2024 Texas Senate Voters Guide

Legal. Would work “to protect the freedoms and rights of women.” Calls Texas’s abortion ban “cruel.” Sponsored bills to enshrine federal rights to abortion and out-of-state services.

Ban. Supreme Court reversing Roe v. Wade is “a massive victory for life.” Opposed putting the right to abortion into federal law. In 2016 said there should be no exceptions for rape or incest. Sponsored a bill criminalizing performing abortions after 20 weeks.

Yes. Is “incredibly concerned” about climate. Supports being “aggressive” about emission reductions while being “realistic” and innovative. Natural gas is “important,” but “we can find…reductions” and increase carbon capture.

No. Voted against funding $369 billion in climate and clean energy initiatives. Pushed for Trump to pull out of the Paris pact to reduce global warming. A tax on methane emissions represents a “radical climate agenda.”

Supports “common-sense reforms that will restore trust in our law enforcement and ensure justice.” Voted for holding police accountable, addressing racial profiling, and limiting use of force. Sponsored a bill to encourage police use of “de-escalation tools.”

Police are “under attack.” Sponsored bills strengthening protections for police and having recruits work in their own communities. Said January 6 U.S. Capitol stormers were prosecuted more than Black Lives Matter protesters he called “terrorists.”

Increase. Voted for a bipartisan bill to provide funding for infrastructure.

Decrease. Voted against the bipartisan infrastructure bill, calling it “reckless.”

Yes. In November 2020, said “After voting in record numbers, Americans have chosen Joe Biden as their President.”

No. In 2021 rejected Electoral College results from some states; called for a commission to audit results. Voted against impeaching Trump for inciting insurrection.

Tighten. Voted for fund to plug orphaned oil and gas wells and to track greenhouse gases. Voted to keep aid to low-income areas for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and to keep a tax on methane emissions.

Loosen. Opposed EPA’s air quality regulations. Opposed a NASA rule requiring contractors to disclose greenhouse gas emissions. Sponsored a bill to repeal an EPA limit on vehicle emissions.

Tighten. Supports “common-sense” laws to “reduce gun violence and save lives.” Voted  to implement “red flag” laws, raise the legal age to buy some rifles, & expand background checks. Sponsored an assault weapons ban.

Loosen. Opposed bipartisan gun safety bill, with expanded background checks; it would “keep guns from law-abiding owners.” Wants “more police officers” in schools. The Second Amendment “shall not be infringed.”

Increase. Supported lowering drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries. Sponsored a bill directing $442 million to upgrade veterans’ healthcare facilities in Texas. Supports Obamacare, and in 2019 condemned repeal attempt.

Decrease. People should “manage their own healthcare, not the bureaucracy.” Opposed a bill reducing drug prices. Would “revisit” the effort to replace Obamacare.

Supports a federal, bipartisan policy that “secures the border” and “modernizes our asylum system.” Supports Biden’s expanded border wall. Denounced open-borders policies. Sponsored a bill to secure the border and grant a phased pathway to legal status. “Border security does not mean being brutal.” Would protect DACA.

Supports a wall, harsher asylum and visa standards, more border patrol agents. Calls Biden’s expanded border wall “window dressing.” Sponsored a bill to end benefits and increase fines and fees on migrants and build a wall. Sponsored a bill letting local law enforcement cooperate with DHS. Opposes DACA: “Obama’s executive amnesty was illegal.”

Easier. “It’s critical that we protect the right to organize.” Supported the PRO Act providing protections for workers trying to organize. Is endorsed by the Texas AFL-CIO.

Mixed. Opposed USDA’s partnering with a farmworkers’ union in an agricultural pilot program. Supported increasing rail union workers’ number of paid sick days.

Expand. “LGBTQ+ Texans deserve a Senator who will listen to and fight for them.” Sponsored two bills guaranteeing federal civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ Americans and same-sex couples.

Limit. Opposed a ban on discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. Opposed federal protection of same-sex marriage: each state should decide. Sponsored a bill banning trans athletes in women’s sports.

Legal. Praised Biden’s pardoning of federal offenses of marijuana possession. Voted to streamline research on marijuana and to decriminalize it nationally.

No recent position found. In 2018: “Different states can resolve it differently. So in Texas…I would vote against legalizing it,” but Texans should “make that decision.”

Yes. “I’m running for Senate to fight for $15/hr.” In 2019 voted to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour.

No. Opposed raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Wage increases mean that people lose jobs; “the most vulnerable” are hurt.

Yes. Supports reducing and forgiving loans. “Too many Texans are burdened by student loan debt.” Supports Biden’s SAVE plan to cut monthly repayments.

No. “Biden’s decision to ‘cancel’ student loan debt is illegal.” People getting loans canceled are “slacker baristas.” Voted to repeal loan payment suspension.

More. Voted to require a 15% corporate minimum tax. Criticized the 2017 Trump tax bill for prioritizing “tax cuts to billionaires and corporations.” Supports a bill “to expand and extend the Child Tax Credit.”

Less. Voted against requiring a 15% corporate minimum tax. Supported the 2017 Trump tax bill with the largest corporate tax cut in US history. “We should stop the weaponization of the tax code, abolish the IRS, and start over.”

Easier. Supports “making it easier” to vote. Opposes restricting “access to polling places.” Supports voting by mail and early voting. Voted to expand registration and voting access, and make states get federal preclearance for voting law changes.

Harder. Opposed banning states from restricting voting access, saying it “strikes down virtually every voter integrity law” and allows “ballot harvesting.” Would require citizenship proof for mail-in voter registration. Opposed expanding voting access.