John,
The powerful idea at the heart of this country: we are a government of, by, and for the people. That means no one is above or below the law and that each of us should have an equal say in how we are governed, no matter our differences of ancestry, faith, or political persuasion.
That idea is what sets America apart — and it’s being tested like never before here in Texas.
Texas Republicans were already undermining free elections through obstacles that make it harder to vote here than in any other state and attacking free speech by requiring classrooms to post the Ten Commandments and limiting political discourse on university campuses.
But then it got much worse: Trump demanded new Republican districts, and Abbott and the GOP redrew Texas’ maps mid-census to lock in their power. When Democrats broke quorum to stop them, Republicans threatened arrests and felony charges against the legislators. And then they came after Powered by People, the group I lead.
Ken Paxton accused us of bribery, tried to freeze our funds, attempted to shut us down, and even said I should be imprisoned—all for speaking up and organizing.
But we recently won a major victory. The 15th Court of Appeals, all Abbott appointees, ruled unanimously that our First Amendment rights were violated, and restored our ability to speak, fundraise, and organize.
That’s exactly why Powered by People stepped up. Because when the traditional centers of power—media giants, tech corporations, elite universities, and big law firms—choose to bend the knee to those in power, someone’s got to fight back.
We raised and donated over a million dollars to support Texas Democrats. Our volunteers have registered hundreds of thousands of new voters across the state. And we’re not stopping there.
We’re on the front lines—hosting town halls, organizing rallies, and building the people power it’ll take to change the balance of power in Texas. That fighting spirit—especially from everyday Texans—is what gives me hope.
I am grateful to be in the fight with you.
Beto O’Rourke
P.S. You can read my new Houston Chronicle op-ed here
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