Texas' Democrats have elected the first Hispanic to the state chairman's position, as the party aims to play a greater role in the Republican-dominated state.
Delegates attending the state convention in Houston on Saturday chose Gilberto Hinojosa to lead the party for the next two years.
Hinojosa is a former district judge, country party leader and member of the Democratic National Committee. His is replacing Boyd Richie, who has led the party since 2006.
Hinojosa said Democrats need to begin believing they can win elections and stop allowing Republicans to define them as unpatriotic. He said it was Republicans who carried out un-American policies by cutting funding for public education, women's health care and blocking civil rights for homosexuals.
Texas Democrats have not won a statewide election since 1994.
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk is telling fellow Democrats to ignore those who say the party can't win in Texas. The former Dallas mayor addressed the state convention yesterday in Houston. He's urging the party to get out the vote this fall for President Barack Obama and other races down the ballot.
