2026 Residential Get-Out-the-Vote Retreats, in California and Texas

We’ve watched with dismay as Donald Trump and his associates have trashed our democratic institutions and violated common decency, with his inhumane and lethal immigration policies, bruising and arbitrary tariffs, war with Iran, and disdain for the rule of law and common decency.  Although we have pushed back with protests and lawsuits we feel the best way to restore balance to our civic life will be to flip the House and Senate to Democratic control.   

This year we’re organizing two in-person residential Election Retreats to help accomplish this:

Rudy Villegas for California Congressional District 22, Central Valley; and

James Talarico, for Senate in Texas. 

(Rudy is a Democratic Socialist, and James a Democrat.)

These retreats will occur in October and November, during the last two weeks of the election campaign.  In each location we’ll gather in a shared house and participate together in a morning program of meditation, a dharma talk, and a shared meal, and then spend our afternoons walking precincts to Get Out the Vote.   For more information and to register, click on the retreat location that interests you:

• • Bakersfield, California:  Rudy Villegas

  • San Antonio, Texas:  James Talarico

We have scheduled daily dharma talks for these retreats.  Check back for more information as the talks are scheduled.  

Also please check out our free booklet, “Engaged Buddhist Election Retreat Guide,” which you can find HERE.