WASHINGTON -- More than 500 Texas Democrats enjoyed barbecue, Tito's vodka and a newfound feeling of power Sunday as activists celebrated their five new U.S. House members, including Fort Worth's Marc Veasey, as part of the weekend's inauguration festivities.
The audience broke away from the food that reminded them of home long enough to whoop it up, Texas-style, for the speakers, including San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro and state Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth.Castro, who was greeted with a roar from the crowd, was definitely the marquee attraction, even though his identical twin, Joaquin, is one of the five new Democratic U.S. House members."In six to eight years, Texas is going to be a Democratic state," said Julian Castro. He gave three reasons: "the demographics, the influx of more moderate voters from other parts of the country and the fact that Republicans have just gone off the rails."Earlier, asked by the Star-Telegram about the second inauguration of President Barack Obama, he said, "It's a magnificent moment for the country."Davis was also a crowd-pleaser, shouting, "Hello, Texas Democrats in D.C.!""It's a miracle I'm standing here today still a Texas state senator," Davis said, praising the work of the event sponsor, the Lone Star Project, in helping her fight redistricting and the GOP's efforts to defeat her."It didn't happen by accident that in Tarrant County, the reddest county in Texas and all of the United States, I got elected," Davis declared.For Veasey, who is African-American, the fact that the ceremonial swearing-in falls on Martin Luther King Day had a special resonance. "That makes me feel really proud," he told the Star-Telegram. "Obama symbolizes a lot to me and the constituents we serve."The "Magnificent Five," as U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Houston called them, are: Reps. Pete Gallego of Alpine, Beto O'Rourke of El Paso, Filemon Vela of Brownsville, Castro and Veasey.The only Texan in the Obama Cabinet, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, a former Dallas mayor, was especially animated as he spoke to the crowd."Everybody in Washington has their eyes on the state of Texas," he said. "The question is not 'if' Texas is going to turn blue but 'when' we're going to turn blue."Kirk, who is not expected to stay in a second term, said in an interview that "I'm very excited to see the next generation of leaders." He said he would "have something to say" about his future plans after the inauguration.Some of the North Texas lawmakers at the event included Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns, Tarrant County Commissioner Roy Brooks and Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings.But the focus was on the U.S. House members as Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, noted, this election was a big reversal from Democratic fortunes when he was elected in the GOP wave year of 1994."This is the largest group of new Democrats since 1978 when I was first elected," said former U.S. Rep. Martin Frost, who represented parts of Tarrant County for 26 years.Maria Recio is the Star-Telegram's Washington bureau chief, 202-383-6103Twitter: @maria_e_recioHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
