The race for Texas House District 55 concluded Tuesday night, with Hilary Hickland, an activist mother endorsed by Governor Greg Abbott, defeating Democratic candidate Jennifer Lee.
At the time this article was published, Hickland had received 36,335 votes (57.9%) compared to Lee’s 26,456 votes (42.1 %).
Hickland, a key advocate of Governor Abbott’s education agenda, ran on a platform supporting private school vouchers, a divisive issue that dominated the election. With Abbott’s endorsement and financial backing, Hickland’s victory represents a win for pro-voucher policies in Texas.
Throughout her campaign, Hickland emphasized giving parents more control over their children’s education, a stance that aligned with Abbott’s broader push to weaken the public education system in favor of private alternatives. Hickland’s win marks a shift for the district, where incumbent Rep. Hugh Shine was unseated by her pro-voucher, conservative platform.
Lee, a public school teacher who has fought against detrimental education policies for years, was a vocal opponent of Hickland’s stance on vouchers. Lee’s campaign focused on advocating for public education, increasing teacher pay, and opposing the use of public funds for private school tuition. Despite her strong efforts, Lee’s message could not overcome the well-funded campaign of Hickland.
