Our Next Monthly Meeting

Jessica Cohen, TCDP Chair Candidate

Jessica Cohen is a proven leader, seasoned strategist, and dedicated advocate with decades of experience uniting diverse communities to drive meaningful change. As a progressive Democrat, she brings a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and public service to everything she does.

Jessica currently serves as President of the Stonewall Democrats of Austin and Precinct Chair for Travis County Precinct 425. She is also a member of the Texas State Democratic Executive Committee, where she serves as the Vice President of the Texas Democratic Party’s LGBTQ Caucus. She plays a key role on the Resolutions and Convention Committees, helping shape the party’s platform and policy direction at the state level.

Ana Cortez, TCDP Chair Candidate

Ana Cortez is a community champion and servant leader with over a decade of transformative public service. As the first Latina elected in her district and President of the Manor ISD Board of Trustees, she has delivered impactful results, including launching Manor’s Career and Technical Education Center, Early College High School programming, and innovative STEM initiatives.

Ana’s dedication to equity and opportunity extends beyond education. A former migrant worker turned successful entrepreneur, she understands the challenges working families face and has fought to ensure their voices are heard. Her leadership in statewide organizations like the Mexican American School Board Association and NALEO reflects her commitment to empowering communities through collaboration and action.

Now, Ana is running for Travis County Democratic Party Chair to bring bold leadership, inclusive strategies, and a focus on building a stronger, more unified Democratic Party. With her proven track record of advocacy and coalition-building, Ana is ready to amplify every voice and drive meaningful change for Travis County and beyond.

Doug Greco, TCDP Chair Candidate

I'm from a coal town in Eastern Pennsylvania. My grandfather was a coal miner, my folks worked at the local high school while I was growing up - Dad as a coach and teacher, Mom as a secretary. Playing football was a way out and I was recruited to Brown University. After graduating from Brown, I moved to Austin to teach at Johnston High School, and after five years of teaching and education advocacy, I determined that my professional calling was organizing.

Since then, I've spent a couple of decades organizing locally with Central Texas Interfaith (CTI), and in California with Equality California. As Executive Director for 12 years, I helped build Central Texas Interfaith into a multi-county organizing strategy with a million-dollar budget. I worked for State Rep Gina Hinojosa as her Chief of Staff and I went back to school at Princeton to get a Master's in Public Policy. I’ve spent those years fighting for better wages and working conditions, fewer tax giveaways to corporations, and equal rights for the LGBTQ community, of which I am a proud member. 

Now, I'm ready to fight - let's fight for our country, our state, and our county together.

Cole Wilson, TCDP Chair Candidate

Growing up in South Texas, Cole faced challenges—barely graduating high school and living at home without a clear path forward. But at Austin Community College, he found direction, gaining the skills needed to build a better future. Supported by his community, Cole transformed his struggles into a commitment to unite those often left out of the electoral system.

His career includes work with UT Austin’s Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life on Vote Smart’s policy research, three legislative sessions in the Texas House focusing on workforce, housing, and voting rights, and a Master’s from Harvard in policy reforms for education and economic mobility. These experiences showed him firsthand how policy shapes lives and inspires civic engagement.

Cole has spent years organizing voters, mentoring future leaders, and fighting for everyone. For Cole, organizing isn’t just a belief—it’s his way of life. And when it comes to electing Democrats, you can count on him.

Krista, a longtime community advocate in Austin’s District 6, co-founded Access Education RRISD in 2021. As President, she built bipartisan coalitions to support public schools serving over 90% of District 6. 

When two school board members, backed by groups like Moms for Liberty and out-of-town PACs, tried to disrupt the district, Access RRISD endorsed its own slate of candidates—who won every seat despite being heavily outspent. 

In 2023, the group successfully campaigned for RRISD’s first VATRE to fund staff raises. Under Krista’s leadership, they’ve also fought state overreach, opposed vouchers, and supported equity, safety, and funding in schools. She stands for people over partisanship and solving problems locally.

Please RSVP here to let us know you’re coming
and to register for a door prize.

Join us to support three outstanding City Council candidates endorsed by both the Travis and Williamson Counties Democratic Parties!

Natomi Blair (Leander City Council, Place 1): A seasoned leader in technical sales with nearly 20 years in Leander, Natomi serves as Chair of a local nonprofit and is dedicated to community service. She holds an MBA from Huston-Tillotson University.

Andrew Naudin (Leander City Council, Place 5): A native Texan and active community leader, Andrew has served on multiple Leander Boards and Commissions, including as Chair of the Economic Development Committee.

Alexis Frezza (Cedar Park City Council, Place 1): A lifelong Central Texan, Alexis is committed to housing, education, and local business growth. She and her family have proudly called Cedar Park home for over 40 years.

Let's come together to help elect these strong leaders!

Carisa Lopez is the Deputy Director of Texas Freedom Network (TFN).

In addition to overseeing TFN’s day-to-day work and implementation to ensure we meet our priority goals and maximize collaboration and impact, Carisa serves as a strategic resource and helper within the executive team on issues relating to board development, fundraising, and strategic initiatives. 

Carisa grew up in Garland, TX and moved to Austin in 2010 to attend the University of Texas where she graduated with a B.A. in Government.

Carisa got her start in community activism in college where she worked with the Texas Freedom Network’s student chapter at UT to organize her fellow students and register them to vote. Immediately after graduation she was invited to serve on TFN’s Board of Directors and work for the Texas Democratic Party on their fundraising and events team. She has since organized union members and lobbied the Texas legislature for workers rights with the Texas State Employee’s Union and served as the Executive Director for the Travis County Democratic Party where she ran the 2016 Coordinated Campaign. She came onto the TFN fulltime in 2018 ast the Political Director and currently serves as the Deputy Director.

Carisa has dedicated her career to electing progressive champions and working on progressive policies that will make a real impact on Texans lives. She currently lives in south Austin with her three dogs.

Glen Maxey is an educator, politician, and longtime activist with over fifty years of leadership in social justice. Known for his fearless advocacy, he has been called the “Wise One” at the Texas Democratic Party, the “Brave One” in the Texas House, and the “Hell Raiser” at the Texas Capitol. 

In 1986, Maxey gained national attention for successfully defeating a proposed HIV/AIDS quarantine in Texas and later founded the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas (now Equality Texas). In 1991, he made history as the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to the Texas House of Representatives, serving six terms and playing a key role in passing and blocking legislation. 

Maxey’s contributions have earned him numerous awards, including the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and a City of Austin proclamation declaring May 27 as “Glen Maxey Day.” After years as a DNC member, lobbyist, and public affairs adviser, he is now retired and writing his memoir.

Vikki Goodwin is serving her third term representing Texas House District 47 in western Travis County, which includes the outskirts of Austin, Bee Cave and parts of Lake Travis. 

In the 88th Session, she was successful in passing a number of bills that serve her district and the state. To address safety issues, she passed Cati’s Act which is a drowning prevention law, and the Natalia Cox Act which is a violence prevention law. To address mental health needs, she passed a law that expands AcuDetox. And to ensure food security, she passed a law creating the Texas Food Security and Resiliency Council. Goodwin was a co-author of numerous other bills, and a sponsor of a Cottage Food Act which ran out of time and didn’t get passed. 

Rep. Goodwin filed a set of bills to address public school funding, gun safety, environmental protection and more. She was a co-author on a bill to increase state employee salaries and to provide a cost-of-living increase to retired teachers. 

In the next session, Rep. Goodwin will file the Affordable Rent Act, and will continue to advocate for the people of her district, the environment, a strong economy, and a sound budget.

Representative Goodwin is a small business owner, a real estate broker, and a community leader. After graduating from the University of Texas with a BBA—and the LBJ School of Public Affairs with a master’s degree—Vikki remains in Austin where she raised her children who are now grown.

A long-time resident of Shady Hollow, Vikki has been very active in her community, serving on various boards and commissions. Her volunteer work gave her insight into the need for various services in the community and strengthened her determination to help those who slip through the cracks, so often as a result of medical issues, student loans, or low paying jobs. Through her professional and philanthropic endeavors, Vikki knows which issues matter most to the residents of District 47 and was inspired to become an advocate for her community.

We’ve experienced a tough election. But what happened locally? Are there some bright spots? Is there a reason for hope? How do we cope going forward?

Join us as Kerry Stevens shares his reflection on the election and our path forward. Kerry is the Chair of the Far Northwest Progressives Super Precinct, and a Vice Chair of the Travis Democratic Party.

Folks begin to congregate around 6:00pm to order food and drinks before the meeting starts. See you there!

Bill McCamley is the Executive Director of Transit Forward, an Austin 501c3 with a mission to educate and engage our friends and neighbors about transit with a focus on Project Connect. 

We hope you'll join to shake off those election-eve jitters together!

Round Rock ISD Board

• Place 1: Estevan Jesus (Chuy) Zarate: https://chuy4rrisd.com/
• Place 2: Melissa Ross: https://www.melissaforrrisd.com/
• Place 7: Dr. Mingyuan “Michael” Wei: https://www.drweiforrrisd.com/

Theresa Boisseau, candidate for US House District 10,
https://www.theresa4texas.com/

Dr. Merrie Fox, candidate for Texas State Senate District 25,
https://drmerriefox.org/

Dwain Handley, candidate for Texas House District 19,
https://handley4texas.com/

Krista Laine, candidate for Austin City Council District 6,
https://www.kristalaine.com/

Ashika Ganguly, candidate for Austin City Council District 10,
https://www.ashikaforaustin.com/