Texas Forward Party | Statewide Townhall - February 17, 2026

Описание: Thanks for joining our February Statewide Townhall!

We are kicking off a new phase for the Texas Forward Party: Building the Muscle. In this update, we detail our shift from "startup mode" to "action mode" by establishing the real-world infrastructure needed to break the gridlock in the Texas Legislature.

We introduce the new County Chairs in Harris, Travis, and Cameron Counties who are leading this charge, and we lay out the roadmap to our First Elected State Convention in April—a historic moment where we will transition to a member-led party structure.

WHAT WE COVERED:
• Building From the Ground Up: Why we are prioritizing grassroots and in-person connection in 2026.
• A New Chapter: State Chair Rick Kennedy announces the transition to our first elected leadership team; Brandon David & Becky Neely to lead the interim.
• New Leadership: Meet the new County Chairs: John Flud (Harris), Ed Graham (Travis), and Ciara Perez (Cameron).
• The "Wedge" Strategy: How our ground game will support independent candidates like Mike Collier, William Taggart, Veronica Williams, and Raj Vats.
• Convention Roadmap: Preparing for Precinct & County Conventions in March, leading to the State Convention in Austin.

TAKE ACTION FOR 2026
🟣 Become a Precinct Chair (We Need You!) → https://www.txfwd.org/volunteer
📅 RSVP for the State Convention (April 10-11) → https://www.texasforwardparty.org/joi...
💲 Donate to Fuel the Movement → https://www.txfwd.org/donate
🖨️ Print Your Own "Be A Founder" Posters → https://www.texasforwardparty.org/print
📍 Find an Event Near You → https://www.texasforwardparty.org/events

SUPPORT INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES
• Mike Collier - https://collierfortexas.com/
• William Taggart - https://williamtaggart.org/
• Veronica Williams - https://www.veronicagwilliams.com/
• Raj Vats - Harris County District Clerk (contact: [email protected])

ABOUT TEXAS FORWARD PARTY
The Texas Forward Party is building a credible, durable alternative to the two-party system for the millions of Texans who feel left behind by today’s politics. We are uniting independent thinkers from across the political spectrum to advance a platform rooted in shared values, not partisan division. Our mission is to balance the state legislature, ensure competitive elections, and put power back in the hands of voters to deliver real, data-driven solutions.

Learn more → https://www.texasforwardparty.org

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Key Moments:
00:00 – Welcome & The "Why"
02:10 – Rick Kennedy’s Announcement: Stepping Down as Chair
06:50 – The Transition Plan & New Leadership Structure
08:51 – The 2026 Strategy: Building From the Ground Up
10:27 – The Data: Why 45% of Voters are Ready (Gallup Poll)
12:15 – Timeline: County Conventions (March) & State Convention (April)
12:57 – What Does an "Organized County" Look Like?
15:38 – Harris County Update: Meet Chair John Flud
18:32 – Travis County Update: Meet Chair Ed Graham
21:18 – State Convention Details: What to Expect April 10-11
25:48 – Convention Socials: The "Forward 10K" & Post-Party
28:27 – Supporting Independent Candidates (Signatures & Support)
31:40 – Call to Action: Become a Precinct Chair
32:39 – Q&A: When Can Independents Collect Signatures?
34:16 – How to Fuel the Movement (Donation Ask)
36:45 – Cameron County Update: Meet Chair Ciara Perez
40:52 – Candidate Spotlight: Raj Vats (Harris County District Clerk)
42:04 – Closing Remarks & Next Steps