This morning Blue America got a letter from our old comrade, Mike Siegel down in Austin. He asked me to share it. So…
Sending love from Texas! I just wanted you to know that yesterday I’ve launched a campaign for Austin City Council, and it would not be possible without the support that so many of you gave when I was running for Congress in 2018 and 2020. The struggle for political change is a long-term fight, and your investment in my work years ago has put me in position to run for this very important seat in local government.
In Texas, a lot of national “experts” don’t think that we can change our statewide leadership until 2030 or later, due to the combined oppression of gerrymandering and voter suppression, among many factors. But those of us who live here know that political change is not a switch that can be turned on and off, but rather is a result of countless actions by people committed to struggle.
My campaign for city council is very much part of the larger work of changing Texas politics. Since my last campaign in 2020 (when I was Democratic nominee for Congress in the Texas 10th, supported by Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, and Blue America), I’ve been busy working across the state to support local organizing through a grassroots advocacy organization, Ground Game Texas. One of the things I’ve seen is that the work of the Austin City Council inspires action in cities across the state.
When Austin passed a paid sick leave policy, San Antonio and Dallas followed. When Austin sued Greg Abbott to stop a hateful anti-immigrant law, SB4, cities across Texas joined suit. When Austin passed a post-Dobbs law to ensure local police weren’t arresting people for seeking abortion, dozens of communities followed. In a state where the fascist GOP controls statewide office and the Legislature, it’s progressive cities like Austin that make the biggest impact to build towards progressive change.
That’s why I’m running for Austin City Council. This position is really important! And I’ve got deep stakes in this community. It’s where my wife and I have laid down roots, it’s where we’re raising our children, and it’s where we intend to stay. We believe that this community has what it takes to confront the intersecting crises hitting our communities, from the affordability crisis, to the climate crisis, to the crisis of democracy in a GOP-dominated Texas.
I’ve spent my 25-year professional career as a teacher and civil rights lawyer, building coalitions for social change. When I ran for Congress in 2018 and 2020, I helped build a movement that included thousands of volunteers, tens of thousands of donors, and an array of organizations including unions, environmental groups, progressive organizations and more.
I know Blue America is primarily concerned with federal races, but I wanted to reach out to let y’all know that you’re having an impact at the grassroots level as well. I’d love to earn your continued support, and appreciate everything you do.
In solidarity,
Mike Siegel