Beth is from Portland, Oregon. She attended the University of Nebraska. She has a bachelor's degree in French, German and political science from the University of Nebraska.

Beth Llewellyn McLaughlin - Ballotpedia

Beth Llewellyn McLaughlin is from Portland, Oregon. She attended the University of Nebraska. She has a bachelor's degree in French, German and political science from the University of Nebraska.

Beth is an award-winning public school teacher who retired after a 32-year career, teaching 29 of those years at Southwest High School in Fort Worth. Since retiring, she has started a "second career" as a volunteer docent at the Kimbell Art Museum, where she gives at least 25 tours annually.

Beth Llewellyn McLaughlin previously ran for public office in 2018 and did not win.

Beth previously ran for public office in 2018 and did not win.

Supports the "responsible investment of tax dollars to benefit all Texans."

Supports policies that promote a living wage and affordable housing, viewing current "trickle-down" economics as ineffective for the working class.

- Supports the "responsible investment of tax dollars to benefit all Texans."
- Supports policies that promote a living wage and affordable housing, viewing current "trickle-down" economics as ineffective for the working class.

Economy

As of January 22, 2026, Beth Llewellyn McLaughlin’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Supports personal freedom in health-related decisions.

Advocates for affordable healthcare and childcare

- Supports personal freedom in health-related decisions.
- Advocates for affordable healthcare and childcare

Healthcare

Supports providing quality public education for all students and opposes using tax dollars for charter schools and school vouchers.

Supports salaries, benefits, and retirement funding designed to attract and retain high-quality teachers

- Supports providing quality public education for all students and opposes using tax dollars for charter schools and school vouchers.
- Supports salaries, benefits, and retirement funding designed to attract and retain high-quality teachers

Education

Advocates for clean air and water as priorities that have been "discounted and defunded."

- Advocates for clean air and water as priorities that have been "discounted and defunded."

Energy & the Environment

Supports removing "dark money" from politics.

- Supports removing "dark money" from politics.

Voting & Elections

Facebook

Beth Llewellyn McLaughlin

Alejandra Gracias

Walter Ley

Diane Symons - Ballotpedia

Diane is from San Antonio. She has an associate's degree from Tarrant County College.

LinkedIn

Diane previously worked as the owner and photographer at Designs Meant4U, a project manager at Sprint, in risk operations at Capital One, an associate area manager at RGIS, and a manager at APSI Chevron.

Diane previously ran for state representative for Texas House District 97 in 2024, but did not win.

Proposed a $15 minimum wage, increasing it by $1 each year the economy grows, and suggested a tax credit for small business owners to offset the cost.

Supports increasing the minimum wage to $20 per hour by adding $1 per hour annually, and increasing the minimum wage for waitresses to $12 per hour.

Proposed legislation that would eliminate property taxes for active and retired teachers and school workers.

Supports eliminating property taxes on Social Security recipients and school employees.

Supports introducing casinos in towns with populations under 75,000 to boost local economies.

Supports a tax credit for companies to offset the cost of employee salaries.

- Supports increasing the minimum wage to $20 per hour by adding $1 per hour annually, and increasing the minimum wage for waitresses to $12 per hour.
- Supports eliminating property taxes on Social Security recipients and school employees.
- Supports introducing casinos in towns with populations under 75,000 to boost local economies.
- Supports a tax credit for companies to offset the cost of employee salaries.

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

Supports investing in retaining teachers, public universities, and trade schools.

Supports offering $10,000 per year for all Texans to pursue their passions, with a requirement to complete community service before graduating.

Supports offering $10,000 per year for Texans to pursue their passions, with a requirement to complete community service.

- Supports investing in retaining teachers, public universities, and trade schools.
- Supports offering $10,000 per year for Texans to pursue their passions, with a requirement to complete community service.

Diane Symons

Supports the introduction of casinos in towns with populations under 75,000 to boost the local economy, sales tax, employment, travel industry, and funding for public schools and infrastructure.

Ryan Ray

Candidate website

Ryan Ray has a bachelor's degree from Washington & Jefferson College and a law degree from Texas A&M School of Law. He is a father. 

Ryan Ray previously ran for State Representative, District 96, in 2018 and did not win.

Ryan previously served as a member of the Crowley Independent School District Board of Trustees. He served from 2012 to 2022. He also ran for State Representative, District 96, in 2018 but did not win. 

Supports a $250,000 homestead exemption and modernizing energy grids to protect residential utility rates.

Wants to create a state-level rebate program to ensure tax relief reaches everyone.

- Supports a $250,000 homestead exemption and modernizing energy grids to protect residential utility rates.
- Wants to create a state-level rebate program to ensure tax relief reaches everyone.

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

Supports abortion access and "reproductive freedom," stating the goal to "restore the fundamental right of every Texan to make their own healthcare decisions... without government interference."

Advocates to expand Medicaid to insure one million hospitals, and stabilize local hospitals.

Supports legalizing marijuana for those 21+ and ending "failed prohibition."

Supports expanding the medical cannabis program for patients with chronic pain.

Supports changing state law so that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) vape possession is no longer a felony.

- Supports abortion access and "reproductive freedom," stating the goal to "restore the fundamental right of every Texan to make their own healthcare decisions... without government interference."
- Advocates to expand Medicaid to insure one million hospitals, and stabilize local hospitals.
- Supports legalizing marijuana for those 21+ and ending "failed prohibition."
- Supports expanding the medical cannabis program for patients with chronic pain.
- Supports changing state law so that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) vape possession is no longer a felony.

Opposes school voucher programs that allow parents to use public funds to enroll their children in schools beyond their local options, including private schools.

- Opposes school voucher programs that allow parents to use public funds to enroll their children in schools beyond their local options, including private schools.

Supports a "net-zero" green energy grid requirement for hyperscale data centers to address residential utility rates.

- Supports a "net-zero" green energy grid requirement for hyperscale data centers to address residential utility rates.

Opposes abortion access and believes human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.

Opposes taxpayer funding for abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood.

Believes people should be able to vote without photo identification.

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Texas House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Texas State Legislature
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws. 
- There are 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives, each representing a single district. Representatives must be at least 21 years old and reside in the state for at least two years before their election. 
- State representatives are elected to two-year terms during even-numbered years. There are no term limits. 
- State representatives make $7,200 annually in addition to a $221 payment per day during legislative sessions and mileage reimbursements.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Texas House of Representatives.

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 Representative, District 97, Democratic Primary

Election results

Runoff election

Candidates (3)