The bipartisan political action committee Texas Parent PAC, which supports high-quality public education, has released its 2016 general election endorsement list. Each election cycle, the group engages in a rigorous endorsement process that results in support for candidates whose campaign platforms match the values embraced by Texas Parent PAC. The group supports using public tax dollars only to fund public schools, local control, sufficient and equitable funding of schools, and accountability, among other pro-public education positions.

To learn more about Texas Parent PAC, its endorsement process, and ATPE's collaboration with the group, read our blog post from earlier this year when the group announced its support for pro-public education candidates running in the March primary election.

The following announcement on the group's support for 2016 general election candidates is republished with permission from Texas Parent PAC. In related news, early voting in the general election begins today! Voters can vote early through Friday, Nov. 4, and Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8! Find your polling locations here.

Yay! It's Time for Our Parents and Grandparents To Vote

Early Voting: Monday, October 24 - Friday, Nov. 4 Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 8, 7 am - 7 pm

Texas Parent PAC is delighted to endorse 12 first-time candidates running for state representative and 9 incumbent legislators who are being challenged in the general election. They are men and women of integrity, open and responsive to parents, actively involved in their communities, and committed to investing in public education to achieve economic prosperity in Texas. The PAC also endorses two State Board of Education candidates. Please vote for the endorsed candidates listed below and encourage your friends and family to vote as well. Texas Parent PAC is a bipartisan political action committee. In the 2016 Texas primary and general elections, the PAC has endorsed 23 Republicans and 18 Democrats. We do not have a political agenda. We have an education agenda. Texas Parent PAC endorses only a select number of candidates in each election cycle. Read about our endorsement process here.

Candidates Endorsed by Texas Parent PAC

Texas House of Representatives: First-Time Candidates

HD 18 Ernest Bailes, R-Shepherd Web Site HD 23 Lloyd Criss, D-La Marque Web Site HD 26 Sarah DeMerchant, D-Sugar Land Web Site HD 33 Justin Holland, R-Heath Web Site HD 49 Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin Web Site HD 54 Scott Cosper, R-Killeen Web Site HD 64 Lynn Stucky, R-Sanger Web Site HD 71 Stan Lambert, R-Abilene Web Site HD 105 Terry Meza, D-Irving Web Site HD 118 Tomás Uresti, D-San Antonio Web Site HD 144 Mary Ann Perez, D-Houston Web Site HD 150 Michael Shawn Kelly, D-Spring Web Site

Texas House of Representatives: Incumbents With Challengers

HD 41 Rep. Bobby Guerra*, D-Mission Web Site HD 48 Rep. Donna Howard*, D-Austin Web Site HD 50 Rep. Celia Israel*, D-Austin Web Site HD 78 Rep. Joe Moody*, D-El Paso Web Site HD 95 Rep. Nicole Collier*, D-Fort Worth Web Site HD 101 Rep. Chris Turner*, D-Arlington Web Site HD 102 Rep. Linda Koop*, R-Dallas Web Site HD 137 Rep. Gene Wu*, D-Houston Web Site HD 149 Rep. Hubert Vo, D-Houston Web Site * These incumbents were endorsed by Texas Parent PAC when they first ran for office in 2006-2014. We are very proud of them and their accomplishments. They deserve re-election