Dolores Huerta, the esteemed Latina labor and civil rights advocate, made a surprise appearance at the Texas Democratic Party’s convention in Corpus Christi on Friday. During an engaging Q&A session, she urged party members to mobilize and enhance voter turnout ahead of the upcoming elections, emphasizing the necessity of a robust grassroots organizing effort to transform Texas into a Democratic stronghold.
At 96 years old, Huerta asserted, “The eyes of the world are going to be on Texas — what happens in Texas is going to affect the United States of America.” Speaking with Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones, she called on everyone to commit to relentless organizing efforts leading up to Election Day in November.
Huerta, who co-founded the United Farm Workers of America with the late Cesar Chavez, has long championed the causes of labor rights, fair wages, and women’s rights. As she concluded her remarks, she energized the audience with the rallying cry “sí, se puede” — Spanish for “yes, you can” — a phrase that has become synonymous with labor and political movements.
This unexpected visit comes at a critical juncture for Texas Democrats, who are striving to reclaim their status as the party representing working-class citizens and to reconnect with Latino voters, especially those in blue-collar sectors. Recent polling indicates a shift back toward the Democratic Party among Latino voters, driven by dissatisfaction with Republican leadership and unmet economic promises.
In a recent investigation published by The New York Times, Huerta and two other women alleged that Chavez had subjected them to sexual abuse and fostered a culture that objectified women. This revelation has prompted a reevaluation of the legacy of Chavez, who passed away in 1993.
Briones opened the discussion by asking Huerta how she persevered in a male-dominated field rife with challenges. Huerta responded, “We make the decisions in a selfless way, always having faith in ourselves and the work that we’re doing, thinking about how our choices will impact everyone else.”
Following the allegations against Chavez, Huerta publicly reflected on the abuse, stating, “I carried this secret for as long as I did because building the movement and securing farmworker rights was my life’s work. … The farmworker movement has always been bigger and far more important than any one individual.”
Huerta called on Texas Democrats to actively engage their communities through local events and gatherings, such as jewelry-making and Tupperware parties, to encourage voting participation. She framed voting as a powerful tool to address injustices and combat the immigration policies of the Trump administration, along with advocating for the long-delayed Equal Rights Amendment.
“All of the punishment that we have seen that has been spent on our community — if we’re not angry at this point, we should be,” Huerta declared. “The way you make change is by getting people together, taking direct action, and making it political, getting people to vote. … It’s that simple.”
However, increasing voter turnout in Texas poses a significant challenge, as the state has consistently recorded some of the lowest voting rates in the nation, ranking fifth-to-last in 2024.
As she prepared to conclude her address, Huerta led the crowd in a spirited chant aimed at empowering them: “Who’s got the power?” she asked. “We’ve got the power!” the audience responded. “What kind of power?” she pressed. “People power!”
“You are going to save democracy in Texas, you are going to save democracy in the United States of America,” Huerta concluded passionately. “You are going to make an impact on the entire world. All of you right here, you can make this happen.”
