By Laura Bray
For the “Progressive Views” column, Boerne Star, November 1, 2026
(a shorter version of this column appeared in the November 1 Boerne Star)
For my final column to describe the important statewide races on the November 3 ballot and the Democratic vision for that office, I’ll review the Offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor (LtGov). The Democratic candidates are Gina Hinojosa (for Governor) and Vikki Goodwin for Lieutenant Governor. Their websites have full details on their priorities. Their Republican opponents are Greg Abbott (Governor) and Dan Patrick (Lt. Governor). According to the Texas Tribune, Abbott has accepted over $10M in donations from million/billionaires and has demonstrated a “willingness to draw from his deep campaign coffers to support his preferred candidates and to oust Republican incumbents who disagreed in particular with his signature policy issue, school vouchers.” Patrick is “a close ally of President Donald Trump who chaired all three of his presidential campaigns in Texas” and champions “targeting LGBTQ+ Texans and restricting how race and gender can be discussed in classrooms” (per the Texas Tribune). The Governor sends recommendations to state legislators and signs bills into law once passed. The Governor also appoints the Secretary of State (responsible for the conduct of elections, among other duties). The Governor is the only elected official that can call a special session of the Legislature.
According to the Texas Tribune, the LtGov is often regarded as the most powerful statewide elected office because of its role in the Texas Legislature. In the Senate, the lieutenant governor is in charge of the agenda and committee appointments.
The Democratic candidates share many of the same priorities. For starters, Democrats will prioritize public education, not handouts to unregulated private schools (through vouchers). Republicans have reduced public school funding to the point that over 150 schools are closing, and another 150 school districts have moved to four-day weeks. Texas’ teachers are leaving in droves because of low pay, tough working conditions, and increased meddling by politicians. Democrats support teacher pay raises, smaller class sizes, and less high-stakes standardized testing for our kids. Democrats will also repeal the voucher scheme forced through the 2025 Legislature despite bipartisan opposition.
Lowering prices is another major Democratic issue. Democrats support banning predatory surveillance pricing and will fight to ensure that grocery prices reflect actual market costs, not price gouging designed to squeeze more money from working Texans. Democrats also support freezing residential utility rates until laws are enacted to ensure that data centers and other high-load users pay for themselves. To bring down bills long term, Democrats will work to ensure that costs from rapid infrastructure development driven by data centers and industry are paid by the corporations and billionaires that drive those costs. Other priorities include lowering the assessment cap for landlords who charge fair market rent or below; making homestead exemptions automatic; and cutting red tape for affordable development.
Democrats are will also work to rein in the rampant development of data centers to protect our water, land, health, and access to electricity. Democrats are calling for an immediate moratorium on data centers to last until the legislature can meet to put in place real protections. (A temporary moratorium is a scam because the governor will probably lift it right after the election. The only way Texans are protected is when real laws are passed.) To pass this legislation right away, Democrats are also calling for a special session now to end the giant tax giveaways. Democrats will make data center companies responsible for the cost of their electricity and water use. Residential prices shouldn’t be higher because a data center is coming to town. Democrats will also work to give county governments legal power and financial support to protect their communities from data centers – and the lawsuits data centers bring against communities trying to regulate or ban them.
Fighting for better healthcare is another Democratic priority. Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the nation. By expanding Medicaid, we can ensure more vulnerable Texans get the care they need while bringing billions in federal dollars back to our state. Other issues include tackling the maternal healthcare crisis; expanding mental health resources; and protecting children’s healthcare, especially for children with special needs.
You have ONE LAST CHANCE to vote in this critical election. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Polls will be open from 7am-7pm. You can find a list of polling locations here. (Please note that the Kendall County Elections Office on Fawn Valley Dr is not an election day polling location.) Don’t miss this chance to make your voice heard in one of the most consequential elections of our times. For more information on voting, call our office at 830-331-1243 or visit www.kcdems.us
Laura Bray is former Chair of the Kendall County Democratic Party. Gina Hinojosa and Vikki Goodwin contributed to this article.
