<\/p>\n
Gov. Greg Abbott (left) and State Rep. Gina Hinojosa (right) are running for Texas governor in the Nov. 3 midterm election.<\/p>\n
Abigail Dollins<\/p>\n
Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is facing state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, a Democrat, in a Nov. 3 reelection his bid for fourth term.<\/p>\n
The candidates are in a heated race for the statewide leadership role, as they vie for a four-year term. Early voting runs from Oct. 19-30.<\/p>\n
We asked the candidates about their opinions on issues like property taxes, data center development, vouchers and healthcare issues. Here\u2019s what they said in the Star-Telegram\u2019s candidate questionnaire.<\/p>\n
Greg Abbott<\/p>\n
Party: Republican (Incumbent)<\/p>\n
Hometown: Austin, TX<\/p>\n
Age: 68<\/p>\n
Campaign website: https:\/\/www.gregabbott.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Best way for voters to reach you: info@gregabbott.com<\/a><\/p>\n Occupation: 48th Governor of Texas<\/p>\n Education: Duncanville High School; University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance; Vanderbilt University Law School, Juris Doctorate<\/p>\n Have you run for elected office before?<\/p>\n Yes. I have served as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas and as a State District Judge in Harris County. Before I was elected Governor, I also served as Attorney General for the state of Texas. I currently have the honor of serving as the 48th Governor of the great state of Texas and hope to earn Texans\u2019 support to continue serving as their governor.<\/p>\n Please list the highlights of your civic involvement\/activism in Texas.<\/p>\n Securing Texas\u2019 southern border through Operation Lone Star, busing migrants to sanctuary cities, and building the Texas border wall. Under my leadership, Texas has become the #1 state for big and small businesses in America, with 54 Fortune 500 companies and more than 3 million small businesses. We have the eighth-largest economy in the world, with $2.7 trillion in GDP. I have also empowered parents to control their child\u2019s education, enacting the largest day-one school choice program in America.<\/p>\n Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain.<\/p>\n No, however, while serving as Attorney General, I prosecuted over 100 cases of corruption and other crimes committed by judges, district attorneys, and public officials. I also led investigations and brought charges against those committing voter fraud in Texas elections.<\/p>\n Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain.<\/p>\n As a former District Court Judge and Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas, I presided over numerous civil cases in my judicial capacity. As Attorney General, I represented the State in thousands of civil cases to protect Texans and taxpayers, hold those who violated state laws accountable, and fight fraud, waste, and abuse. I established a Civil Medicaid Fraud Division, which under my leadership recovered hundreds of millions of dollars annually for Texas taxpayers. I also oversaw the collection of more than $30 billion in delinquent child support, helping parents provide for their children. As Governor I continue to defend the litigation interests of Texans, like suing state legislators who refused to show up for work and defending efforts under Operation Lone Star to keep Texans safe. My record–in every role–reflects a commitment to defending Texas law, protecting taxpayer dollars, and delivering results for Texas families.<\/p>\n Who are your top three campaign contributors?<\/p>\n I am proud to have donations from Texans in all 254 counties. Every donation I receive is public information, and my campaign\u2019s finance report is available on the Texas Ethics Commission Website.<\/p>\n What is the biggest challenge facing Texas? How would you address it?<\/p>\n The biggest challenge facing Texans is the rising cost of living. By overhauling the state\u2019s property tax system, I will cut the average Texan homeowners\u2019 property tax bill by 50%, saving them up to $3,000 per year. My Affordability Agenda will address rising healthcare costs by creating an Essential Health Benefits plan, saving families and small businesses money and capping monthly co-pays at $25 for inhalers and epinephrine. My plan will reward good drivers with discounted auto insurance premiums up to 30% and establish a Texas roof fortification program that can save homeowners up to $16,000 over the life of their roof. The Abbott Affordability Agenda will also lower the costs of a college degree by providing summer tuition discounts up to $1,000 and creating three-year bachelor\u2019s degree programs at public universities. It will also reduce the costs of home ownership by increasing housing supply and cutting red tape.<\/p>\n Why are you seeking this office?<\/p>\n I am running for reelection as Governor to defend Texas values and ensure Texas remains the best state to live, work, and raise a family. Texas is the bastion of common sense, law and order, and the land of unlimited opportunity. But in one election, our state can be upended by the failed socialist policies that have wrecked blue states like California, New York, and Minnesota. We must protect the Texas way of life, put Texans first, and pass on the same opportunities and prosperity to future generations.<\/p>\n What are your top 3 policy priorities if elected?<\/p>\n Slash Texans\u2019 property taxes by eliminating school district property taxes and capping appraisal growth<\/p>\n Keep Texas the most affordable large state in America<\/p>\n Ensure the safety of Texans by keeping violent criminals behind bars<\/p>\n How will you measure your success as governor?<\/p>\n During my time as Governor, Texas has become the economic envy of the nation. Our economy is the eighth largest in the world. We have more than 3.5 million registered businesses, more than double from when I was first elected, and more Texans are working now than ever before. We\u2019ve made record investments in our public schools and higher education institutions, and dedicated generational funding for transportation, energy, and water infrastructure to ensure we lead the world for decades to come. As Governor, success is achieved by protecting Texans\u2019 lives, their liberties, and their ability to pursue their dreams.<\/p>\n Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?<\/p>\n Texans care about what is affecting their pocketbooks, and my comprehensive affordability agenda delivers lasting solutions that lower costs year after year. My property tax plan alone will cut the average Texas homeowner\u2019s property taxes by 50%, saving families $3,000 annually. I have also put forward meaningful reforms to lower housing, insurance, healthcare, and electricity costs while making college more affordable. My opponent\u2019s answer to affordability is to create a state income tax, increase your property taxes and raid Texas\u2019 emergency savings account. Texans deserve structural, lasting relief, not a gimmick that drains state savings used for emergencies. We also differ fundamentally on protecting children. I have fought for stronger parental rights and protections for minors, while my opponent supports boys playing in girls\u2019 sports, men undressing in girls locker rooms, and prosecuting parents for not affirming their child\u2019s perceived gender.<\/p>\n What are Texans looking for and wanting most in their governor?<\/p>\n Texans want a leader who will fight for their freedom and protect their families. They want a governor focused on the issues that matter most: keeping Texans safe, creating more good-paying jobs, slashing property taxes, and ensuring hardworking Texans can keep more of what they earn. That means backing our brave law enforcement officers and keeping dangerous criminals behind bars.<\/p>\n What should the governor do to promote affordability for Texans?<\/p>\n The governor should focus on structural reforms that can save Texans thousands of dollars every year\u2014not a one-time, temporary solution. That is exactly what my Affordability Agenda achieves. These proposals will slash property taxes for the average Texas homeowner by 50%, cut the cost of home ownership, healthcare, insurance, energy, and make college more affordable and attainable for Texans.<\/p>\n Should Texas eliminate property taxes for homeowners? Why or why not? If so, how would this be achieved?<\/p>\n Texans deserve long lasting property tax relief. My property tax plan will save the average homeowner over $3,000 per year. Eliminating school property taxes for homeowners, requiring common-sense spending limits and two-thirds voter approval for tax increases, empowering voters to roll back taxes, creating appraisal predictability, and capping appraisal growth will provide that relief.<\/p>\n What should the governor do to regulate data center development in Texas?<\/p>\n I have issued the boldest and most strategic standards of any governor in America. My guardrails put Texans first. I have directed the Public Utilities Commission and the Electric Reliability Council (ERCOT) of Texas to audit data centers before they move forward, any projects that fail to complete the audit will be denied connection to the Texas grid. I also directed the Texas Water Development Board to enforce water-use reporting laws and impose legal consequences for violations. Additionally, I directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to withhold permits for data centers that are not in compliance. As a result of my actions, data centers must: pay for their own electric infrastructure, add power to our grid, lower the costs for ratepayers, protect and reuse water, and not disturb neighborhoods.<\/p>\n What are the next steps for Texas\u2019 marijuana and THC laws? What policies do you support in this area?<\/p>\n When I vetoed the bill last session that would have outlawed THC products, I was clear that Texas needs to respect the liberty of adults to access a lawful product that is safe through proper regulation and responsible consumption, while also protecting the safety of our children. I then took immediate action to ensure the safety of THC products for adults by requiring common sense things like product labeling, age verification, testing of consumables and removing dangerous synthetics from store shelves. As Governor, I will continue working with the Legislature to respect the freedoms of Texans and protect our communities.<\/p>\n What education policies should be prioritized when state lawmakers meet in 2027?<\/p>\n Texas must have zero tolerance for sex offenders in schools. A teacher convicted of abuse of a child must serve a minimum of 10 years in prison with no parole. I will also work with the Legislature to limit classroom screen time so devices only support specific lessons, not replace teachers. We must also ensure Texas students lead the nation in reading and math, eliminate foreign influence in Texas classrooms, and make sure education funding ends up in the classroom \u2013 not in the hands of bureaucrats. Additionally, we must ensure college education remains attainable. To achieve this goal, we must create a savings program that discounts summer college courses and require universities to provide a pathway to 3-year bachelor\u2019s degrees.<\/p>\n What policies, if any, should the state pass as it relates to H-1B visas?<\/p>\n The H-1B work program is a federal program\u2014 the State of Texas does not and cannot issue or revoke U.S. visas. Earlier this year, I directed all state agencies and public universities to freeze new H-1B applications, and I have asked state lawmakers to codify this directive in the next legislative session. H-1B visa holders should also be banned from working in our public schools. Texas jobs should go to Texans first. Texas should recruit, train, and retain our own teachers instead of depending on temporary foreign labor.<\/p>\n What policies should Texas prioritize to address population growth in the state?<\/p>\n Being the best state to live, work, and raise a family, Texas will continue to attract families and business owners from across the country. To address this growth, we must commit to keeping Texas affordable. By cutting property taxes and lowering the cost of healthcare, housing, home and auto insurance, electricity, and higher education, we will keep Texas, Texas.<\/p>\n Should Texas dedicate more funding to education saving accounts in the coming legislative session? Why or why not?<\/p>\n Texas should maintain its commitment to ensure parents are the final decision makers for their children. No family should be denied the opportunity to put their child in the education setting where they learn best. There is massive demand for the Education Savings Account. This past allotment was awarded to more than 122,000 children, nearly 25% of which had a qualifying disability and 80% of which are in a family with a household income below 200% of the federal poverty level.<\/p>\n What should the state do to expand healthcare access and affordability for Texans?<\/p>\n Under my proposal to create the Essential Health Benefit plan, Texans will have greater access to employer-sponsored healthcare and could see a 20% decrease in premiums, saving families about $1,150 each year. I will also cap monthly co-pays on inhalers and epinephrine at $25, which could save Texans $120 annually on inhalers and at least $650 on epinephrine, lowering the cost of their lifesaving medications. I have made improving healthcare access in rural Texas a priority, where barriers to care are especially acute. I will continue investing in rural communities by expanding telehealth and telemedicine services, ensuring every Texan can access necessary care as quickly as possible. We must also continue investing in rural hospitals, building on the $1.4 billion already granted to communities across the state.<\/p>\n Please describe an issue specific to North Texas and how you\u2019d address it as an elected official.<\/p>\n One issue specific to North Texas is high home insurance premiums due to severe weather. I am creating a Texas roof fortification program to provide homeowners with more resilient roofs, which will reduce insurance premiums and save homeowners 8%, or nearly $16,000 in total savings over the life of the roof. We will also lower housing costs to support North Texas\u2019 population boom by allowing builders to use third-party inspections, requiring local authorities to make an occupancy determination within 10 days, allowing developers to build using pre-approved home designs, allowing property additions on existing property without government approval, and prohibiting rogue cities from setting unnecessary mandates that discourage construction. These initiatives will reduce the average cost of a new home by over $16,000.<\/p>\n Gina Hinojosa<\/p>\n Party: Democrat<\/p>\n Hometown: Austin, Texas<\/p>\n Age: 52<\/p>\n Campaign website: https:\/\/ginafortexas.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Best way for voters to reach you: info@ginafortexas.com<\/a><\/p>\n Occupation: I earn a living as a state representative. I maintain my Texas license to practice law in good standing.<\/p>\n Education: A proud product of Brownsville public schools, I graduated from Homer Hanna High School and bachelor\u2019s from the University of Texas. I received my law degree from George Washington University.<\/p>\n Have you run for elected office before?<\/p>\n I never planned on running for office. But when my son\u2019s elementary school was threatened for closure by state budget cuts, I rallied other parents, ran for Austin ISD School Board\u2014and won. I kept my son\u2019s school open, along with every other public school in the district, and was appointed Board President in 2015. I have continued the fight for my community and all Texas public schools as a member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2017, and now as a gubernatorial candidate.<\/p>\n Please list the highlights of your civic involvement\/activism in Texas.<\/p>\n I began my career as an advocate for families and workers as a civil rights and union lawyer and represented hard-working Texans fighting to ensure they were treated fairly, got the wages and benefits they earned, and helped them support their families.<\/p>\n I am a member of the Communications Workers of America, the Texas State Employees Union, and I have supported Austin Interfaith, Meals on Wheels, Catholic Charities USA, Texas Rural Legal Aid, and the Equal Justice Center. I have served as an elected member of the Austin School Board, the Texas House of Representatives, and now as a candidate for Governor of the State of Texas.<\/p>\n In the Legislature, I fought for public education, workers\u2019 rights, lower property taxes, and strong democratic institutions. My efforts to champion the fight against Greg Abbott\u2019s school voucher scam and advocate for the funding required to make our neighborhood public schools the best in the country are some of my proudest times as a Texas legislator.<\/p>\n Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain.<\/p>\n No<\/p>\n Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain.<\/p>\n No<\/p>\n Who are your top three campaign contributors?<\/p>\n My campaign is overwhelmingly funded by small-dollar donations fueled by Texans. Our campaign has committed not to take corporate PAC money, but we have received large donations from the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and the National Education Association (NEA).<\/p>\n What is the biggest challenge facing Texas? How would you address it?<\/p>\n Affordability is the biggest challenge facing Texans. Working Texans are struggling: paying more for electricity, groceries, home and car insurance, gas, and watching rent skyrocket while homeownership gets further out of reach \u2013 all because Greg Abbott puts his billionaire donors before the people of Texas.<\/p>\n According to a report from KLTV, Texas residential electricity rates have increased by about 40% since 2020. Now, while Texas has more people disconnected from electricity than any other state, Abbott is letting global corporations build data centers in our backyards and hooking them into the grid through expedited approval processes.<\/p>\n As Governor, I will end the Greg Abbott Corruption Tax \u2013 ending corrupt vendor contracts, pausing the gas tax, freezing electricity rates, and making sure corporations pay their fair share. My priority is to make the American Dream a reality for the people of Texas.<\/p>\n Why are you seeking this office?<\/p>\n I never planned on running for office, let alone the highest office in Texas. I am running for Governor because I was taught to do the right thing. I could not sit by and watch the state I love continue to be bought and sold through corrupt backroom deals between Greg Abbott and his donors. I am a native Texan, born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley. A proud product of Brownsville public schools, I graduated from the University of Texas and received my law degree from George Washington University.<\/p>\n I have fought for my community as a member of my local School Board, as a member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2017, and now as a gubernatorial candidate. Now, I am taking the fight directly to Greg Abbott, who for over a decade has helped the corrupt elite get rich while working Texans struggle to get by. Texans deserve a leader who puts people first, defends our values, and leads with courage \u2013 not one who is loyal to his campaign donors.<\/p>\n What are your top 3 policy priorities if elected?<\/p>\n As Governor, I have a short, simple agenda, because the plan should be as plain as the promise: save our public schools, put money in your pocket, and end Greg Abbott\u2019s corruption \u2013 so every Texan can live their American Dream. Every one of the first 100 days will be working toward helping Texans secure the American Dream. The American Dream is simple: it\u2019s the chance to work hard, get ahead, and build a better life for your family. But for too many Texans, it feels out of reach.<\/p>\n How will you measure your success as governor?<\/p>\n I will measure my success as governor by whether working families in Texas are actually better off than when I took office. Success means fully funding our public schools, raising teacher pay, making Texas affordable by lowering property taxes and utility bills, and putting Texans first. If hardworking Texans have the resources and opportunity to thrive, stay in their homes, and build a better future for their children, then we have succeeded.<\/p>\n Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?<\/p>\n Texans deserve a Governor who fights for them. I\u2019ve spent my career fighting \u2013 as a civil rights attorney fighting for Texas families, on the school board, and in the Texas House of Representatives. Greg Abbott has spent his career enriching billionaires and corporations.<\/p>\n Greg Abbott has had 12 years in office and nothing to show for it. Texans are working harder and getting less. Schools are closing, over 150 schools are on a 4-day week, property taxes are up 85%, and electricity bills have gone up by $40 per month on average. Texas is home to the most uninsured people and uninsured children, the most energy disconnects, and the most bankruptcies.<\/p>\n There is a clear difference between Greg Abbott and me. The people of Texas are ready for a Governor who will fight to ensure the American Dream is within reach for hardworking Texans. I will be that Governor. My plan is as simple as my promise: save public schools, put money in Texans\u2019 pockets, and end the data center madness.<\/p>\n What are Texans looking for and wanting most in their governor?<\/p>\n Texans are looking for a change, and they want a governor who will listen to the problems they face and fight to make their lives better and more affordable. After twelve years of failed leadership, they want a governor who puts people first, not campaign donors.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve talked to thousands of people across the state, and they all say the same things. We need to save public schools and stop funneling money to private corporations running AI schools. We need to stop hoarding over $27 billion in the Rainy Day Fund and give that money back to the people it belongs to at a time when hardworking Texans are struggling to pay their bills. We need a governor who listens to the people of Texas.<\/p>\n Texans are tired of Greg Abbott\u2019s corruption, and they are ready to wipe the slate clean and have a fresh start. Texans deserve a leader who leads with courage, fights for their values, and works every day to help them secure the American Dream.<\/p>\n What should the governor do to promote affordability for Texans?<\/p>\n The Governor of Texas has the power to make life more affordable, but Greg Abbott has used that power to make the rich even richer. As Governor, I will call on state lawmakers to pass legislation sending the Rainy Day Fund hoard back to the taxpayers with $1,500 rebate checks to every Texas household. I will direct state agencies to regulate the corporate greed that is draining working families and ensure transparency and accountability at the grocery store, in the housing market, and at the gas pump.<\/p>\n I will direct the Public Utility Commission to freeze residential electric rates until high-load users like data centers pay for themselves. Texans are paying $40 a month more on power bills since Greg Abbott allowed fossil fuel executives to profit off the deadly Uri freeze. I will eliminate special corporate giveaways and invest those savings directly into property tax relief, moving aggressively toward erasing residential property tax burdens altogether.<\/p>\n Should Texas eliminate property taxes for homeowners? Why or why not? If so, how would this be achieved?<\/p>\n The issue is really about allocation of resources. Do we spend billions of dollars a year on corrupt vendor contracts and tax breaks for corporations, or do we lower property taxes for families while still delivering world-class public education? Greg Abbott points to school district taxes as the problem and uses it as an excuse to cut education funding, but state government waste in the form of pay-to-play contracting forces local governments to keep collecting more to stay afloat.<\/p>\n We can do better. As governor, I\u2019ll stop cutting taxes for the elites and force them to pay their fair share. Texas families should not be responsible for funding the corporate grift that has taken over under one-party rule in the last 30 years.<\/p>\n Eliminating property tax for residential housing is the ultimate goal, but unlike Greg Abbott, I won\u2019t promise something I can\u2019t deliver. What I can promise is that eliminating corporate giveaways will put money back in the pockets of hardworking Texans.<\/p>\n What should the governor do to regulate data center development in Texas?<\/p>\n I\u2019ve called on Greg Abbott to issue an executive order putting a moratorium on data centers until laws can be passed to protect Texas communities. He invited the data centers to Texas with the richest tax breaks in the country and has taken millions in donations from data center corporations, so we know his recent empty threats to regulate data centers are just another empty campaign promise.<\/p>\n As governor, I will ensure that Texans have a seat at the table to decide if and how data centers come into their communities, require data center operators to hire skilled, licensed, union Texas workers, stop data center companies from using NDAs to hide water and electricity usage, and require data center operators to prove Texas households won\u2019t pay more for electricity or water.<\/p>\n What are the next steps for Texas\u2019 marijuana and THC laws? What policies do you support in this area?<\/p>\n As Governor, I will reverse Greg Abbott\u2019s directive making it a felony to possess THC products derived from hemp, and I will sign any bill that comes to my desk sending marijuana and THC to the voters. The legislature has refused to send marijuana to the ballot for years, largely due to profits for alcohol distributors and private prison companies. If the voters approve, we should pass common-sense limits and tax sales to help reduce the property tax burden Texas families are carrying.<\/p>\n What education policies should be prioritized when state lawmakers meet in 2027?<\/p>\n Public education is the bedrock of the American Dream. It\u2019s time for a back-to-basics approach with a great teacher in the classroom. On day one as Governor, I will fire Mike Morath and appoint an educator to lead the Texas Education Agency (TEA), because the agency that oversees our children\u2019s education should be led by someone who knows what it takes.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll end the STAAR test and tests like it, pause the rigged A-F accountability system until the legislature passes laws for real accountability \u2013 not arbitrary tests designed to justify school closures. I\u2019ll end the school voucher scam and ensure Texans\u2019 taxpayer dollars go where they belong: into the neighborhood schools families depend on. I\u2019ll return school districts that have been taken over back to their communities, and I will audit and terminate corrupt vendor contracts and use that money to pay teachers to be among the highest paid in the nation. It\u2019s time for an education Governor to lead.<\/p>\n What policies, if any, should the state pass as it relates to H-1B visas?<\/p>\n H-1B visas have been abused in Texas. Too often, global tech giants like Tesla and Oracle use them to avoid paying American workers higher salaries. These companies take rich tax breaks and subsidies from Greg Abbott while using those dollars to employ foreign workers on Texas soil.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Abbott is threatening to punish school districts for replacing teachers driven from the classroom by his harmful policies. As long as our governor leaves districts unable to find qualified teachers, our children will go without the education and resources they need. This is scapegoating, not leadership.<\/p>\n As governor, my priority will be to bring back our best teachers and put a great, qualified teacher in every classroom. The sad reality is that Abbott is exploiting Texans\u2019 economic anxiety by punching down at minority groups, when he has helped rig the job market and the economy against all of us. Don\u2019t hate the players; hate the game that Greg Abbott has rigged.<\/p>\n What policies should Texas prioritize to address population growth in the state?<\/p>\n As Governor, I will spend time on long-term planning for our growth. From 8th-generation Texans to Texans who started at one of our top-tier state universities this fall, every Texan deserves a state government that plans for the future. From infrastructure, water management, sustainable agriculture, a reliable and strong electric grid, all the way through to public schools and affordable housing.<\/p>\n Should Texas dedicate more funding to education saving accounts in the coming legislative session? Why or why not?<\/p>\n No. As governor, I will end the voucher scam and make sure Texans\u2019 taxpayer dollars go where they belong: to funding neighborhood public schools. The money spent in the classroom is what makes a difference in a child\u2019s education.<\/p>\n Greg Abbott\u2019s voucher scam was never about helping kids. It\u2019s a payout for the privileged. After accepting more than $12 million in donations from out-of-state billionaire Jeff Yass, Abbott funneled $1 billion into the voucher program, redirecting money away from 5.5 million public school students to serve his rich donors. Today, 70% of voucher applications are from families who already have their kids in private school, and private schools retain the power to keep everyone else out. Private school teachers don\u2019t pay into the Teacher Retirement System, but the voucher scam takes billions out of our public schools to pay them. According to a state analysis completed when vouchers were passed, this will destabilize the TRS until it crumbles completely.<\/p>\n What should the state do to expand healthcare access and affordability for Texans?<\/p>\n Texas currently leads the nation in both the highest overall uninsured rate and the greatest number of uninsured children. Almost 300,000 of the 1 million children in Texas are uninsured even though they qualify for healthcare. We are not doing enough to ensure all Texans never have to choose between putting food on the table and getting care.<\/p>\n As governor, I will fight to insure all Texas children, end predatory corporate healthcare practices by stopping bad-faith coverage denials, and make sure that AI does not have the power to deny claims for your services without a medical professional ever looking at your health record. Rural clinics and hospitals must be able to access critical care when they need it most; as governor, I will do just that.<\/p>\n Please describe an issue specific to North Texas and how you\u2019d address it as an elected official.<\/p>\n North Texas uniquely understands the impact of Greg Abbott\u2019s voucher scheme and of school takeover. When schools struggle, it is never the right answer to take power away from the parents and communities who know them best. Greg Abbott\u2019s Texas Education Agency used the STAAR test as a cover to seize control of school districts and hand them over to state bureaucrats and private vendors.<\/p>\n It\u2019s time for a back-to-basics approach with a great teacher in the classroom. As governor, I\u2019ll wipe clean corrupt vendor contracts and pay teachers to be among the highest in the nation. I\u2019ll fire Mike Morath and replace him with an educator, end the voucher scam and rigged STAAR test, and replace the A-F accountability system with laws that create real accountability for our schools. I\u2019ll return school districts that have been taken over back to their communities.<\/p>\n Eleanor Dearman<\/a><\/p>\n Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n Eleanor (Elly) Dearman is a Texas politics and government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She\u2019s based in Austin, covering the Legislature and its impact on North Texas. She grew up in Denton and has been a reporter for more than six years.
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