Texas
We organize across Texas to advance a racial and economic justice agenda through all levels of local government in the state. Across rural towns, growing cities, and large counties, we share bold ideas, organize trans-local campaigns that meet our communities’ needs, and push back against abusive state preemption.

AT A GLANCE

Local Progress Texas (LPTX) drives progressive change through collaborative governance with local partners and communities. Since becoming an official state chapter in 2019, we have mobilized elected officials from five cities to coordinate a legal strategy to fight back against SB4, connected elected officials from Austin, San Antonio and Dallas to coordinate strategies with community and labor partners to pass paid sick days policies, and organized elected officials from more than a dozen municipalities to work together on raising wages for municipal workers. See our Statement of Principles here.

LPTX currently has more than 90 members across the state, representing nearly 50 jurisdictions.

We are proud to work closely with the Texas AFL-CIO, Workers Defense Project, Texas Organizing Project, and other movement allies.

Our Work & Priorities

In Texas, our work is driven by community needs – both long-standing ones driven by historically harmful policies and exacerbated by climate change and emerging ones driven by our state’s conservative agenda. 

Right now, our statewide policy work is heavily focused on decarceral policies and protecting abortion access. 

Organizing Committee

As a member-led network, our state work is led by an incredible state organizing committee – a group of LPTX members that meet regularly to weigh in on policy priorities, propose statewide campaigns, and drive the strategic vision for our work.

Vanessa Fuentes' headshot

VANESSA FUENTES

Austin City Councilmember
LPTX Organizing Committee Co-Chair

Adam Bazaldua's headshot

ADAM BAZALDUA

Dallas City Councilmember
LPTX Organizing Committee Co-Chair

Alexsandra Anello's headshot

ALEXSANDRA ANNELLO

El Paso City Representative and Mayor Pro Tempore

David Stout's headshot

DAVID STOUT

El Paso County Commissioner

Stephanie Gharakhanian's headshot

STEPHANIE GHARAKHANIAN

Austin Community College Board Trustee

Brian Rowland's headshot

BRIAN ROWLAND

Former Prairie View Mayor

Tartisha Hill's headshot

TARTISHA HILL

Former Balch Springs Councilmember

Deb Armintor's headshot

DEB ARMINTOR

Former Denton City Councilmember

Tarsha Jackson's headshot

TARSHA JACKSON

Houston City Councilmember

Crystal Davila's headshot

CRYSTAL DAVILA

Pasadena Independent School District Trustee

Teri Castillo's headshot

TERI CASTILLO

San Antonio City Councilmember

Our State work

REFORM / TRANSFORM TEXAS

Texas relies heavily on incarceration and policing. Across the state, we are working to prioritize community needs and end mass criminalization and mass incarceration.

ABORTION & REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

In deep collaboration with local advocates, we are working at the local level to protect bodily autonomy and support abortion access – including creating practical support funds and implementing decriminalization policies.

LOCAL CONTROL

No matter the issue, local electeds are a critical voice on protecting local control and against abusive state preemption that negatively impacts communities. We develop and implement statewide campaigns to fight abusive state interference.

CLIMATE RESILIENCY

We need action at all levels of government to build resilient communities in the face of our climate crisis. In Texas, that means decentralizing our state’s power grid, creating public ownership of our energy industry, and supporting the growth of our green energy sectors.

Resources and tools

FEATURED NEWS & Stories

Texas Tribune Article: Texas continues imprisoning migrants without filing charges or appointing lawyers, court filings claim

LPTX Chapter Manager Witnesses Dehumanizing ‘Operation Lone Star’ at Texas-Mexico Border

Last week, Local Progress Texas Chapter Manager, Kara Sheehan, spent two days at the Texas-Mexico border to witness Operation Lone Star (OLS) firsthand. Here are her reflections.
LPTX member and Austin City Councilmember Zohaib “Zo” Qadri speaking at a rally for local democracy in St. Louis, MO.

LPTX State Download 🍁 | A win for local democracy, next steps in the fight, & upcoming events! | September 2023

See what’s in store for our LPTX Chapter!
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott speaks Texas State Capitol in Austin on May 18, 2020.

‘A Huge Win’: Texas Judge Finds Law Limiting Local Rule Is Unconstitutional

"When local policymaking is stifled, community voices are silenced," said Local Progress Texas, Texas AFL-CIO, Workers Defense Project, the ACLU of Texas, and Every Texan.
Henry Gomez uses a blower to dry his clothes after working with a crew to remove a tree during a heatwave in Houston, Texas, on 24 August. Photograph: Adrees Latif/Reuters

Texas judge blocks bill that would allow state to override local water breaks rules

Local Progress Texas, Every Texan, Texas AFL-CIO, ACLU Texas, and Workers Defense Project explain what this win means.