If you have not voted early, Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Many people feel overwhelmed when they enter the voting booth.
However, we have collected information from candidates running in our area from their campaign websites. Here is your comprehensive election candidate guide for voting in Central Texas:
State Senate
John Cornyn
Republican
Healthcare: When it comes to health care, Texans deserve lower costs, better coverage, and greater access. The status quo is unacceptable. Premiums have skyrocketed, coverage options have disappeared, and small businesses have struggled under crushing taxes and mandates. Texas families need more options, not less, so that they can pick the plan that's right for them.
From introducing bills to lower prescription drug prices to supporting efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare, I have fought in the Senate for everyday Texans worried that an unexpected hospital stay, medical bill, or charge at the pharmacy counter could put a strain on their finances or send them into bankruptcy. By taking decision-making out of the hands of Washington bureaucrats and giving it to states, doctors, and patients, Congress can provide Texans with a health care system that fits their needs.
Climate Change: Senator Cornyn supports environmental policies that ensure economic viability while protecting public health. However, he opposes efforts by federal agencies to expand their regulatory reach beyond their legal authority. Under the Obama Administration, there were numerous examples of EPA overreach and abuse of authority. Senator Cornyn fought those efforts and believes environmental regulations should be based on the best available science and risk-based standards.
Social Issues: Senator Cornyn strongly believes that every life is worthy of respect, and the institution of marriage is worthy of protection. Senator Cornyn supports providing opportunity for all by removing government limitations on freedom so every citizen has the chance to realize the American Dream. Government must provide a "hand-up" for citizens, not merely a "hand-out."
Gun Control: Senator Cornyn has been an avid outdoorsman since his earliest days as a young Texan. He takes every available opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors and to hunt, shoot, and fish. In Washington, Sen. Cornyn is a leading defender of the Second Amendment. As a member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, he helps promote and defend America's outdoor sporting traditions and commonsense wildlife conservation policies. Senator Cornyn's consistent defense of the constitutional right to keep and bear arms has earned him a perfect A+ rating from the National Rifle Association.
Immigration: As a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee which handles immigration and border security issues, Sen. Cornyn is a leader on issues that affect the lives of Texans every day. He strongly believes that securing our southern border must be a top priority in dealing with our national security and our broken immigration system. Sen. Cornyn believes common-sense reforms are needed to improve legal immigration and increase the flow of legitimate trade and travel through our ports of entry.
MJ Hegar
Democrat
Healthcare: The rising cost of health care is the number one issue I hear about from Texans on the campaign trail. Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the nation, and that’s unacceptable. Our current system is one of sky-high costs and inefficiencies. We must create a public option to make Medicare available for all those who want it. The best health care I’ve ever had was when I was on military-provided Tricare, similar to Medicare, and I believe that kind of high-quality care should be made available to all Americans. Every child should be covered, period.
Climate Change: In Texas, we are witnessing firsthand the effects of climate change. We’ve seen devastating hurricanes like Harvey, and multiple catastrophic, “500-year” floods in a matter of a few years. The status quo is not sustainable.
We must set aggressive goals for the expansion of clean, renewable energy, and invest in clean energy manufacturing and sustainable transportation. Texas has the opportunity to be America’s leader in wind and solar energy, and we should use our natural, renewable resources to create jobs here in our state.
We also must modernize our energy grid so it is equipped to handle increased load during peak usage.
Social Issues: I want to do everything I can to lift up LGBTQ+ voices and fight for ALL Texans’ rights. I strongly support legislation, including the Equality Act, to extend and secure critical civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ Americans in employment, housing, public spaces and services, credit, education, and federally funded programs.
We also need to enshrine protections for the LGBTQ+ community with laws banning conversion therapy. While we’ve made strides over the years, the fact that so called “conversion therapy,” which can traumuatize and harm LGBTQ+ youth, is still legal in states like Texas is unthinkable. When I’m in the Senate, I will fight to ensure the rights of ALL Americans.
I support federal law codifying Roe v. Wade so that reproductive rights are not subject to the whims of an increasingly partisan court system. It’s unacceptable that in 2019 a woman’s right to make medical decisions about her own body is under assault. I have had two difficult pregnancies, and I am grateful that during that time the government wasn’t standing between me and my doctor during very personal discussions. Politicians should not legislate a woman’s most intimate decisions.
Gun Control: Multiple mass shootings have devastated Texas in recent years, and I believe it is well past time to take action to finally end the epidemic of gun violence.
We must pass common-sense gun safety legislation to require background checks on every single gun sale, including closing the gun show loophole — a proposal that a recent Washington Post-ABC News survey found was supported by 88% of gun owners.
We must also stop the sale of assault weapons to the public, pass red flag laws limiting access to firearms for domestic abusers — including closing the “boyfriend loophole” — and those who would commit acts of domestic terrorism, and fully fund the CDC to reverse the damage of the decades-long ban on gun violence research.
I am also calling for state and local officials to end open carry. The reasons gun owners like me have for wanting to protect our Second Amendment rights — chief among them protecting our families — are not served by open carry. Open carry itself is an assault on every bystander within range, as we feel the need to flee and cover our children without the freedom to call law enforcement for help. We must empower people to “see something, say something.”
Immigration: For decades, career politicians have refused to fix our broken immigration system, and the consequences of their finger-pointing and inaction directly affect our day-to-day lives in Texas. We need to roll up our sleeves, collaborate with our border communities on solutions, and bring some common sense to the issue.
That means starting with permanently ending child separation, ensuring asylum seekers are not treated as criminals and their claims are properly processed, securing the border with effective procedures and technologies instead of wasting billions on an ineffective wall that would require robbing our military budget while seizing land from Texans, and building a path to citizenship for undocumented residents that prioritizes our security and reflects our core values as Americans — such as human dignity and our respect for the right of mankind to the pursuit of happiness.
Texas Railroad Commissioner
James Wright
Republican
Healthcare: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Climate Change: Texas’s land and natural resources are the most valuable assets we have. As the owner of four businesses that deal with environmental services for petrochemical and energy production companies, I know the importance of ensuring a safe, clean environment for us and future generations. I will stand up to Washington insiders who think a one size fits all environmental policy is good for Texas and work to protect our jobs and energy production growth while ensuring we have strong environmental protection policies in place.
Social Issues: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Gun Control: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Immigration: I firmly believe that we must secure our border to protect our families, our infrastructure and our oil and gas industry. I know firsthand the dangers of a weak border. In 2017, a vehicle of illegal immigrants ran a stop sign and crashed into my wife’s jeep before leaving her unable to move and almost dead. Today she is a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair, saved by the Grace of God and because a neighbor found her and helped save her life.
Christina Castaneda
Democrat
Healthcare: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Climate Change: The industry acknowledges that climate change is real and that it is caused by human activities, including oil and gas extraction. Yet, our Texas Railroad Commissioners refuse to acknowledge this reality and to do the things that would help us mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. By fixing flaring and methane emissions, we can start to move the needle on the industry’s contribution to climate change.
Social Issues: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Gun Control: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Immigration: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Texas Congressional District 6
Ronald Wright
Republican
Healthcare: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Climate Change: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Social Issues: As an elected official, Ron has long fought against government support of Planned Parenthood, proclaiming that “Planned Parenthood is the largest provider of abortions in the United States. I’m not going to support any organization that supports or aids Planned Parenthood in any way. Period.
Ron is a passionate and consistent opponent of abortion and believes we must tirelessly fight to protect the voices of the most defenseless , earning him the endorsement of Texas Right to Life.
Gun Control: Since the time of the Founding Fathers, Americans have lawfully owned and used firearms for hunting, sport shooting, and defense of their families and homes. Gun ownership has been a part of Texas culture for countless generations. In Congress, Ron will fight efforts from liberals to infringe on Texans’ right to bear arms, and will promote laws protecting responsible gun ownership for all law-abiding Americans.
Immigration: In Congress, Ron will fight to increase funding for border security and for the hiring and empowering of border security officers to enforce existing immigration controls.
Ron will also advocate for comprehensive immigration reform to fix our current broken system, which has allowed illegal immigration to run rampant and has failed to secure our borders from criminals and terrorists.
Stephen Daniels
Democrat
Healthcare: Stephen knows it isn't right that some people pay more for health insurance than they do for their housing, and that no one should face bankruptcy over medical bills. In Congress, he will fight to protect coverage for people with pre-existing conditions— including coronavirus— reduce prescription drug costs, and protect Medicare and Social Security from cuts.
Climate Change: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Social Issues: Decisions about a woman’s health are between her and her doctor. Period.
Gun Control: As someone who grew up hunting and fishing, and continues to be an avid sportsman, Stephen is a gun owner who believes we can both protect the Second Amendment while keeping guns out of dangerous hands. Stephen believes in common sense legislation like universal background checks and keeping people convicted of domestic violence from owning guns.
Immigration: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Texas Congressional District 8
Kevin Brady
Republican
Healthcare: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Climate Change: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Social Issues: Although not listed on his site, Brady has traditionally voted pro-life, and he says he is subscribed to religious freedom.
Gun Control: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Immigration: America’s borders are broken. There is no more simple way to say it. Texas pays the price every day with gang violence, human trafficking and drug trafficking. We must shut the back door of illegal immigration, so the front door of legal immigration can remain open. This means securing the border, insisting companies hire only legal workers, and rewarding those who play by the rules.
Secure our Border. I supported the Secure Fence Act of 2006 and continue to fight to ensure full funding for border security, through fencing, electronic sensors and a more robust Border Patrol presence.
Stop Illegal Hiring. America can take a large step in the right direction by simply stopping businesses from hiring illegal workers and giving honest employers the tools they need to hire legal workers. That’s why I have supporting the verification of employees through modern technology. Bills I have championed created a database that employers can quickly and accurately tap to make sure their employees are able to work legally in the United States. Once an effective employment verification system is in place, enforcement becomes easier and those that may cross the border illegally have less of an incentive to do so.
Reject Amnesty. I have always been, and remain, adamantly opposed to any legislation that grants amnesty to illegal aliens.
Elizabeth Hernandez
Democrat
Healthcare: Most people agree that everyone should have access to affordable healthcare for themselves and their family. Yet, we have long disagreed on how to accomplish that goal. Although the ACA is far from perfect, it was a great start toward the goal of affordable healthcare for all.
There are a number of important rights established by the ACA, such as the protection against denial of coverage for a preexisting condition, a prohibition against lifetime spending caps, and protection for young adults starting their own lives by allowing parents the option to keep their children on their group health plan through age 26. Almost everyone agrees that those are necessary rights secured by the ACA and should not be retracted, Yet, if the ACA were to be repealed, those protections would immediately disappear, wreaking havoc on many families. Therefore, repealing it with no plan to replace it, as Kevin Brady and the Republicans fight for every day is not an option. Instead, let's work together toward improving what we've started.
Climate Change: We must take immediate steps to protect our environment, and end the assault on the Environmental Protection Agency. We all need clean air and clean water to survive. Yet, the Republicans continually target the EPA for budget cuts, forcing the Agency to reduce staff, which reduces the number of investigators who are responsible for inspecting and catching the polluters. This must stop. I will seek a significant increase in funding for the EPA, in order to ensure that corporations comply with our environmental laws, and pay steep fines for violating their obligations.
Social Issues: It is time to honor the words of our founding fathers, and treat all men and women equally. While the laws are supposed to prevent discrimination, and ensure equal pay for equal work, the laws have many holes that allow employers to perpetuate the discriminatory practices.
To fix this, I will introduce legislation to strengthen Civil Rights protections for women and minorities. First, I will seek to amend the discrimination statutes to eliminate the caps on emotional damages and punitive damages.
Gun Control: Congress must do its job and work to reduce gun violence in this country. At the outset, I must tell you that I am a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment. However, advocating for the Second Amendment does not mean standing idly by and waiting for the next gun-related incident. Frankly, I find it repulsive and infuriating to see Congress stalling on implementing solutions to address this epidemic.
First, we MUST eliminate the private sale exemption and implement universal background checks for all firearm sales in order to ensure that all those who purchase a firearm have passed a comprehensive background check and are legally qualified for gun ownership in this country.
Immigration: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
h1>Texas Congressional District 11
August Pfluger
Republican
Healthcare: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Climate Change: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Social Issues: I believe in promoting a culture of life that honors all innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death.
As a follower of Jesus Christ, I will fight to protect the rights of Christians and other religious groups to practice their faith freely and without government interference.
Gun Control: I will defend the Second Amendment and support the right of all law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms for the protection of themselves and their families.
Immigration: I support President Trump’s vision for securing America and believe we must secure our southern border to protect our citizens from dangerous drug cartels, human traffickers, and illegal immigrants.
Jon Mark Hogg
Democrat
Healthcare: I do not trust large, all encompassing, one size fits all solutions to difficult problems. Too often they turn out to make things worse, not better. That is why I do not support a government run single payer system or Medicare for All. I support fixing the Affordable Care Act and making it better. This includes making sure providers cannot exclude anyone from coverage because of a preexisting condition. I believe an incremental approach toward making sure everyone can get the treatment they need, without fear of financial ruin and bankruptcy is a much better option than one giant all encompassing solution.
Climate Change: The production of oil and natural gas fuels our nation and the world. Energy independence is something we have been striving to achieve for fifty years. It is worth pursuing. Natural gas is the cleanest form of fossil fuel for power generation on a large scale that we have. It is not just going to go away or be replaced tomorrow. Ambitious proposals to eliminate the use of fossil fuels in our world in the near future are not based in reality.
At the same time, everyone wants clean air, clean water and a clean place in which to live. We want to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The oil and gas industry wants these things as well. I reject as false the idea that we must choose between supporting our energy industry and addressing climate change. The oil and gas industry needs our support, not our condemnation.
Social Issues: Do black lives matter? Black lives have not mattered in this land for longer that our country has existed. The struggle to make black lives matter in this land has lasted just as long. When the first african slave stepped foot on Virginia soil, the fight to make black lives matter began. As we have seen in recent events, black lives still do not matter. I do not like to admit it, but the evidence leads me to no other conclusion.
Are you pro-life or pro-choice? Yes.
As a man, I approach this subject with hesitation and great respect. I would of course like to see the need for abortion be ended. What person wouldn't? But criminalizing abortion, or making its availability so limited and onerous that only the wealthy can avail themselves of it, is far worse and poses a greater health risk for women and cost to society.
Gun Control: I am not going to give up my firearms, and I don't expect you to either.
People buying and owning firearms does not bother me. What troubles me is when people misuse them to randomly slaughter innocent men, women and children. We need reasonable, effective procedures to prevent people who should not have access to firearms from getting them—such as the Bipartisan Background Check Act. The plague of violence and mass shootings is a multi-faceted problem. It is not caused by firearms. But a common sense approach to access and use of firearms will certainly be part of the solution.
Immigration: We don’t need more jails and detention facilities in this country, and we must not separate families or put children in cages. What we need is an immigration system that fits our world in the 21st Century. We should know who is coming in and who is leaving. We need people who are here without official permission to come into compliance with our laws, and we need to create a way to make that happen. We should welcome and encourage and help those who want to come to the United States to build a better life for themselves.
We must insist on strict enforcement of immigration laws, not because we do not want people moving to, and contributing to our country’s success. We must enforce them to prevent coyotes, smugglers, gangs, government and unscrupulous business owners from taking advantage of them on both sides of the border. But our laws should not be so draconian as to hurt the very people we are trying to help. Asylum is a principle of international treaty and law. It must be respected as such. We cannot play games with the rule of law.
Texas Congressional District 17
Rick Kennedy
Democratic Party
Healthcare: Rick Kennedy supports creating a public option to make Medicare available to all who want it. Kennedy says a public option will: Achieve universal coverage – especially important in rural areas where the uninsured rate is high. Address uncompensated care for hospitals, a significant contributor to rural hospital closures. NOT eliminate private insurance. If you are happy with your employer sponsored insurance, you won’t be forced to give it up. Preserve the protections for those with preexisting conditions achieved under the ACA. Provide relief from the threat of medical bill-induced bankruptcy – the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the US. Empower Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices.
In addition to expanding access to care and decoupling insurance from employment via a public option, I would work to build resiliency into our medical device and pharmaceutical supply chains by modifying the tax code and providing guarantees to encourage manufacturers to maintain a domestic manufacturing capacity capable of meeting demand surges in times of crisis.
Climate Change: As your Congressman I would support a carbon dividend and fee policy similar to the one proposed by the Climate Leadership Council. Such a plan would provide market incentives to businesses and individuals to reduce carbon emissions and provide funding for research into clean energy alternatives – research that will lead to technology improvements that would make utility scale clean energy production more economically feasible right here in Central Texas.
The challenge is massive in scale and complexity. It will require multiple solutions. We must research and be prepared to implement other technology solutions like large scale carbon sequestration as well as explore the potential role nuclear energy might play as a bridge to an all-renewable future.
Social Issues: On divisiveness and polarization: First, I’ll hold in-person, public town hall meetings to communicate with all constituents. Every August recess I will hold town halls in McLennan, Travis, Brazos, and 1 other county. I will also hold a town hall meeting in one of the other counties each calendar quarter – a minimum of 7 town hall meetings every year. Second, I will seek out Republican colleagues and invite them to our town hall meetings, and I will attend town halls in their districts, to spread the cross-partisan communication beyond our district. Finally, we have to tackle some of the structural problems that have contributed to our current situation through legislative action. I support H.R. 1 – the For the People Act of 2019.
Gun Control: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Immigration: It’s time to stop exploiting this issue for political gain and implement a comprehensive revision of our immigration system that both meets our economic and security needs and reflects our values as a society. The pillars of such a plan would be: Treat all asylum seekers with basic human dignity and respect and process their claims in a timely manner. Secure our borders and ports of entry with a portfolio of technology and human resource based solutions. Emphasize interior enforcement through mandatory pre-hiring E-Verify checks and prosecution of employers who fail to comply.A path to citizenship for many of our 10.5 million undocumented residents who have lived among us for more than a decade, that focuses on security and brings them fully into the fold of our communities. A comprehensive plan to address the security and economic issues across our hemisphere that are driving migration
Pete Sessions
Republican Party
Healthcare: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Climate Change: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Social Issues: While in Congress, Pete had a 100% lifetime voting record with National Right to Life.
Gun Control: Pete is a lifetime member of the Texas Rifle Association and maintained a solid “A” rating from the NRA for his votes in Congress. He is endorsed by the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund.
Immigration: President Trump is trying to implement a new rule to reduce the number of non-citizens on welfare. Pete Sessions will fight to put the Trump Public Charge Rule into law ensuring its enforcement in the future.
“Solving our immigration crisis involves more than just building the wall on the southern border, which I wholeheartedly support. President Trump knows more is needed as well. That’s why he is trying to reform our welfare system, which serves as a magnet for millions to come to the U.S. It’s also why President Trump needs advocates in Congress capable of supporting his efforts with new legislation.”
Click here to read more.
Texas Congressional District 25
Roger Williams
Republican Party
Healthcare: Rep. Williams urged HHS to provide greater relief for Texas hospitals and clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Congressman Roger Williams applauded the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw the Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Rule (MFAR) after taking into consideration the impact implementation would have on rural health providers. Williams’ bill, the MFAR Transparency Act, was introduced in July to delay the rule. Congressman Williams introduced the Ensuring Telehealth Expansion Act to extend telehealth provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities (CARES) Act through December 31, 2025.
Climate Change: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Social Issues: Roger Williams is a Christian, conservative, pro-life supporter.
Gun Control: Roger Williams is a second amendment supporter fighting to take Texas values to Washington, D.C.
Immigration: Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX-25) addressed the House of Representatives in support of the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act, which provides a civil remedy for individuals harmed by sanctuary jurisdiction policies.Williams supports securing our southern border and enforcing our immigration laws.
Julie Oliver
Democratic Party
Healthcare: Ensuring that we achieve universal health care in this country is Julie's top priority. Every single American should have high-quality healthcare, be able to see a doctor, and be able to afford prescriptions--no matter if they’re rich or poor, young or old, or have pre-existing conditions or not. Julie is fighting for Medicare for All. In congress Julie will: Allow Medicare to negotiate the cost of prescriptions with the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2019 (H.R.275). Fight against VA privatization and ensure that veterans can get their disability claims met in a more timely fashion. Leverage federal programs to incentivize more doctors and medical professionals to work in underserved communities and in rural Texas.
Climate Change: In order to mobilize against the existential threat of catastrophic climate change, we need to transition our economy to carbon-free, 100% renewable energy, and invest in our communities for a more sustainable, just society. Julie believes that we need to fight for a Green New Deal.
Social Issues: Every woman should have the choice of when she wants to have children, when she doesn’t, and every woman should have the freedom to raise those children in a safe, healthy environment. Julie is committed to: Enshrining the constitutional right to an abortion by establishing affirmative, statutory rights that parallel Roe vs. Wade. Repealing the Hyde Amendment, and ensure that all women are ensured equal access to reproductive health care, birth control and other preventive care.
Gun Control: In Congress, Julie will support legislation to: Require universal background checks and universal licensing requirements at all points of purchase, including the requirement that all gun show sales and all internet gun sales require a background check. Create strong red flag laws and Extreme Risk Protection Orders to disarm abusers and those proven to be a harm to themselves or others. Ban the civilian sale of assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and other weapons of war, designed to kill the most people, the most efficiently.
Immigration: In Congress, Julie will support legislation to: Make Dreamers and TPS recipients citizens, affirm the Dream and Promise Act of 2019, and create a path to citizenship without trading for deportations and criminalizing others. Repeal Section 1325 of the Immigration and Nationality Act -- which has led to the criminal and large-scale detention of families, overwhelmed our country's justice system, and has wasted billions of dollars. End family detention, close private immigration detention centers, and prevent ICE and CBP from contracting with any for-profit prison corporations like the GEO Group and Core Civic.
Texas Congressional District 31
Donna Imam
Democratic Party
Healthcare: Donna's signature Healthcare for All policy (HCA) is a single-payer plan that fortifies and accelerates Medicare for All (M4A), drastically lowering the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs. HCA scales healthcare infrastructure, delivers higher quality care, and is cheaper than what we pay today. With HCA if you like your doctor you can keep your doctor (really!) view
Climate Change: Climate change is impacting our health, water, and food supply. Corporations and commercial fishing are the largest source of pollutants and plastics in the ocean. We need to diversify our energy sources with renewables, incentivize carbon neutral solutions, invest in research to mitigate climate change, and institute sustainable farming and fishing practices.
Social Issues: Black Americans represent 13% of the United States population, yet since 2015 they account for 26% of fatal police shootings. The US military has stricter rules of engagement for troops deployed in war zones than our police officers do in our residential neighborhoods. That’s illogical and this must change. view
Gun Control: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Immigration: Asylum seeker detention camps and the child separation policy are inhumane and un-American. We need a swift path to citizenship for Dreamers and DACA, and a legal way for the undocumented to come out of the shadows. We must protect workers by requiring employers to stop undercutting American wages by abusing immigrant pay.
John Carter
Republican Party
Healthcare: Obamacare continues to be a disaster for Texas families. It has raised premiums by 82% and left Texans with less options for health care. Texans deserve a system that puts them, not government bureaucrats, in charge of their health care decisions. I support repealing Obamacare and replacing it with a free-market health care system where competition drives down costs and increases options. I believe America’s health care system should protect preexisting conditions, and empower patients by giving them options in their care.
I also believe we should improve incentives for students and doctors to help address the shortages our country is facing in the medical field. These incentives will help create a more stable workforce and ensure the best care for patients. Finally, we have to work towards improving Medicare so seniors are receiving the medical care they deserve.
Climate Change: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Social Issues: The Declaration of Independence states that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are inalienable rights. I believe that life begins at conception and that life should be protected. Just as we have fought for freedom and justice throughout our nation’s history, we must fight for the lives of the hundreds of thousands of unborn children who are aborted in the U.S. every year.I’m proud to be endorsed by National Right to Life, the nation’s largest pro-life organization. I will fight to protect the precious lives of those who cannot protect themselves.
Gun Control: As a gun owner and a Concealed Handgun License (CHL) holder, I understand the importance of responsible gun ownership. The right to bear arms is guaranteed in our U.S. Constitution. The Second Amendment is an intrinsic part of our freedom, ensures our ability to protect that freedom, and means we have the ability to protect our families and our property. As a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA), I’m proud to receive their endorsement.
I pledge to fight against restrictive gun legislation.
Immigration: It’s obvious that our current immigration system needs reforms. We must create an immigration system that encourages legal immigration, while discouraging illegal immigration. We believe we should: First, secure the border with additional Border Patrol and ICE Agents. We must build more infrastructure along the border to allow 100% situational awareness, and continue to invest in technology. Secondly, to grow our economy, we must meet the needs in the industries with workforce shortages (Hi-tech, agriculture, construction, restaurant, hospitality, etc.) so America continues to be a global leader. Lastly, we must implement E-verify on every employee in the country so we can ensure that taxes are paid.
Texas House of Representatives, District 14
John Raney
Republican
Healthcare: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Climate Change: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Social Issues: In keeping with the principles of the House, we were able to pass the Texas Born-Alive Infant Protection Act which offers protections to babies who survive abortion by mandating that they receive the same care that a newborn would receive after birth. Senate Bill 22 was also signed into law, protecting taxpayers by defunding Planned Parenthood at the local level, ensuring no taxpayer dollars are used to fund abortion providers. Additionally, over $60 million dollars have been dedicated for crisis pregnancy centers and the State’s highly successful Alternatives to Abortion program.
Gun Control: We maintained the 2018 -2019 levels of funding for border security efforts as well as an additional $7.5 million appropriation to DPS for Operation Draw Bridge cameras, four additional analysts for the Transnational Intelligence Center, and $1.7 million in grants for border prosecution, border zone fire departments, and economic development.
Immigration: We passed legislation protecting law-abiding gun owners from being penalized for accidentally carrying in an establishment where guns are prohibited, restored the rights of tenants to own and keep firearms, prohibited “no firearms” clauses in leases, and allowed permit-less carry for those evacuating from and returning to a disaster area. Furthermore, we were able to pass legislation to ease firearm and ammunition storage requirements for foster parents, crack down on inconsistent, patchwork firearms ordinances at the local level, restored the rights of places of worship to decide whether licensed carry is permitted, and prohibited HOAs from restricting firearms.
Janet Dudding
Democrat
Healthcare: When I was a 22-year old undergraduate student, a single parent averaging 20 hours a semester, I got very sick. By the time my sickness reached the crisis stage, my mother stepped in with a trip to her doctor. I will never forget waking up in the hospital after exploratory surgery with my mother by my bedside. She held my hand, looked me in the eye and said, "You know you had a hysterectomy, don't you?" I had not realized that that was a possibility.
I was fortunate. Millions of Texas women are uninsured, unless pregnant, and would have left that hospital with a mountain of medical debt and zero aftercare.
Texan women are a rare breed of “awesome.” We can care about and for the most vulnerable of our women!
We need laws that value our life, our health and our ability to provide for our loved ones. Texans pride ourselves on being able to provide for our own. We no longer have to choose to be ranked at the bottom -below Mississippi- in health care coverage and maternal mortality.
Let’s fix this! Expand the Medicaid income eligibility ceiling for adult Texans from $2,000 per year to ~$16,000 a year for 10 cents on the dollar! Expand pregnancy coverage from 2 to 12 months after childbirth to improve the chances that Texan women will live to see their child grow up!
Let's eliminate barriers to health care and implement health education reform in the schools and in the communities! Texans deserve no less!
Covering adult Texans under Medicaid will help save our rural hospitals, too. It costs us 10 cents on the dollar. Why would anyone turn down that offer?
Climate Change: We need laws that provide for a healthy planet. As a Katrina survivor who’s been married to a scientist for almost 30 years, Climate Change is very real and personal to me. We need to green the grid, electrify transportation and clean up existing industries. Together, we can still turn this around - and create good-paying jobs.
Wind turbine service jobs and solar installer jobs are two of the fastest growing jobs in the country. Both only require a high school diploma and pay a living wage of over $40,000 per year. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/fastest-growing.htm
Social Issues:
Justice
"Justice" incorporates so many important issues. For now, let's look at Criminal Justice, with a true story.
“Imagine you are A.B.C.*, a 30 year old, single, African American mother of two who was arrested as part of a drug sweep in Hearne, Texas. All but one of the people arrested were African American. You are innocent. After a week in jail, you have no one to care for your two small children and are eager to get home. Your court-appointed attorney urges you to plead guilty … saying the prosecutor has offered probation. You refuse, steadfastly proclaiming your innocence. Finally, after a month in jail, you decide to plead guilty so you can return to your children. Unwilling to risk a trial and years of imprisonment, you are sentenced to 10 years probation and ordered to pay $1,000 in fines as well as court and probation costs. You are now branded a drug felon. You are no longer eligible for food stamps; you may be discriminated against in employment; you cannot vote for at least 12 years; and you are about to be evicted from public housing. Once homeless, your children will be taken from you and put in foster care.
A judge eventually dismisses all cases against the defendants who did not plead guilty. … You, however, are still a drug felon, homeless, and desperate to regain custody of your children.
Now place yourself in the shoes of D.E.*, another African American victim of the Hearne drug bust. You returned home to Bryan, Texas, to attend the funeral of your 18 month old daughter. Before the funeral services begin, the police show up and handcuff you. You beg the officers to let you take one last look at your daughter before she is buried. The police refuse. You are told by prosecutors that you are needed to testify against one of the defendants in a recent drug bust. You deny witnessing any drug transaction; you don’t know what they are talking about. Because of your refusal to cooperate, you are indicted on felony charges. After a month of being held in jail, the charges are dropped. You are technically free, but as a result of your arrest and period of incarceration, you lose your job, your apartment, your furniture and your car. Not to mention the chance to say good-bye to your baby girl.
This is the War on Drugs.”
(True story excerpted from The New Jim Crow, by Michelle Alexander, pp 97 & 98. *Names changed to unassociated initials.)
When we legalize marijuana, we need to expunge the records of those who have been convicted for marijuana-related offenses that have disproportionately affected our communities of color.
We need to incorporate law enforcement and district attorney best practices sentencing guidelines into statute to allow flexibility in sentencing to fit the offense.
We need Bail Reform so that our taxes are not being spent to incarcerate non-violent offenders who have not been convicted of a crime.
We also need to address the monetary costs of probation and parole to the probationer and parolee. The burden can be disproportional.
Healthy Wages
Minimum wage has not changed in Texas in a decade. It remains $7.25 an hour - or $15,080 for a year of full time work. For tipped employees, the rate remains $2.13 per hour. While wages remain stagnant, the cost of living and the cost of goods and services has continually risen over the past decade. Texans are having to work more than one full time job to put a roof over their head.
More women than men work minimum wage jobs. More 24-64 year old people work minimum wage jobs. Only 3% of minimum wage jobs are filled by 16-18 year old people, while 14.7% are filled by single mothers and 20% are filled by veterans.
The statewide living wage estimate is $11.03 for 2019. Increasing the minimum wage to a living wage provides a path to break the poverty cycle while stimulating the economy.
Equality
As Texans, we believe in treating each other as we would want to be treated. That’s the “Golden Rule” we all grew up with, isn’t it?
Yet hate crimes are on the rise. Each year, the Texas Lege tries to pass a new law to grant a license to discriminate against our LBGTQ+ community. In Texas, you can still get married as a same-sex couple on Friday and be fired on Monday because of legalized discrimination in our state.
Texans should not be afraid they’ll be fired from their job, evicted from an apartment, be denied health care or turned away from a business establishment for who they are or who they love.
All Texans should feel safe from hate crimes. I support non-discrimination laws for everybody. All Texans should have full legal and lived equality. Period.
Gun Control: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Immigration: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Texas House of Representatives, District 20
Terry Wilson
Republican
Healthcare: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Climate Change: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Social Issues: I am 100% pro-life and will fight to put an end to abortion in Texas.
There is an assault on religious freedom going on in America. I will fight to protect religious freedom and Christian leaders from frivolous lawsuits and government overreach.
Gun Control: One of the most important rights we hold as Americans is our right to keep and bear arms. I will fight to eliminate the regulations and "gun-free zones" that put law abiding citizens in danger and limit our ability to exercise our God-given Constitutional rights.
Immigration: We must secure the border, put an end to sanctuary cities, reject amnesty, and put an end to the incentives that encourage illegal immigration.
As a combat veteran of the U.S. Army, I have seen first hand the evil of terrorism and know it must be taken seriously. Our border agents are overwhelmed with potentially dangerous illegal aliens who are crossing into our country at an alarming rate and are intent on destroying our values of freedom.
Jessica Tiedt
Democrat
Healthcare: Brings life back to Rural healthcare by lowering the uninsured rate Provides additional support for Veterans who have to wait or travel for VA care Helps Small Business owners by allowing them to compete without worrying about health insurance
Climate Change: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Social Issues: We need to make medicinal cannabis more encompassing - allowing Doctors to write recommendations for whatever the Doctors normally see patients for, including chronic pain and PTSD. We need to allow people to cultivate their own Recreational - no blue laws, tax to support education and healthcare and allowing for home cultivation Justice - dismiss and expunge existing cases/convictions, taxes go to fund grant programs for Communities of Color most directly impacted by prohibition, licenses prioritized for POC
Gun Control: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Immigration: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Texas House of Representatives, District 54
Brad Buckley
Republican
Healthcare: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Climate Change: Water is one of our most valuable resources and must be protected at all costs. With the growth in Bell and Lampasas Counties, maintaining, protecting, and growing our water sources should always be at the forefront of our minds. This is why I authored and passed legislation in the 86th session to commission the Texas Water Development Board to study the Edwards and Trinity Aquifers to assess how they are affecting groundwater conditions. Accurate data is the only way to move forward in being good stewards of the water we have, and maximizing its usage and potential for communities across Central Texas. Studies are underway that will evaluate the suitability for storing excess surface water in our aquifers to help replenish our supply of water for the future.
Social Issues: Brad believes that life is a gift from God. It is sacred, begins at conception, and ends at natural death. In the 86th Legislature, Brad supported the Infant Born Alive Protection Act, which protects babies who survive abortions by requiring doctors to provide the highest standard of medical care possible in an attempt to save the baby’s life. He was also a co-author of the Heartbeat Bill, which would further protect the lives of the unborn. Brad also believes that we must protect elderly Texans. He supports efforts to strengthen guardianship protections so that the most vulnerable are not taken advantage of.
Gun Control: Brad believes that the Constitution is the fundamental guideline for our country, and the Second Amendment is specific to our right to bear arms, protect ourselves, and protect our families. During the 86th legislative session, Brad supported and passed legislation that gave equal Second Amendment protections for families with foster children, to better define and strengthen our concealed carry laws, and gives people the ability to protect their life and property during times of natural disaster. Brad has an AQ rating from the National Rifle Association and the Texas State Rifle Association.
Immigration: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Likeithia “Keke” Williams
Democrat
Healthcare: Keke will push for access to quality and affordable healthcare through Medicaid expansion. She will also protect funding for Planned Parenthood, where many women and families receive crucial healthcare services.
Climate Change: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Social Issues: Keke knows we need to raise the minimum wage so families can support themselves with one job instead of needing two or three to make ends meet. She also supports equal pay for women and paid family and medical leave for all families.
Keke is a proud supporter of the CROWN Act, banning hair discrimination in Texas.
Gun Control: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Immigration: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Texas House of Representatives, District 56
Charles “Doc” Anderson
Republican
Healthcare: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Climate Change: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Social Issues: Doc is one of the strongest pro-life advocates in the Texas House. He will always stand up to protect the sanctity of innocent life and end the scourge of abortion.
Doc strongly believes in the traditional values that made Texas great. Values like faith, family and freedom. He will consider every piece of legislation to determine whether it erodes these values, or bolsters them.
Gun Control: Doc believes that the Second Amendment and our right to keep and bear arms is the cornerstone of our freedoms. He will continue to defend this right and prevail against those who would take those rights away.
Immigration: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Katherine Turner-Pearson
Democrat
Healthcare: In 2014, the pregnancy-related death rate in Texas was 35.8 per 100,000 live births. By contrast, the maternal mortality rate in Japan that year was only 5 per 100,000 and only 3 per 100,000 in Poland. To put it simply, for every 100,000 births, 36 Texas mothers died. While one would think that childbirth should be getting safer due to our modern medical technologies, the maternal mortality rate in Texas has been increasing since 2010. In fact, it doubled between 2010 and 2014. It's getting worse, not better.
WHY does Texas have the highest maternal mortality rate --not only in the United States, but the highest in the entire developed world?
While there are theories, no one yet knows the answer. There are a series of task forces commissioned to study the issue, but they are moving slowly and there does not seem to be a sense of urgency in the Texas legislature. This is a crisis in Texas. These women are our sisters, daughters, wives, and mothers, and they are dying. We must find out why so we can stop this epidemic, and we can’t wait for updates every two years to see how the research is progressing. In the Texas House I will work to make sure the task forces are moving quickly to find the root cause(s) of the increasing maternal mortality rate in Texas and I will do my own part in researching this shocking loss of young mothers. I will also push to make sure all pregnant women in Texas have access to prenatal and postnatal care no matter what their economic status in order to help save lives.
Climate Change: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Social Issues: The total number of people imprisoned in Texas exceeds that of any other state, as well as that of many foreign countries. If gathered together into their own city, the Texas prison population would constitute the state's 20th largest city --with 141,859 inmates in 2017, and more than 2.2 million incarcerated over the past thirty years. Compare that number to the 124,805 people living within the city of Waco.
The ethnic distribution of Texas inmates is mostly males, fairly equally distributed between black, white, and Latino --and each one of them is someone's father, husband, grandparent, child or sibling. The ripple effect on having these citizens dependent on the state and not contributing to the economy and the social fabric of the state is huge.
Texas spends roughly $80 billion each year housing these inmates --billions that could pay for better public schools, infrastructure upgrades, or health care for the citizens of Texas. Why are so many Texans in prison? Some argue that it's our no-nonsense "tough on crime" policy, but the situation is more complicated. Recent statistics indicate that our prison system is little more than a revolving door --not deterring crime or rehabilitating first or second-time offenders. In most cases, it is simply housing prisoners until they serve out their sentences. Very little is being done to identify the causes of this startling, unprecedented level of incarcerations, or to take steps to rehabilitate current inmates and find ways to get them back into the workforce.
When I take my seat in the Texas House I will work to obtain deeper, more detailed analysis into the reasons for these crimes in order to prevent them, and look for ways to rehabilitate inmates more effectively, and examine ways to help offenders when they re-enter society so they can adapt quickly to their freedom and find gainful employment.
It’s been over 50 years since the race riots of my earliest memories. But recent events prove that the understanding between cultures in this country still have a very long way to go. District 56 is a beautiful mosaic of cultures, and it is this mosaic that makes living in our District such a rich, rewarding experience. This diversity is our biggest strength. Each culture brings with it art, literature, foods, music and friendships that are precious and unique, and when all these ethnic and social flavors are mixed together, we are all blessed with the most beautiful, vigorous, and vibrant society imaginable.
I would not want our community to progress any other way. But in order to maximize that progress and richness, we have to listen to each other more closely, and try to understand each other’s experience and perspective.
We need to learn that other cultures are not “better” or “worse” than our own, they are simply different. There is no such thing as race. The color of our skin is simply a set of alleles or “genes” that tell our bodies what color to make our skin, eyes, hair, etc. Culture is derived from our religion, where and how we were raised. Rather than analyzing different cultures on a scale of 1 to 10 based on how much they differ from our own, I want to see us prospering our families, our businesses, and our state at a huge round table where there’s room for all –a human family of equals.
As a Board member of the Community Race Relations Coalition of Waco, I currently strive to help this District come to a better understanding of our different cultures so that we may embrace and celebrate our unique differences. In the Texas House, I will work to bring about this same understanding for all of Texas, and I want this district to be the shining example for the rest of the state.
Gun Control: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Immigration: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Texas House of Representatives, District 58
DeWayne Burns
Republican
Healthcare: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Climate Change: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Social Issues: One of the great responsibilities that we have as a community is to create just laws that protect the most defenseless members of our society. The last two legislative sessions were the most pro-life in memory, and Rep. Burns was front and center during those debates.
In 2017, Rep. Burns co-sponsored Senate Bill 8, banning partial birth abortions in Texas once and for all, and imposing felony charges on anyone who performs one unless the life of the mother is at risk. The bill also bans "dismemberment" abortions, a truly barbaric attack on innocent life.
Additionally, the 2017-2019 budget allocates $18.3 million to the state’s Alternatives to Abortion program which offers a network of crisis pregnancy centers, adoption centers, and maternity homes across Texas to provide support for women in need.
House Bill 2858 was a key piece of pro-life legislation that Rep. Burns filed to defend the unborn and protect innocent victims of human trafficking networks. He added this legislation as an amendment to House Bill 2552 which passed unanimously in May of 2017 and also focused on the growing issue of sex-trafficking. The amendment creates criminal penalties for compelling a minor to seek an abortion through force or the threat of force, as well as for killing the unborn child of a minor who is being trafficked against her will.
This summer, Texas also became the 25th state in the union to pass limits on health insurance coverage for abortions. House Bill 214 removes the mandatory coverage for elective abortions that was previously required in government and private health insurance plans.
House Bill 3074, which was passed in 2015, now limits the ability of a hospital or doctor to withdraw food and water from a patient. Before this law was passed, the Texas Advanced Directives Act allowed them to stop feeding a patient with only ten days notice, regardless of the wishes of the patient or his or her family. Tragically, this practice had become far too common in our hospitals, and it resulted in the inhumane dehydration and starvation of patients.
And House Bill 3994, which also became law in 2015, was a great step forward in eliminating abortions on minors in Texas. A "judicial bypass" is the process of a judge issuing an order for a doctor to perform an abortion on an underage girl without notifying her parents, much less obtaining consent from them. This law limits an attorney's ability to change the court venue in search of a favorable judge to obtain the bypass. It also stops the bypass from being automatically granted if the judge does not rule on the petition.
In June of 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision making same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states was a blow to the heart of our system of representative democracy. If you recall, in 2005, more than 3/4 of Texas voters approved a state constitutional amendment which defined a marriage as being between one man and one woman. Rather than interpreting the law, 5 justices invalidated part of the Texas Constitution in favor of their political agenda.
We must not allow this ruling to be a slippery slope that impacts the religious freedom of Texans. With that in mind, Rep. Burns co-sponsored the Pastor Protection Act (Senate Bill 2065) in 2015. This law protects pastors and religious institutions from being forced to perform marriage ceremonies that contradict with their beliefs. It also protects them from penalties or discrimination for refusing to officiate over or sanction same-sex weddings.
Gun Control: During the 84th legislative session, Rep. Burns co-authored House Bill 910, a landmark piece of legislation also known as the "Open Carry" bill. Now enacted into law, the bill expands the scope of a license to carry a concealed handgun to include the ability to carry openly so long as the gun is holstered. Since Texas was one of the few states that completely prohibited the open carry of a handgun, Rep. Burns believed it was time to remove the restriction to better comply with the 2nd Amendment and bring state law more in line with the values most of us share as Texans.
And during the 85th legislative session, Rep. Burns helped pass a bill eliminating all application fees for first-time or permit renewal applicants for a handgun license in Texas. Before this legislation, a handgun license was $140. It will now be $40 . This includes an open carry license. Renewals for these licenses were $70 and will now also be $40. A handgun license of $140 was one of the highest fees in the country, with only Illinois and Arkansas being higher. This new law slashes that fee by over 70%.
Immigration: In 2015, Rep. Burns was one of the co-authors of House Bill 11 which funded an $840 million border security plan, dramatically increased the number of D.P.S. officers stationed along the border, created an information center to analyze data in real-time to provide state and local law enforcement agencies with the intelligence they need, and it created a volunteer corps of retired state troopers to reinforce our existing resources. The bill also increases the penalties for those caught smuggling people across the border and establishes checkpoints heading into Mexico to search for weapons and drugs.
In 2017, he co-sponsored Senate Bill 4 which bans sanctuary cities in Texas and stops a local governmental body or police department from implementing policies that stop enforcement of immigration law. There are also 250 new D.P.S. troopers being hired to expand operations along the border.
Cindy Rocha
Democrat
Healthcare: Healthcare should be a human right. Be it medicare for all or some type of universal healthcare. Healthcare must be affordable and accessible. We need to accept the medicaid dollars that we are currently refusing. We can no longer afford for our federal tax dollars not to come back to Texas. We must put the health of our people on the front burner.
Climate Change: Our air, water, flora and fawna are a source of Texas pride that some seem to think are okay to exploit and destroy. They are wrong.
Social Issues: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Gun Control: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Immigration: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Texas State Senate District 22
Robert Vick
Democratic Party
Healthcare: I believe that accepting the billions of federal dollars for the State's Medicaid program can provide coverage and keep Texans out of the emergency room where they often cannot afford to pay their bills and would stop those costs from being passed on to Texans through higher insurance premiums and property taxes. I will advocate restoring a fee-for-service model and reject further "privatization" efforts to the Texas Medicaid program. I will defend Medicare provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that improves our quality of care and increases services to rural areas. I support increasing community-based mental health services for children and adults. Legislation and efforts to combat the State's maternal mortality crisis must become a priority.
Climate Change: I will champion legislation to utilize our wealth of alternative energy sources, solar, wind and geothermal. I will work to restore the rights of local governments and voters to regulate oil and gas operations within their communities. I will support legislation to strengthen and enforce regulations designed to rapidly and significantly reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations. I support an aggressive phasing out of the ecologically destructive extraction method known as hydraulic fracturing. The State must take immediate action to prevent the depletion and exploitation of our water resources by banning the use of non-brackish water for fracking, requiring practical recovery of water used in the fracking process (sometimes in the millions of gallons per well), and an end to speculative water marketing. Texas needs to fully enforce environmental laws instead of ceding its responsibility to protect our health to corporate interests. I will oppose any further attempts of the Legislature aimed at preventing cities and counties from regulating litter and pollution in their boundaries.
Social Issues: I trust Texans to make personal and responsible decisions about whether and when to bear children, in consultation with their families, physicians, personal consciences or faith. I will oppose any and all legislation that infringes upon these rights.
Gun Control: I support the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I will encourage the closing of loopholes that allow guns to be sold or traded without passing a mandatory and thorough background check. I believe we should enact legislation to require all individuals charged with domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault, domestic or foreign terrorism, stalking or any violent felony to temporarily surrender all weapons in their possession to law enforcement pending adjudication of their case. I will work to enact sensible gun laws to curtail the availability of weapons with extended ammunition magazines, bump stops, binary and crank trigger systems; and, rapid-fire, magazine-fed, military style assault weapons. I support allocating a portion of funds collected from State License to Carry Fees toward programs dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of gun violence victims.
Immigration: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Brian Birdwell
Republican Party
Healthcare: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Climate Change: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Social Issues: Life is precious and sacred, and the unborn must be protected. We are endowed by our Creator, and we must be prepared to defend life from conception until natural death. As your senator, I have been unyielding and will continue my efforts to advance policies that would protect innocent human lives—unborn or otherwise.
Gun Control: As a veteran, Benefactor Life NRA member, TSRA member, Concealed Handgun License-holder and a proud native Texan, I will continue to fiercely defend our right to keep and bear arms. I’m proud to have authored or co-authored an array of legislation protecting the constitutional rights of law-abiding, gun-owning Texans.
Immigration: Illegal immigration is a serious issue in the United States, and I believe no state has borne the burden quite like Texas. As a survivor of the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon, I wear the scars of not only an act of war, but of not knowing who is unlawfully in this country. I was proud to be the senate sponsor of the strongest border security package in Texas history—the Stronger Border, Safer Texas Act in 2015, and during the Obama administration years, voted to increase state funding and personnel at the Texas-Mexico border. I will work with our partners at the federal level to ensure the federal government continues to perform its constitutionally enumerated function of immigration enforcement and border security. I agree with President Trump, it is time to start showing compassion for the taxpayer who must foot the bill for a government that won’t perform the basic function of securing our border.
Texas State Senate District 24
Dawn Buckingham
Republican Party
Healthcare: Dr. Dawn fights for better healthcare. This candidate did not list more about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Climate Change: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Social Issues: I am a Christian, a wife, a mother, a doctor, and pro-life. That’s why I believe we must do all we can to protect the innocent, precious lives of the unborn. I believe abortion should only be allowed in cases where it’s absolutely medically necessary, and taxpayers should not have to fund abortions.
Gun Control: This candidate did not list anything about this topic on their website. For more information, click here.
Immigration: Border security is the biggest threat to Texas’ security and prosperity that we face today. The time for excuses has long past. We must secure our border, period.
But we must also deal with interior issues. That’s why during my first legislative session, I proudly co-wrote and voted for our state’s sanctuary cities law. To show just how serious I am about securing the border and curbing the influx of illegal immigration, I authored and successfully attached the amendment to the sanctuary cities bill that allows for any public official who ignores federal immigration laws to be removed from office. Additionally, in both of the legislative sessions that I have served as your state senator, I have voted for a state budget that dedicates nearly a billion dollars each to fund the Department of Public Safety and the National Guard to help secure the border. Securing our border is truly an issue of life or death, and without a secure border, we do not have a nation.
Clayton Tucker
Democratic Party
Healthcare: What is the point in having the freedom of speech, assembly, to vote, or any other freedom if you’re too sick to fully utilize them? Healthcare must be made a human right. As such, Clayton Tucker will fight for universal healthcare, aggressively address the veteran suicide and maternal mortality epidemics, lower prescription drug costs, & more.
See Clayton'shealthcareplans here.
Climate Change: No society can survive without water. As a former environmental researcher, Clayton walked through villages that were abandoned because they ran out of water. Clayton Tucker will protect our water supply and quality, heavily invest in solar and wind energy, & more.
See Clayton'senvironmentalplans here.
Social Issues: Clayton Tucker fully supports women's health and body autonomy. Clayton will work to combat institutionalized racism. Clayton supports the Texas Fair Justice Act & the George Floyd Act. Clayton Tucker is a supporter of LGBTQIA + rights and freedom.
Gun Control: Clayton Tucker grew up around guns in the Texas countryside and recognizes how important guns are to Texans. Clayton believes guns should be treated similarly to cars; just because everyone needs a license and has to wear a seatbelt, this does not limit our freedom to use cars. Just as a "well-regulated militia" is necessary for the security of a free state, requiring a driver's license and wearing a seatbelt are part of the "well-regulated" use of cars.
Immigration: Texas is the friendship state. It's time for our government to reach for that ideal. Clayton will fight to keep families together, advocate for greater legal resources to speed up the immigration process, will protect DREAMers and others going through the process, will pressure Congress and the federal government to find real solutions, & more.
