Our Beliefs

We believe every Texan has inalienable rights that even a majority may not take away—the right to vote, the right to fair and open participation and representation in the democratic process, the right to quality public education, the right to affordable quality healthcare, the right to due process, unbiased and fair justice, the right to a clean and healthy planet, the right to privacy.

We believe in freedom from government interference in our private lives and personal decisions, to exercise civil and human rights, of religion and individual conscience, and that government may not establish or favor a religion or prohibit the free exercise of religion.

We believe in responsibility that religion and individual conscience can never serve to excuse hatred and discrimination, that people are responsible for their actions, that we, who have benefited so greatly from our state and country, have a responsibility to support and give back to our communities and public institutions, and that corporations are not people and should not be used to shield individuals from the responsibilities of their actions.

We believe in equal rights and equality under the law guaranteed in Section 3(a) of the Texas Bill of Rights, and that no state may deny any person equal protection of the laws or due process under the law as guaranteed in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

We believe in equal opportunity for all Texans to receive a quality public education, from early childhood through college, to have access to affordable, quality health care, to find a good job with dignity, to buy or rent a good home in a safe community, to breathe clean air and drink clean water, and to have our voices heard and not be drowned out by the power of unlimited money to influence or buy elections and legislation.

We believe in an America where the government must be of the people, by the people, and for the people, where the goal of government is to establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty, made stronger by the men and women who put their lives on the line when it is necessary to engage our military to secure our nation, made more secure by competent diplomatic leadership that utilize the moral, ethical, economic assets of a powerful, free nation to avoid unnecessary military conflict, and where we must constantly strive to form a more perfect union.

We believe in a Texas made stronger by the contributions of our diverse population and the equitable inclusion of all our people, blessed with economic opportunities provided by agriculture, 'old' and 'new' energy sources, renowned medical and research institutions, strong unions, and high-tech industries, and with an honest, ethical state government that serves the public interest, not the special interests of those who 'pay-to-play.'

The Texas Democratic Party (TDP) supports policies and programs that:

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Texans

Recognize historic and ongoing discrimination against Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI), including but not limited to the incarceration of Japanese Americans, Ku Klux Klan attacks against Vietnamese refugee fishers, the Chinese Exclusion Act, the "bamboo ceiling," the murder of Vincent Chin, anti-alien land laws, targeted deportation of refugees, voter suppression, and the surge in COVID-19-related anti-AANHPI hate
Condemn all forms of hate, racism, discrimination, xenophobia, and bigotry targeting AANHPI individuals, small businesses, and places of worship
Integrate and teach AANHPI contributions to American history in Texas public schools, including but not limited to the building of the Transcontinental Railroad, service in the highly decorated 442nd Infantry Regiment and the 100th Infantry Battalion, the Supreme Court decision in U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark, and involvement in Civil Rights and labor rights movements
Acknowledge that AANHPIs are not a monolith, and support disaggregating public data to accurately represent the diverse experiences and needs within AANHPI communities
Observe and celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month annually
Oppose legislation restricting AANHPIs from purchasing or owning property and land
Support improving language accessibility in government services, communication, and community engagement

Hate Crimes

Combat rising Islamophobia, anti-Black racism, anti-Asian hate, anti-Latino discrimination, anti-Sikh hate, and all other forms of bias and bigotry
Adopt enforceable requirements for law enforcement agencies to collect and report hate crimes data
Expand victim assistance, mental health services, language access, and legal support for survivors of hate crimes and their families
Promote community-based violence prevention, education, and outreach programs that build understanding across racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural communities

Racial Equity

Condemn racism, bigotry, hate-fueled speech, political violence, and the spread of misinformation and disinformation, particularly when directed at minority communities
Recognize and celebrate the contributions of Texans of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, encourage civic engagement, and applaud the ongoing contributions of marginalized communities
Protect the right of all communities to safely celebrate their cultural traditions, holidays, and events free from discrimination or intimidation
Support diversity, equity, inclusion, and similar initiatives that demonstrate positive outcomes
Oppose efforts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in schools, universities, workplaces, and other institutions
Protect minority communities from political exclusion and discrimination by establishing a state-level Voting Rights Act

Religious Freedom

Support efforts to combat Islamophobia, anti-Sikh hate, anti-Hindu discrimination, anti-Christian persecution, and all other forms of religious bigotry
Support education, community engagement, and strong enforcement of anti-discrimination and hate crime laws to ensure that every person can practice their faith free from harassment, profiling, intimidation, violence, or prejudice

Foreign Policy

Prevent foreign aggressions in American elections, and those of our allies
Condemn suppressions or oppression of the free press, including unreasonable restrictions on international press freedom
Condemn acts of violence and ethnic cleansing against any population
Promote understanding between people of the U.S. and elsewhere through non-government-sponsored cultural, university, and religious exchanges
Recognize that criticizing the policies, laws, or actions of a specific regime should never be treated as an indictment of the citizens, many of whom may lack political power, hold differing views, or suffer under those exact same policies
Enforce the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to freeze assets and ban visa applications for foreign individuals and entities responsible for or aiding egregious human rights abuses or significant corruption
Call for the release of Vietnamese and other prisoners of conscience and pro-democracy and environmentalist political prisoners who speak out against the Vietnamese communist government and other authoritarian governments
Protect Asian partners in the Pacific against threats to their sovereignty by the authoritarian government of China
Support democracy and autonomy in Hong Kong and Tibet
Support efforts to end arbitrary detention in "re-education camps" of millions of Uyghur and other ethnic minorities and to combat discrimination and human rights violations
Encourage Afghanistan to restore rights to girls and women, including equitable access to education
Condemn the acts of violence and ethnic cleansing against Myanmar's Rohingya and other minority populations and position the U.S. to play an active role in ending this humanitarian tragedy
Advocate for a values-driven foreign policy that conditions all U.S. security and military aid to Pakistan on verifiable progress toward civil supremacy, democratic rule, and judicial independence
Firmly condemn the Pakistani military’s overreach into civilian life, specifically demanding an end to the use of military courts to try civilian activists and the lifting of draconian restrictions on journalists and digital speech
Condemn mass detentions and restrictions on communications, civil rights, and human rights in Kashmir and support the right of Kashmiri people of self-determination

Excerpt from the Texas Democratic Party 2026 Platform

Passed at the 2026 Texas Democratic Convention in Corpus Christi on June 27