Thousands of delegates from across the Lone Star State wrapped up the Texas Democratic Convention in Corpus Christi on Saturday after three days of speeches, policy discussions, party leadership votes and organizing ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The convention brought together Democrats from across the ideological spectrum, from moderates emphasizing business-friendly policies to progressives calling for sweeping economic reforms, as the party looks to win its first statewide election since 1994.

“We have a big tent,” convention co-chair and former Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales said. “I might have a particular perspective as a woman, as a Latina, as somebody who has come from a pro-energy and pro-business background, and somebody else might have a completely different background and mindset, and we all have a voice here. That’s what makes us unique.”

One of the convention’s biggest draws was U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who urged Democrats to campaign on an ambitious agenda addressing the economic concerns of working Americans.

“Since 1975, nearly $80 trillion of wealth has been redistributed from the bottom 90% to the top 1%,” Sanders told delegates.

He argued Democrats must offer voters more than opposition to President Donald Trump.

“It is not enough to be anti-Trump and to simply campaign against Trump,” Sanders said. “The American people are hurting. They want to know what the Democratic Party stands for, and what the Democratic Party is going to do to improve their lives when it gains power.”

While Sanders called for transformational change, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez said many of the party’s core priorities remain broadly shared across its coalition.

“We need to take care of senior citizens, make sure Social Security and Medicare is protected, make sure veterans have the benefits that they deserve, make sure kids have good public schools, and we need to assure that we have affordable health care right now,” Gonzalez said.

Former Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa, who led the party from 2012 to 2024, summarized what he believes Democrats should communicate to voters moving forward.

“We’re for you,” Hinojosa said. “We’re not for the billionaires. We’re not for the big corporations. We’re not for the big oil companies. We’re not for the data centers. We’re for you.”

In addition to Sanders’ keynote address, the convention featured other Democratic leaders, party caucus meetings, policy discussions and the election of party leadership. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker also attended the convention, speaking at a private donor luncheon Friday.

As delegates left Corpus Christi, party leaders said the work now shifts from the convention floor to organizing across Texas in preparation for next year’s elections.