Progress Texas endorses and strongly supports Lauren Ashley Simmons for Texas House District 146 on May 28. When elected, she will be a progressive voice and fierce advocate for public schools, affordable healthcare and mental care access, climate action, and voting rights. The CWA union member will “pull up a seat at the table” for Houston’s marginalized residents, working families, public employees, and teachers. Also, known advocate for justice and equality, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett has endorsed Simmons, who will be the first openly LGBTQ+ member to hold the Houston seat. 

Simmons has spent her entire adult life fighting for the people conservative extremists attack every day, and has life experiences like being a young mom that will add needed wisdom and compassion to an ever-postered Texas Legislature. Progress Texas energetically prefers Simmons in her race to replace fellow Democratic incumbent Shawn Thierry. Additionally, voters have given this nod—Lauren Ashley Simmons came within half a point of unseating one of the least-reliable Democrats in the Texas House in March, and we encourage Houston voters to finish this progressive win by voting in the May 28 Runoff Election.

Don’t Watch on the Sidelines, Go Vote Texas!

As we referenced last month, Republicans are counting on you not to vote in an increasingly complicated election cycle. With back-to-back primaries, local elections, and now runoffs, voter turnout is taking a major hit. In Harris County’s (Houston) May election, early voting turnout reached 1.3% or 33,652 voters cast ballots out of more than 2.56 million registered voters. So what can Texas do better?

First, since Texas doesn’t have automatic voter registration, it’s up to all of us to make sure you and your friends are registered and then get everyone to the polls. That being said, expansions to increase voting rates have worked in other states. Pro-turnout reforms include giving 16 and 17 year olds the ability to pre-register to vote at high schools, adding automatic voter registration at the DMV, introducing online voter registration, and making mail-in ballots available to everyone, with no reason required. We know that families, those working multiple jobs, and students deserve a strengthened access to the polls, and we're ready to fight for you during the next Texas legislative session, starting in January, 2025. 

But don’t wait, check if you are in one of these regions below for important runoff elections on May 28 and get to the polls next week. We urge you to follow your choice candidate all the way to November. 

Texas House and Senate

• HD 37 – Raymondville, Harlingen, Port Isabel
• HD 77 – El Paso
• HD 80 – Laredo, Uvalde, Pearsall
• HD 97 – Benbrook, White Settlement, Crowley, TCU
• HD 139 – Northwest Houston
• HD 146 –Southwest Houston
• SD 15 – North Harris County, West Houston
• SD 30 – Wichita Falls, Gainesville, Sherman

U.S. House of Representatives

• District 31– Georgetown, Temple, Gatesville, Fort Cavazos, Marble Falls, Burnet

Democratic Candidate Stuart Whitlow is endorsed by State Rep. John Bucy and State Rep. James Talarico

Important Election Dates

• Early Voting: Open from May 20 to May 24. 
• Vote-by-mail: You must fill out, sign and submit your application to vote by mail to your county’s election office by May 17, 2024.
• Ballot-by-mail must be received by Tuesday, May 28, 2024 (Election Day) at 7:00 p.m (deadline is received, not postmarked)
• Election Day in-person voting: May 28, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

What’s Next:

• Listen to Progress Texas Happy Hour Podcast with Lauren Ashley Simmons.
• Are you a voting advocate? Read more on keeping Texas elections open and accessible. 
• Progress Texas is translating voter resources into Vietnamese to meet the needs of those who speak the third-most spoken language in Texas. Donate to our cause. 
• Voting Qs? Visit our website, GoVoteTexas.org.