BRIEFING ROOM

Last weekend, I went down to San Antonio, Texas, with several other JAC members to knock on doors for U.S. Senate Candidate for Texas James Talarico and Johnny Garcia (candidate for TX-35). While I’ve phone-banked and text-banked before, this was my first time canvassing. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I was excited but also nervous about approaching strangers and starting conversations about politics, especially down South. However, once we started, my nerves quickly subsided as we were welcomed with positive interactions one door to the next.

Being in San Antonio gave me the opportunity to step outside the political bubble I’ve grown used to and experience a different part of the country firsthand. It was a reminder that the people, perspectives, and experiences shaping our elections extend far beyond the conversation we often have in our own communities. When people thanked us for coming all the way from Chicago and Los Angeles because we care so deeply about Texas elections, or when strangers came to hug us for proudly wearing “vote for Talarico” t-shirts in public, I was reminded that showing up for people can be a powerful way to demonstrate that their voices matter and their communities are worth investing in. 

In a political climate that can often feel defined by division and frustration, it was refreshing to meet people who were willing to engage, listen, and share their perspectives. There is real value in showing up, listening, and engaging with people where they are.

This experience reinforced for me that grassroots organizing is about so much more than encouraging someone to vote. It's about creating connections, understanding what matters to people, and recognizing that every conversation is an opportunity to engage someone in the democratic process. Political advocacy can sometimes feel abstract when we’re focused on legislation, campaigns, and election results, but canvassing brings that work down to the individual level. It puts people and their voices at the center of democracy.

At JAC, our work is rooted in turning our values into political action. My time in Texas was a meaningful reminder that it takes people willing to step outside their comfort zone, have conversations, and foster community, even hundreds of miles away, to make change happen. I left San Antonio with a deeper appreciation for the power of showing up. Even one conversation can be part of something much bigger.