As Super Tuesday Approaches, Houston Leaders Weigh in On Why the Ethnic Vote Counts
Gene Wu, State Representative, District 137 in the Texas House, Jeffrey L. Boney, City Councilmember, Missouri City, Texas, Penny Morales Shaw, State Representative, 148th District in the Texas House
of Representatives, Teneshia Hudspeth, Harris County Clerk, Texas recorded Zoom
(Houston, TX) During a news briefing on February 22, organized by Houston Ethnic Media (HEM), seasoned lawmakers, community figures, and election officials shared their insights and personal experiences regarding the significance of the ethnic vote.
Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth, reflecting on her journey from childhood civic exposure to a prominent leadership role in Texas’ largest county, highlighted the need for increased public awareness about voting, particularly during primary elections. Hudspeth emphasized the alarming statistics of low voter turnout in Harris County, revealing that, out of 2.5 million registered voters, just over 30,000 had participated in early voting in person or by mail in Texas.
State Representative Gene Wu underscored the pivotal role of minority communities in driving political change, citing Fort Bend’s transformation from a white minority electorate to a majority of people of color. Wu warned against rising anti-Asian hate crimes and discriminatory laws affecting Asian immigrants, emphasizing the deepening political polarization.
City Councilmember Jeffrey L. Boney discussed his efforts in Missouri City to rename streets with controversial names and promote equity through a disparity study. Boney stressed the importance of representation in decision-making, stating, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.”
State Representative Penny Morales Shaw emphasized the critical nature of voter participation, recounting her own election victory by a slim margin of 200 votes. She pointed to aggressive attempts to restrict voting rights as evidence of the power each vote holds.
AJ Durrani, Treasurer of EMGAGE-TX and the first Muslim American on the Democratic National Committee, highlighted significant strides in voter registration among Muslims, emphasizing their impact in swing states during recent elections. Durrani urged Muslims to engage in the electoral process, citing the potential influence of the Muslim vote as a decisive factor in key states.
In addressing concerns about global issues, Durrani encouraged the Muslim community to remain politically active and support local candidates aligned with their values, emphasizing the importance of not sitting out elections.
