Texas AFT is proud to make its first round of endorsements for State House, State Senate, and State Board of Education for the March 1 primaries. We are particularly proud of the AFT member activists that are standing up for their communities by running for office. Public education is at a crossroads and educators are strained almost to the breaking point by COVID-19, the economy, and threats to our very democracy. Now is the time to get more involved. Now is the time to vote and stand with your fellow educators for a better Texas. Find our endorsement list here (or text version) and sign up to volunteer and help our AFT-endorsed candidates here.
Also make sure you’re ready to vote. If you need to register, you can get that done here, and the deadline for the March 1 primaries is Monday, January 31. For those already registered, be sure to check your status to make sure information is correct and up to date here. If you have moved to a new county, you must do a new registration. If you moved to a different address in the same county, you can update your record here.
Let’s get Texans registered to vote: Join our Political Bootcamp to see how you can help!
In 2022, Texas AFT has an initiative to ensure that all our members are registered to vote. Our members have the power to change the trajectory of elections by becoming registered voters and going to the polls and voting. Throughout the year, we’re creating opportunities to engage our members and create awareness on issues that matter to them in local communities.
On Monday, January 24 at 5 p.m., we’re hosting a Political Bootcamp to enhance our voter registration outreach to members. Let’s take action and help members know they have power and build our collective power by voting.
AFT continues push for national voting rights legislation
AFT has been a proponent of passing vital pieces of legislation that enhance voting accessibility and protect voting rights—including H.R. 5746, which combines provisions from the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Although deadlock due to opposition from the U.S. Senate Republicans has stalled voting-rights legislation, possible changes to Senate filibuster rules could bring bills to the floor for a vote.
This legislation is in response in large part to state voter suppression laws. In 2021 alone, 19 states (including Texas) enacted 34 new laws that restrict access to the ballot box, and more are under consideration today. As AFT President Randi Weingarten notes in a letter to members of the U.S. House: “The late Rep. John Lewis once said, ‘The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have in our democracy.’ Protecting our democratic principles is patriotic, not partisan. Our responsibility as citizens is not just to vote; it is to stand up so that everyone who is eligible can vote and every vote is counted.”