ISSUES
Healthcare
The rising cost of healthcare is a serious issue for Texans.
I believe that every American should have access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. In the richest country on the planet, there is no reason why our citizens are often forced to choose between putting food on the table and paying for a medical procedure or prescription.
We had an opportunity to do something meaningful about healthcare in our state, but, rather than pass a budget amendment that would have expanded Medicaid to cover more people, the GOP majority in the State House refused. They’ve instead decided to leave billions of dollars on the table – money that could be making a real difference to everyday Texans. Inaction on an issue this important is unacceptable, and it’s why I’m fighting to hold them accountable.
We must fight for Medicaid Expansion to reduce cost and expand access across Texas – and I won’t stop fighting until that’s a reality.
Public Schools
In 2019, the Texas State Legislature made important progress in efforts to reform the way Texas schools are funded, but since then we have fallen even further behind than before. In 2025 the legislature increased school funding but it was only half of what we needed to make up for inflation alone since 2019. Plus Governor Abbott finally got his school voucher scheme passed to send YOUR public tax dollars to private schools, a Billion Dollar giveaway to the wealthy who can already afford private school education.
We must also change the paradigm around standardized testing and evaluation systems – which is why I’m pushing for important reforms to be made to STAAR exams.
Funding a high-quality education system for our children and reforming our school testing and accountability system is a top priority of mine. We need to evaluate our corporate tax structure and close corporate loopholes that drain our state’s revenue to the detriment of critical areas like education funding.
Finally, education professionals are the backbone of our education system and our teachers, support staff, and hard-working administrators need to be treated as valued professionals and compensated fairly. We must also ensure that retired teachers are given the benefits and protections they deserve.
If we make sensible, appropriate changes based on facts and data, we can guarantee a high-quality education for our children, reduce cost to tax-payers, and support the men and women who shape the minds of tomorrow’s leaders.
Criminal Justice Reform
The inequities in our criminal justice system are serious and systemic challenges that we must confront with conviction and pragmatism. From the conduct of police officers to uneven sentencing to the for-profit prison model, critical changes are needed to ensure that all Americans are viewed equally in the eyes of the law.
There are concrete actions we can take now that I continue to fight for in Austin – like reforming our state bail system and strengthening the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve through deescalation training and community policing initiatives.
Gun Safety
I support the Second Amendment. I also believe that there exists no conflict between the basic rights of gun owners and common-sense gun reform.
Republicans and the NRA have pushed a false narrative around this issue for years and I find it irresponsible. This isn’t about a gun manufacturer’s bottom line – it’s about the safety of our communities.
During my few terms in your State Government, the Legislature has relaxed gun laws every term. This has caused a dramatic rise in gun violence. In 2019, gun violence wasn’t even in the top 5 causes of death for minors in Texas but now it is the leading cause of death for children. More children under 18 die from gun violence in Texas than any other cause. If we really care about our children, the epidemic of gun violence must be meaningfully addressed.
In the face of breathtaking gun violence in communities around the country, we must act on common-sense reform. We need to strengthen our background check system and close loopholes that allow some gun sales to happen without even a cursory check into whether or not an individual should own a gun. And we need more effective systems to identify and prevent community violence and domestic violence.
No Texan wants someone with mental problems or individuals with a demonstrated history of domestic violence to get their hands on a firearm. Nor should we allow for the sale of weapons intended for use as instruments of war. Our policies must reflect that.
Clean Energy
Texas is uniquely positioned to lead a Clean Energy Revolution. Our leadership won’t just result in improving our environment and fighting climate change, although that remains a top concern of mine, but this also has a clear economic benefit.
As the global energy landscape shifts to more renewables, more and more energy jobs and technology development will be tied directly to Clean Energy. That’s why it’s important to encourage commercial growth by incentivizing clean energy and pushing for more environmentally friendly business practices in Texas.
We’ve always been an energy leader here in Houston, and that shouldn’t be any different now. We have the technological know-how, skilled workers, high-quality professionals, and terrific facilities – so let’s re-position ourselves as the innovative and productive force we know we can be.