Katie Naranjo elected as Travis County Democratic Party Chair

by | Aug 4, 2020 | Austin, Politics

Katie Naranjo has won her bid for Travis County Democratic Party Chair. Naranjo’s opponent, Progress Texas executive director Ed Espinoza, has accepted the role of vice chair. 

A native of East Texas, Naranjo brings considerable political experience to the table, having been involved in politics since she phonebanked for Bill Clinton at the age of six. Since then she’s been involved with over 120 campaigns. She served as President of the College Democrats of America and worked for Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Reps. Max Sandlin, Chris Bell and Lloyd Doggett, as well as Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign. 

In 2009, Naranjo co-founded GNI Strategies, a political consulting firm that she sold in 2018. She is currently CEO of her family’s home healthcare company, which provides healthcare for thousands of Medicare and Medicaid patients in East Texas. 

In her campaign for chair, Naranjo stressed the need to build a diverse and inclusive party and fight Republican voter suppression efforts. 

Naranjo replaces outgoing chair Dyana Limon-Mercado who is running for Travis County Judge. The position of county judge – the most powerful executive office in the county – was left vacant after Sarah Eckhardt resigned to run for state Senate. Limon-Mercado is competing against Precinct One Commissioner Jeff Travillion and Beto O’Rourke advisor Andy Brown.

Photo: Travis County Democratic Party

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William serves as the Washington Correspondent for the Texas Signal, where he primarily writes about Congress and other federal issues that affect Texas. A graduate of Colorado College, William has worked on Democratic campaigns in Texas, Colorado, and North Carolina. He is an internet meme expert.

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