(Updated, 02/21/18, 9:42 a.m.)
For Immediate Release
February 13, 2018
Contact: Rob D’Amico 512-627-1343
In the March 6 party primaries, Texas AFT’s Committee on Political Education is recommending 26 candidates in contested Republican races and 26 candidates in contested Democratic races. (Note: A few more late-breaking endorsements may be added to the list before early voting starts on Feb. 20.)
“Our endorsements highlight our bipartisan approach to supporting public education,” said Texas AFT President Louis Malfaro. “Texas AFT serves as a watchdog for the legislative and political process, sorting out which officeholders and candidates for office don’t just talk the talk but actually stand up for public education, Texas students and their families, and the educators and staff of our schools and colleges. We support candidates who meet these criteria regardless of party.”
Malfaro pointed to a wave of new interest from educators in this year’s primaries. “We’re seeing folks who have never voted in a primary now actively engaged in pinpointing candidates that are friends of education and pledging to vote for them, while also identifying and speaking out against candidates and officeholders who want to privatize our schools. For the first time, many Texans understand the importance of the primaries. Texas AFT calls upon all its members, public educators across the state, parents and allies of public schools to take part in the March 6 primary election.”
Texas also AFT has included a breakdown of key issues for public education at https://www.texasaft.org/campaigns/primary-election-2018/.
Contested Races in March 6 Primaries
Need to know your district and who currently represents you? Check here.
U.S. House of Representatives
(CD = U.S. Congressional District)
CD 16: Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso
CD 29: Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston
CD 33: Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth
Lieutenant Governor
State Board of Education
District 2: Ruben Cortez, D-Brownsville
Texas Senate
(SD = State Senate District)
SD 10: Beverly Powell, D-Burleson
SD 15: John Whitmire, D-Houston
SD 16: Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas
SD 17: Kristin Tassin, R-Missouri City
SD 25: Shannon McClendon, R-Dripping Springs
SD 30: Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls
SD 31: Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo
Texas House of Representatives
(HD = State House District)
HD 2: Dan Flynn, R-Van
HD 4 (dual): Ashley McKee, R-Eustace and Keith Bell, R-Forney
HD 6: Ted Kamel, R-Tyler
HD 8 (dual): Cody Harris, R-Palestine, and Linda Timmerman, R-Corsicana
HD 9: Chris Paddie, R-Marshall
HD 14: John Raney, R-Bryan
HD 15: Jackie Waters, R-The Woodlands
HD 27: Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City
HD 31: Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City
HD 37: Rene Oliveira, D-Brownsville
HD 41: Bobby Guerra, D-McAllen
HD 54: Scott Cosper, R-Killeen
HD 55: Hugh Shine, R-Temple
HD 59: J.D. Sheffield, R-Gatesville
HD 60: Jim Largent, R-Granbury
HD 64: Lynn Stucky, R-Sanger
HD 75: Mary Gonzalez, D-Clint
HD 87: Four Price, R-Amarillo
HD 88: Ken King, R-Canadian
HD 99: Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth
HD 100: Eric Johnson, D-Dallas
HD 104: Roberto Alonzo, D-Dallas
HD 105: Terry Meza, D-Irving
HD 106: Clint Bedsole, R-Frisco
HD 113: Rhetta Bowers, D-Dallas
HD 115: Julie Johnson, D-Dallas
HD 116: Diana Arevalo, D-San Antonio
HD 117: Philip Cortez, D-San Antonio
HD 118: Tomas Uresti, D-San Antonio
HD 121: Steve Allison, R-San Antonio
HD 122: Lyle Larson, R-San Antonio
HD 124: Ina Minjarez, D-San Antonio
HD 126: Sam Harless, R-Houston
HD 127: Dan Huberty, R-Houston
HD 134: Allison Sawyer, D-Houston
HD 138: Jenifer Rene Pool, D-Houston
HD 139: Jarvis Johnson, D-Houston
HD 142: Harold Dutton, D-Houston
HD 146: Shawn Thierry, D-Houston
HD 147: Garnet Coleman, D-Houston
HD 150: James Wilson, R-Houston
Texas American Federation of Teachers represents more than 65,000 teachers, paraprofessionals, support personnel, and higher-education employees across the state. Texas AFT is affiliated with the 1.6-million-member American Federation of Teachers.
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