The Shape of Things
Four Texas Districts: TX-02, TX-05, TX-17, and TX-21
During the last redistricting process, map manipulators gerrymandered Texas -- resulting in uncompetitive elections, a dysfunctional political system, and hyper-partisan leaders.
These four districts: TX-02, TX-05, TX-17, and TX-21 could be the poster children of map manipulation.
The AOTL team is working to prevent districts like these from being drawn in 2021. Educating our grassroots supporters is key to our plan to achieve fair maps -- and our Shape of Things series raises awareness about the barriers to political representation in local communities.
Friend, with less than 10 weeks until 2021, this work is more important than ever -- but needs your support. Will you commit to a monthly recurring donation of $20 -- just $5 per district?
While we're confident in our plan to achieve fair maps, it's necessary we call out extremism whenever we see it: the politics, behavior, and conduct of the following four politicians should serve as a warning of what kind of leaders we may get stuck with if we fail to be engaged now.
1. TX-02: Dan Crenshaw
- Crenshaw is a Republican who supports extreme, far-right positions like opposing a path to citizenship for DREAMers.
- In a recent Houston Chronicle interview Crenshaw was asked, "Do masks help protect you against the coronavirus?" His answer, "No they don't."
2. TX-05: Lance Gooden
- Gooden is nothing more than a far-right ideologue whose allegiance is to President Trump -- and not the United States Constitution.
- When the House held the president accountable and impeached him, Gooden sided with the president. And a few months ago, he defended the president's racist travel ban.
3. TX-17: Bill Flores
- Flores recently voted against a bipartisan House resolution condemning QAnon, a baseless conspiracy movement.
- Unfortunately, the congressman is no stranger to parroting unsubstantiated claims. He recently lashed out at House Speaker Pelosi over stimulus negotiations, calling her "unfit for office" and complained that she's "trying to overthrow President Trump."
4. TX-21: Chip Roy
- Political strategists have described Congressman Roy as "a Trump Republican and a Ted Cruz protégé..." because he almost always votes on party lines.
- The one time he broke from other conservatives is when he single-handedly delayed a disaster aid package even though his home state of Texas often bears the brunt of hurricane season.
We deserve accountable, responsive elected leaders. Extreme politicians like Dan Crenshaw, Lance Gooden, Bill Flores, and Chip Roy represent exactly what's wrong with our democracy. The AOTL team has a plan to end gerrymandering and prevent politicians like them from taking advantage of our political system just to push their unpopular, extreme agendas onto the American people -- and it's working.
Just this month, our Texas team sent tens of thousands of text messages to voters and have spent the year educating folks on the shadowy backroom board of politicians in Texas who may redraw maps. But none of this would be possible without your support.
With the redistricting process around the corner, will you make a donation right now to support our work in Texas and across the country? Your contribution will go a long way and help power our plans for fair maps.
Thank you for your continuous support,
The AOTL Team
