Talarico faces Republican Ken Paxton<\/a> in what could be the most closely watched and expensive political showdown<\/a> this year. Along with Ohio, Texas is one of two states targeted in local Democrats\u2019 \u201cBeyond Arlington\u201d initiative.<\/p>\n The goal was to find \u201cundecided, persuadable\u201d Texas voters and engage them on the issues, said Kip Malinosky, who leads the Beyond Arlington effort.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re making the case about change \u2014 we need change. The current situation cannot stand,\u201d Malinosky said at the Arlington Democratic<\/a> headquarters in Shirlington.<\/p>\n Volunteers, ranging from their 20s to 70s, received a 15-minute tutorial from Texas Together<\/a>, an initiative of the Texas Democratic Party<\/a> and affiliated groups. The phone bank was \u201cpart of a long-term organizational strategy that is already delivering results,\u201d the training leader said from Travis County, Texas, where she was based.<\/p>\n It\u2019s another way for Arlington Democrats to get engaged, deputy party chair Sarah Flourance said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt pulls people in,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Arlington was not the only out-of-state locality represented in the Aug. 6 phone blitz. North Carolina and New York City were among areas that also provided volunteers.<\/p>\n Upon reaching a Texan by phone, the volunteers had three tasks to be completed in succession:<\/p>\n Ask the individual what political issues were most important to them An automated calling system<\/a> made the calls and prompted callers with questions to ask. They filled out an online form gathering information throughout the conversation.<\/p>\n To show newcomers how it was done, Malinosky made the first call of the night from Arlington. He was connected with David, a resident of Keller, a suburb in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.<\/p>\n It was good news: David self-identified as a strong Democrat, seeing the need for political change in Congress as his top priority.<\/p>\n Perhaps even better news came later in the evening, when a volunteer connected with a lifelong Texas Republican who said he had decided to vote Democratic this year.<\/p>\n The reason? President Donald Trump hadn\u2019t fulfilled his promise to build a border wall between the United States and Mexico.<\/p>\n It may not have been a ringing endorsement of Democratic policies and candidates, but \u201cwe\u2019ll take it,\u201d one organizer said.<\/p>\n Research suggests that every 35 phone conversations translates into a future vote, Malinosky said. But as is typical in these efforts, there were more misses than hits \u2014 many callers didn\u2019t answer, while some hung up immediately. There were also occasional language barriers, while other calls went to businesses such as a pizza parlor.<\/p>\n But the room kept buzzing with greetings.<\/p>\n \u201cIs Miranda available?\u201d one Arlington Democrat was heard asking. And on to Jason, Alexandra, Randy, Melissa, Poras, Betty, Connor, Jennifer, Ignacio, Veronica, Vicente, Sterling, Eric, Gabriel, Mary, Joshua \u2026 and on and on.<\/p>\n![\"Smiling](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Kip-Malinoski-leading-outreach-to-Texas-voters-staff-photo-by-Scott-McCaffrey.JPG\" "\\"Kip")
Kip Malinosky helped lead Arlington Democrats\u2019 outreach to Texas voters (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)<\/p>\n
\nDetermine where the individual stood on the political spectrum
\nIf leaning or solidly Democratic, see if the individual would be willing to volunteer for the Talarico effort<\/p>\n![\"Three](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Volunteers-make-calls-to-prospective-Texas-voters-staff-photo-by-Scott-McCaffrey.JPG\" "\\"Volunteers")
Volunteers make calls to prospective Texas voters (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)<\/p>\n
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.arlnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Arlington-Democratic-volunteers-making-calls-to-Texas-staff-photo-by-Scott-McCaffrey.JPG\" "\\"Arlington")
Arlington Democratic volunteers making calls to Texas (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)<\/p>\n