Voters in Texas House District 125 have one of the most promising young candidates in the state on their November ballot.
We enthusiastically recommend Adrian Reyna, a teacher with the San Antonio Independent School District who has made the most of his educational and career opportunities to mold himself into an aspiring legislator, as earnest as he is well-rounded.
Reyna, who faces Republican Rick Martinez in the general election, is as deeply connected to the district he’s running in as any candidate in any race.
He was born and raised in Texas House District 125; both his grandfathers are military veterans; and both his grandmothers were public school teachers, as was his mother, who taught in SAISD for more than 30 years.
Likewise, Reyna has been a teacher in SAISD for 15 years. But he is also well-versed in the legislative process, having worked as an aide to then-state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte while he attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned degrees in government and political communications in 2010.
Unsurprisingly, public education is high on Reyna’s priorities. He calls for raising the state’s basic allotment per student, which the Texas Legislature essentially ignored last session when it increased the amount, stagnant since 2019, by only $55. He also calls for basing that funding on enrollment rather than attendance and for reforming what he calls an “overreaching” accountability system.
He supports expanding Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, as well as lowering prescription drug prices and improving access to mental health care.
“As a teacher,” he told us, “I have seen firsthand, especially a teacher who taught through COVID and post-COVID, our young people are crying out for support when it comes to mental health.”
He also advocates for older adults, saying they should able to age with dignity and be protected from scams and elder abuse; for removing barriers to homeownership; for fair wages; and for taking care of veterans.
Reyna’s command across a wide range of issues — exceptional among all the candidates we’ve met — reflects a sense of seriousness, commitment and preparation that surely goes back to his school days and college years.
District 125 voters will benefit from sending him to Austin.