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Two candidates are vying for Texas House District 127 in the upcoming Nov. 3 general election.
Meet the candidates
Republican incumbent Charles Cunningham will face Democratic challenger Michelle Williams in the race for Texas House District 127, which covers portions of northeast Harris County, including Kingwood.
Cunningham was first elected to the Texas House in 2022. Williams is a classroom teacher and union leader.
Some context
The Texas House of Representatives is composed of 150 members who are each elected for a two-year term with no term limits. Per the Texas House website, members must be:
The Texas Legislature—which includes both state House and Senate members—meets in regular session for about five months every other year. The 90th Texas Legislature will run Jan. 12-May 31, 2027, per the Legislative Reference Library of Texas.
Something to note
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. For more election coverage, visit communityimpact.com/election.
*Indicates incumbent
(R) Indicates Republican
(D) indicates Democrat
I am currently serving in the Texas House of Representatives, first elected in 2022.
Why are you running for this position?
I want to continue fighting in the Texas Legislature to enact conservative solutions to shared challenges.
What will you do to bring down the cost of living for Texas residents?
My platform centers on property taxes which affect the cost of living. While property taxes are ultimately set at the local level, I support Texas Legislature action to buy down tax rates and provide relief; no Texan should face being taxed out of their home.
How will you ensure Texans have enough water as the state continues to grow?
Water was a top priority during the last Legislative session and I supported SB7 and House Joint Resolution 7, which dedicates $1 billion of state sales tax revenue annually for 20 years to the Texas Water Fund starting September 2027. Regional cooperation and streamlined permitting will play key roles in our success.
How will you balance the development of data centers and other large projects with constituent concerns about rapid growth?
In general, I lean toward more state oversight. I support SB6, which would grant the state greater authority over new data centers’ power use and cost, and require large-load customers to help cover grid interconnection costs. I support evaluating data centers’ economic growth potential while reviewing the existing regulatory framework.
What projects are most important for the legislature to focus on for the future of Texas?
Flooding mitigation, eliminate property taxes, secure elections, border enforcement, protect life and Texas kids, protect the electric grid and ban taxpayer-funded lobbying.
Classroom teacher and union leader
Why are you running for this position?
I'm running because District 127 needs a representative who lives with the consequences of Austin's decisions – not one insulated from them. As an educator and president of the Houston Education Association, I've watched our schools stretch thin while unchecked sand mining floods our neighborhoods. I want practical fixes, not slogans.
What will you do to bring down the cost of living for Texas residents?
I'll protect the property tax relief families earned through SB 4 and SB 23, while making sure it doesn't come at the expense of public school funding. I'll also cut flood insurance costs by stopping upstream sand mining, which drives up risk and premiums for families who didn't cause it.
How will you ensure Texans have enough water as the state continues to grow?
Water security starts with protecting what we have. Sand mining sediment chokes our tributaries, worsens flooding, and threatens Lake Houston's drinking water. I'll push real permitting enforcement and dredging authority, and fight for our region's fair share of the new Texas Water Fund.
How will you balance the development of data centers and other large projects with constituent concerns about rapid growth?
Growth is coming, but it shouldn't cost our families. Large projects should pay their fair share toward water, power, and flood infrastructure instead of shifting costs to homeowners. Any project near our floodplain or waterways deserves real community input and environmental review first.
What projects are most important for the legislature to focus on for the future of Texas?
Sand mining and flood infrastructure top my list—our district needs real permitting reform, not just disaster response. Second, closing the public school funding gap; HB 2 helped, but districts are still behind 2019 spending power. Third, keeping property tax relief sustainable and fully funded.
