Catina (she/her/ella), Executive Director, Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

November 19, 2024 at 3:58 PM

Building Change from the Ground Up

John, Texas is often misunderstood. Some see us through our deficits — a place opposed to progress. But I know a different Texas. A place of love and community and struggle. A place where resilient and resourceful people are organizing in their communities to build a better f…

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  Mars Rodriguez, Managing Director, Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

November 13, 2024 at 5:50 PM

How Ground Game protected abortion access in Amarillo

John, As I reflect on last week’s results and the past year of organizing, I keep coming back to our win last week in Amarillo — a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we invest in and trust local organizers. With only eight weeks before Election Day, Ground Game joined…

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  Catina Voellinger, Executive Director · [email protected]

November 6, 2024 at 8:11 PM

Good news we can share

John, There’s no sugarcoating how painful it is to be a Texas progressive right now. Our movement— our people—suffered a massive loss yesterday. Like many of you, we are looking for silver linings today. Possibilities of change. Hope for what we can build together. Here’s how…

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  Catina Voellinger · [email protected]

November 5, 2024 at 2:05 PM

Check out Ground Game’s Election Guide!

John, Today’s the day! Like you, our eyes will be on the Presidential race, which will have a tremendous impact on our lives. Ground Game is part of a massive Texas coalition that is working to get out every vote. Later this evening, when you are watching the results come in…

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  Ground Game Texas PAC · [email protected]

October 31, 2024 at 8:21 PM

5 Days: Mobilizing young Dallas voters

John, There’s so much at stake in this election — you don’t need us to tell you that. But with 5 days left, we want to share how Ground Game’s ballot measure campaign in Dallas is driving turnout among voters 35 and younger. This demographic is essential for Democrats across …

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  Ground Game Texas PAC · [email protected]

October 29, 2024 at 9:06 PM

7 Days: Final push for our 5 great candidates!

John, Some great news: with seven days until Election Day, Texas voters are turning out in record numbers. And in terms of who is voting, our analysis shows all five of our endorsed Democratic candidates are making enormous gains. In north Dallas, Democratic House nominee Av…

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  Ground Game Texas PAC · [email protected]

October 24, 2024 at 9:04 PM

Kamala in Texas tomorrow!

John, A powerful sign Texas politics are moving in the right direction: VP Kamala Harris is leading a rally in Houston tomorrow, and she’ll be joined by Beyoncé! This is a big deal for Texas Democrats. With less than two weeks before Election Day, in an extremely close electi…

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  Ground Game Texas PAC · [email protected]

October 23, 2024 at 7:25 PM

🔥🔥 Texas Early Vote Returns!🔥🔥

John, Today we’re feeling hopeful! Across the state, early voting numbers are coming in, and the turnout is amazing. Check out some of these headlines: “Texas sees record early-voting numbers, particularly in Democratic-leaning areas” (The Hill) “First day of Texas early vo…

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  Ground Game & Willie Nelson · [email protected]

October 17, 2024 at 7:35 PM

Willie Nelson boosts our Dallas campaign!

John, Some very exciting news on the campaign front: the legendary Willie Nelson is boosting our Dallas campaign! This means a lot to our campaign. Not only because Willie Nelson is one of the most popular figures in Texas history. But also because Willie’s support illustr…

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  Ground Game in the RGV · [email protected]

October 15, 2024 at 9:48 PM

NEW: “this time Democrats are playing offense”

John, The most important federal race in Texas is happening right now in the Rio Grande Valley, where Democratic nominee Michelle Vallejo has a great chance to unseat the GOP incumbent in Congressional District 15. As the Texas Tribune reported yesterday, national Democrats ha…

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  Ground Game for Kamala · [email protected]

October 10, 2024 at 8:27 PM

Kamala’s growing Texas campaign

John, Some very good news! The Kamala Harris campaign and national groups are making major investments in Texas turnout. This is creating synergy with Ground Game’s local campaigns in Dallas and McAllen. In McAllen, national polls show Michelle Vallejo’s race has a 3% margin…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

October 8, 2024 at 8:59 PM

NEW: How we’re boosting these 5 Democratic stars

John, Ground Game Texas endorsed five wonderful candidates for state and local office. These courageous Democrats — all women! — are fighting for the Texas we deserve. How we’re helping these women is what makes Ground Game unique. We have contact information that no other c…

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  Catina (she/her/ella), Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

October 4, 2024 at 1:01 PM

John, Paxton's Scared—And Here’s Why 😠

John, As Ground Game and our progressive allies work to turn out the vote, we've been hit with state-sanctioned voter suppression, in the form of Attorney General Ken Paxton. In recent months, AG Paxton sued Travis County, Bexar County, and Harris County to curtail voter reg…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

September 25, 2024 at 1:33 PM

Check out our amazing slate of candidates!

John, This November, Ground Game Texas PAC is focused on helping Democratic candidates in battleground races across the state. We endorse candidates in places we can make the biggest impact — where we’ve run ballot measure campaigns focused on popular, progressive issues, an…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

September 19, 2024 at 6:22 PM

From Kamala Harris to Prop. R in Dallas

John, What does a presidential campaign have to do with a Dallas ballot proposition? A whole darn lot, when it comes to motivating voters. Ground Game Texas spent thousands of hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars to put marijuana reform on the November 5 ballot in the c…

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  Mars Rodriguez, Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

September 14, 2024 at 4:34 PM

Meet Mars, our new Managing Director!

John, My name is Mars Rodriguez, Managing Director here at Ground Game Texas. Today, I wanted to share with you something that’s been top of mind heading into this election. Ten years ago last month, when I was 15, my stepfather passed away. What my family and I always under…

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  Ground Game Texas PAC · [email protected]

September 11, 2024 at 5:22 PM

8 Weeks to Change Texas

John, All that’s left is to get out the vote. The ballots are set. The candidates are running hard. Our ballot measures are underway. For 18 months, Ground Game has worked to set the stage for these last eight weeks. In Dallas, we’ve aligned a popular ballot measure (marijua…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

September 7, 2024 at 3:03 PM

PHOTOS: Ground Game’s annual event!

John, Our 4th Annual Ground Game Texas fundraiser was a big success! A great crowd of caring Texans joined us for “Rising Roots” to celebrate Ground Game’s work, appreciate everyone who made it possible, and motivate us for the big election to come. Some of the highlights…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

September 4, 2024 at 2:01 PM

TODAY: Lloyd Doggett joins “Rising Roots” event!

John, Today is the 4th Annual Ground Game Texas fundraiser! And we just got great news — we’ll be joined by U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett! We hope to see you there. And if you can’t make it, please sponsor a ticket for local grassroots organizers! “Rising Roots” will be …

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

August 29, 2024 at 6:59 PM

6 Days ‘til our Big Event!

John, In just six days, we’ll have our annual Ground Game Texas celebration of the work we’ve done and the elections ahead! “Rising Roots” with Tex. Rep. James Talarico will be held the evening of Wednesday, September 4, in Austin, Texas. We’ll also be joined by Ground Game …

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  Catina Voellinger, Executive Director · [email protected]

August 28, 2024 at 2:12 PM

We’ve put “freedom” on the ballot

John, The Democratic nominee for President, Kamala Harris, has made “Freedom” the theme of her campaign. And here at Ground Game Texas, we couldn’t be more excited! The challenge in Texas politics is convincing voters they can achieve their goals through the ballot box. Many…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

August 22, 2024 at 9:28 PM

“4 for 4”: Now McAllen is on the ballot!

John, This week, we received great news — our ballot measure for the city of McAllen has qualified for the November election! This confirms that 100% of Ground Game’s ballot measures were successful this year. It wasn’t easy — it took a lot of time, money, and effort. But we…

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  Ground Game Texas PAC · [email protected]

August 16, 2024 at 2:38 PM

GREAT NEWS: Texas is winnable in 2024

John, The entry of Kamala Harris into the Presidential race has completely changed the electoral map across the country, including in Texas! On MSNBC this week, Beto O’Rourke called Texas “the sleeper battleground state” and we couldn’t agree more. As the Texas Democratic Pa…

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  Catina Voellinger, Executive Director · [email protected]

August 7, 2024 at 1:04 PM

From petitions to voter registrations!

John, When Ground Game collects signatures for a ballot petition, we’re meeting thousands of people who are otherwise disengaged from Texas politics. At grocery stores, youth baseball games, farmers’ markets, festivals and more, we’re meeting Texans where they are — and givin…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

July 26, 2024 at 4:12 PM

BREAKING: We beat Ken Paxton … again!

John, You’ll love to hear this: Ken Paxton just lost another lawsuit to overturn a Ground Game policy — this time in San Marcos! On Monday evening, Hays County Judge Sherri Tibbe dismissed Paxton’s lawsuit against the city of San Marcos. Paxton was trying to overrule the wil…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

July 24, 2024 at 1:01 PM

On the ballot in Dallas!! With Kamala??

John, It’s official! Ground Game Texas has qualified our marijuana reform ballot measure for the November ballot in the city of Dallas! And of course, this great development is paired with the emergence of Vice President Kamala Harris as the likely Democratic nominee for Pr…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

July 17, 2024 at 5:06 PM

NEW: How Ground Game petitions improve voter retention

John, When you dig into Texas politics, you realize we are not truly a “red state.” We are a non-voting state. In the 2020 presidential election, over 6 million eligible voters stayed home — almost ten times Trump’s margin of victory over Biden in Texas. This is one of the c…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

July 3, 2024 at 5:24 PM

Something to vote FOR

John, Our motto at Ground Game Texas: “Don’t despair, organize!” This has been a rough week for so many of us. We won’t go into the details. Suffice to say, job #1 for progressive organizers is to give people HOPE right now. Last week Ground Game Texas initiated two ballot …

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  Catina Voellinger, Executive Director · [email protected]

June 27, 2024 at 2:39 PM

🔥 BIG NEWS: Two massive campaigns complete!! 📈

John, This week, we filed nearly 55,000 petition signatures in Dallas and McAllen to get our ballot measures on the November ballot! Our Texan community is rich with diversity, bringing together people from all walks of life. We see firsthand the power of our collective acti…

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  Ground Game Texas PAC · [email protected]

June 19, 2024 at 5:30 PM

We need 3 seats to save public education

John, If you’ve been following the Texas Legislature, you know that the November 2024 election will determine the future of public education. In recent months, the Texas GOP has spent tens of millions of dollars to buy a Legislature that will pass “school vouchers” — AKA the p…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

June 12, 2024 at 6:04 PM

BREAKING: We beat Ken Paxton in Austin!

John, You’ll love to hear this: Ken Paxton just lost his lawsuit to overturn Ground Game’s marijuana policy in Austin! You might remember the background — over 30,000 Austin residents signed our petition to decriminalize marijuana, and 85% of voters approved the policy. Texas …

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

June 11, 2024 at 3:12 PM

“In South Texas, a push for more direct democracy"

John, Our campaign in South Texas is having a big impact! And Texas media are taking notice. The Texas Tribune just wrote up Ground Game’s work in the city of McAllen, where our ballot measure would require campaign contribution limits for local candidates, and would allow l…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

May 31, 2024 at 6:39 PM

🔥 We're Almost There! Help Us Reach Our Monthly Goal Today! 🔥

John, We have good news and some not-so-good news. The good news is that this week, in the City of Lockhart, we completed our petition campaign and turned in signatures for a November ballot proposition on marijuana reform. This ballot measure is a great opportunity to chang…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

May 31, 2024 at 6:26 PM

🚨 Urgent: Help Us Close Reach Our Monthly Goal Today! 🚨

John, We have good news and some not-so-good news. The good news is that this week, in the City of Lockhart, we completed our petition campaign and turned in signatures for a November ballot proposition on marijuana reform. This ballot measure is a great opportunity to chang…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

May 28, 2024 at 10:39 PM

Climate Change is Voter Suppression

John, Organizing in Texas is hard work, as you know. The political context is oppressive. The distances between communities are massive. And increasingly, the weather is near impossible to endure. Today, unfortunately, our dozens of Dallas organizers are home, due to a count…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

May 21, 2024 at 1:21 PM

Meet Karen Salazar, our lead organizer in McAllen

John, Ground Game Texas has been working hard in South Texas for the last three years, seeking to boost voter turnout. This year we’re leading a campaign in the city of McAllen to adopt new campaign finance reforms — a very popular local demand. Our work in the Rio Grande Va…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

May 15, 2024 at 8:41 PM

Our Dallas campaign has a funding gap

John, Since early 2023, Ground Game Texas has been strategically launching ballot petition campaigns in places like Dallas that will create a huge opportunity for policy victories and a voter turnout boost in November 2024. We are now poised to succeed — if we can fund the las…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

May 9, 2024 at 7:02 PM

TODAY: New lawsuit v. Ken Paxton

John, Today Ground Game Texas intervened in a Ken Paxton lawsuit to protect local democracy and the work of our organization. Our goal is to defend the results of the May 2022 local election, when over 85% of Austin voters adopted a marijuana reform policy. This case is impor…

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  Ground Game Texas PAC · [email protected]

May 4, 2024 at 3:54 PM

Every election matters

John, Today, local elections are taking place across Texas, including several key communities where Ground Game Texas has been organizing. In Lubbock, voters will have the opportunity to adopt “Freedom Act Lubbock,” a marijuana reform ballot proposition developed by local gr…

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  Ground Game PAC · [email protected]

May 2, 2024 at 8:09 PM

Biden & Weed

John, This week, President Biden announced the federal government will no longer treat marijuana as a dangerous “Schedule I” drug on the same level as heroin and opium. This reclassification decision is an important step on the path to national marijuana reform and will adva…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

April 26, 2024 at 7:40 PM

Fighting fascism

John, For many Democrats, Texas is an afterthought during a presidential election. Donors and activists tend to concentrate on “easier wins” while sending thoughts and prayers our way. “Trump will win Texas,” they say, so what’s the point of trying? At Ground Game Te…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

April 23, 2024 at 3:19 PM

Meet Triste and Natalie

John, We want to take a moment to honor two Latinas leading our Dallas campaign, Triste and Natalie. They are currently leading a team of 30 staff who have gathered almost 30,000 signatures to qualify marijuana reform for the November ballot! Ground Game Texas is elevating…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

April 20, 2024 at 4:03 PM

Greg Abbott just attacked Austin

John, Last night, a Greg Abbott-appointed judge initiated proceedings to remove Travis County District Attorney José Garza from office. This is an extreme new assault on local democracy in Texas that we must do everything we can to resist. José Garza is a popular local p…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

April 9, 2024 at 2:05 PM

How Dallas voters can change Texas

John, “Why did you choose Dallas?”  Ground Game’s biggest investment in Texas politics this year is in Dallas, Texas, where we are running a petition campaign with dozens of organizers to put marijuana decriminalization on the November 2024 ballot.  We’ve had community organizations and phila…

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  Ground Game Texas · [email protected]

March 30, 2024 at 5:41 PM

A Note from our Team

John, Today Ground Game Texas is moving forward — with unwavering commitment to our workers and the communities we serve. Our organization’s achievements of the last three years, and our numerous successful campaigns, are rooted in the dedication and resilience of our staff, the commitment of…

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  Julie Oliver · [email protected]

March 29, 2024 at 10:12 PM

important note from Julie

Important note from Julie John, Hi everyone, Julie here. Five minutes ago I was told on a surprise Zoom call organized by the board in secret that I’m no longer the Executive Director of Ground Game Texas. When I founded Ground Game Texas in 2021, I was convinced that organizing around popul…

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  Julie Oliver · [email protected]

March 19, 2024 at 5:10 PM

180K Democrats

John, In Texas, the biggest problem for Democrats is not voter registration — it’s voter turnout. Across the state, hundreds of thousands of registered voters—who would vote Democrat if they went to the polls—decide not to vote. These voters far exceed the margin between Beto O’Rourke and Gre…

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  Ground Game Texas Team · [email protected]

March 14, 2024 at 4:32 PM

Be a Pillar for Progress in Texas!

John, At Ground Game Texas, our commitment to creating a just and vibrant Texas never wavers. Every day, our team engages communities across the state, driving forward our mission for social justice and democracy. Join our monthly giving program and be one of the 100 new members we need for s…

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  Catina (she/her/ella) · [email protected]

March 12, 2024 at 2:31 PM

🤝 Two Years: Uniting for Texas Justice & Vibrancy 🌵🌟

John, As I mark two years with Ground Game Texas, my heart is full of pride and my spirit, charged with an unwavering commitment to our cause.  I was honored to spend time in Dallas this weekend, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our incredible local organizers. In these moments of rallying …

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  Catina Voellinger · [email protected]

March 1, 2024 at 3:31 PM

Our campaign at the border is making waves

John, This week we crossed 1,000 petition signatures gathered for our campaign in McAllen, a major city on the Texas-Mexico border. While GOP leaders use border communities as props in their hateful messaging campaigns, Ground Game Texas is working with the community for real, progressive cha…

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