Texas Democrats Vs. National Democrats: Who’s More Progressive?
Comparing the Texas and National Democratic Platforms: Who leads on progressive policies?
Yesterday, the National Party released its party platform (link below). I’ve put it next to the Texas Democratic Party Platform to compare ideals and policy side-by-side. The results are not shocking. (I wasn’t surprised.)
Before you get to the comparisons, check out some speeches by Texas Democrats on Day #1 of the DNC in Chicago.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo.
There is no question about it. Lina Hidalgo is a rising star within the Democratic Party. Although her speech was short and part of a panel, it was easy to see why Texas Democrats love her so much.
While Hidalgo has done fantastic work in Harris County and still has work to do, I would love to see her in a statewide political office one day. What do you think?
Congressman Jasmine Crockett.
Representative Crockett has become a firebrand for Texas politics. Long-time Lone Star Left readers have been on this journey, watching her career since her days in the Texas House (2021). There’s no doubt about it: Crockett gave one of the night’s best speeches.
In my mind, Jasmine Crockett has already won her 2026 bid against John Cornyn. No, she hasn’t announced she’s running for Senate…yet. But wait until after this election, and I’ll write a long-detailed piece on why she should run and how she can win.
The National Democratic Party Platform.
You can find the entire National Democratic Party Platform here.
You can find the entire Texas Democratic Party Platform here.
I wanted to dissect the National Party platform specifically because I’ve been saying for a while that Texas Democrats are more progressive and further left than national Democrats. Below, I will prove it.
From June, when we dissected the state platform: The 2024 Texas Democratic Party Platform
The economy.
When comparing the platforms on the economy and jobs, both support:
Progressive taxation.
Unions.
Job creation through green energy and infrastructure.
However, the Texas Democratic platform is more progressive.
The Texas platform targets economic inequality in underserved communities, addressing disparities in historically neglected areas. It also discusses support for small businesses in these areas, showing a commitment to promoting local economic development.
Regarding worker protections, the Texas platform backs labor unions and collective bargaining but doesn’t mention policies like paid family and sick leave. The state party prioritizes basic workers’ rights, while the National platform takes a broader approach, including protections like paid leave.
The Texas platform is more progressive due to its clear focus on underserved communities and efforts to reduce economic inequality.
Civil Rights.
Both platforms are committed to:
Racial equality.
LGBTQ+ rights.
Women’s rights.
But the Texas Democratic platform is more progressive, especially in its approach to systemic racism.
The Texas platform advocates for reparations and stronger civil rights enforcement, taking a more direct approach to addressing historical injustices. It also addresses systemic racism in policing, criminal justice, and economic disparities.
The National Democratic platform also addresses systemic racism, but it focuses more on police reform and reducing racial disparities in healthcare, housing, and employment. It broadly supports LGBTQ+ rights and centers more on reproductive rights and workplace gender equality.
Overall, both platforms are aligned on key civil rights issues. The Texas Democratic platform is more progressive due to its advocacy on reparations, stronger civil rights enforcement, and a dedicated effort to combat systemic racism and economic disparities at the local level.
Further reading:
Healthcare.
The Texas platform is more progressive on healthcare. Lone Star Democrats push for expanding Medicaid. The platform also advocates for universal healthcare (my favorite ❤️), reducing costs and expanding access for marginalized communities. Additionally, the Texas platform demonstrates support for reproductive rights, including access to abortion and contraception.
On the other hand, the National Democratic platform is about strengthening and expanding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to ensure broader healthcare coverage and lower costs. While it supports the ACA, it also leaves room for states or a future national shift towards Medicare for All or similar universal healthcare systems.
The Texas platform is more progressive due to its direct advocacy for universal healthcare and Medicaid expansion.
Further reading:
Education.
The Texas platform is more progressive in terms of education. It supports funding public education and opposes school vouchers and privatization efforts. It also advocates for affordable higher education, reducing student loan debt, and increasing state funding for public universities. Additionally, the Texas platform supports curriculum reforms that stress diversity and the accurate teaching of history, particularly the role of marginalized communities.
The National Democratic Platform advocates for increasing federal funding for public schools, improving teacher pay, and reducing class sizes while opposing privatization and vouchers. It supports making college more affordable by expanding Pell Grants, reducing student loan debt, and exploring options like free community college.
While both platforms share firm commitments to public education, affordable higher education, and inclusive curriculum reforms, the Texas platform’s focus on state-level issues like opposing privatization and supporting state funding for public universities gives it a slight edge in progressiveness.
Immigration.
Both are aligned in their support for comprehensive immigration reform and humane border policies. However, the Texas Democratic platform is more progressive. It advocates for comprehensive immigration reform, providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and protecting DACA recipients. The Texas platform also opposes the militarization of the border, advocating instead for the more humane treatment of immigrants and asylum seekers.
On the other hand, the National Democratic Platform supports comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship and protections for DACA recipients. However, it strongly emphasizes securing the border while ensuring humane treatment. It rejects policies that separate families or criminalize immigrants but does not oppose border militarization, as the Texas platform does.
Overall, while both platforms share similar goals, the Texas platform’s opposition to border militarization and its focus on humane treatment make it more progressive in immigration policy.
Climate Change And The Environment.
The Texas platform is more progressive due to its attention to environmental justice and prioritization of marginalized communities affected by environmental racism in climate action plans. This approach is part of their commitment to addressing the needs of those most impacted by environmental issues.
The National Democratic Platform also talks about climate action as a national and global emergency, achieving net-zero emissions, and rejoining international agreements like the Paris Climate Accord. While it shares a commitment to environmental justice, the Texas platform’s clear focus on marginalized communities gives it a more progressive edge.
Criminal Justice Reform.
Both platforms are aligned in their calls for comprehensive criminal justice reform, including:
Police reform.
Ending mass incarceration.
Abolishing the death penalty.
The Texas platform is more progressive due to its specific call for the demilitarization of the police, which is more progressive than general police reform in the National Platform. The platform’s call for community policing models, sentencing reform, and expanding diversion programs further underscores its progressive stance.
Voting Rights.
Both platforms are committed to protecting voting rights and ensuring fair representation through measures like nonpartisan redistricting. However, the Texas platform is more progressive due to its centering on protecting and expanding voting rights, which, of course, is in direct response to specific voter suppression efforts in Texas.
It also supports automatic voter registration and restoring voting rights to felons, which are more targeted and proactive than the broader voting rights in the National Platform.
Foreign Policy.
Both platforms discuss human rights, diplomacy, and responsible military spending. However, the Texas Democratic Platform is more progressive due to its call for reducing military spending and redirecting those funds to address domestic needs. This represents a more aggressive stance on rebalancing foreign and domestic policy priorities.
Regarding human rights, both platforms highlight the importance of supporting:
Refugees.
Opposing authoritarian regimes.
Integrating human rights.
The National Democratic Platform, however, also expresses its commitment to supporting democracy movements globally, which broadens the scope of its human rights advocacy.
There you have it!
Texas Democrats ARE MORE PROGRESSIVE than national Democrats.
Wear it with pride, fellow radical.
Progressive politics aren’t just about being further left. It’s about having the courage to stand up for what’s right, even when it’s not the easiest path. It’s about believing in a society where everyone has a fair shot, where justice is not just a word but a reality, and where we build a future that works for all of us, not just the privileged few.
In embracing progressive values, Texas Democrats show that we have the vision to see beyond the status quo, the compassion to care for the most vulnerable, and the determination to fight for a better tomorrow. Being progressive means refusing to accept that the way things are is the way they must be. It means pushing for policies that uplift everyone, protect our planet, and ensure all voices are heard and respected.
So yes, wear it with pride—because being progressive means you have the strength to dream bigger, fight harder, and never settle for less than true justice and equality.
Vote early, vote often, just vote.
August 19: Last day for write-in candidates to declare their candidacy.
October 7: Last day to register to vote.
October 21: First day to early vote.
October 25: Last day to apply for a mail-in ballot.
November 1: Last day to early vote.
November 5: Election day!
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