A New Era for the Travis County Democratic Party

After years of infighting and a tumultuous election in March, the TCDP must now proceed as one


Just after 11pm on the night of this year's primary election, Dyana Limon-Mercado announced to a crowd of advisers and supporters gathered at the South Austin Third Base that local attorney Anne Wynne had just called to concede the race for chairperson of the Travis County Democratic Party.

"I'm in shock," Limon-Mercado exclaimed, "so I really don't have eloquent words prepared. I also wasn't planning to give a speech either way, because I was just going to be like, 'Fuck all this shit. I'm ready to go to bed.'"

The race for the position, which is responsible for fundraising and ultimately getting Democrats elected into public offices throughout the county (and driving turnout for statewide races), had been particularly close. Early voting had her up by one percentage point. By the end of the night, she had increased that lead to two. The underdog planning to close the night by saying "fuck all this shit" ousted the onetime appointee of Ann Richards, who'd been recruited to run by some of the most influential members of the party.

Such support likely would have carried Wynne to victory in any other year. But the circumstances that led to this year's election were rather unprecedented, and Limon-Mercado ran a campaign that would ultimately reel in a consequential string of endorsements from those beyond the typical kingmakers.

Read more: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2018-06-15/a-new-era-for-the-travis-county-democratic-party/