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.