Reaching Young Adults in Texas
by: Delia Parker-Mims
Here’s the truth: as a new candidate, or if I’m running for re-election… every time my name has been on the ballot in Denton County we’ve increase Democratic turnout.
Why? One reason is our effective activation of first-time voters and/or newly registered voters; we engage with voters where they’re at. I do not believe in “one size fits all” when it comes to engaging voters, and I have a plan for us all to reach and activate more Gen-Z voters in Texas.
We all know that younger voters turn to Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to get their information. In Denton County, we invested in those mediums with dynamic posts and informational content to persuade AND to educate young adults on the voting process. Through our community outreach, calls and block-walking efforts we learned that new voters were intimidated about going into a voting precinct on election day because they simply did not know what to expect. Videos and tutorials with music and humor engaged our target audience and increased followers. Eventually it brought them to the polls.
We met our young voters where they were at and drove enthusiasm. As a result, we increased voter turnout in Denton County.
In my work as a family attorney and a political activist, I’ve connected with Denton County youth through school programs, educational advocacy, and university group trainings on trending topics. I have built relationships and support in a growing base of now college- and voting-aged members of my community — they are now active and energized to help GOTV efforts every time we ask them to show up! And they SHOW UP!
As Texas Democratic Party Chair, I will expand and distribute my playbook to all Democratic Party county chairs in Texas so that we can replicate the success of the DCDP and further energize, activate, and optimize Democratic youth across Texas. We need them — after all, they are the ones who will inherit what we leave behind!
One Team means working across counties, demographics, and generations to meet our Democratic goals. Vote for me to be your next Chair of the Texas Democratic party and let’s start winning!