About Us
Progress Texas is communicating progressive values in the Lone Star State. We serve as a multi-issue organization focused on holding elected officials accountable and empowering Texans to improve their community. Our mission is to provide a strong, credible and enduring progressive voice that will ensure more inclusive, just and sustainable policies for Texas. We work with diverse coalitions and partners to implement media techniques that enrich and inform Texans about what is happening throughout the Lone Star State.
We fundamentally believe in the Texas spirit and our collective ability to make our state exceptional. Progress Texas, along with its members and coalition partners, will work to:
- Hold our government accountable -Advocate progressive solutions to the problems facing our state
- Organize rapid response communications to the distortions and lies of conservative groups
- Highlight failed conservative polices and any ethical failures within government
- Use new technology and social media to organize and empower Texans across the state
- Share new research and breaking polling
- Communicate progressive values throughout Texas
- Encourage every Texan to be a part of the civic process
Progress Texas is a ProgressNow affiliate. Progress Texas is a 501(c)4.
Want to contact us? Send us an email.
Ed Espinoza, Executive Director
Ed joined Progress Texas in May of 2013 as Executive Director, bringing a wealth of political and communications expertise to the organization. Ed is a communications operative with state and national credentials, whose political and rapid response background lead the organization through a changing state political landscape.
Ed served as a regular analyst for CNN’s ‘Fair Game’ segment in 2012, focusing on the presidential race. From 2009-2011, he served as Western States Director at the Democratic National Committee. His professional background includes work for public relations firms Golin/Harris and Fleishman-Hillard, providing public strategic counsel to Fortune 500 brands.
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Mark Corcoran, Director of Online Communications & Technology
Mark Corcoran was born and raised in Richmond, VA and has been working in politics and with non-profits since graduating from the George Washington University in Washington, DC in 2006.
After graduating from GWU Mark moved to Panchgani, India where he worked on corporate social responsibility and business ethics issues with the non-profit Initiatives of Change. Mark returned to Washington, DC during the 2008 election cycle and worked at GMMB as an Assistant Media Buyer for the Obama Campaign, Democratic Congressional Campaign Commission and the Democratic Senate Campaign Commission.
After the 2008 cycle Mark moved to Austin with his wife Ariane (a native Texan!) and worked as the New Media Manager for the Texas Democratic Party for over 2 years. In March 2011, Mark joined the Progress Texas family as the Director of Online Communications and Technology.
When not obsessing about politics and geeky technology, Mark enjoys torturing himself as a die-hard Washington Redskins fan. He also loves to travel and has spent time working, volunteering and living in dozens of countries in South East Asia, South Asia and Europe.
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Phillip Martin, Political Director
Born and raised in Austin, Phillip Martin started working in politics in 2003. Phillip went to work for State Rep. Chuck Hopson in January 2005, and was hired to be the Chief of Staff for State Representative Garnet F. Coleman in September 2006. Following the 2007 legislative session, he left Austin to pursue a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. While in graduate school, Phillip focused his studies on the interactive roles of press, politics, and communications. Phillip moved back to Austin in 2009 and went to work as Communications Specialist for the Texas Democratic Trust, assisting in communications strategy and development for statewide and local campaigns.
During the 82nd legislative session, Phillip served as Policy Director for the Texas Legislative Study Group. Phillip led a team of ten policy analysts in evaluating every bill that came to the floor of the Texas House and completing projects such as Texas on the Brink. Over the last six years, Phillip has also been a writer and contributor for the popular Texas political blog, Burnt Orange Report.
When not working, Phillip enjoys the Texas Longhorns, swimming at Barton Springs Pool, and enjoying the beers at Uncle Billy's. Last July, Phillip was married to his beautiful wife Kaiba, at Barton Springs Pool, which they promptly jumped into after the ceremony.
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Current Interns
Laura is a graduate student at the School for International Training (SIT) Graduate Institute, working towards her Master's in Sustainable Development with a concentration in Community Development and Social Action. In conjunction with policy advocacy, she aspires to work with communities on social justice issues, especially through training, education, and theatre for social change. Coming from Boulder, Colorado and traveling and living in India, Nepal, and Tibet, she is excited to now be working in Texas, which feels like a country of its own!
Morgan Williams
Morgan is a Broadcast Journalism major and English minor at the University of Texas at Austin. She has also interned with KXAN-News and is currently an executive producer at the UT student-run TV station, Texas Student TV. Raised to be a political junkie, she aspires to produce and report political news after her graduation this December.
Lesli-Elsie Simms
Lesli is currently a senior at St. Edward’s University majoring in English Literature. First and foremost, she is a faithful devotee of Alice Walker, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama and Beyoncé. She is a volunteer at GENAustin, the social media intern at Jane’s Due Process as well as copy desk chief on Hilltop Views. After graduation, she plans to study political communication in graduate school in order to educate and engage underrepresented and underserved women.
