When Olivia Julianna first entered politics, she was just a teenager in rural Texas, using social media as her platform to share Democratic values. Over the years, her influence grew, leading her to the national stage, where she met then-President Joe Biden and spoke at the Democratic National Convention. However, working within Texas campaigns exposed her to internal struggles within the Democratic Party, pushing her to rethink how she could create real political change.
Julianna, now 22, has decided to step away from campaign work and instead use her voice through social media and her newsletter to address what she sees as systemic issues within Texas Democratic campaigns. Her goal? To help Democrats make Texas a blue state by focusing on effective outreach and messaging rather than engaging in internal party conflicts.
A Digital Activist’s Journey
Julianna’s political career began in 2020 when she was 17 and stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unable to participate in Black Lives Matter protests due to health concerns and parental restrictions, she turned to social media as a way to contribute.
She started posting political content on TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, explaining government policies and sharing her thoughts on the upcoming election. Soon, she became part of TikTok for Biden, a group of young content creators advocating for Joe Biden’s presidency.
Despite criticism from classmates in her conservative hometown, Julianna found support from teachers and community members. After high school, she moved to Houston and continued her political work, eventually becoming the political director for Gen-Z for Change, a nonprofit focused on mobilizing young voters.
Her activism gained national attention in 2021 when she encouraged her followers to overwhelm a Texas Right to Life tip line meant for reporting abortion law violations, leading to the website crashing. In 2022, after a public feud with then-Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, she raised $2 million for abortion funds nationwide.
Facing Political Realities
Despite her online success, Julianna’s experience working on Texas campaigns opened her eyes to problems within the Democratic Party. She witnessed nepotism, rigid ideological conformity, and internal conflicts over strategy. She also realized she needed to move beyond her political bubble to truly understand voter concerns.
While still holding progressive views, Julianna now emphasizes the importance of compromise and coalition-building. For example, she supports a secure border while also advocating for expanded pathways to citizenship and protections for DACA recipients—a stance that has drawn criticism from both progressives and conservatives.
Julianna acknowledges that her perspective has evolved since her early days in politics. Meeting people from different backgrounds and knocking on doors during campaigns made her realize that online political discourse doesn’t always reflect real-life voter priorities.
Lessons from the Campaign Trail
Julianna quickly learned that politics is not just about passion—it’s also about power and influence. While working on Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s 2023 Houston mayoral campaign, she observed what she calls a “political aristocracy” that prioritizes party loyalty over genuine outreach. She was also a vocal critic of John Whitmire, Jackson Lee’s opponent, whom she saw as too willing to work with Republicans.
However, after Whitmire won, she recognized that his strategy of building a broad coalition was key to his success. Later, she joined Colin Allred’s U.S. Senate campaign, where she faced backlash from some Texas Democrats who felt he wasn’t progressive enough. She recalls receiving harsh criticism from fellow Democrats, with some even attacking her personally over her support for Allred.
A particularly difficult experience came during a Zoom meeting where members of a Democratic-aligned organization berated her for an hour over their dissatisfaction with Allred’s campaign. That moment, combined with her overall frustration with Texas politics, made her realize that she needed to step back from campaign work.
A New Path Forward
Despite stepping away from campaign roles, Julianna is not leaving politics. Instead, she plans to use her platform to advocate for strategic changes within the Democratic Party. She believes that Texas can become a Democratic stronghold, but only if campaigns focus on genuine voter engagement rather than catering to political insiders.
Through her Substack newsletter, A New Perspective, she shares insights on how Democrats can improve their messaging and connect with young voters. She also continues to work with nonprofits and grassroots organizations to support digital activism and voter outreach.
Julianna is committed to staying in Texas, believing that change is possible if Democrats shift their approach. She wants to create a political environment where candidates and campaigners are free to speak the truth without fear of retaliation from party insiders.
Her message to fellow Democrats is clear: to win elections, they must step out of their political bubbles and focus on the needs of everyday Texans. “It is the voters who matter,” she says. “If we lose touch with where people are, we will continue to lose elections.”
Disclaimer: This article has been meticulously fact-checked by our team to ensure accuracy and uphold transparency. We strive to deliver trustworthy and dependable content to our readers.
Disclaimer: This article has been meticulously fact-checked by our team to ensure accuracy and uphold transparency. We strive to deliver trustworthy and dependable content to our readers.
