BY HANNAH BROL
Texas Senate, District 15, Democratic Primary
What is the biggest issue the district is currently facing and how will you address it? The stability of the electrical grid is most critical. Lives were lost during Uri, and the system barely held up during the most recent freeze. Current regulations need to be clarified, the system winterized, a specific plan to address population growth and a system failure must be put in place.
What is your top priority if elected?
Mitigating voter suppression. The vote is the only way that citizens can make their voices heard. Laws that make it more difficult to vote—i.e., restricting the number of polling places in certain communities, or making it illegal to pass out food or water—are detrimental to the democratic process.
Michelle Anderson Bonton Occupation: social entrepreneur, business woman, retired educator Relevant experience: 15 years as a founder/leader of a 180-employee, $14 million budget organization www.votemichellebonton.com
Our rights are under attack from Republican leadership—from voting rights, attacks on public education, reproductive rights, local control and LGBTQ+ rights, to name a few. SD 15 needs a proven leader and someone who has fought against Republicans to stand up for them in the Texas Senate.
Attacks on public education—we must protect public education from voucher schemes and work to ensure all children receive an excellent education regardless of their ZIP code.
Jarvis D. Johnson Occupation: business owner Relevant experience: state
representative for District 139 since 2016; Houston City Councilman for
District B, three terms www.jarvisfortexas.com
Women’s rights. I want to enshrine women’s control over their bodies in the Texas Constitution. Voters have a right not only decide this issue but to stand up for women and stand up to the special interests that politically blackmail the “conservative” Legislature into endangering Texas women. Ridiculous.
My top priority, women’s rights and individual freedom, is the biggest issue facing Texas. I will go toe-to-toe with Republicans on this by amending our constitution. If Republicans are so confident about their policies, they should allow Texans to vote on the issue. Texans will stand up for women.
Todd Litton Occupation: attorney-mediator Relevant experience: father and husband, attorney-mediator, former candidate for U.S. House District 2, education nonprofit leader www.toddlitton.com Molly Cook Occupation: ER nurse Relevant experience: ER nurse, public health expert, policy advocate and community organizer www.mollyfortexas.com Karthik Soora Occupation: former HISD teacher and renewable energy developer Relevant experience: Rice University graduate, Momentum Education co- founder, political reform advocate www.karthikfortexas.com Alberto “Beto” Cardenas Occupation: attorney Relevant experience: cleaning up the Housing Authority, millions raised for charity and local infrastructure improvements www.texansforbeto.com
In every conversation, political reform is the top priority. I will introduce legislation to legalize citizen- led ballot initiatives, so Texans can put reproductive freedom, universal gun background checks, Medicaid expansion, campaign finance limits, ranked choice voting, connecting ERCOT to other states, and more on the ballot like folks in other states.
The district’s primary issue is gun violence. I propose stringent gun safety measures: universal background checks, extreme risk laws, ensuring safe storage, bolstering funding for mental health support, education, job funding, improving murder clearance rates, and enhancing firearm tracking through interagency collaboration.
I’m running to stand up to Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick and fight against their politics of fear and hate. We must put an end to their extremist agenda and move Texas forward by expanding access to abortion, making health care more affordable and protecting our public schools and local control.
The extreme agenda of Abbott and Patrick to take away personal liberties like access to abortion and gender-affirming care, push school vouchers, takeover Harris County and [Houston] ISD, and stroke fear and hate in their base. I am an experienced leader who will stand up and fight their hate-filled agenda.
Increasing voter turnout. After two years of talking to voters, high-priority issues include: fully funding public schools, reducing gun violence, abortion access, secure housing, environmental justice, public safety, and rejecting extremism. I will co-govern with the constituency to develop a long-term strategy to achieve these goals.
Low voter turnout. Without building capacity, we will not make the change we want to see in our district. In 2022, my race increased voter turnout, and I will continue to build on that foundation through year-round canvassing, community organizing, and constant, regular communication with the district.
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.
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LAKE HOUSTON - HUMBLE - KINGWOOD EDITION
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