My Lawsuit Against Texas Has Been Filed – Now I Need Your Help!

Friends,

As of Monday morning my lawsuit against Texas has finally been filed.

For those who might not recall, I was rejected from the 2023 Houston ballot because of my 18-year old, non-violent felony from 2005. As promised to you, my supporters, I am not giving up this fight.

After consulting with my attorney (and some friends and supporters) we decided to move forward with our effort to overturn what we believe are unconstitutional Election Code.

However, this is just the beginning. If you can afford to donate $5 or $10 to our legal fund please consider doing so!

If you want to know more about this lawsuit watch the short video below! If you want a more in-depth look at the situation watch this video here.

Now that the lawsuit has been filed we are getting media coverage. On Wednesday The Houston Chronicle released a new report discussing the lawsuit and its implications.

Here’s a little bit of the article, Former Houston mayoral candidate challenges Texas Election Code after felony kept him off Nov. ballot

“Derrick Broze, barred from the upcoming mayoral election because of a two-decades-old felony conviction, sued the state of Texas, arguing its election law is unconstitutional.

Broze, a 38-year-old independent journalist and activist, started campaigning for City Hall’s top job at the beginning of 2023. In June, the city denied his application to get on the ballot after he self-reported a previous felony record.

In the complaint filed Monday, Broze contended the Texas Election Code’s eligibility rules against all candidates with unresolved felony records are too restrictive. In contrast, he said, the state constitution only excludes individuals convicted of “high crimes” such as bribery, perjury and forgery from holding office.

Broze was convicted of felony drug possession in 2005 when he was 20 years old. A judge gave him two years of probation at the time. He violated parole and was then sentenced to two years in prison.

He was struggling with drug addiction and depression during those years, Broze said, but he has since rebuilt his life and focused on community activism around civil liberties, environmental protection, homelessness and other causes.

His non-violent drug conviction, Broze argued, does not fit the criteria of a “high crime.” The denial of his ballot application stands as a demoralizing reminder that, even after nearly two decades, he still cannot fully participate in society, he said.

“I did my time, paid my debt to society,” Broze told the Chronicle. “Being blocked from the ballot because of having a felony in Texas is just another barrier to entry that felons like myself have to face.”

We are expecting more media coverage from Houston Landing and Fox 26 Houston.

I appreciate everyone who has been supporting me. From my Mayoral run to the lawsuit, knowing you have my back means the world to me.

I am asking for your help again. We need to raise another $10-15k to ensure we can afford the inevitable appeals we will face over the next year. Please consider investing in our legal fund.

Thank you.

– Derrick Broze