Both of the candidates running in the March 5, 2024, Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 52 — Jennie Birkholz (D) and Angel Carroll (D) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
Here are the candidates’ responses to the question: What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
Birkholz:
- “Education: Our public schools are integral to our communities and significantly shape Texas’s future. Jennie will support public education with increased funding, workforce investments, and meaningful accountability reforms. She is against publicly funded school vouchers and will advocate for well-funded, high-quality education that is accessible to every student.
- Healthcare: Affordable, accessible, quality healthcare is essential to the well-being of families and success of Texas. No Texan should go bankrupt because they get sick, or have delayed care because they can not get to a provider. Jennie supports policies that improve healthcare access, reduce uninsured rates, and address provider shortages.
- Our district is undergoing unprecedented growth, demanding safe, affordable communities with robust infrastructure and economic opportunities. Amidst climate change challenges, securing access to water, broadband, affordable housing, and clean energy is imperative for community resilience. Jennie will prioritize local voices, advocate for equal opportunities, address climate change, and champion smart growth to ensure a prosperous and sustainable future for all Texans.”
Carroll:
- “Public Safety: Ensuring the quality of life and public safety in our growing district is a top priority. Angel is committed to addressing the challenges posed by the district’s rapid growth while maintaining the prosperity and safety of our neighborhoods. She is committed to upholding the autonomy of local governments, advocating for affordable housing options, and collaborating with local authorities to provide the necessary support for water, energy, and transportation infrastructure; emergency preparedness; and maintaining open lines of communication with elected officials and residents to ensure their voices are not only heard but actively considered in the legislative process.
- Education: As a proud product of schools in Williamson County and as a former educator, Angel knows the critical role of education in fostering economic and health advancements. When elected, she will continue to work to ensure Texas educators’ salaries are adjusted with living expenses and inflation, that our school districts have the resources they need to educate our children, foster inclusive learning environments in all our schools, and ensure that every Texas student feels safe while at school. Additionally, her firsthand experience on the Texas Juvenile Justice Advisory Board and in the juvenile justice system fuels her dedication to tackling the school-to-prison pipeline issue and crafting laws that improve outcomes for students.
- Healthcare: As a working-class Texan, Angel understands the daily struggles of deciding between paying for medication and essential bills. This fuels her unwavering belief that everyone, regardless of their economic background, deserves access to affordable healthcare. She will champion Medicaid expansion, support health insurance enrollment initiatives, and advocate for policies that enhance the overall affordability of healthcare services. Like many in the district and across the state, Angel is deeply concerned about the stripping away of women’s bodily autonomy. She firmly supports the right to safe and legal abortion, emphasizing the necessity to maintain women’s control over their bodies.”
Click on the candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.
We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.
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