Former Texas Democratic representative says he stepped away from party over leadership concerns

SAN ANTONIO, TX — Steve Huerta, a former state Democratic representative for Senate District 26, said he stepped away from the party due to what he described as growing friction between party leadership and struggling communities.

In an interview, Huerta said there is a divide between what he described as the “bourgeoisie class of the Democratic Party” and communities facing economic hardship. He said the divide has made it difficult to have what he described as common-sense conversations about community concerns with those representing party leadership.

Huerta said many communities are not regularly visited or engaged by party representatives and that outreach efforts have been limited.

He also said renters and individuals earning around $20,000 a year make up a large portion of the Democratic Party’s base. Huerta said that while the party has referenced record voter turnout, it remains low compared with the total number of eligible voters.

Huerta further said the party has not done enough to listen to communities or mobilize voters in a meaningful way.

He also referenced concerns about corruption, which he said can extend beyond statutory law to what he described as moral and ethical standards that should be carried out in the interests of the public.

Huerta said leaving the party was difficult but added that he continues to remain active in his community as a leader and has not seen changes that would lead him to return.