Dallas Democratic Party Chairwoman Darlene Ewing is getting a boost form several prominent elected Democrats for her campaign for re-election.
Ewing has been endorsed by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, state Sen. Royce West and Dallas County Commissioners Theresa Daniel and John Wiley Price.
Democrat Heath Harris, the first assistant under Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins, is challenging Ewing in the March 4 primary. Harris has been endorsed by Watkins.
Ewing has led the party since 2005. Under her watch, Democrats took firm control of Dallas County politics, winning every countywide race they entered.
But Harris says he can do better and fears the growth of the tea party and other activist conservatives could give Republicans a boost in the November general elections, particularly if Democrats are not prepared for battle.
But Ewing’s supporters say there is no reason to change leaders.
“Let’s continue building our countywide coalition,” an email from Ewing states. “Let’s continue our winning ways with Darlene Ewing.
On Feb. 4 West is a featured speaker at a fundraiser for Ewing at the Wild Salsa Restaurant in Dallas.
Despite the individual endorsements from Ewing by Johnson, West and Price, she didn’t appear on the slate the trio of leaders put together with the Lone Star Project, a Democratic group heavily financed by Dallas lawyer and political donor Lisa Blue Baron.