Well, I'm a registered Democrat, which gives me the right to vote for who will be Democratic candidate for partisan elections. (Not sure if Texas operates that way.)
But, beyond that, for the last 35 years, the Democratic Party has consistently approach challenges with the same mindset that I do, with very few exceptions. They may not write the policies the way I would write them, but it is generally coming from the angle:
- it is important to protect the environment
- free market capitalism is frequently a good way to develop an efficient economy, but there are notable exceptions like health care
- voting participation should be encouraged
- the government has a role in protecting human rights and promoting equality
- upward mobility is good for society and the government has a role in promoting it, including through public education
If the Democrats stop viewing things through that prism, I will stop calling myself a Democrat. In the meantime, there is no reason to be coy about who I am or what I believe. And sure, there are things I approach differently than the Dems generally do, but they aren't that high on my priority list.