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Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey: Texas roundup

By Mercedes Yanora
In Local
March 23, 2023 at 11:15 PM

Texas is holding elections, including for municipal offices, on May 6, 2023. A number of candidates running in these elections completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.

Below is a selection of responses from the candidates who filled out the survey as of March 21. To read each candidate’s full responses, click their name at the bottom of the article.

Incumbent Alan Blaylock (nonpartisan) is running for Fort Worth City Council District 10 and the general election is on May 6. Here’s how Blaylock responded to the question: Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

“Reducing Property Taxes, Public Safety, Improving Roads.”

Click here to read the rest of Blaylock’s answers. 

Natalie Carter (nonpartisan) is running for Humble Independent School District school board Position 7and the general election is on May 6. Here’s how Carter responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

“In the current political environment, candidates often rely on ideals- based on political affiliation, religious beliefs, environment, etc.-instead of providing ideas to solve the problems we face as a community. Our schools face the same obstacles, no matter where you are or where you come from; that is why it is so important that we expect more from our candidates at every level. The real value of a candidate is their ability to turn their words into actions.”

Click here to read the rest of Carter’s answers. 

Jarrett Lipman (nonpartisan) is running for San Antonio City Council District 9 and the general election is on May 6. Here’s how Lipman responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

“Education, Water Management, Public Safety, Infrastructure, and Urban and Regional Planning.”

Click here to read the rest of Lipman’s answers. 

Christopher Schuchardt (nonpartisan) is running for mayor of San Antonio and the general election is on May 6. Here’s how Schuchardt responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

“Economy. Law and Order.”

Click here to read the rest of Schuchardt’s answers. 

Amanda Smith (nonpartisan) is running for Northwest Independent School District school board Place 5 and the general election is on May 6. Here’s how Smith responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

“School [safety], keeping great teachers, and school funding.”

Click here to read the rest of Smith’s answers. 

Joel Solis (nonpartisan) is running for San Antonio City Council District 10 and the general election is on May 6. Here’s how Solis responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

“Infrastructure.”

Click here to read the rest of Solis’ answers. 

If you’re a Texas candidate or incumbent, click here to take the survey. The survey contains over 30 questions, and you can choose the ones you feel will best represent your views to voters. If you complete the survey, a box with your answers will display on your Ballotpedia profile. Your responses will also populate the information that appears in our mobile app, My Vote Ballotpedia.

Additional reading: 



Election legislation roundup: Texas State Senate

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
March 23, 2023 at 7:56 PM

As of March 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 27 election-related bills in the Texas State Senate since the beginning of the year. Of the 27, Ballotpedia tracked 24 from March 13-19. Republicans sponsored 19, while Democrats sponsored five. Five of the 24 bills are:

  • TX SB1056: Relating to the directors and administration of the Hidalgo County Water Improvement District No. 3; creating a criminal offense, Sen. Juan Hinojosa (D).
  • TX SB2258: Relating to authorizing certain cities to change the date on which their general election for officers is held, Sen. Cesar Blanco (D).
    • As introduced, this bill authorizes a city of certain size, a city-manager form of government, and that holds its general election for officers on a date other than the November uniform election date may change the date for its general election for officers to the November uniform election date.
  • TX SB545: Relating to death records maintained and provided by the vital statistics unit of the Department of State Health Services, Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R).
    • As introduced, this bill requires the department of state health services to implement a method to provide death information to the secretary of state to assist in maintaining the statewide voter registration list.
  • TX SB747: Relating to the withdrawal of a candidate in a runoff primary election, Sen. Bryan Hughes (R).
    • As introduced, the bill mandates a candidate may not withdraw from a runoff primary election after 5 p.m. of the 21st day after the state canvass. If a runoff candidate withdraws from the election before the deadline, the candidate with the third highest number of votes in the primary will be on the runoff ballot. If a runoff candidate withdraws after the deadline, the remaining candidate is the nominee and the runoff election for that office is not held.
  • TX SB825: Relating to the deadline for submitting certain recount petitions, Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R).
    • As introduced, this bill changes the deadlines for submission of recount petitions.

During the week of March 13-19, Ballotpedia tracked 61 Senate election-related bills nationally. As of March 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 720 Senate bills nationally. Ballotpedia tracked the most Senate bills this year in the New York State Senate with 124, while Ballotpedia tracked the fewest Senate bills in Louisiana and Massachusetts with zero. Republicans sponsored 331 of these bills, while Democrats sponsored 302. Third party sponsorship and bills with no sponsors accounted for 63 bills, while bipartisan legislators sponsored 24. 

As of March 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 376 Senate bills in Democratic trifectas and 265 Senate bills in Republican trifectas. A trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Ballotpedia has tracked 79 Senate bills in states where neither party holds trifecta control.

The Texas Senate is scheduled to be in session from Jan. 10 to May 29 this year. In 2022, Ballotpedia tracked zero Senate bills related to election administration. Texas is a Republican trifecta.

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Election legislation roundup: Texas House of Representatives

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
March 23, 2023 at 6:19 PM

As of March 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 60 election-related bills in the Texas House of Representatives since the beginning of the year. Of the 60, Ballotpedia tracked 52 from March 13-19. Republicans sponsored 37, while Democrats sponsored 15. Five of these bills are:

  • TX HB3159: Relating to the use of an accessible absentee mail system by certain voters, Rep. Jeff Leach (R).
    • As introduced, this bill allows a qualified absentee voter to cast a ballot using an accessible, electronic absentee mail system.
  • TX HB4519: Relating to unlawful altering of election procedures, Rep. Jacey Jetton (R).
    • As introduced, this bill requires the secretary of state to send notice to a public official who has been accused of an improper election procedure to correct the action. If corrective action is not taken, the secretary will send notice to the attorney general to take further action and apply potential penalties.
  • TX HB4697: Relating to the audit of an election in certain counties, Rep. Mano DeAyala (R).
    • As introduced, this bill allows counties participating in the Countywide Polling Place program to conduct the manual count on one percent of the county’s polling locations for both early voting in-person and election day in-person. In precinct-based election systems, the custodian of elections must select the precincts at random and begin the count no later than 72 hours after the polls close.
  • TX HB2430: Relating to the ability of a volunteer deputy registrar to distribute and receive applications for a ballot to be voted by mail, Rep. Erin Zwiener (D).
    • As introduced, this bill requires a volunteer deputy registrar to supply vote by mail applications to county voters and accept completed application for delivery to an early voting clerk. A volunteer deputy registrar commits an offense if they do not deliver the completed applications.
  • TX HB2622: Relating to voting a limited ballot on election day following the change of the county of residence by a voter, Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D).
    • As introduced, this bill requires a statement to be submitted to an election officer at any early voting polling place where voters may submit a limited ballot if the person is voting in-person and recently changed their address on their voter registration.

During the week of March 13-19, Ballotpedia tracked 92 House election-related bills nationally. As of March 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 1,059 House bills nationally. Ballotpedia tracked the most House bills this year in the New York State Assembly with 138, while Ballotpedia tracked the fewest House bills in the Massachusetts House of Representatives with zero. Republicans sponsored 491 of these bills, while Democrats sponsored 430. Third party sponsorship and bills with no sponsors accounted for 74 bills, while bipartisan legislators sponsored 64. 

As of March 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 561 House bills in Democratic trifectas and 392 House bills in Republican trifectas. A trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Ballotpedia has tracked 106 House bills in states where neither party holds trifecta control.

The Texas House is scheduled to be in session from Jan. 10 to May 29 this year. In 2022, Ballotpedia tracked zero House bills related to election administration. Texas is a Republican trifecta.

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Texas Supreme Court issues three opinions from March 13-19

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
March 23, 2023 at 5:06 AM

The Texas Supreme Court issued three opinions from March 13-19. As of March 19, the court issued 21 opinions in 2023 — 12 fewer than this point a year ago. The three opinions are below: 

  • In re Morris (Opinion), where the court denied a prospective San Antonio voter’s petition for a writ of mandamus. The voter wanted the court to do the following before voters could vote on a proposed charter amendment: move the proposition vote from the May to the November election; compel the San Antonio city clerk and council to separate the proposed amendment into single-subject parts; and order alterations to the ballot language. The court argued that it is committed to avoiding undue interference with elections and that voters can seek remedies to election irregularities after the election.
  • IN RE MARIA TERESA RAMIREZ MORRIS, AND TEXAS ALLIANCE FOR LIFE, INC. (Dissenting), where dissenting justices argued against the above opinion. They claimed the court should grant partial relief to the voter by directing San Antonio to hold the proposed charter amendment election in November rather than May.
  • Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Xerox State & Local Solutions, Inc. (Opinion), where the court both affirmed and reversed parts of the trial court’s take-nothing summary judgement in a tort and breach-of-contract lawsuit.

From March 13-19, state supreme courts issued 142 opinions nationally. The Hawaii Supreme Court issued the most with 25. State supreme courts in 18 states issued the fewest with zero. Courts where judges are elected have issued 68 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 74.  

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court are the state’s courts of last resort. The former is the state’s court of last resort for criminal matters, while the latter is the state’s court of last resort for civil matters; both have nine judgeships. Sharon Keller and Nathan Hecht are the current chiefs of the criminal and supreme courts, respectively. Combined, the courts issued 413 opinions in 2022 and 536 in 2021. Nationally, state supreme courts issued 7,423 opinions in 2022 and 8,320 in 2021. The courts have issued 1,366 opinions in 2023. Courts where judges are elected have issued 729 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 637. Texas is a Republican trifecta, meaning Republicans control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature. 

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Voters in El Paso, Texas, to decide on a charter amendment to require the city to consider climate change

By Nicole Fisher
In Local
March 21, 2023 at 9:28 PM

El Paso voters will vote on a charter amendment, titled Proposition K, to declare “[reducing] the city’s contribution to climate change” and “[advancing] the cause of climate justice” of paramount importance on May 6, 2023.

The charter amendment would also:

  • require El Paso to use energy generated by renewable sources (defined as “energy generated without burning carbon or releasing greenhouse gasses”), with a goal of 100% by 2045;
  • require El Paso to use available efforts to covert El Paso Electric to municipal ownership; 
  • prohibit the sale or transfer of water for fossil fuel-related activities outside of the city limits;
  • prohibit fees and fines “that limit the purchase, use, or generation of renewable energy;”
  • create the appointed position of Climate Director, who would be charged with fulfilling the amendment’s goals, creating an annual Solar Power Generation Plan, producing a climate impact statement for proposals before the El Paso City Council, and leading a new Climate Department;
  • have the City Manager and Climate Director collaborate on creating climate jobs, defined as jobs that help meet the amendment’s goals, and creating a Climate Disaster Mitigation and Preparedness Plan
  • create a five-member Climate Commission to make legislative recommendations to the El Paso City Council that would advance the amendment’s goals and investigate matters regarding the city’s implementation of the charter amendment.

In July 2022, organizers for Sunrise El Paso and Ground Game Texas submitted 36,360 signatures to get the initiative on the ballot. El Paso city officials verified that more than 20,000 valid signatures were submitted on Nov. 11, 2022, and qualified the initiative for the ballot.

Sunrise El Paso said, “We are working to bring green jobs to El Paso, build solar power, conserve water and protect its quality, address pollution head-on in our communities, fight against environmental racism and inequity, encourage a municipalized electric utility, and so much more through this people-led initiative.”

Opponents to the amendment include the El Paso Chamber of Commerce, El Paso Electric, and Borderplex Alliance.

El Paso Electric said, “While we share the same goals of an environmentally sustainable future for our region, we are embedding and evaluating all possible technology and generation to achieve these goals. We believe the (climate charter) proposition is too limited and does not include the wide array of customer solutions and technology to affordably achieve the agreed upon goals.”

The El Paso Chamber said, “Climate change is real, and we are committed to common-sense reforms that push for a comprehensive approach to the matter. However, we must do so in a way that considers the cost to the region – especially to those whose livelihood is dependent upon jobs that would no longer exist under the passage of the proposed amendment.”

Miguel Escoto, an organizer with Sunrise El Paso, said that the amendment would create jobs. Escoto said, “By law, the municipal government will be legally mandated to find climate jobs. This would increase the amount of jobs. It would increase the amount of job security.”

Election day in El Paso is on May 6, 2023. Voters will also decide on 10 other charter amendments.

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Texas alleges Biden administration unlawfully enacted 2023 federal budget

By Samuel Postell
In State
March 21, 2023 at 2:29 PM

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) on Feb. 15, 2023, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas challenging the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2023, arguing in part that certain CAA provisions violate state sovereignty and that Congress unlawfully passed the law without a quorum of members present.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the CAA in December 2022 with 201 of the chamber’s 435 voting members present. House rules at the time under then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) allowed members to vote by proxy due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In addition to general appropriations provisions, the CAA created certain workforce accommodations for pregnant employees as well as the Department of Homeland Security’s case-management pilot program for individuals who entered the country without legal permission.

Paxton argued that “the Constitution defines absent members as excluded from ‘a Quorum to do Business’ and therefore unauthorized to vote to enact legislation—by ‘proxy’ or otherwise.” Paxton further argued that the CAA’s workplace accommodations “attempt to abrogate Texas’s sovereign protection from being sued without its consent” and that the DHS pilot program “harms Texas’s quasi-sovereign interests in the health and well-being, both physical and economic, of its residents and in its rightful status within the federal system.”

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas had not set a date for oral argument in the case as of Feb. 27, 2023. The White House had not responded to the lawsuit as of Feb. 27, 2023. 

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Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and Supreme Court issue 12 opinions from March 6-12

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
March 15, 2023 at 6:33 PM

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals issued nine opinions from March 6-12. The Texas Supreme Court issued three opinions from March 6-12. Both courts are the state’s courts of last resort. As of March 12, the court of criminal appeals issued 75 opinions in 2023—25 more than this point a year ago. The supreme court issued 18 opinions as of March 12, 2023—nine fewer than this point a year ago. Three of the 12 opinions are highlighted below: 

  • Rattray v. City of Brownsville (Opinion), where the court reversed the court of appeals’ decision to direct the trial court to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction a lawsuit from homeowners suing the City of Brownsville for property damage.
  • Igboji v. Texas (original by judge newell), where the court remanded the case to the court of appeals “to reconsider whether exigent circumstances existed to justify the warrantless seizure of the appellant’s cell phone, and whether the officer’s conduct in seizing the property to obtain a warrant was reasonable under those circumstances.”
  • Devon Energy Production Co., L.P. v. Sheppard (Opinion), where the court affirmed a summary judgment in favor of landowners in an oil-and-gas dispute over the calculation of royalty under the terms of a mineral lease with producers.

From March 6-12, state supreme courts issued 186 opinions nationally. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued the most with 41. The court leads in number of opinions issued because it publishes concurring and dissenting opinions separately, and when deciding whether a case can be appealed, the court logs these decisions as standalone, typically single-page, orders. State supreme courts in 16 states issued the fewest with zero. Courts where judges are elected have issued 120 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 66.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court are the state’s courts of last resort. The former is the state’s court of last resort for criminal matters, while the latter is the state’s court of last resort for civil matters; both have nine judgeships. Sharon Keller and Nathan Hecht are the current chiefs of the criminal and supreme courts, respectively. Combined, the courts issued 413 opinions in 2022 and 536 in 2021. Nationally, state supreme courts issued 9,243 opinions in 2022 and 10,133 in 2021.The courts have issued 1,548 opinions in 2023. Courts where judges are elected have issued 985 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 563.  Texas is a Republican trifecta, meaning Republicans control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature. 

 Additional reading:



Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey: Texas roundup

By Mercedes Yanora
In Local
March 15, 2023 at 5:42 PM

Texas is holding elections, including for municipal offices, on May 6, 2023. A number of candidates running in these elections completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.

Below is a selection of responses from the candidates who filled out the survey as of March 12. To read each candidate’s full responses, click their name at the bottom of the article.

Dan Rossiter (nonpartisan) is running for San Antonio City Council District 7 and the general election is on May 6. Here’s how Rossiter responded to the question: “What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?”

“Public safety, accountability, and quality of life are all central to my public policy philosophies. For public safety, that means unsafe roads need to be fixed, that also means violent crime in this city needs to be curbed. For accountability, that means there is transparency in what my office is doing, but also more broadly what city departments are doing. That also means that we’re being responsible with taxpayer dollars, squeezing as much value out of each dollar through elimination of waste in city operations. And woven in with everything, folks deserve a quality of life enabled through policies enabling creation of public green space, responsible development initiatives, and continual public engagement.”

Click here to read the rest of Rossiter’s answers. 

Matthew Varble (nonpartisan) is running for Irving City Council Place 5 and the general election is on May 6. Here’s how Varble responded to the question: “What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?”

“I am passionate about having responsive city services that provide a value for the residents. The city of Irving has increased our fees for trash pick up by 5% while decreasing our services by 50%. Its time to aggressively improve the management, scheduling, oversight, and funding of city garbage collection processes and the workforce following the changes in service that were made in 2022…I am proud to be endorsed by the Irving Police Association. My plan to secure our streets is to appropriately and immediately seek to increase funding to the police and fire departments in order to improve compensation and benefits…It is also time for an aggressive plan to improve management and funding of city infrastructure to increase and speed up repairs to our city streets and local neighborhoods.”

Click here to read the rest of Varble’s answers. 

Megan Wallace (nonpartisan) is running for Collin County Community College Board of Trustees Place 1 and the general election is on May 6. Here’s how Wallace responded to the question: “What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?”

“I’m extremely passionate about using the resources we have as the wealthiest county in Texas to elevate all of our residents’ quality of life.”

Click here to read the rest of Wallace’s answers. 

If you’re a Texas candidate or incumbent, click here to take the survey. The survey contains over 30 questions, and you can choose the ones you feel will best represent your views to voters. If you complete the survey, a box with your answers will display on your Ballotpedia profile. Your responses will also populate the information that appears in our mobile app, My Vote Ballotpedia.

Additional reading: 



Pflugerville Independent School District filing deadline passes

By Mercedes Yanora
In Local
March 14, 2023 at 6:23 PM

On Feb. 17, the filing deadline passed to run for elected office on the Pflugerville Independent School District school board in Texas. Three of seven school board seats are up for election. Candidates filed for Place 5, Place 6, and Place 7. Place 5 is a special election, while Places 6 and 7 are up for regular election.  

Kelly Daniel is running for Place 5, while Incumbent Jean Mayer is running for re-election to Place 6. Incumbent Brian Allen, Agha Ahmed, and Chevonne Lorigo-Johst are running for election to Place 7.

The nonpartisan general election is scheduled for May 6, 2023.

Pflugerville Independent School District served 25,306 students during the 2017-2018 school year.



Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals issue four opinions from Feb. 27-March 5

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
March 9, 2023 at 5:45 PM

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals issued three opinions from Feb. 27-March 5. The Texas Supreme Court issued one opinion from Feb. 27-March 5. Both courts are the state’s courts of last resort. As of March 5, the court of criminal appeals issued 66 opinions in 2023—26 more than this point a year ago. The supreme court issued 15 opinions as of March 5, 2023—eight fewer than this point a year ago. The four opinions are below: 

From Feb. 27-March 5, state supreme courts issued 135 opinions nationally. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued the most with 39. Supreme courts in 19 states issued the fewest with zero. Courts where judges are elected have issued 83 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 52.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court are the state’s courts of last resort. The former is the state’s court of last resort for criminal matters, while the latter is the state’s court of last resort for civil matters; both have nine judgeships. Sharon Keller and Nathan Hecht are the current chiefs of the criminal and supreme courts, respectively. Combined, the courts issued 413 opinions in 2022 and 536 in 2021. Nationally, state supreme courts issued 9,243 opinions in 2022 and 10,133 in 2021. The courts have issued 1,361 opinions in 2023. Courts where judges are elected have issued 864 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 497. Texas is a Republican trifecta, meaning Republicans control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.    

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