Michael Barnes, a schoolteacher from Edcouch in South Texas, wants to be chair of the Texas Democratic Party, and he's making his way around the state trying to gather support from delegates in advance of the party's state convention later this month in Corpus Christi. It's an uphill fight. He's politically inexperienced and will face incumbent chairman Boyd Richie of Graham, a popular figure inside the party and a longtime player (along with his wife, Betty) in Texas Democratic politics. Barnes says it's time for fresh blood, for change. "Since when is zero-for-29 a winning ...

Full Story