A handful of runoff races over the weekend means that election season in Texas is finally, and mercifully, over until November. Still, the runoff races highlighted the growing divisions over education that have spilled over into school board and college races.
In Dallas, Dr. Catalina Garcia prevailed in her race for Dallas College (formerly Dallas Community College) District One with over 63 percent of the vote. Lynn Davenport, the candidate Garcia won against, mostly ran her campaign via social media, and has posted conspiracy theories about data harvesting, vaccines, and blockchain technology.
In a statement to Signal, Garcia thanked the voters in the race. “I am excited to get to work to give Dallas County students the education and possibilities to grow that they deserve,” said Garcia. “I will work with each and every person to make that vision a reality.”
About forty miles from Dallas, Craig Tipping won his runoff for a school board position in Mansfield with 53 percent of the vote. Tipping was one of eleven candidates in Tarrant County that was supported by the Patriot Mobile PAC.
Headquartered in Grapevine, Patriot Mobile is a cell phone company that caters to a Christian audience and contributes a percentage of a phone bill to “Christian” causes. Their website lists several rightwing organizations that they partner with, including the National Rifle Association and the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List. “Our mission is to passionately defend our God-given, Constitutional rights and freedoms, and glorify God always,” it states on their website.
Fights over the future of education will likely continue in November and beyond in Texas. In the last legislative session, Texas Republicans passed several school censorship laws meant to deter critical race theory. At their recent convention, the Texas GOP included many platform priorities regarding education including school prayer, abolishing the teaching of sex education or sexual health in any grade at public schools, and passing a law similar to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Photo: © Texas Signal Media Company
A longtime writer and journalist, Jessica was thrilled to join the Texas Signal where she could utilize her unique perspective on politics and culture. As the Features and Opinion Editor, she is responsible for coordinating editorials and segments from diverse authors. She is also the host of the podcast the Tex Mix, as well as the co-host for the weekly SignalCast. Jessica attended Harvard College, is a onetime fitness blogger, and has now transitioned to recreational runner (for which her joints are thankful).
