Thankfully, the Ralph Yarborough "Progressive" wing of the Texas Democrat party defaulted to a leadership role in that moribund organization in 1982. It insured an eventual dying out of this breed of lefties, all eventually going the way of Molly Ivins, and blessed silence.
Perry was my state legislator, three decades ago, and I'd welcome him into the fray, as soon as possible. Someone needs to take point, and become the face of the counter-revolution.