THE VOICE

Volume 27 . Issue 11 . November 2025

WHITNEY WHITE

President

November 4^th was a good day for Democrats across the country! Voters in nine states in state and local elections allowed Democrats to retain positions or to make gains. In many of these elections, voters showed up in larger numbers than we have seen in recent years. When the people show up and vote, our voices are heard and can effect change.

Virginia Governor: Abigail Spanberger, Virginia’s first female governor, a former CIA case officer and Democratic U.S. House member.
New Jersey Governor: Mikie Sherill, a Navy veteran and moderate secured a third consecutive Democratic administration.
New York City Mayor: Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old Democratic socialist claimed victory as NYC’s first Muslim mayor and its youngest in more than a century.
Virginia Lieutenant Governor: Ghazala Hashmi, the first Muslim woman to win statewide office in the country.
Virginia Attorney General: Jay Jones, narrowly won over the incumbent, despite a text scandal.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court: Democrats secured all three incumbent seats, preserving their 5-2 advantage.
California Proposition 50: California voters approved allowing the legislature and Giv Newsom to redraw congressional district lines, a direct response to Republican-led redistricting in Texas and other states.
Georgia Public Service Commission: Democrats won seats for the first time since 2000, securing 2 seats and narrowing the Republican majority to 3-2.
Mississippi Legislature: Democrats took two Republican seats following court-ordered special elections and redistricting.
Connecticut Mayoral Elections: Democrats flipped mayoralties in Stratford, Milford, New Britain.
New Jersey Assembly: Democrats flipped at least three seats to gain a supermajority for the first time since 2019.

Our job now remains the same as it has been over the past ten months.

Speak up! Stand up! Show up!

November BAD meeting:

Thursday, November 13

11:30 a.m.

28 Songs Brewery & Kitchen

The speaker will be

KENDALL SCUDDER

Texas Democratic Party Chair

Make plans to attend the November BAD meeting!

Members will be voting on the proposed slate of 2026 officers:

President: Susan Dollar

Vice President: Rachel Kilgore

Secretary: Shawn Bonner

Membership: Robin Prescott

Treasurer: Melinda Huff

Publicity & Social Media: Kelly Skovbjerg

Webmaster: Andy Wine

Member at Large: Martha Barker

Member at Large: Lynn Bellow

Member at Large: Richard Caldwell

No BAD meeting in December

Instead - make plans to attend the

HOLIDAY PARTY

Sunday, December 14

4:00 p.m.

Las Guitarras Restaurant, Boerne

$25 per person

LAURA BRAY

Kendall County Democratic Party Chair

NOTES FROM THE CHAIR

Thanks to all who turned out for our biggest protest ever on Saturday, October 18!! We had a crowd of over 800 folks. (See photos below.) Monster thanks go to Peg and her outstanding team for organizing such a successful event. Boerne Police provided outstanding security, and your generous donations (over $1300!) more than offset the costs of that coverage. THANK YOU.

Republicans Own This Government Shutdown

The President and his lackeys control the government, and this shutdown is on them. Now they’re talking about not backpaying federal employees and troops. People are calling Speaker Johnson in tears, saying they’re losing livelihoods – even that their kids can die – begging him to open the government. But he can’t because he doesn’t have the President’s permission.

Republicans keep trying to blame Democrats for the shutdown, but let’s not forget: the President himself once said a shutdown is the President’s fault. Now they’re lying that noncitizens are getting access to healthcare, but let’s be real – these Republicans would lie to their own mothers if it meant staying on the President’s good side.

The President and his MAGA allies are holding America hostage for their own political power. While families suffer, they’re proving once again they care more about chaos than governing. Time for more calls and emails, this time, to our useless US Senators and Congressman, to tell them to *stop this shutdown.*

RESIST!

BAD BOOK CLUB

Wednesday, November 19

5:30 p.m. at the Dem office

Book Selection:

Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice

by Virginia Roberts Giuffre

"Cibolo Creek Indivisible TX supports coordinated non-violent resistance to authoritarian government, assists and advocates for individuals affected by the uncertain government landscape through education and communication, and actively supports courageous political candidates who believe in participatory democracy and government for all people, compassion, diversity, and the rule of law."

Cibolo Creek Indivisible TX, headed up by Georgia and Gary Miller, is partnering with Bandera to support the "The Black and White of Fascism" Protest, on November 15, 9-11am, 500 Main Street, Bandera.

Please join the Bandera County Protest Committee for our first in-county rally event. Inspired by an event in Union County, Oregon. We encourage (if possible) black and white attire for the event. Our participants will be using signs with black backgrounds and white lettering. This inspiring event can be seen at: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1295568082227327

GOOD STUFF!

October 18 was a great day in Boerne!

Over 800 people turned out for the No Kings proteston Main Street! People came for all over the area with their signs, their enthusiasm and their belief that we must stand up for democracy. There were people of all ages from all walks of life that joined in to send a message to Washington that in America, we don't do kings! Even the passers-by were supportive with honks, waves, thumbs up and signs on their cars.

Many thanks to the Boerne Police Department

and to the donors who made it possible to hire security.

KUDOS TO THE COMFORT NEWS!

If the newspaper is said to be “the first draft of history,” sometimes the newspaper enterprise gets to take its place in that history. The Texas Historical Commission bestows the Texas Treasure Business Award on for-profit businesses that have been in continuous operation under local ownership in Texas for 50 years or more.

The Comfort News was recently won this outstanding designation!

Michael and Deborah Hawkins, owners and publishers (pictured below),

accepted the award for the newspaper, which has been

continuously published every week since 1904!

MARKET DAYS

October 11-12

Thanks to all the volunteers that helped staff the Democratic booth at Market Days. Forty people signed up to be added to our newsletter lists!

Saturday Night Supper Club met at Bella Sera in Boerne on October 25.

Although the group was small, a good time was had by all!

The Comfort Area Democrats, Independents, and Others (CADIO) had a great evening social at the MixHaus Art Gallery (photos below).

The next CADIO meeting is on November 11 at noon at the Fajita Street restaurant. If you wish to order lunch (not required) please come a little early so we can start the meeting on time at noon. The guest speaker will be Susan Die from the Comfort Food Pantry.

CADIO will be presenting a donation check to Susan for the Pantry. Also, thanks to our very creative member, Mary Richards, we will have Christmas wreaths members may acquire for a suggested donation of $60.

All proceeds will go to the Pantry.

A sincere THANK YOU to the five brave folks who came out on Saturday morning, November 1, to pick up the trash along Hwy. 3351. While picking up trash, they also found $161! The money was donated to Hill Country Family Services to help families in need. This is the true spirit of Democrats!

CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS!

TEXAS HOUSE

District 19 – Ellen Troxclair

Phone: 512-463-0490

Email: https://house.texas.gov/members/19

Local Address: 624 N. Main St, Boerne TX 78006

District 122 – Mark Dorazio

Phone: 512-463-0646

Email: https://house.texas.gov/members/122

Local Address: 4634 De Zavala Rd, SA TX 78249

TEXAS SENATE

District 25 – (Dr.) Donna Campbell

Phone: 512-463-0125

Email: https://senate.texas.gov/memberform.php?auth=9fCNAzPuZ3ZVgORwYpMOC%2FydJRQPKU9w0d0Dw3vgCbs6XzpfOi%2BilhrUxx2r0tuuD3VELIChCEs5BtKpV3aq8n7y%2FTNMG2vcOnw6fDrzf4MPuVpyOMVSm1YJebOU&lang=en

District Address: 229 Hunters Village, Ste. 105, New Braunfels TX 78132

U.S. CONGRESS

Senator Ted Cruz

Email: https://www.cruz.senate.gov/contact/write-ted

DC office: 202-224-5922

South/Central TX office: 210-340-2885

District Office: 9901 IH-10W, Ste 950, SA TX 78230

Senator John Cornyn

Email: https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/share-opinion/

DC office: 202-224-2934

San Antonio office: 210-224-7485

District Office: 600 Navarro, Ste 210, SA TX 78205

U. S. REPRESENTATIVES

District 21 – Chip Roy

San Antonio office:

Phone: 210-821-5024

Fax: 771-200-5819

16414 San Pedro Ave, # 817, SA TX 78232

Kerrville Office:

Phone: 830-896-0154

125 Lehmann Dr, # 201, Kerrville TX 78028

DC office: 202-225-4236

Email: https://roy.house.gov/contact

District 23 – Tony Gonzales

San Antonio office:

Phone: 210-806-9920

Fax: 210-927-4903

4372 N. Loop 1604 W, # 205, SA TX 78249 (By Appt Only)

DC office:

Phone: 202-225-4511

Fax: 202-2225-2237

Email: https://gonzales.house.gov/contact

TEXAS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

District 10 – Tom Maynard

Phone: 12-763-2801

Fax: 512-763-9517

Email: tom@maynardfortexas.com

It's time to pay your

November BAD membership dues!

PLEASE CONSIDER BECOMING A

RECURRING DONOR!

Donations are still critical so that we can continue to support candidates, important causes, our scholarship program, and our Democratic office. Please consider becoming a recurring donor! It’s really easy to set up your recurring donation via ActBlue. Simply go to https://secure.actblue.com/ and click on Sign In to enter your information. You can also donate via a credit card, an auto-withdrawal from your bank, or by mailing a check to BAD, P.O. Box 2132, Boerne, TX, 78006.sh

PLEASE NOTE:

THE BAD BOARD has made the decision to raise membership dues beginning on January 1, 2026. Due to the rising costs of our operations, we need to increase our revenue.

In addition to raising money for Democratic candidates and our annual scholarship, we also pay for our BAD website and the domain name, the newsletter program Constant Contact, Sign-up Genius (used for RSVPs and volunteer schedules), and we assist the Kendall County Democratic Party with office rent and expenses.

In January, dues will go up to:

$15 for students

$45 for those 60 or over

$60 for those under 60

You can join BAD or renew your membership dues online by clicking here:

boerne-area-democrats.com/membership

NEW T-SHIRTS NOW AVAILABLE!

Get your latest Democratic t-shirt now!

They are $20 each and are available at the Democratic office and at our BAD meetings.

Click on any of these icons to be taken to their web pages.

GET INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY!

Let your voices be heard by attending these community meetings.

Click on any of the icons for more information.

Boerne City Council meets at 6:00 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 447 N. Main Street, Boerne.

The Planning and Zoning Commission meetings are held on the first Monday of each month in the Ronald C. Bowman Council Chambers at City Hall, 447 N. Main Street, Boerne.

The Kendall County Commissioner's Court meets on the 2nd and 4th Monday at 9:00 a.m. in the County Courthouse, 201 E. San Antonio Street, 3rd floor.

The Fair Oaks City Council meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the FOR City Hall, 7286 Dietz Elkhorn Road, FOR.

The Comfort ISD Board of Trustees meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the CISD Central Office, 327 High Street, Comfort.

The Boerne ISD Board of Trustees meets on the 4th Monday of each month at 5:00 p.m. in the Administrative Offices, 235 Johns Road.

The Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District meets on the 2nd Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at 9 Topperwein Road, Boerne.

BOERNE AREA DEMOCRATS BOARD

President: Whitney White

Vice President: Rachel Kilgore

Secretary: Robin Prescott

Treasurer: Michele Smith

Membership: Shawn Bonner

Publicity: Corrine Castillo

Webmaster: Andy Wine

Past President: Susan Dollar

Ex Officio member: Laura Bray, KCDP

Connect with us!

JOIN THE BOERNE AREA DEMOCRATS

Membership Form

Email: BAD@boerne-area-democrats.com

Web: boerne-area-democrats.org

Facebook: facebook.com/boerne.area.democrats

Notice Regarding Photography and/or Audio/Video Recording

The Boerne Area Democrats captures photographs and/or audio/video recordings during our events.

Such photographs and recordings may be used in BAD's advertising and social media relations to let others know of our events. In addition, local news organizations may hear of our events, and BAD may allow them to record events for news reporting. If you do not wish to be in photos/videos,

please let the photographer/videographer know in advance.

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