Texas AFT endorses in SBOE District 4 race, state house, U.S. Congress

This November, our profession, livelihoods, and liberties are on the line. Sixty-one years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law. The VRA ended discriminatory practices used to prevent Black and Brown voters from exercising their right to vote. However, earlier this year, the Supreme Court gutted the VRA, allowing the country to backslide into an era of anti-democracy. But this November, we can still elect pro-public education candidates up and down the ballot. By helping elect these candidates, we ensure not only that they are defenders of our neighborhood schools, but that we secure a better future for our students. This November, we are fighting for strong public schools, a strong working class, and an even stronger future for our kids. 

Part of building a strong public school system in Texas lies within the State Board of Education (SBOE). Less visible than the Texas Legislature but just as powerful, the SBOE is responsible for policy decisions that impact public school students and employees. The SBOE has the power to change the textbooks our kids read, whitewash our country's history, dismiss scientific facts, and force one religion into the curriculum. Additionally, the SBOE is responsible for the unchecked expansion of charter schools throughout Texas, which contributes to the enrollment decline fueling the funding crisis in our public schools. Currently, charter schools in Texas operate with fewer levers of accountability, and are financed at the expense of public schools. 

We need experienced educators on the SBOE to make sure policies reflect the reality in our classrooms, not the whims of anti-education politicians and ideologues. That is why we are endorsing Dr. Coretta Mallet-Fontenot for SBOE, District 4. 

Dr. Mallet-Fontenot announced her candidacy for the seat after the current SBOE member won the nomination for a different office earlier this year. She is the current Chair of the NAACP Houston Branch PAC and a 27-year classroom veteran in Houston ISD. For three years, she has been on the ground fighting the TEA takeover in lockstep with her union, the Houston Federation of Teachers, to restore democratic control of the district and reverse the dire consequences for HISD students and educators. We trust her to hold the line in the SBOE and fight charter expansion and for accurate curriculums to prepare our students for the future.

Alongside Dr. Mallet-Fontenot, we entrust the following educators to serve on the SBOE, as they are current or former educators who are tired of the political extremism meddling with the future of children, educators, and public education in Texas. Those endorsed candidates include:   

• Thomas Ray Garcia, District 2, Texas AAUP-AFT 

• Michelle Palmer, District 6, Aldine AFT 

• Tiffany Perkinz, District 7  

• Dana Van De Walker, District 8  

• Ericka Ledferd, District 9  

• Amy Taylor, District 14, Texas AFT AMP  

This November, we have the opportunity to grow our pro-public education support within the Texas Legislature. We are about 90 days out from the first day of early voting in Texas, and we need to get these candidates elected. We trust that these candidates once elected in November will push to defend our public schools, our students, and the future of Texas.

Statewide Candidates: 

• Sarah Eckhardt, Comptroller  

• Benjamin Flores, Land Commissioner  

 Texas House of Representatives:  

• Christian Manuel, House District 22  

• Jennifer "JJ" Dominguez, House District 31 

• Oziel Ochoa Jr., House District 37  

• Julio Salinas, House District 41  

• Chris Jimenez, House District 52  

• Brittany Black, House District 61  

• Detrick Deburr, House District 65 

• Eddie Morales Jr., House District 74  

• Angie Carraway, House District 89, Texas AFT AMP member 

• Junior Ezeonu, House District 101 

• Brett Robinson, House District 130 

• Josh Wallenstien, House District 133  

• Tyler Smith, House District 138   

• Darlene Breaux, House District 149 

U.S. Congress:  

• Shaun Finnie, Congressional District 2  

• Lizzie Pannill Fletcher, Congressional District 7  

• Leticia Gutierrez, Congressional District 9 

• Veronica Escobar, Congressional District 16 

• Marquette Greene-Scott, Congressional 22 

• Melissa McDonough, Congressional District 38

For information on the current election, such as the voter registration deadline and to view a full list of our endorsements, visit Texas AFT's Endorsements page.