Texas Democrats say emphasizing voter ID fears could drive up turnout in 2018

DALLAS - Melissa Thrailkill witnessed Republicans in Texas win the messaging battle — and elections — for years by using immigration as a unifying issue for the party's base.

She said it's now time for Democrats to unify around a single issue that evokes strong emotion and turnout in midterm elections.

And in Texas that issue is voter ID.

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Thrailkill and fellow Democratic precinct chairwoman Rebecca Carter were on hand for a "coffee with your congressman" event with Fort Worth Democratic Rep. Marc Veasey on Friday morning in Dallas.

While they were impressed with Veasey, they didn't like the constant airing of grievances without solutions from some of their fellow Democrats in attendance.

"I was frustrated in general with the tone of their dialogue," Carter, 45, said. "It's the stereotype of Democrats that we complain without offering solutions. Single-issue voting is powerful."

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, up for reelection in 2018, championed a strict voter ID law while serving as attorney general. If Democrats choose to emphasize voter ID concerns in Texas, Veasey could be a natural face for the movement, as the congressman is the plaintiff in the court challenge to Abbott's law.

"It all comes back down to communication," Veasey said.

Veasey remembers the town halls tea party Republicans held around the country in 2009 and 2010 to protest the implementation of Obamacare, and the fearful message they sent to voters.

"Republicans tried to divide the country with talk of death panels," Veasey said.