The Night I (Almost) Ran for El Paso Democratic Party Chairman

Look, I’ve woken up to some weird days. I've woken up thanking the Virgen I was still alive overseas. I've woken up some mornings on my homeboy Capo's couch, also overseas, wondering where I was at. I've woken up in a strange place wondering how I was gonna leave her place without waking anyone up and doing the walk of shame. I’ve woken up to election chaos, ethical dumpster fires, and more than one elected official calling me to ask, “Hey bro, does this look illegal to you?”

But I never - not once - woke up thinking, “You know what would be real chill today? Accidentally running for Democratic Party Chairman.”

And yet, here we are.

Full disclosure - I never want to be elected to anything, ever. I have zero aspiration to be an elected official other than a precinct chair. 

But it’s 5:26 p.m. on filing deadline day (yesterday). I’m heading toward Democratic Party HQ for what I lovingly call “the final 30 minutes of widespread panic,” when I get a call about a movida. And not just any movida - a House of Cards - level, “¿qué chingados está pasando?” movida.

Apparently, Chairman Mike Apodaca was considering pulling out of the Chairman race and filing instead for Justice of the Peace Precinct 1.

JP.

Precinct 1.

Mike Apodaca.

Yes - you read that correctly, a los tres.

Mike is a good vato. A solid Party Chair. Drama-free, steady, respected. I’ve said it before - and don’t tell him I said it again - but he’s probably one of the best Party Chairs in Texas. Even if he still drinks Starbucks like they’re not anti-union. (Mike, my brother, at this point you’re doing it just to hurt me personally.)

So when I arrived at HQ and saw him outside on the phone, I didn’t waste time. I went straight up to him and asked if the rumor was true.

And he said yes - he was thinking about running for JP… and he already had a successor in mind.

I didn't stop to think about that at first. It took me a few to come back to that last part. 

But Mike and I are peers. We came up in the Party at the same time. The vato has earned his stripes. He has shown a level of loyalty to elected officials who NEVER reciprocated their gratitude for electing them - with the exception of Judge Josh Herrera. But some of your most favorite and popular elected officials - and I won't call them out by name, you're welcome - never offered him a staff job that paid well that respected the work he did for them. 

I've seen how the Party has changed. I have seen what the Party was previously. I have seen the chaos, the shady deals, and of course, the drama. Mike runs a drama-free tight ship - which is why I root for the vato.

But I don't like the idea of a dedazo, of a the good ol' boy system. 

Nah.

Nope.

Chalé.

Not today, Satan.

I’m old-school. I don’t believe in “anointed successors.” I believe in competitive races. 

Ideas. 

Plans. 

Work.

You want the title? 

Earn it. 

Don’t let someone slap a political crown on your head and call you Party Boss.

So in that moment, I decided: If Mike pulls out, somebody needs to make sure the Party Chair seat isn’t just handed over like a free sample at Costco.

And since I was the only Foo standing there with a pulse and a pen, guess who that somebody was?

Yup.

Me.

Jaime “I Literally Said I Would Never Do This” Abeytia.

Now, let me be crystal clear for the chisme squad:

I had ZERO plans to run against Mike. Ever.

I wasn’t trying to overthrow anyone.

I wasn’t staging a coup.

I wasn’t even trying to be funny.

I was simply not down with a coronation.

But I am also fully aware that if my name hit that ballot, the establishment Democrats - from the top to the bottom - especially the legislative delegation, especially the ones that don't really live here -  would’ve reacted like someone set off fireworks inside a nursing home.

And ask me if that bothered me:

Spoiler: Not even a microgram of a fuck was given.

So I walked in, filled out the form, stood in front of the notary - Emma Acosta - like I was about to swear in as witness in a mafia trial, and held it there… waiting.

At 5:51 p.m., Mike walks in.

He sees me holding paperwork like I’m about to enter the Hunger Games of El Paso politics.

I tell him, straight up:

“If you run for JP, I’m filing for Chair. If you stay Chair, I’ll tear this shit up.”

He says he’s got nine minutes left to decide.

So for nine full minutes, I sit there awkwardly in front of Emma Acosta waiting for him to make up his mind. 

6:00 p.m.

Mike walks in and says the words that saved us both from weeks of political chaos after I ask him, what are you gonna do?:

“Nothing.”

So I double-checked and asked, are you going to withdraw from Party Chair? He said no. 

I asked Emma to hand me back the paperwork, tore that sucker up, shook his hand, and told Mike I was selfishly thrilled he was staying put.

And that, my friends, is how I came within literal seconds of running for Chairman of the El Paso County Democratic Party.

Okay we all know what y'all are really waiting for - the post-deadline wrap-up piece will be posted shortly. Keep checking for that in an hour or so.