Alyssa Edwards: “And that is where our collective power lives — not in the idea that we all have to think alike, but in the understanding that every voice deserves to be heard.”
Editor’s Note: What follows is a letter from Alyssa Edwards to everyone in the LGBTQ+ community urging every eligible voter to get to the polls. This letter was written specifically for Dallas Voice after Republican Ken Paxton’s campaign for the U.S. Senate tried to use Alyssa as a weapon against his Democratic opponent, James Talarico, calling the international drag star “a sick and twisted drag queen,” after Talarico, when asked to name his favorite drag queen, immediately named Alyssa Edwards. Alyssa responded with one of the well-written, most reasonable, most powerful and most “when-they-go-low-we-go-high” statements ever.
In this letter, Alyssa Edwards reminds her LGBTQ+ family that we can have a say in our future, but we have to show up and speak up in the midterm elections.
What does it really mean to vote? It’s an especially important question during the midterm elections, when so many people may not fully understand what’s at stake.
Voting is so much more than checking a box or selecting a name on a ballot. It’s our voice.
It’s our power. And it’s our responsibility.
The people we elect are entrusted with making decisions that affect our communities, our schools, our families, our freedoms and, ultimately, the future of our children and the generations that follow.
And I think it’s important that we remind ourselves of something:
There may never be a perfect candidate.
There may never be a political party that represents every single thing we believe in. And that’s okay.
But what we can do is educate ourselves. We can look beyond the noise, beyond the political labels, and ask ourselves some very important questions.
Questions like: What do I stand for? What are my values? What kind of character, integrity and leadership do I believe in? And what kind of future do I want to help create?
Because at the end of the day voting isn’t about agreeing with someone on everything. It’s about making thoughtful decisions based on our principles and our hopes for tomorrow.
And then, most importantly, we show up.
Because democracy doesn’t belong to one person, one political party, or one elected official.
It belongs to all of us.
And I want us to remember something else: The people we elect into office are public servants. They are there to represent the people. To listen. To lead. And to be held accountable.
We should never forget that they work for us.
As proud Texans and proud citizens of this country, we have an opportunity to participate in shaping what comes next.
We may all come from different backgrounds. We may have different beliefs, different experiences and different opinions. But we all have a stake in the future of this country.
And that is where our collective power lives — not in the idea that we all have to think alike, but in the understanding that every voice deserves to be heard.
Let’s learn together. Let’s encourage our friends, our families, our neighbors and especially the younger generation of eligible voters to understand the importance of participating.
Let’s show up at the polls with pride, purpose and a sense of responsibility.
Because our democracy isn’t something we simply inherit. It’s something each generation has a responsibility to participate in, protect and pass forward.
And perhaps the greatest question we can ask ourselves isn’t simply, “What kind of country do I want to live in?” It’s “What kind of country am I willing to help build?”
So my fellow Texans, let’s show up.
Early voting for the 2026 midterms ends today (Friday, Oct. 30). Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Make sure you vote. Because our vote is our voice. Our vote is our power.
Always and forever,
Alyssa Edwards