Tensions remain in Texas’ Democratic delegation in Philadelphia

As the Democratic National Convention kicked off under the cloud of an email scandal resulting in the Democratic Party chief stepping down, the gap of discord continued to widen between supporters of Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton in the Texas delegation.

Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa wants the focus back on the need for the party to overlook their differences and get to work on winning the election. “No matter what happens we will work together to make Hillary Clinton the next president of the United States,” Hinojosa said.

Phillip DeNicolo, a delegate from the Coryell County and a Clinton supporter, said the incident is disappointing and unfortunate. “She was supposed to be unbiased and the emails show she was not fair as she should be,” DeNicolo said.

State Sen. Sylvia Garcia tried to build some enthusiasm with a chant of: “Get ready, get fired up!”

“We have the power to vote and we are going to do it,” Garcia declared.

But it wasn’t working on everyone.

“Their unity efforts are not enough,” said Clarissa Rodriquez, a delegate from Galveston and the youngest Sanders supporter in the state delegation. “Right now Sanders supporters have a lot of disdain.”

Although Sanders supporter Rodriquez does not want Trump to win, she says she will need more than the standard “it’s a vote for Trump” rhetoric to get her to back Clinton.

“Of course I do not want Trump,” said Rodriguez. “You have to give me a reason to vote for Hillary.”

This story was originally published July 25, 2016 at 6:09 PM with the headline "Tensions remain in Texas’ Democratic delegation in Philadelphia."