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The Texas Blue
Advancing Progressive Ideas

On The Record: Donald Bankston

For this edition of On The Record, we talk to Donald Bankston, SDEC Committeeman for SD 18.

How did you get started in politics? Did you come to it in your youth or later on?

I got started when I was 13 years old. I made homemade push cards for JFK in Dallas, and I almost got fired from my job for putting them under the rubber bands of the newspapers I threw.

What was your personal progression from just being interested in politics and the issues, to actually being an activist and an SDEC member?

Most of my experience started during college when I was in the College Democrats. I was the president of the College Democrats at North Texas State University (now UNT). I became active in my local campaigns from there, including when I worked on Senator Yarborough’s campaign in Denton County. I went to law school in Houston, and was a precinct chair in the west side of Houston. In 1972 I was interviewed by a scruffy kid named Bill Clinton, to work on the McGovern campaign. In the 80’s I moved to Fort Bend County and was the county chair from 1992-1994.

What would you say are the primary issues concerning the state?

To try to bring some focus upon statewide races. I understand the strategy they used last time, but what they need to do in the next 2 elections is to start building a statewide support. I actually think voters are way ahead of the curve.

Do you have any ambition for higher office? Do you have plans to run for any other party office, or possibly even public office?

No, I don’t have any ambition to run for office. I’m more interested in the nuts and bolts of getting folks elected. I am only interested in working at various levels of campaigns.

Who are some of your political heroes?

I was very moved in the late 60’s by Robert Kennedy. Of course, being from Texas, I liked Johnson, but the words of Bobby really moved me. Ralph Yarborough also inspired me.

What would you say has been the single most defining moment in your political life?

When I was engaged to be married, a story came out about me running for state president of the Texas Young Democrats. The story labeled me as a radical element, which meant that I was opposed to the war in Vietnam. My father-in-law became very upset by the whole thing.

What are you looking forward to in the coming cycle?

I have been part of a group that is pushing for a state level campaign to provide advice and strategies for the upcoming elections. Chairman Richie headed off the 2008 Victory Task Force recently, which does just that. I’m excited about working on that. I’m also looking forward to having a great senatorial campaign.

What would you say the political breakdown of your family is? Is it mostly Democratic or are you somewhat unique?

My mother made me announce at her funeral that she had voted for every Democratic candidate since 1932 when she passed away recently. Both my wife and children have been Democrats as well. One of my sons even worked on the field operations for the Clinton campaign.

What advice would you give to young people just getting into politics?

Certainly even in high school, get involved in the Young Democrats. People that I went to college with are still involved in politics too. For example, Bill Brannon was my roommate in college. Just get involved, not only in the Young Democrats, but also in the state party.

What one thing would you say a political organization never has enough of?

That’s easy: people, time, and money.

What has been the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in politics?

That out of all that you can never have enough of, people, time, and money, people are the most important. I always try to tell my candidates when they are running that they have to remember that people are the most valuable resource in a campaign.

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