As Texas gears up for the upcoming elections, the battle over school vouchers has emerged as a pivotal issue that could reshape the state’s educational landscape.
After the primary elections, Governor Greg Abbott declared victory in his push for vouchers, which would redirect public funds to private education. In response, Texas Democrats are mobilizing to challenge Abbott’s endorsed candidates, aiming to flip key state House districts by highlighting the impact of vouchers amid ongoing teacher shortages and budget deficits.
The situation was exacerbated by lawmakers’ failure to utilize the state’s historic $33 billion budget surplus to enhance school funding, as the surplus became entangled in the voucher controversy.
With Abbott armed with a substantial campaign war chest, Democrats are hopeful that recent electoral momentum—bolstered by Kamala Harris’ nomination and Colin Allred’s strong challenge against Senator Ted Cruz—will lead to down-ballot victories. This mirrors the 2018 elections when Cruz’s presence on the ballot helped Democrats flip 12 House seats.
Democrats need to flip just a few seats to block the passage of vouchers in the House. Let’s examine the most competitive races through the lens of campaign contributions.
District 55
Jennifer Lee is running to flip Texas House District 55, challenging Republican Hilary Hickland, who recently defeated incumbent Hugh Shine, a GOP representative opposed to voucher policies. A former teacher in Killeen ISD, Lee embodies a strong commitment to public education and social justice, drawing on her extensive experience as an educator and community advocate.
Lee emphasizes the urgent need for increased funding for public education, better pay for teachers, and enhanced resources for special education. Her campaign is also a direct response to the rise of pro-voucher sentiment, championed by Hickland and supported by Governor Greg Abbott.
Hillary Hickland positioned herself as a far-right advocate aligned closely with the Governor. As an activist mother, Hickland has been vocal on issues such as book banning and public education reforms, particularly advocating for private school vouchers. Her strong support for restricting classroom content has made her a favorite among conservative groups pushing for curriculum changes in public schools.
Endorsed by Abbott, Hickland’s victory over Shine, a rural Republican who opposed voucher policies, marks a shift in the district’s political landscape.
The outlook for District 55 is intriguing, as recent redistricting shifted some Republican voters towards Killeen to protect Republican Chairman Brad Buckley. This shift has created a more competitive environment, with Lee poised to challenge the Republican stronghold that has existed in the district for years.
Lee’s fundraising efforts reflect the competitive nature of the race. From July 1 to September 26, 2024, Lee raised $55,273.36, outpacing Hickland by $20,571.19. Her major contributors include Big and Bright PAC and Sun City Democrats, reflecting strong grassroots support for her campaign. In contrast, Hickland raised $34,702.17, with significant backing from Hillco PAC and Central Texas Republican Women PAC. However, Hickland retains a cash advantage with $100,282.35 on hand compared to Lee’s $26,948.02.
District 108
Democrats are targeting the two Republican representatives from Dallas County: Angie Chen Button of Richardson and Morgan Meyer of University Park. Both lawmakers, part of the GOP’s moderate faction, have become vulnerable due to their support for school vouchers and the state abortion ban. Notably, Trump would have beaten Biden by less than 1 percentage point in both their districts.
House District 108, one of only two Republican-leaning areas in Dallas County, presents challenges for incumbent Morgan Meyer. Elected in 2014, Meyer, 49, has served as chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. In the recent Republican primary, he narrowly secured his position with an endorsement from Gov. Greg Abbott, while his opponent received backing from high-profile figures like Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Meyer voted to impeach Paxton in May but opposed removing vouchers from the House education omnibus bill in November. From July 1 to September 26, 2024, Meyer raised $294,999.68, outpacing challenger Elizabeth Ginsberg by $69,573. His major contributors included the Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund ($53,745.21) and the Greg Abbott Campaign ($51,110.49). In contrast, Ginsberg raised $225,426.52, with significant support from Fair Shot Texas PAC ($56,603.89) and Annie’s List ($25,000.00).
Ginsberg, a Houston native and graduate of the University of Texas, has a diverse background as an attorney and small business owner. In 2023, she was actively involved in various organizations, including the Dallas Bar Association and Preston Hollow Democrats.
District 112
Averie Bishop’s campaign for Texas House District 112 is positioning itself as having a strong chance to flip the seat, branding it “the most winnable seat in Texas.” This strategy draws on her opponent’s campaign history as a major factor.
In 2020, Angie Chen Button won reelection by fewer than 300 votes, despite President Biden carrying her district by 9 percentage points. Redistricting has shifted the district to a more conservative stance, where Biden would have lost by less than 1 point. Nevertheless, Button secured only a 10-point victory over her Democratic challenger last year.
Additionally, Dallas County is home turf for Colin Allred, who is challenging Ted Cruz for his Senate seat, potentially giving down-ballot candidates like Bishop a substantial boost.
Button’s voting history aligns with far-right interests, reflecting anti-worker and anti-civil rights positions, which have made her a favorite among Republican PACs. Despite her past successes—she outperformed Abbott and Trump in her district—Bishop is focusing her campaign on Button’s support for school vouchers.
The competitiveness of the district is highlighted by the fundraising contest between Bishop and Button. Between July 1 and September 26, 2024, Bishop raised an impressive $600,047.98, surpassing Button by $209,346.68. Bishop’s major backers include Leaders We Deserve PAC ($250,000.00) and Fair Shot Texas PAC ($154,639.05). On the other hand, Button raised $390,701.30, with significant support from Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($66,833.00) and the Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund ($58,815.61). Despite Bishop’s fundraising lead, Button holds a cash advantage with $481,911.92 in reserve compared to Bishop’s $152,580.01.
District 118
Kristian Carranza’s campaign for House District 118 is gaining momentum as she targets GOP state Rep. John Lujan, who flipped his traditionally Democratic seat in a 2021 special election and narrowly won a full term in 2022.
In the 2022 election, Lujan managed to hold onto his seat even as Democrat Beto O’Rourke carried the district over Governor Greg Abbott. Carranza, a Democratic organizer who grew up in the area, is leveraging her local roots and addressing community concerns directly.
Democrats see strong pickup opportunities in both the Button and Lujan districts, with young, dynamic female candidates challenging pro-voucher and anti-abortion incumbents. Carranza is particularly focused on school funding and the voucher issue, emphasizing how they resonate with voters in districts like Harlandale ISD, which faced severe funding deficits leading to the closure of four elementary schools last year.
Lujan’s controversial remarks regarding Texas’ abortion ban, which lacks exceptions for cases of rape and incest, have also become a focal point in Carranza’s campaign.
The district’s competitiveness is evident in the close fundraising contest between Lujan and Carranza. Between July 1 and September 26, 2024, Lujan raised $386,485.00, narrowly outpacing Carranza by $3,236.37. Lujan’s top contributors include Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($73,166.00) and the Greg Abbott Campaign ($49,435.46). Meanwhile, Carranza raised $383,248.63, with significant backing from Fair Shot for Texas Workers PAC ($68,163.15) and Leaders We Deserve ($17,050.00). Despite being slightly out-fundraised, Carranza holds a cash advantage, with $180,317.92 on hand compared to Lujan’s $167,041.73.
District 121
Laurel Swift’s campaign for Texas House District 121 is gaining traction as she challenges Republican Marc LaHood, a lawyer who ousted moderate incumbent Steve Allison in the GOP primary.
Swift, a San Antonio native with over seven decades of family history in the district, emphasizes her commitment to public education and mental health reform. Her campaign prioritizes expanding Medicaid to improve healthcare access for low-income Texans, increasing public school funding, opposing private school vouchers, enhancing teacher pay, and supporting young parents.
District 121, which includes Alamo Heights, Terrell Hills, and parts of North San Antonio, has traditionally leaned Republican, but recent elections have shown narrowing margins for the GOP, presenting an opportunity for Swift and the Democrats.
LaHood, running on a right-wing platform and backed by Governor Greg Abbott, has positioned himself as a pro-voucher candidate, claiming broad support for private school vouchers among district voters. Abbott’s substantial contributions—nearly $700,000—have significantly bolstered LaHood’s campaign, especially during his primary race against Allison, who was a strong advocate for public education.
Swift has countered LaHood’s claims, stating, “we must resist efforts to divert funds to private and homeschooling, which lack accountability.”
The tight competition in the district is reflected in the fundraising contest between LaHood and Swift. From July 1 to September 26, 2024, Swift raised $378,065.07, surpassing LaHood by $18,838.74. Swift’s top contributors include Fair Shot Texas PAC ($116,371.31) and Annie’s List ($45,537.10). In comparison, LaHood raised $359,226.26, with significant support from Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC ($75,000.00) and the Greg Abbott Campaign ($50,325.60). Despite Swift’s fundraising lead, LaHood maintains a cash advantage, holding $108,752.59 compared to Swift’s $57,855.25.