped into TX-33, instantly becoming Julie's primary challenger. 

Julie talks candidly about why women are not benchwarmers, why this race matters, and how Democrats win long-term by delivering—not performing.

• The political shakeup: Colin Allred’s last-minute switch from the Senate race to TX-33 and what it signals for Democrats statewide.
• Why Julie says she’s ready: Her record as a civil rights attorney, trailblazer, and the first LGBTQ+ member of Congress elected from Texas and the South. 
• The importance of campaigning even in safe seats: Why she knocks doors, supports the full ticket, and expects others to do the same.
• Women in leadership: Why she rejects the idea that women are holding seats “for” men who left and want them back.

Follow Congresswoman Julie Johnson at juliejohnson.com and on social media @juliejohnsontexas.
Follow us @MissionTexasPodcast. 

Texas is one of the most deeply churched states in America—67% of adults here identify as Christian. So understanding how to navigate the entrenched evangelical culture that shapes so much of Texas politics is at the heart of today’s episode.

Kate and Alex sit down with Brian Recker—writer, creator, and former evangelical pastor—whose book Hell Bent is reshaping the national conversation about the intersection of faith, fear, and political power in America.

Brian explains how teachings centered on fear, exclusion, and “in-group vs. out-group” thinking have fueled modern Christian nationalism—and how that dynamic shows up in Texas in the form of entrenched Christian-right supremacy.

Together, we dig into: 

• How fear-driven theology helped create today’s right-wing political culture 

• Why some conservatives say “the government shouldn’t feed the poor”—and what Jesus actually taught about poverty, compassion, and justice 

• The Ten Commandments in Texas classrooms and what it reveals about Christian-right supremacy

Follow Brian Recker on Instagram @berecker 

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This Thanksgiving, we’re serving up a special episode of Mission: Texas with former State Rep. John Turner, the Texas Democrat who flipped a long-held Republican House seat in 2018. Whether you’re on a holiday road trip, cooking dinner, or running in a Turkey Trot, this is your political pep talk for 2026 and beyond.

John shares how he went from a successful law career at a law firm to deciding a “one-in-three” shot was enough to run; what makes 2018 similar to 2026; and how suburban, rural, faith, and gun-owning voters all fit into a winning Democratic coalition. 

John also makes the case for something we don’t talk about enough: reclaiming patriotism inside the Democratic Party and showing voters that Democratic values are deeply rooted in faith, service, rule of law, and love of country. He argues Democrats should be running brand-building ads between elections, not just during them, so Republican stereotypes stop sticking when the campaign season arrives.

🎧 Hosted by Kate Rumsey & Alex Clark

👉 Follow us: @missiontexaspodcast on social media

Note: This episode was recorded before the recent court decision on redistricting.

State Rep. Mihaela Plesa (HD 70 – Collin County) joins Mission: Texas to break down how gerrymandering, mid-decade redistricting, and low turnout are keeping Texas red—and what it really takes to win in a suburban swing district north of Dallas.

Mihaela shares her journey as the daughter of immigrants and a bilingual kid in Collin County, to small business owner, to unpaid Capitol intern at 32, to Vice Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus who flipped a gerrymandered district, won by just 800 votes, and made a runoff by only 29 votes. She explains why the Texas House, school boards, and city councils are the real front lines, and why Texas Democrats need to stop running one-size-fits-all campaigns and start running “soul campaigns” rooted in their own communities.

In this episode with Rep. Mihaela Plesa, we cover:

• How redistricting and gerrymandering in Collin County created HD 70—and why there should be more competitive districts
• Why the next census and Texas redistricting fight could decide control of Congress and the White House
• Mihaela’s path from fashion merchandising and small business to policymaking in Austin
• What it took to beat a $4 million Republican campaign in a suburban swing seat
• How voting rules, map changes, and ballot design are used to confuse and discourage voters
• The reality of a “Chamber of Commerce” district and how business and labor both benefit from Medicaid expansion, strong public schools, and economic stability
• Where she actually agrees with Trump (credit card interest caps, taxes on tips, IVF access)—and why Democrats should own the affordability fight
• Why down-ballot races (Texas House, school board, city council) are where Republicans are quietly investing big money
• A call for more Texans to step up and run, especially in tough districts, and to treat taking back the Texas House as a real, achievable goal

Connect with Rep. Mihaela Plesa:
Website & newsletter: plesafortexas.com
Socials: @PlesaForTexas

📲 Follow and share: @MissionTexasPodcast