“These issue-driven campaigns can help engage and galvanize those who might feel disconnected from mainstream politics.”

Houston Chronicle: As Houston turns more blue, the mayoral race gives young progressives an opportunity to shine

Molly Cook, a Democratic activist running for Whitmire’s state senate seat, agreed that the progressive community's years of groundwork are beginning to yield some results.

Within six months, she says, the campaign gathered over 23,000 signatures to add Proposition B to the November ballot. The ballot measure, if approved, would require Houston to withdraw from any regional planning group without a proportional voting structure based on population size.

Cook said these issue-driven campaigns can help engage and galvanize those who might feel disconnected from mainstream politics.

“It’s difficult to affect electoral dynamics in one cycle,” she said, before adding that this kind of proposition would almost certainly boost turnout.

— Molly Cook, a Democratic activist running for Whitmire’s state senate seat