Colorful notices are showing up in mailboxes; invitations to fundraisers are appearing on Facebook; candidates are posting pictures with constituents on Twitter. Another election season is upon us!
Texas will hold primary elections for the 2022 election cycle on Tuesday, March 1. These elections are especially notable since they are the first that will be held with the updated electoral maps Texas lawmakers approved in the fall, an event that happens only once every 10 years. Many Texans will find themselves represented by unfamiliar faces in the state legislature because legislative district lines have shifted or because their current legislators are retiring. (Redrawing legislative maps often prompts a wave of legislator retirements.)
That makes the upcoming primary election an especially important moment for voters to do their homework on candidates. Raise Your Hand Texas is once again hosting a series of candidate forums across the state to help voters gain insight into candidates’ positions on key public education issues, from school choice to assessment and accountability. Forums will focus on districts with open seats or where there are competitive primaries. Our goal is to provide a space for respectful, issue-focused conversations, where all candidates are invited to participate and voters have a chance to deepen their understanding of a candidate’s public education positions and vision.
You can find out where we’re hosting For the Future Candidate Forums and more information about how to attend on our website. All forums will also be broadcast on Facebook Live and will be held between February 3 and February 24.
At Raise Your Hand, we believe that the future of Texas is in our public schools. Voters have an important opportunity to help shape that future by making informed decisions in the weeks ahead. Thank you for supporting public education by making your voice heard at the polls!
Thanks to Dr. Libby Cohen, Senior Director of Advocacy for (TEV partner) Raise Your Hand Texas for this week’s blog post.