AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- After a 2020 election where a promised "blue wave" failed to deliver, two leaders of the Texas Democratic Party will be stepping down from their roles at the end of the month.
Executive Director Manny Garcia and Deputy Executive Director Cliff Walker will step down after a combined 12 and half years at the helm of the party. The move comes following a call from some members of the party's executive committee demanding a shakeup in senior staff following the 2020 election.
"Working and leading at the Texas Democratic Party has been the honor of a lifetime," Garcia said in a statement. "For years, we have spent every waking moment pushing for progress and building one of the strongest state party operations in the country. We strived to innovate and recruit the best. Years ago, it was unheard of to think about Texas as a battleground. Today, because of the hard work of so many volunteers, candidates, and staffers, Texas is the biggest battleground state in the country."
Despite promises of a "blue wave" in the November election, Democrats failed to realize any significant gains at the ballot box. Republicans continue to hold every statewide elected office, with President Trump winning the state by 6 percent, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn winning over MJ Hegar by 10 points, and failing to flip any of the state's Congressional seats.
The disappointing performance prompted 38 members of the party's 108-member State Democratic Executive Committee to sign a letter demanding a change in the party's senior staff.
Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa announced Thursday that
Hannah Roe Beck will serve as the party's Interim Executive Director beginning on February 1.
"I couldn't be more thrilled by the opportunity to serve as Interim Executive Director of the Texas Democratic Party," Beck said. "I have called Texas home for over two decades, and I deeply believe in the potential that our state has. It is the biggest honor of my life to be asked to lead our team in this pivotal moment in Texas' history and to work alongside our exceptional team to fight for a fair shot for all."
