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Abigail Gray has a bachelor's degree in early childhood education from LeTourneau University, a master's degree in curriculum and instruction design from the University of Texas at Tyler, and is pursuing at master's in public affairs from the University of Texas at Austin.

Abigail is experienced in classroom teaching, instructional coaching, and curriculum design.

Abigail Gray's campaign for Texas State Board of Education Member, District 5, Democratic Primary is her first entry into politics.

Texas State Board of Education election, 2026 - Ballotpedia

The 2026 Texas Democratic Primaries: Part Two

Abigail's campaign for Texas State Board of Education Member, District 5, Democratic Primary is her first entry into politics.

Q&A: Meet the Democratic candidates running for State Board of Education District 5 in March primaries

Promises to "thoroughly vet and approve high quality instructional materials."

Wants to fight for academic standards "backed by experts, not ideology."

Supports moving away from test-focused instruction to "focus on the needs of all students."

Advocates standards that teach civic discourse and tolerance because "students need to learn the best ways to communicate disagreements and have productive conversations, as well as respect the differences of others."

- Promises to "thoroughly vet and approve high quality instructional materials."
- Wants to fight for academic standards "backed by experts, not ideology."
- Supports moving away from test-focused instruction to "focus on the needs of all students."
- Advocates standards that teach civic discourse and tolerance because "students need to learn the best ways to communicate disagreements and have productive conversations, as well as respect the differences of others."

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As of January 22, 2026, Abigail Gray’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Thinks public schools need to be "adequately prepared" to instruct students whose primary language is not English.

- Thinks public schools need to be "adequately prepared" to instruct students whose primary language is not English.

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Abigail Gray

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Walter Ley

Allison Bush is from Texas. She is a mother and lives in Pflugerville.

Allison Bush is from Texas. She has an associate's degree in communication and visual arts from Kilgore College, and a bachelor's degree in communication and special education from Stephen F. Austin State University. She is a mother and lives in Pflugerville.

Allison is a consultant at a construction management firm, where she helps school districts across Texas identify educational needs, set funding priorities, and successfully pass school bonds. She previously worked as a teacher, college and career counselor, and the executive director of two district education foundations. She has also served as the community relations director for Bastrop Independent School District and worked at the Science Mill in Blanco County. 

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Allison currently works as a bond election coordinator for Gallagher Construction Services. She previously worked as the executive director of the Pflugerville Education Foundation, partnerships coordinator of the Bastrop Education Foundation, a career/college readiness counselor and teacher at American YouthWorks, a career and technical education teacher at the Workforce Development Boatd/Alcohol & Drug Abuse Council of Deep East Texas, and a theater teacher at the Crosby Independent School District.

Allison has worked in public education for over 25 years as a teacher, counselor, and nonprofit leader.

Allison Bush - Ballotpedia

Allison's campaign for Texas State Board of Education, District 5 is her first run for public office.

Opposes politically motivated curriculum censorship, supports historically accurate and inclusive materials, and aims to expand mental health resources while reducing burdens on teachers.

Opposes politically motivated curriculum censorship.

For Candidate Allison Bush on Issue school-curriculum: Supports honest, inclusive curriculum standards that reflect diverse identities and accurate history, and opposes attempts to erase these from textbooks or policy.

Supports "honest, inclusive curriculum standards" that reflect diverse identities and accurate history, and opposes attempts to erase these from textbooks or policy.

- Opposes politically motivated curriculum censorship.
- Supports "honest, inclusive curriculum standards" that reflect diverse identities and accurate history, and opposes attempts to erase these from textbooks or policy.

Believes chronic underfunding, teacher shortages, and state overreach undermine school resources and local decision-making.

- Believes chronic underfunding, teacher shortages, and state overreach undermine school resources and local decision-making.

Believes Texas faces a teacher crisis and will advocate for policies that reduce paperwork, provide resources, improve retention, and restore dignity to the teaching profession.

Believes Texas faces a teacher crisis and will advocate for "policies that reduce paperwork, provide resources, improve retention, and restore dignity to the teaching profession."

- Believes Texas faces a teacher crisis and will advocate for "policies that reduce paperwork, provide resources, improve retention, and restore dignity to the teaching profession."

Advocates for mental health resources, anti-bullying protections, and ensuring that all students, including LGBTQ+, Black, Hispanic, immigrant, multilingual, and differently abled, are treated with dignity and safety.

Advocates for mental health resources, anti-bullying protections, and ensuring that all students are treated with dignity and safety.

- Advocates for mental health resources, anti-bullying protections, and ensuring that all students are treated with dignity and safety.

For Candidate Allison Bush on Issue access to education: Supports holding all schools receiving taxpayer dollars to the same academic standards and accountability, and emphasizes the need for oversight in charter school growth to protect resources for traditional public schools.

Supports holding all schools receiving taxpayer dollars to the same academic standards and accountability, and emphasizes the need for oversight in charter school growth to protect resources for traditional public schools.

- Supports holding all schools receiving taxpayer dollars to the same academic standards and accountability, and emphasizes the need for oversight in charter school growth to protect resources for traditional public schools.

Allison Bush

Kevin Jackson has a bachelor's degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin, a master's degree in public administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and a master's degree in education from the University of North Texas. He has a wife and two children.

Kevin has taught at the elementary, middle, and high-school levels and has worked as an educational diagnostician for the past six years.

Kevin Jackson's campaign for Texas State Board of Education Member, District 5, Democratic Primary is his first entry into politics.

Thinks "educators—not ideologues—must guide curriculum decisions."

Promises to promote Ethnic Studies courses to ensure social studies standards tell "accurate, comprehensive history."

Aims to have evidence-based reading and math instruction

- Thinks "educators—not ideologues—must guide curriculum decisions."
- Promises to promote Ethnic Studies courses to ensure social studies standards tell "accurate, comprehensive history."
- Aims to have evidence-based reading and math instruction

Claims he will advocate for "transparent, responsible investment decisions based on long-term stability."

- Claims he will advocate for "transparent, responsible investment decisions based on long-term stability."

As of January 22, 2026, Kevin Jackson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes schools must support every learner.

Wants new charter school approvals to be rare and held to  the "highest standards—strong academics, transparent finances, ethical governance, and a clear benefit to local public schools."

- Believes schools must support every learner.
- Wants new charter school approvals to be rare and held to  the "highest standards—strong academics, transparent finances, ethical governance, and a clear benefit to local public schools."

Kevin Jackson

Neto Longoria - Ballotpedia

Raul (Neto) Longoria earned a bachelor's degree in business and a master's degree in public affairs from the University of Texas at Ausin.

Neto is a bilingual special education teacher and parent support specialist. He works in the Texas public school system. He previously worked as a canvasser.

Neto works as a community canvasser for a worker's advocacy organization. He was previously a bilingual special education teacher and parent support specialist in the Texas public school system. 

Neto Longoria's campaign for Texas State Board of Education Member, District 5, Democratic Primary.

Wants students to have strong literacy in all subjects.

Believes in artificial intelligence that supports learning, without replacing teachers.

Thinks students should have a curriculum that "prepares students for life, not just for tests."

- Wants students to have strong literacy in all subjects.
- Believes in artificial intelligence that supports learning, without replacing teachers.
- Thinks students should have a curriculum that "prepares students for life, not just for tests."

As of January 22, 2026, Raul (Neto) Longoria did not have a website or any information online.

Aims to give students accessibility to curriculum with translated materials and interpretation.

- Aims to give students accessibility to curriculum with translated materials and interpretation.

Raul (Neto) Longoria

As of January 22, 2026, Neto Longoria’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Neto Longoria

Stephanie Limon Bazan has a bachelor s degree in English from St. Edward's University and a master's degree in creative writing from the University of Leeds.

Stephanie Bazan - Ballotpedia

Candidate website

Stephanie Limon Bazan is from Austin, Texas. She earned a bachelor's degree in english writing and rhetoric from St. Edward's University and a master's degree in creative writing from the University of Leeds. Stephanie lives with her husband and two kids in Austin, Texas.

Stephanie is a communications consultant, communications officer, marketing director, adjunct professor, and graphic designer. She has also served as the executive director at Generation SERVE, a nonprofit organization.

Stephanie currently works as the executive director for Generation STRIVE, a youth volunteer-focused non-profit, as well as a freelance consultant focused on design, marketing, and writing. She previously worked as the chief communications officer and crisis communications advisor for Schulman, Lopez, Hoffer & Adelstein, LLP; the director of communications regarding signature events and programs for the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; an adjunct professor for St. Edward's University; the director of marketing for LifeWorks Austin, a non-profit focused on youth homelessness; a graphic designer for the University of York; and a marketing coordinator for NFP, an insurance company.

Stephanie previously ran for Austin City Council member in 2022 but did not win. 

Stephanie previously ran for the Austin City Council to represent District 5 in 2022, but did not win. 

Advocates for the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) to build clear and "rigorous curriculum standards" and provide instructional supports to help students receive a great public education.

Wants curriculum to be based on history, "not revised to fit a political or religious agenda."

Believes that focus on school success should not be just on "high stakes testing."

- Advocates for the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) to build clear and "rigorous curriculum standards" and provide instructional supports to help students receive a great public education.
- Wants curriculum to be based on history, "not revised to fit a political or religious agenda."
- Believes that focus on school success should not be just on "high stakes testing."

Believes public school funding is the biggest challenge for Texas education in the future.

- Believes public school funding is the biggest challenge for Texas education in the future.

Supports recruiting and retaining "a diverse, highly qualified teaching workforce, including bilingual educators and teachers prepared to meet the needs of all learners."

Believes certain barriers of entry to becoming a teacher should be removed while keeping high-quality standards.

- Supports recruiting and retaining "a diverse, highly qualified teaching workforce, including bilingual educators and teachers prepared to meet the needs of all learners."
- Believes certain barriers of entry to becoming a teacher should be removed while keeping high-quality standards.

As of January 22, 2026, Stephanie Limon Bazan’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Said, "I am running to ensure every Texas child has access to a high-quality public education, no matter their zip code, the language they speak at home, or the supports they need to learn. Education is an equalizer, and our students, teachers and families deserve more."

- Said, "I am running to ensure every Texas child has access to a high-quality public education, no matter their zip code, the language they speak at home, or the supports they need to learn. Education is an equalizer, and our students, teachers and families deserve more."

Stephanie Limon Bazan

Supports social impact initiatives in education.

Dr. Victor Sampson is an Associate Professor of STEM at UT Austin.

Faculty Victor Sampson

Victor Sampson earned bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Washington, a master's degree in education from Seattle University, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction from Arizona State University.

Dr. Victor Sampson is an associate professor of STEM at the University of Texas at Austin.

Candidates 2026 | The Hays County Democratic Party

Victor has worked as an educator for over 26 year.s He has been an Associate Professor of Science Technology Engineering and Math Education at the University of Texas at Austin for the past 11 years.

Victor previously served as a member of the Texas State Board of Education, District 5.

Promises to fight for "high-quality academic standards that develop thinkers, not test-takers."

Wants curriculum to be "driven by research rather than politics or personal ideology."

- Promises to fight for "high-quality academic standards that develop thinkers, not test-takers."
- Wants curriculum to be "driven by research rather than politics or personal ideology."

Supports funding that supports "high-quality instructional materials, professional learning, student services, and emerging needs."

- Supports funding that supports "high-quality instructional materials, professional learning, student services, and emerging needs."

Believes teachers need to be seen "as trusted professionals whose strengths should be supported, not restricted."

Seeks to encourage innovation in teaching and learning.

- Believes teachers need to be seen "as trusted professionals whose strengths should be supported, not restricted."
- Seeks to encourage innovation in teaching and learning.

Thinks every decision should be based on what is best for the students.

- Thinks every decision should be based on what is best for the students.

As of January 22, 2026, Victor Sampson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Victor Sampson

- Members of the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) set statewide education policy, including approving graduation requirements, selecting textbooks and instructional materials, overseeing the state’s Permanent School Fund, and approving or vetoing charter school applications. 
- Board members participate in rule-making, review and adopt academic standards, and offer final approval on educator certification and other statewide education regulations. 
- SBOE members are elected from geographically defined “education districts.” Under normal circumstances, they serve staggered four-year terms.
- Serving on the board does not pay a salary, but members may be reimbursed for expenses incurred while doing board business.

Member of the board that governs the state's education system. 

This sample ballot may not include all local party roles or measures on the official ballot. The listed candidates serve only within their party, and the propositions do not change the law.

Texas State Board of Education Member, District 5, Democratic Primary

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