INTRO
Hello everyone! Welcome back to the Family Freedom Project podcast where we discuss all things related to your ability to educate, raise, and decide what’s best for YOUR children!
I’m Nathan Macias, President of the Family Freedom Project and I am excited to dive right in to the 2024 General Election recap! The election made waves nationwide, but Texas? We took it to another level.
So, why was this election so important? Well, parental rights have become a centerpiece of Texas politics, and it all started with the momentum we saw in the Primaries and Runoffs earlier this year in March and May. Those results paved the way for some of the tremendous wins we saw last week in the General Election.
Let's rewind a bit.
In the Primaries and Runoffs, there was a big shift in our favor, for parental rights, in the Texas House, and we saw some major wins in the Senate as well. FFP is highly respected as an organization that holds accountable those who’ve gone against parental rights. Our mission has always been about keeping Texas a place that respects parents, and allows families to raise their children freely.
And guess what? We did it. You did it. All of you who exercised your civic duty during this election cycle have made the Texas legislature more family freedom friendly!
We’ve secured more seats in both the Texas House and TX Senate who support parental rights and family freedom! So, let’s break down all the significant wins we’re celebrating!
Starting with the U.S. Senate—Ted Cruz is back for his third term! With around 53% of the vote, Cruz continues to be an ally for parental rights and educational freedom. He’s someone Texas families know they can count on to advocate for our values, protecting and empowering parents to make the best choices for their children.
We also achieved some wins in the Texas Supreme Court! Justices Jimmy Blacklock, John Devine, and Jane Bland each secured victory with about 60% of the vote. Their dedication to upholding values that protect families is going to play a significant role in the coming years.
We also want to give a big congratulations to David Schenck and Gina Parker incoming justices to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals! David Schenck, who won the Chief Justice with 57%, and Gina Parker, winning Place 7 with 58%, they both unseated incumbents back in the Primaries. Both of these individuals are staunch individual liberties advocates, which make these very important victories as we look to uphold parental rights in Texas.
Let’s now move on to the Texas Senate! Huge congratulations to Paul Bettencourt, Angela Paxton, Phil King, Tan Parker, Joan Huffman, Donna Campbell, and Brent Hagenbuch for winning their Senate races. Each of them brings with them a commitment to supporting freedom and parental rights.
Another notable TX Senate win brings a big shout out to Adam Hinojosa, who won Senate District 27 in South Texas, unseating Morgan LaMantia. Bottom line, We gained another powerful voice on our issues!
Over in the Texas House, we had some great wins as well: Let me highlight a few incoming freedom fighters!
Matt Morgan is the new representative for HD 26.
Denise Villalobos won HD 34, taking over from Abel Herrero.
Pat Curry won big with almost 70% of the vote in HD 56.
Don McLaughlin secured HD 80, and
John McQueeney captured HD 97.
These aren’t just new faces in office. They’re people who genuinely believe in preserving our rights and expanding options for parents and our children’s education.
Now, on the flip side, we did have a couple of losses. Homeschool dad Steve Kinard lost to incumbent Mihaela Plesa in HD 70, and Robert Garza conceded to Eddie Morales in HD 74. Losses are tough, but the wins far outweighed them this time around.
SO WHAT’S NEXT
First of all, these victories will go a long way toward advancing policies that support homeschooling, educational, and family freedom in Texas.
Second, with only a few losses, these results show that there’s strong support for parental rights among voters. This sends a powerful message to our legislators.
Third, With this strong legislative backing, we’re looking at more policies that will empower Texas families.
We have a complete legislative agenda to strengthen parental rights and families that we hope to pass during the upcoming legislative session.
Please don’t forget…As we celebrate, it’s imperative to stay engaged. Now is not the time to rest in our victories, but we need to double our focus and efforts to secure our rights. Our work doesn’t end with these wins. The momentum is on our side, but it’s going to take all of us to keep it going.
So, go ahead—take a victory lap! But remember, victory is only secure for those who continue to show up. Let’s keep advocating for parental rights—your rights—so together, we can shape Texas freedom and education for years to come.
Thanks for tuning in! If you enjoyed this update, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes. And as always, stay informed, stay encouraged and stay engaged!
From all of us here, at the Family Freedom Project, we wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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