10 Feb March Matters – Texas Primaries + FREE nonpartisan Toolkit
February Luncheon Recap: Why March Matters for Texas Businesses
Our February Chamber Luncheon at Hotel Indigo‘s Urban Pour Social was one of those conversations that sticks with you long after the plates are cleared and the room quiets down.
We were honored to welcome March Matters co-founders Deirdre Walsh and Marjorie Clifton for a timely, nonpartisan briefing on Texas primary elections and why they matter so much to our businesses, workplaces, and communities.
If you joined us in person, thank you for being part of an engaged, thoughtful discussion. If you could not attend, this conversation is still very much for you.
Speakers
Deirdre Walsh
Founder and CEO, In Good Company Institute
Deirdre Walsh is the founder of the In Good Company Institute, where she helps employers build civic-minded workplace cultures that strengthen trust and lead to better business outcomes. She brings more than twenty years of leadership experience across technology, marketing, and HR, including leading global marketing for a billion-dollar semiconductor company and guiding communications for a Silicon Valley IPO. Her work has been recognized by The Wall Street Journal, the Federal Reserve, Meta, and Gartner.
Marjorie Clifton brings more than two decades of experience as a strategic communications expert working with corporations, nonprofit organizations, and federal agencies. She helps leaders navigate complex communications and policy challenges, particularly around DEI, brand risk, and organizational culture. Marjorie is also a nationally recognized media commentator, appearing regularly on CNN, Fox, NBC, MSNBC, and PBS.
Helpful Links & Resources for Chamber Members
We encourage you to explore and share the following resources within your organizations and networks.
Voter Info
This page provides clear, accessible information about the March primaries, including what to expect and how to participate.
March Matters Presentation
Check out the full presentation deck from our February Luncheon! March Matters for LGBTQ+ and allied businesses in Greater Austin.
FREE nonpartisan Toolkit
The toolkit includes ready-to-share language, FAQs, and resources that employers, community leaders, and organizations can use without taking political positions.
Why the March Primary Matters in Texas
In Texas, the March primary election is often the most consequential election of the entire cycle. In many districts, the primary effectively determines who will hold office, shaping policy outcomes that directly affect businesses, employees, and local communities.
Despite its importance, primary turnout remains low, and many Texans are unsure how primaries work or why they matter.
During the luncheon, Deirdre and Marjorie helped demystify the process and connect the dots between civic participation and real-world business impacts, including workforce policy, education, healthcare access, and economic development.
Key Takeaways from the Conversation
Attendees walked away with a clearer understanding of:
- Why Texas primary elections have an outsized impact on leadership and policy outcomes
- How low primary turnout affects issues that directly impact employers and small businesses
- Why employees are bringing more civic and political questions into the workplace
- How nonpartisan civic education can support trust, inclusion, and organizational culture
- How organizations can engage without endorsing candidates or taking political positions
This session reinforced something we hear often from our members. People are hungry for credible, factual information and for tools that allow them to engage confidently and appropriately.
Thank you to our Speakers and Members
We extend our sincere thanks to Deirdre Walsh and Marjorie Clifton for sharing their expertise, and to everyone who joined us for a thoughtful, respectful, and informative conversation.
Civic engagement does not stop at the ballot box, and it certainly does not exist outside the workplace. As a Chamber, we remain committed to providing our members with nonpartisan information and resources that help you navigate complex issues with confidence and clarity.
We hope you will take a few minutes to explore these tools, share them with your teams, and help ensure our community is informed and empowered this March.
About March Matters
March Matters is a nonpartisan Texas initiative focused on helping people understand and participate in primary elections.
They provide free, ready-to-use resources that organizations can share with employees, members, and communities, including toolkits, weekly briefings, and live updates. These materials are designed to inform, not persuade, and do not endorse candidates or parties.
We are grateful to March Matters for partnering with the Chamber to bring this important conversation to our community.
About IGC Institute
In Good Company Institute brings simple, nonpartisan civics education into everyday work life.
Employees trust their workplaces and want clear, local information they can rely on.
We give workplace leaders practical programs and easy tools that make civic participation simple. We turn civic learning into a shared skill set that strengthens culture and helps people show up with more confidence at work and beyond.