It’s here. The Texas midterm elections have arrived and boy, you’re glad we’re in the last stretch. After weeks of being repeatedly asked to register, you finally did it and you’re an eligible voter! Not sure? Check here.

Story by Ashley Nava and Sage Foster

Illustration by Jasmy Liu

Now what? You can’t just show up to your nearest polling location uninformed and unprepared. Early voting ran from October 22 – November 2, and Election Day is November 6 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Find all of the fast facts and resources you need to vote in your local, state, and federal elections. An informed voter is a responsible voter!

Local Races

Mayor

Steve Adler

• Current Austin mayor

• Top priority is climate change mitigation, especially through pushing for as much renewable energy as possible

• Find new and creative ways to fund affordable housing

• Remedy city’s long-standing racial and socioeconomic issues

• Passed the 2016 Mobility Bond

• In support of the Water Forward Plan

• Against S.B. 4

Laura Morrison

• Fund affordable housing, especially through strengthening the city’s affordable housing density bonus program

• End homelessness among families with children

• Address gender and ethnicity-based pay gaps

• Evaluate City Hall’s spending habits; improve efficiency financial planning

• Against Code Next

• Expand and invest in public transportation

• In support of the Water Forward Plan

Travis Duncan

• Universal healthcare and holistic remedies

• Creating an AustinCoin system through blockchain and cryptocurrencies

• Free Wi-Fi

• Increase affordable housing

Alan Pease

• Regular attendee to city council meetings for the past 8 years

• Effective transportation, leading to reduced traffic

• Convert city-owned land into affordable housing

Gustavo “Gus” Pena

• City council regular, and often speaks on issues regarding the homeless population

• Veteran

• Advocate for a juvenile detoxification center in East Austin

• Credited for city-wide curfew ordinance

Todd Phelps

• Increase affordable housing options

• No stadium subsidy

Alexander Strenger

• Address affordable housing and traffic

• Improve police accountability, help “happy cops,” and improve community relations with APD

• End the War on Drugs and legalize marijuana

• Build a dome around Austin to keep Californians out and have Uber finance it

• Take away guns from police officers and replace them with flame throwers

City Council

Find your district here.

City Council, District 1

Mitrah Elizabeth Avini

• Against Code Next

• In favor of Imagine Austin

• Watershed protection

• No tax increase

Vincent Harding

• Affordable housing options

• Improve mass transit systems

• Increase health education and health care options

• Enforce Fair Chance Hiring Ordinance

• School finance changes to reduce property taxes

Lewis Conway, Jr.

• Against Code Next

• Create a community land trust program

• Develop a healthcare pilot program, similar to Healthy San Francisco

Natasha Harper-Madison

• In favor of the Affordable Housing Bond

• Equitable access to combat poverty and criminalization

• Public transit options

• New, simplified land development code

Misael D. Ramos

• Push for Historical Designation statuses

• In support of tax breaks

• Control density of east Austin

• Advocate for “right to stay and return”

Mariana Salazar

• Affordable housing for low-income families

• Address rising property taxes

• Job training programs

• Access to healthcare and nutritious food options for East Austin schools

City Council, District 3

Susana Almanza

• Address affordable housing

• Invest in business owned by people of color

• $15 per hour living wage

• Support Latinx and African-American arts community

• Establish funding for early childhood education

Jessica Cohen

• Against Code Next

• Against property tax increases until Texas reforms recapture funding system

• Property tax break for educators and pay them a competitive salary

• Develop mobility plan that prevents construction of state-level toll roads

Justin Jacobson

• Implement the People’s Plan

• Work with CapMetro’s Project Connect

• Pro rails

• Increase diversity of Austin City Council

Amit Motwani

• Increased access to:

  • Rent, utilities, and food assistance

  • Counseling and mental health support for residents

  • Transportation to health appointments

• Pre-K and high quality childcare

• Adult education (GED, Job Skill, ESL)

• Financial and credit counseling

• Transportation support (ride-share and bus vouchers)

Sabino “Pio” Renteria

• Incumbent city council member

• Built more affordable homes with Housing Trust Fund

• Workforce training and education programs

• $15 per hour living wage and paid sick leave

• Against S.B. 4

• Passed Mobility Bond

James Valdez

• Against “excess density” in neighborhoods

• Tax relief to residents and business owners

• Push to develop existing land and acquire more city owned land to ensure affordability

• Increase bike lane and trail connectivity

• Improve traffic light timing on corridors

City Council, District 5

Ann Kitchen (unopposed)

City Council, District 8

Rich Depalma

Paige Ellis

Bobby Levinski

Frank Ward

City Council, District 9

Isiah Jones

Linda O’Neal

Danielle Skidmore

Kathryn “Kathie” Tovo

City Propositions

Bond Election

• Proposition A

  • $250 million toward affordable housing options

• Proposition B

  • $128 million to fund projects and programs within libraries, museums and cultural arts facilities

  • Improving cultural centers based on estimated needs

• Proposition C

  • $149 million toward parks and recreation-related projects

• Proposition D

  • $184 million toward flood mitigation, open space, and water quality and quantity protection

• Proposition E

  • $16 million to improve health and human services

  • Construct a multi-service facility in Dove Springs.

• Proposition F

  • $38 million to fund public safety measures, like renovations of fire stations and EMS facilities

• Proposition G

  • $160 million toward transportation and infrastructure projects

  • Focused on repairing, replacing or upgrading existing transportation infrastructure.

Charter Election

• Proposition H

  • Charter amendment for Planning commissioners’ terms

• Proposition I

  • Charter amendment for non-substantive text corrections

• Proposition J

  • Requiring a public vote for code rewrites

• Proposition K

  • Requiring an outside party to audit city operations

For more information on Austin’s bonds and propositions, visit the Austin Chronicle for explanations of each proposition and the Chronicle’s endorsements.

State Races

Texas Governor

Greg Abbott (R)

• Reducing property and business taxes

• Increasing jobs and healthcare for veterans

• Preventing sexual assault, human trafficking and sexual misconduct

• Stricter border control

• Ensuring safety for law enforcement and punishing criminals

• Funding for Texas roads and infrastructure

Lupe Valdez (D)

• In favor of Medicaid expansion

• Expand healthcare access in rural areas

• In favor of investment in renewable energy sources

• Tighter regulations on gun ownership

• Supports universal Pre-K and removing caps on special education

• Increased state funding for education system

Mark J. Tippets (L)

• Wants to abolish Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIPS

• In favor of free-market based healthcare systems

• Opposes federal involvement in local school systems

• Opposes the War on Drugs

Lt. Governor

Dan Patrick (R)

• Strict border control

• Wants reduced property and business taxes

• Pro-life (passed Sonogram Bill)

• Staunch supporter of 2nd Amendment rights

Mike Collier (D)

• Wants to expand Medicaid

• Advocates for a Patient Bill of Rights

• End the big-corporate property tax loophole

• Increasing gun control

• More funding for public education and reform charter model

Kerry Douglas McKennon (L)

• Wants to allow interstate commerce of insurance

• Advocates for vast infrastructure reform to improve energy and water systems

• Opposes state-issued guidelines for public schools and in favor of local decision making

• Abolish the death penalty

• Decriminalize use of marijuana and other victimless crimes

• Demilitarize police officers

Attorney General

Ken Paxton (R)

• Co-sponsored and defended Voter ID Bill

• Abolish the Affordable Care Act

• Pro-life

• Indicted on three criminal charges, pending trial

Justin Nelson (D)

• Wants healthcare coverage of pre-existing conditions

• Wants to treat the opioid crisis

• Protect small businesses and individuals from fraud

• End gerrymandering

Michael Ray Harris (L)

• Currently a criminal defense lawyer

• Address civil asset forfeiture laws

Comptroller of Public Accounts

Glenn Hegar (R)

• Incumbent candidate

• Create a Texas Legacy Fund, “a permanent state endowment that would earn investment income to begin paying down long-term obligations”

• In favor of government transparency, tax reform, 2nd Amendment rights

• Finding common sense solutions

Joi Chevalier (D)

• Advocates for special reports on expansion of ACA/Medicaid and school finance reform

• Increase small business growth

Ben Sanders (L)

• Believes government should be confined to its constitutional role

• More fiscal transparency and education

• Increased funding for the Texas Pension system

Land Commissioner

George P. Bush (R)

• Restore McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson County, in order to protect oil and gas infrastructure

• Improve veteran programs

• Continue Hurricane Harvey relief

Miguel Suazo (D)

• Build a “coastal wall” to limit flooding and protect the coast

• Improve loans granted to veterans

• Educate the public about key issues, especially the Alamo

Matt Piña (L)

• Wants to maintain coastline with revenue from offshore drilling

• Lower home prices for disabled veterans

• Return the Alamo to The Daughters of the Texas Republic

Agricultural Commissioner

Sid Miller (R)

• Market Texas agricultural products on an international level

• Strengthen consumer protection division of TDA

Kim Olson (D)

• More processing and distribution facilities

• More local food purchasing among schools, institutions and businesses

• Advocates for rights of farmers

Richard Carpenter (L)

Railroad Commissioner

Christi Craddick (R)

• Include more of the railroad agency’s data online for the public

• Increased field inspections and enforcement of permitting and reporting requirements

• Advocate for educational paths for workforce

Roman McAllen (D)

• Balance commission and fight corruption from campaign contributions

• Fight climate change denial and move towards 100% renewable resources

• Change the title of the commission to be more descriptive of the Railroad Commissioner’s role

• More reporting requirements for wastewater injection wells

• Tighter enforcement of existing regulations

Mike Wright (L)

• Operators must submit plans to monitor environmental activities if they request to waive a rule that protects natural resources

• Further enforcement of all safety regulations

• Require seismic studies for operations with unfamiliar geographic terrain/when using different water quantity or pressure

• Desalination to increase access to and conservation of water

Texas Supreme Court

Justice, Place 2

Jimmy Blacklock (R)

• Former Attorney General

• Approach is based in conservative judicial philosophy and grounded in the Texas Constitution

• Defend freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the right to keep and bear arms

• Apply the will of the people; against judges applying their own will

Steven Kirkland (D)

• Wants court to focus on addressing substance abuse issues among attorneys

• Remove legal barriers for mental health access: expand the use of veteran, homeless, and drug and alcohol rehab courts and educate the justice system on mental illness

• Reduce partisanship in the court system

Justice, Place 4

John Devine (R)

R.K. Sandill (D)

Justice, Place 6

Jeff Brown (R)

• Create policy that improves court’s treatment of mental health needs

• Hold attorneys responsible for grievances filed against them

Kathy Cheng (D)

• Increase diversity in justice system

• Texas supreme court oversees Judicial Commission of Mental health only administratively

• Take measures to educate the public on the effects the judicial branch has in Texas

Court of Criminal Appeals

Presiding Judge

Sharon Keller (R)

Maria Jackson (D)

• Implement the use of electronic filing across state

• Resolve issues of overcrowded dockets, poor communication in judicial system, and funding.

William Bryan Strange III (L)

Judge, Place 7

Barbara Parker Hervey (R)

Ramona Franklin (D)

• Against enforcing unreasonable deadlines for appeals

• Afford low income defendants resources for a successful appeal

Judge, Place 8

Michelle Slaughter (R)

• In favor of electronic filing and use of technology to aid participation in court

• Seek resources to help rehabilitate mentally ill defendants

• Strictly adhere to constitution

Mark Ash (L)

• Strictly adhere to constitution in order to protect civil liberties

3rd Court of Criminal Appeals

Justice, Place 2

Cindy Olson Bourland (R)

• Wants to expedite handling of cases to be resolved more quickly

• In favor of e-filing

Edward Smith (D)

• Expand funding for online legal resources but continue to prioritize pro bono representation & fully funded low income criminal defense

• Has experience representing injured workers

Justice, Place 3

Scott Field (R)

• Helped institute pro bono program allowing free representation on appeal for defendants that can’t afford their own lawyer

Chari Kelly (D)

• Advance technologies such as electronic filing to ensure free access to records

• Improve pro bono programs

Justice, Place 5

David Puryear (R)

• In favor of strict interpretation of the constitution

• Increase timeliness of judicial decisions

Thomas J. Baker (D)

• Increase collaboration between counties and the Texas Indigent Defense Commission

• Prioritize low income defense through pro bono representation

Justice, Place 6

Mike Toth (R)

• Increase communication between trial and appellate courts

• Assign pro bono appellate attorneys to low income defendants

• Adhere strictly to constitution

Gisela D. Triana (D)

• Increase access to DNA testing and viewing test results

• Increased use of technologies that aid physically disabled people in the judicial process

Kerry O’Brien (Write-In)

State Senators

Find your district here.

District 5

Charles Schwertner (R)

• In favor of charter schools

• Support 2nd Amendment rights

• Reduce gun violence by providing wider access to mental health screenings and treatment for children in Texas schools

• Expand state’s mental health system

• Reform pension systems, so that state employees have sustainable retirement funds

Meg Walsh (D)

• Wants to restore the state’s school funding to 45%. It is currently at 38%.

• Push for higher wages for educators

• Increase background checks for gun owners

• Increase funding for healthcare and water management

• Restore funding to family planning and women’s health clinics

Amy Lyons (L)

• End STAAR testing

• Supports open and concealed carry of guns

• Decrease prison funding and release non-violent offenders

• Decriminalize marijuana

District 14

George W. Hindman (R)

• Wants to use Texas budget surplus for school funding

• Against addition of laws to regulate gun ownership

• Wants legislation that would protect freedom of religion in the workplace

Kirk Watson (D)

• Universal access to Pre-K

• Higher pay for teachers and school staff & reforming pension funding

• Supports universal background checks for gun ownership

• Increased health and human services funding

• Continue to strengthen laws preventing sexual assault and providing outreach to survivors

Micah M. Verlander (L)

• No candidate website or platform information.

District 25

Donna Campbell (R)

• Current Chair of the Senate Veteran Affairs and Border Security Committee

Steven Kling (D)

• Restore public education funding to 50% and increase teacher pay

• Higher taxes on fossil fuels

• Supports universal background checks and elimination of the “gun show” loophole and constitutional carry

• Finance reforms to limit campaign contributions

• Eliminate gerrymandering

Federal Race

U.S. Senator

Ted Cruz (R)

• Defend the Constitution

• Expand state jobs and opportunity

• Limit the federal government’s power and influence

• Defend 2nd Amendment rights

• Secure the border and ending illegal immigration

• Fight for the military, veterans and law enforcement

• Stand with Israel as an ally

• Protect traditional family values and freedom of speech

Beto O’Rourke (D)

• Encourage companies to focus on returning investments back to the consumer, their employees and the community

• Increase public education funding for low-income and underserved communities

• In favor of the Equality Act and against S.B. 6

• Improve gun safety by requiring background checks for all gun sales and ceasing sale of weapons of war and high-capacity magazines

• Improve the Affordable Care Act, expand Medicaid and achieve universal health care coverage

• End militarization of the immigration enforcement system and pass the DREAM Act

• Increase federal spending on infrastructure

• Decriminalize marijuana and end the War on Drugs

• Increase veteran access to quality healthcare, timely resolutions to disability claims and appeals, and sustainable housing

• Full scope of issues include: agriculture, disability rights, the economy, education, energy, equality, government accountability, gun safety, healthcare, higher education, immigration, jobs, justice, national security, seniors, veterans, and women’s health

Neal M. Dikeman (L)

• Creating a balanced budget and improving fiscal responsibility

• Against more taxation and in favor of more government accountability

• Simplifying tax code

• Access to free trade and lower tariffs on goods

• Limiting the federal government’s involvement on local issues

• Sponsoring a National Privacy Protection Act

• In favor of a market-based, million-payer healthcare system

• Addressing the impacts of immigration policy on public services

• Against foreign wars

• Ensuring congressional oversight of military actions

Candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives (Districts 10, 17, 21, 25, 31, 35) and State Representatives (Districts 20, 46-52, 136) were not included.

For more extensive information on candidate platforms and issues, visit the League of Women Voters (LWV) Voting Guide.