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State Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, will face Democratic candidate Merrie Fox in the Nov. 5 election for the Texas Senate District 25 seat.
Community Impact reached out to the candidates to get their perspectives on their priorities if elected.
What you need to know
District 25 covers all of Blanco, Comal and Kendall counties as well as parts of Bexar, Guadalupe, Hays and Travis counties. Campbell has served in this role since 2013.
Early voting will take place Oct. 21-Nov. 1. Election Day is Nov. 5.
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.
*Indicates incumbent
What is the most important issue facing your constituents in the coming legislative session and how do you intend to address it?
It is difficult to narrow down the most important issues facing the district to just three since they are all so equally important, but the most pressing issues in the district are border security, public education reform, property tax relief, traffic congestion and water scarcity.
What other issues are a high priority for you?
Legislation related to further improving both grid resiliency and healthcare in Texas for patients and medical providers.
School districts are struggling financially due to a number of factors. How will you approach school funding in the next session?
The Texas Senate passed a school funding package twice during the special sessions in 2023; that money is still there and needs to be used to provide pay increases for teachers and bolster school safety.
Texas faces a housing shortage which in part is driving up the cost of housing. What policy solutions are you exploring?
I agree with Governor Abbott that we should address the issue of corporate investment firms' large-scale purchasing of single-family homes, which has played a large part in driving up the cost of housing in Texas.
What is the most important issue facing your constituents in the coming legislative session and how do you intend to address it?
Despite significant economic, environmental, and constitutional concerns across Senate District 25, I believe public education must be our top priority. If vouchers are successful, the negative impact to our communities will be significant, both economically and socially. Public funds belong in public schools.
What other issues are a high priority for you?
A woman’s right to bodily autonomy is of great importance to me. Government does not belong in the exam room. Additional important issues include water consumption, responsible development, increasing public school funding, and protecting children and communities from gun violence.
School districts are struggling financially due to a number of factors. How will you approach school funding in the next session?
Texas currently ranks 43rd out of 50 states for per-pupil funding, despite having the 8th largest economy in the world. Prioritizing funding for public schools, which hasn't been done since 2019, would allow districts to properly staff their schools and provide adequate support for students.
Texas faces a housing shortage which in part is driving up the cost of housing. What policy solutions are you exploring?
The geographical diversity of Texas makes it impossible to address the issue of housing affordability through a single lens. Policies focused on property taxation, permitting processes, and lot sizes will all be important factors in resolving the issue of limited affordable housing.
