The purpose of Texas Democratic Women (TDW) is to increase the participation and influence of Democratic women in Texas government and politics. To achieve this goal, we act through a board of directors and an advisory board at the State level together with local TDW chapters across the State.

TDW takes action in many ways:

• Two state board officers serve as official add-on members of the State Democratic Party Executive Committee (SDEC);
• Blue Ribbon Lobby Day during every legislative session when hundreds of women arrive at the Capitol to talk directly to representatives and senators;
• an annual convention in Austin every February where we host workshops and develop new strategies;
• a summer retreat when we again work on perfecting our strategies in a “get-away” environment;
• a monthly newsletter by which we stay in touch directly with all members;
• social media posts to keep our members informed of current events – and,
• most importantly, by members at the local level working side by side to grow their numbers and energize their members to “roll up their sleeves” to elect better officials.

TDW is an affiliate member of the National Federation of Democratic Women (NFDW), an organization formed in 1971. TDW’s and NFDW’s goals are aligned: to encourage women to get involved in all aspects of the political process and to run for elected office. NFDW has created “Women in Blue: A Blueprint on Effective Advocacy,” an instructive manual on how we retain or regain our power, engage and use our political influence for societal good.

Texas Democratic Women was organized in 1987 as one response to the growing political interest expressed by mainstream women from across the state. TDW promotes the increased political activity and influence of Democratic women in Texas politics and government. TDW provides statewide training conferences and workshops. In addition, the group serves as a communication network for existing Democratic women’s organizations and promotes the formation of new groups.

There are many organized groups that represent certain segments of women Democrats in Texas. Some are tied to a particular city or county in the state; others reflect particular issue agendas or ethnic groups. Some groups attract women in a specific age category or occupation. Of course, there are professional and career women in our party, but there are also many women who work in the home or are retired. None of these organizations currently represent the broad range of women in our Party. Texas Democratic Women works to unite this wonderful diversity of devoted women behind one common goal – the support of our Party and the involvement of women in the political process.

Texas Democratic Women (TDW) was organized in 1987 to elect more women to all levels of office and to assist in the growth of the Democratic party in Texas. Jeanie Stanley of Kilgore, who served as the first president of TDW, was instrumental in the group’s founding. The organization particularly seeks to achieve its goals through increased political activity and influence of women members of the Democratic party in the state.

TDW has worked closely with such groups as the Texas Women’s Political Caucus and the League of Women Voters of Texas and in 1992 participated with these and other organizations in a statewide voter registration project.

Also in 1992 TDW was selected to host in Austin the 1993 convention of the National Federation of Democratic Women. In 1992 the president of TDW was Mae J. Jackson of Waco, the first African American woman ever elected as Mayor of Waco. Currently, one of the annual TDW awards is the “Mae Jackson” award.