Texans have a chance to elect staunch public education advocates to several statewide seats in November.
A record number of Democrats in Texas voted in this year’s primary election, surpassing voter turnout in 2024.
What’s driving this turnout? Parents’ desire to preserve education for Texas’ about 5.5 million public school students could be playing a role, says one education advocate.
“ We’re seeing parents and families who want change, who want leaders who are dedicated to improving educational outcomes because they’re sick of the demonization of teachers, of administrators trying to micromanage curricula, of book bans. All of that is weighing on people,” Felicia Martin, the president and executive director of the Texas Freedom Network, a grassroots organization that acts as a watchdog for the State Board of Education, told Courier Texas.
Republican lawmakers passed several bills in 2025 that have reshaped public education in Texas—many of which are considered unpopular among parents, teachers, and students.
“Legislators really messed with Texas public schools and people are upset about it,” Martin added.
Private school vouchers recently became law, with Republican lawmakers touting that they would give families of all economic backgrounds more schooling options—despite recent data showing that 76% of applicants are already enrolled in private schools or are home-schooled.
“This isn’t really about school choice,” she said. “It’s designed to give choice to private school families and the wealthy. It’s a huge taxpayer-funded windfall for folks who can already pay for private school.”
Additionally, public schools were stripped of their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives this legislative session, and Republican lawmakers prioritized placing the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms and creating designated prayer and religious times during the school day.
“ I think voters are just tired of all the nonsense,” Martin added.
Lawmakers also changed higher education policies with Senate Bill 37, which went into effect on Sept. 1 and took power away from college and university faculty, giving it to political boards that are appointed by the governor instead.
“Little by little, they have etched at the freedoms of higher education in ways we’ve never seen before,” Martin said. “They have taken it to a whole other extreme, and the fact that the governor can hand appoint these people to make these drastic decisions about how our young people and adults learn, you’re talking about spoonfeeding them ideology that is one-sided. It’s very scary. It’s fascism.”
Martin said that these changes are creating a “brain drain” in Texas. She added that she believes the state needs people in power who are going to challenge the status quo and undo these changes that are causing a “mass exodus of talent, staff, academics, researchers, and intellect.”
Texas State Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D-Austin), the winner of the Democratic primary for Texas governor, told Courier Texas ahead of the primary election that she would be that kind of candidate.
“Education has always been near and dear to the hearts of Texans, and it didn’t used to be partisan,” Hinojosa, who got her start in politics by joining her son’s local school board in 2012, said.
“Public schools are enshrined in our Texas Constitution, they’re part of our identity,” she added. “The constitution says we shall support and maintain our public schools, but what we are seeing across the state under Greg Abbott’s leadership is that our public schools are just barely hanging on.”
More and more schools are also facing state takeovers under Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath, who was appointed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in 2016.
Democrats across the state have called these takeovers “politically motivated” attacks, and Abbott and Morath recently threatened to takeover school districts that “allowed” or “encouraged” students to protest US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Hinojosa, who will face Abbott in the general election for governor on Nov. 3, said her first order of business would be to fire Morath.
“Morath doesn’t have the interest of our public schools in mind, he is pursuing an agenda for the profiteers and our kids are hurting as a result. We need an educator in that role as the Texas Education Agency commissioner. We need to give our school districts back to the parents and community,” she said.
An educator in the US Senate
Texas State Rep. James Talarico (D-Austin), a 36-year-old former middle school teacher, won the Democratic primary for US Senate.
He will face either Republican incumbent Sen. John Cornyn or Attorney General Ken Paxton, who are headed to a May 26 runoff, in the general election.
Talarico has made a name for himself in the Texas House by fighting against private school vouchers, advocating for public school funding, and speaking out against book bans.
Throughout his campaign, he has stressed the importance of having an educator in the US Senate, and shared how he plans to boost teacher pay if elected.
“ At a time when schools are closing and scrambling to find qualified teachers, Texans see their attorney general, who’s in this runoff, attacking school districts for not supplying Ten Commandments for their schools, or for allowing a transgender student into the bathroom, and I think people have a choice to make,” Martin said. “Talarico’s experience as an educator, the way that he has made this about top versus bottom instead of left versus right, I think really resonates with people who are generally logical.”
“People want what’s best for their children, so I think you’re either voting for education or you’re not,” Martin said.
Ultimately, Martin is urging Texans to know what they’re voting for and what they’re voting against this year, and said the Texas Freedom Network is working to educate voters on the issues that affect them the most.
“ I truly believe that if people have the information that they need to make informed decisions, our state will change, and we will change,” she said. “The far-right is doing everything they can to limit our education and for it to be what they want it to be. That is fascism. So we’ve got to fight it.”
