our team

Lana Hansen
Executive Director

Austin

  • Lana Hansen is a committed activist and community leader focused on building progressive organizing infrastructure in Texas. She is committed to social justice advocacy, gender equity, and increasing civic engagement in Texas. Her career in community outreach began as a Health Educator in 2002. With a degree in Health Science, she focused on HIV and Hepatitis C education in migrant communities, the unhoused, and county jail populations. She also taught sex education to teens in juvenile detention.

    ​In addition to her deep roots in community outreach and organizing, Lana is an Entrepreneur with seven years experience in brand and community management

Andrea Flores
Data Analytics Director

Houston

  • Andrea is a data technologist with experience in political campaigns from the municipal to the federal level. She studied political science and history at Newcastle University in the UK. Most recently she ran the data department for the coordinated campaign in Georgia successfully reelecting Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. In 2020 she oversaw data and targeting for state house campaigns in Texas, a program that increased Democratic votes by an average of 10,000 per district. In addition to her campaign work, she is passionate about bringing underrepresented groups into data and technology and has been a trainer for organizations such as Arena Academy and Re:Power.

    Andrea is a native Houstonian and cares deeply about using electoral politics to create a better Texas that serves its population the way it deserves

Ben Wilbanks
Managing Director & Lead Trainer

El Paso

  • Ben was always politically engaged but didn’t become politically active until 2022 when the El Paso Chapter of Texas Blue Action was formed. The prospect of flipping Texas blue is intriguing, but El Paso’s below-average voter turnout is something that needs to be addressed.

    Ben graduated from Texas State University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Mass Communication-Advertising.

Julie Gilberg

Political & Comms Director

Austin

  • With more than a decade of experience in public service, design, and higher education, Julie brings a unique blend of strategy, creativity, and dedication to her role as Political and Communications Director with Texas Blue Action. Most recently, she served as District Director for Texas State Representative Gina Hinojosa, where she led constituent services, community engagement, political communications, and policy support. Beyond the legislature, Julie has designed and driven voter registration campaigns, digital engagement initiatives, and grassroots organizing programs that have expanded democratic participation across Central Texas and has helped lay the groundwork for turning Texas blue. An educator and professional artist, she channels both creativity and precision into building stronger, more inclusive communities and inspiring people to take part in the democratic process.

our board

Carrie Collier-Brown
President

  • Carrie Collier-Brown is co-founder & chair of Texas Blue Action Democrats. She also co-hosts the "Left In Texas" podcast and a member of Planned Parenthood's Austin Community Board. Carrie is Senior Counsel with 20 years' experience in energy regulatory law & policy.

Rish Oberoi
Regional Board Member at Large Houston

  • Rish Oberoi is a first generation Texan and native Houstonian who has been fundraising for progressive candidates and causes since 2016. After graduating from the University of Houston, he served as a policy aide in the 85th Legislature, before shifting over to the campaign world and subsequently spent the next four years raising over $2 million to benefit progressive state and federal candidates.

    In 2020, he ran in the Democratic primary for the Texas Legislature in which he was the youngest candidate in the district's history. Thereafter, Rish continued as a progressive development professional for more candidates and progressive nonprofits. He has singularly pursued a career in the social impact sector with a desire to elevate the next generation of Texans to grow their civic involvement and help build a Texas that truly embodies our values.

Becca DeFelice
Regional Board Representative at Large San Antonio

  • Becca DeFelice is the executive director of Emerge Texas. As an advocate, candidate, and organizer, Becca has worked to show the outsized difference that diverse women can make when they step into politics. She is committed to using her leadership, experience, and insight to help the next generation of women leaders in Texas run for office, win, and bring transformative change to their constituents, their districts, and their communities in all levels of office.

    Becca grew up in rural Pennsylvania on a working farm. She organized statewide with the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action and is a former State House candidate. Becca is especially invested in equitable healthcare access, reproductive justice, gun violence prevention, public education, and environmental conservation.

    Becca is a mom of a teenage daughter, wife, and enjoys gardening in her free time.

    About Emerge Texas:

    Emerge has one goal - To increase the number of Democratic women in office who are reflective of the incredible diversity of the Democratic party by recruiting, training and providing a powerful network. Since 2002, Emerge has trained over 6,000 Democratic women to run for office and 1200+ Emerge alumni currently serve in office.