Marc Veasey can be forgiven for speaking with utmost hope about the future of his political party.

The young state representative retains a youthful exuberance when he says he remains hopeful that the Texas Democratic Party is going to come back … eventually … some day.

http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/15/veasey-democrats-abbott-davis/

Let’s hope he’s not holding his breath. He’ll need to be resuscitated if he’s waiting for Democrats’ return to ascendancy.

I share his hope. I, too, want to see the Democratic Party revived in Texas. Republicans have too much power. They own every statewide office there is. I’ve long been leery of one-party domination. It breeds arrogance — no matter which party is in control.

Veasey told the Texas Tribune: “There’s no question about the fact that for Democrats, Texas is a tough place. It just is,” he said. “It seems like the Republicans are winning everything, but things are changing.”

Those “things” are demographics. The state has a growing minority population, comprising primarily Hispanics who tend to vote Democratic. The problem, however, remains in the dismal voter turnout.

The 2014 mid-term election was supposed to signal a turning point for Democrats. It didn’t. Wendy Davis got thumped in her campaign for governor, as did Leticia Van de Putte, the party’s nominee for lieutenant governor. All the way down the ballot the result was the same for Democratic candidates.

What’s the solution? How does the Democratic Party restore itself? How does the state become competitive and how do Democrats become capable of challenging standard Republican TEA party orthodoxy that seems to be ruling supreme in Texas?

Rep. Veasey says the party apparatus shouldn’t just wait for the demographic shift to put Democrats over the top. Well, given the party’s lack of success to date, that might be the only option left — particularly if Republicans keep promoting anti-immigration measures that work against their own efforts at party expansion.