By R J Morales | TX3DNews
McKINNEY — Local, state, and national Democratic figures gathered Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at The Cotton Mill in McKinney for the Collin County Democratic Party’s Revelry & Rebirth event, which brought together candidates, party leaders, and community voices for an evening of organizing, recognition, and personal testimony.
The program was emceed by longtime Dallas broadcaster Dale Hansen. After brief opening remarks, speakers consistently emphasized a central message: elections are built through sustained, in-person organizing rather than online engagement.
“We are not going to win our races on the internet,” said Jake Davis, the campaign manager behind Democrats’ recent Texas Senate District 9 special-election victory. “You will win your races door after door, and call after call.”
Davis cautioned attendees against mistaking social-media activity for real-world momentum. “Social media is not real life,” he said. “You realize that very quickly when you get in the field and start knocking doors.”
Sutka highlights local wins and organizing momentum
Jeremy Sutka, chair of the Collin County Democratic Party, framed Collin County as a critical organizing battleground, describing it as “the largest county in the nation yet to turn blue.”
Sutka pointed to recent Democratic wins and improved performance in cities such as Plano and Frisco as evidence that sustained suburban organizing can shift outcomes over time. He credited growth in precinct chairs, voter registration efforts, and recurring community events, while emphasizing that progress depends on continued engagement between election cycles rather than short-term campaign surges.
He urged attendees to view organizing as year-round work, warning that disengagement after elections risks eroding gains made at the local level.
Awards recognize party leadership and service
Awards were presented throughout the program to recognize Democratic leadership, service, and grassroots organizing.
The Ann Richards Voice of Courage Award was presented to Mihaela Plesa. In her acceptance remarks, Plesa emphasized the importance of sustained local work over public recognition.
“Real change doesn’t usually come from big moments on a stage,” Plesa said. “It comes from the quiet conversations, the relationships built block by block, and people showing up for their community again and again.”
Later, the Eddie Bernice Johnson Spirit of Service Award was awarded to Shamila Bose, honoring her commitment to service and community leadership. The award was presented by Kirk Johnson, who spoke about his mother’s legacy and the importance of continued civic engagement.
The Kelley Van Aiken Volunteer Award was presented to Bobby Ortiz in recognition of his grassroots organizing and outreach work.
Personal testimony on education and immigration
One of the most personal moments of the evening came from Heather Alambarrio, a McKinney public school teacher who shared testimony about her husband’s detention following a routine Immigration and Customs Enforcement check-in.
“He followed the legal process,” Alambarrio told the audience. “And yet this year, he never came home.”
Alambarrio said her husband, a Venezuelan national seeking asylum, had previously been determined by federal authorities to have a credible fear of persecution if returned to his home country. She described the emotional toll on her family and the impact on her students, recounting classroom conversations in which children expressed fear about parents or classmates being taken into custody.
“How traumatizing it is to be a child in this country right now,” she said.
Recorded messages and TX-03 campaign remarks
The program also included brief recorded video messages from Democratic figures outside Collin County. U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke appeared via video, urging continued civic participation and voter engagement.
Evan Hunt, the Democratic candidate for Texas’ 3rd Congressional District, addressed the crowd by emphasizing Collin County’s central role in the race.
“Ninety percent of the voters in Texas’ Third Congressional District are in Collin County,” Hunt said. “The fight is going to run through here.”
Hunt stressed the importance of local participation over reliance on national momentum, arguing that campaigns are built through sustained, community-level engagement. Using a Western metaphor to underscore his point, he told attendees, “There’s no cavalry coming. We are the [cavalry].”
He added that effective campaigns are built by “showing up, listening, and doing the work,” rather than waiting for outside forces to drive change.
Talarico keynote and closing reflections
The keynote address was delivered by James Talarico, who urged attendees to place current political debates within a broader historical and moral context.
“History doesn’t live only in books,” Talarico said. “There is a connection between our past and the unfinished work of equality. That is the American story.”
Talarico emphasized that civic engagement is rarely linear and encouraged sustained participation even during periods of frustration or incremental progress.
The evening concluded with remarks from Dale Hansen, who closed the program with reflections on civic responsibility and public participation.
The event brought together organizing strategy, candidate remarks, award presentations, and personal testimony, interspersed with moments of levity and humor, offering attendees a snapshot of the issues and approaches discussed by Democratic speakers in Collin County ahead of the next election cycle.
Editor’s Note:
TX3DNews reports on civic and political events across our community as part of our local coverage. Inclusion of an event reflects newsworthiness, not endorsement. Public events from candidates and organizations of all parties are welcome for consideration.