March Primaries & Mom's Spaghetti

Welcome to 2026. We may have slid in sideways and dusty - maybe not in one piece. But we're here. We're showing up. We're fighting back. If you haven't joined that fight - well.... It's. Time.

Primary Elections are right around the corner, and now is THE TIME to get informed, get prepared, and get involved.
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If elections feel confusing, you’re not alone—so let’s start at the very beginning.

Explaining a Primary Election

In Texas, a Primary Election is the step that happens before the big election you hear about in November. Instead of choosing between different political parties, the Primary is when voters help decide who each party will put forward as their final candidate. Think of it as narrowing down the options.

Texas has what’s called an open Primary. That simply means you don’t sign up as a Democrat or Republican ahead of time. When you go vote in the Primary, you choose which party’s ballot you want to vote on that day. That choice is only for that election—it does not lock you into a party or follow you in the future.

What does this have to do with spaghetti?

My mom used to love to tell us kids, "You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit."

Picture being invited into the kitchen while dinner plans are being discussed. You REALLY want spaghetti. But when you’re asked what sounds good—you stay silent. Then when dinner gets served, you're aghast to see a plate of meatloaf, carrots, and salad on the table.

The thing is - you didn’t say anything. So you can’t really be too shocked when something you didn’t want ends up on your plate (especially orange carrots...)

Primary elections are the moment to speak up. If you don’t participate, you still live with the outcome.

This is why primaries matter so much. Fewer people tend to vote in them, which means each vote has more influence. Participating in a primary election is one of the most effective ways to create change. If we want leaders who reflect our values, priorities, and communities, this is where that process begins.

HOMEWORK

Whether this is your first time voting in a primary or you’ve done it many times before, a little preparation goes a long way. We encourage everyone to visit our VOTE page, where you can:

• Check your voter registration status
• Begin the application to register to vote
• Learn about the candidates and the offices on the ballot
• ​Make a plan for when, where, and how you’ll vote

Voting isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about participating.

When more people take part early, our elections better reflect the people they’re meant to serve. Let’s show up, get informed, and use this opportunity to make our voices heard.

​Your voice matters—especially in the primary. Let’s use it.

In solidarity,
​The VCDP Team