On Sunday, December 5, Kim Olson announced her campaign for Chair of the Texas Democratic Party. She is endorsed by over two hundred donors, activists, candidates, and party officials from Galveston, Fort Bend, Denton, and Tarrant counties.
Olson is a former Air Force colonel and, in 2018, became the nominee for the position of agriculture commissioner. She is running against Gilberto Hinojosa.
According to Ballot Pedia, Olson graduated from The Ohio State University in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in education. She then served in the United States Air Force from 1979 until 2005. In 1987, she received a master’s degree in business administration from Webster University.
In 1994, she attended the Naval War College and gained a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies. In 2000, Olson graduated from the National Defense University with a master’s degree in national security strategy.
She has also worked as the director of human resources for the Dallas Independent School District.
The Houston Chronicle stated that Olson believes 2020’s struggles have to do with “an overconcentration of resources in Austin and other urban centers.” When she ran for the 24th Congressional District in the DFW area, she reported that she realized “the need for more investment in Democratic parties in smaller counties, along with the down-ballot candidates running in those areas.”
Olson stated, “I have an understanding of what it’s like to be the customer, if you will, of the Texas Democratic Party as a candidate, and where we have gaps in some of our support for candidates and the infrastructure that’s out there for us.”
When speaking about the need to improve messages geared towards voters, she mentioned, “A lot of times we get wedged and we get rocked back on our heels because we’re not very aggressive in our messaging and reminding people what the Democratic Party stands for.”
The following are some of Olson’s key interests and beliefs: restoring sincere leadership to Congress, investing in world-class education, making quality healthcare affordable, taking critical steps regarding climate change, building up jobs in Texas, improving criminal justice and law enforcement, working on a compassionate and comprehensive immigration reform, protecting women regarding their healthcare, and applying “common-sense gun safety reforms.”
The Texas Tribune stated that Gilberto Hinojosa has been in his seat within the Democratic Party since 2012. The Texas Democratic Convention will be held in the summer of 2022, and a decision will be made about keeping him in the spot.
Hinojosa plans for the re-election and stated, “…Ultimately the delegates will decide, but because we all share the same goal and stand united in this fight to win back the soul of our state, I believe I will continue to have their support.”
