After Texas polls close, another political battle begins

After all the ballots are cast in Texas’ March 1 primary election, the most faithful Democrats and Republicans know their work has just begun.

The bluest of the blue and reddest of the red move on to the next step in supporting the candidates of their choice — and laying the groundwork for the future of their political party.

Precinct conventions.

Republicans head back to their polling places Election Night; Democrats go to the conventions March 19.

There, in groups large or small, they’ll choose delegates to move on to the next round of conventions and pass resolutions geared to shape their party’s platform.

“This is where the process all starts,” said Deborah Peoples, who heads the Tarrant County Democratic Party. “This is where it begins.”

Historically, crowds attending precinct conventions haven’t been overwhelming — except for in 2008, when an unexpected and overwhelming number of Democrats in Tarrant County and statewide swamped these gatherings as voters chose sides in the fierce battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

This could be the year Republicans have larger than expected crowds because of the contentious and still crowded GOP presidential battle.

But no one knows for sure.

“It’s hard to tell about the crowds,” said Jennifer Hall, who leads the Tarrant County Republican Party.

“... The more the merrier.”

Every two years

Local and state conventions are held every two years; national conventions every four years for presidential elections.

At precinct conventions, delegates are picked to move on to the senate district convention, and any ideas that might be incorporated into the party platform are submitted.

This typically quiet and often overlooked step in the political process drew attention in Texas in 2008, when more than 20,000 Democrats attended local senatorial conventions, swamping decades-old systems and procedures.

Such crowds haven’t been seen since. And they may not be seen again.

Part of the Democratic crush that year was because Texas had a “two-step” system that awarded delegates both from popular vote and through a caucus type of system.

Clinton won the popular vote that year in the Democratic primary, but ultimately Obama won more delegates through the caucuses.

Last year, the Texas Democratic Party scrapped the two-tiered system.

Republicans

For Republicans, the presidential battle might not be the only driving force propelling voters to the conventions this year.

Political analysts say the fight for the heart and soul of the party is nowhere more evident than in Tarrant County, and local voters might help finally decide whether the party should become more or less conservative.

Part of the work at these conventions is passing resolutions that ultimately may become part of the party platform. And many Republican delegates left the 2014 state convention in Fort Worth upset with parts of their controversial party platform.

Republican precinct conventions will begin at voting sites shortly after the polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Delegates chosen there move on to one of the four senatorial conventions, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. March 19.

Senate District 9 meets at the North Richland Hills Baptist Church, 6955 Boulevard 26 in North Richland Hills; District 10 gathers at the Mansfield school district Center for Performing Arts, 1110 W. Debbie Lane in Mansfield; District 12 meets at Birchman Baptist, 9100 N. Normandale St. in Fort Worth; and District 22 gathers at Crosspoint Church of Christ, 3020 Bardin Road in Grand Prairie.

Delegates chosen there will attend the party’s state convention in Dallas on May 12-14. And delegates chosen there will attend the national convention July 18-21 in Cleveland.

Democrats

For years, Democrats also headed to their precinct conventions after polls closed on Election Day.

But the party in recent years decided not to ask voters to go to their polling sites twice on Election Day and instead move precinct conventions to another day, right before senate district conventions are held.

Democrats will begin their process March 19. They will choose delegates during precinct conventions to go to senate district conventions, which are also held that day.

The precinct and senatorial conventions will be March 19 at R.L. Paschal High School, 3001 Forest Park Blvd. in Fort Worth from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a countywide meeting with all the delegates — and special speaker Gilberto Hinojosa, chairman of the Texas Democratic Party — before delegates divide into separate groups for the conventions.

Those who want to participate may preregister online.

Delegates chosen during the senatorial district conventions ultimately will attend the party’s state convention June 16-18 in San Antonio. And delegates chosen there will attend the national convention July 25-28 in Philadelphia.

This story was originally published February 27, 2016 at 6:13 PM with the headline "After Texas polls close, another political battle begins."