Every month, the bills get higher while our paychecks stay the same. Costs have  gone up for housing, groceries, prescriptions, fuel, utilities, healthcare, and so much more due to Trump’s failed economic policies, including his unlawful tariffs. We’re witnessing the first generation of Americans who are worse off than their parents.

Owning your own home is a cornerstone of the American Dream and a key to building wealth across generations. Being able to afford a home where you can raise a family is top priority for many Texans, but that dream is moving further out of reach every year. Interest rates and mortgages are high and Texas is leading in the number of foreclosures. Most renters are paying well over 30% of their monthly income. That’s not a budgeting issue, that’s the result of failed policies. A combination of housing and worker shortage plus the additional financial impacts of Trump’s tariffs and bad government policy have all increased the cost of homes for builders, buyers, and renters.

From rising grocery bills to school meal costs, families are feeling the pinch. When I served on the Agriculture Committee, I worked closely with our farmers and ranchers to understand their challenges. I worked with both Republicans and Democrats to develop a strong Farm Bill responsive to the needs of Texas producers. When the same folks that paid Elon Musk $8 million taxpayer dollars a day decided to cut SNAP benefits, I fought for single moms and their children.

Healthcare is a key concern for Texans across backgrounds and generations. Healthcare should be a guarantee, not a luxury. No family should have to choose between paying the light bill and paying for lifesaving medicine. By every metric, the United States spends more on healthcare than any other nation. We pay 70% more because of Big Insurance companies with rising premiums and declining coverage,

One in five Texas adults lives with a mental health condition. Youth mental health crises are steady on the rise. An overwhelming majority of Texas counties are considered mental health provider deserts and lack access to any mental health providers. A topic that I’m passionate in addressing, that I also feel does not receive enough attention, is the alarming rates of suicide among farmers and ranchers.

Self-determination, personal choice, and privacy are foundational constitutional rights. Women will never have full personal and economic freedom until we restore the right to abortion access. I have always opposed abortion bans and restrictions. When I served in the Texas House of Representatives, Texas passed the most extreme abortion ban in the nation. Just as cautioned, the ban led to trauma and even death for many Texas women.

Labor unions and their organizing efforts have secured many of the workplace protections, safety standards, fair pay, and benefits so many of us rely on today. I am honored to have enjoyed the support of various labor groups, including SEIU Texas that has endorsed our campaign for the US Senate, because they know I will fight tooth-and-nail for worker’s rights. I am proud to have a lifetime 100% pro-labor voting record on both the state and the federal level.

Child care is often a second rent payment for young families. There are too many families that have to make the tough choice of going back to work just to pay for daycare, or putting a career, or dream, on pause to stay home. Child care is not only an affordability issue, it's a workforce issue, a women’s rights issue as an overwhelming majority of caretaking has fallen on women, and it’s an economic issue.

More than half of the new jobs in America are created by small businesses. They have become the backbone of this economy along with the workers who keep them running. Small businesses offer healthy competition which keeps prices low for consumers. They reinvest dollars right back into our community and can uplift entire regional economies. 

Increasing the retirement age for Social Security is a non-starter. Instead, we must raise the cap on Social Security so that everyone is paying their fair share. Americans who have worked hard and paid into Social Security their whole lives are counting on this earned benefit. Social Security is more modest than most people realize, yet it is still the largest source of income for so many retirees. We must fully finance Social Security to ensure solvency for generations to come.

My dad was a school teacher and he instilled in me the belief that unlocking opportunities starts with a solid public school education. From early childhood education through post-secondary, opportunities shouldn’t be decided by zip code or tax bracket. We have a duty to unlock the full potential of each and every child through safe schools that are nurturing learning communities with certified teachers, nurses, counselors, and the support staff that keeps a school running. 

In the modern day, our students need preparation to compete in the global job market. The reality for too many families is that the cost of higher education is simply too high, there’s not enough assistance, and some will never climb out of student loan debt. That’s yet another policy failure. Texas has the best talent in the world, whether you choose to go to college or seek out another path I want every opportunity to be available.

Though Texas has made significant progress in delivering broadband across the state, there are still swaths of Texans, mostly in rural parts of the state, who lack access to reliable, high-speed internet. So many of our daily functions rely on the internet, from banking to shopping, paying bills and applying for jobs, schools, and scholarships— all Texans deserve to be on equal footing as it relates to broadband. Broadband is a necessary utility just like water and electricity in the modern age. 

Immigrants have always contributed to the fullness of this nation and continue to drive our economy, innovation, and the vibrancy of our communities. America is a melting pot, a rich tapestry of all colors — that is our strength. We have not reformed immigration to meet our needs nor modern realities.

Long before I was running for Senate, I was conducting oversight of ICE and demanding answers. I’ve been to Minneapolis, Chicago, and Los Angeles to participate in congressional field hearings. I also visited the Camp East Montana and Dilley Detention centers in Texas. Camp East Montana is one of the largest detention facilities in the country and Dilley is the location that had a spotlight shined on it when 5 year old Liam Ramos and his father Adrian Conejo Arias were taken from their home in Minneapolis

America must go back to being the global leader it has historically been because the US & World are better off when we engage in sound Foreign Policy. Foreign policy is a matter of national security and our standing on the world stage. Texas has the 8th largest economy in the world.  We’re the number one state for exports and have felt the impact of tariffs harder than anyone else. The Port of Houston is a massive trade hub; among the top in the world, with over $220 Billion in economic activity.

I practiced criminal defense for almost twenty years but had to give it up when I got to Congress (members of Congress can not be paid attorney’s fees while serving). Even as I took on civil rights and personal injury cases, I never stopped practicing criminal defense work. I started as a public defender in rural East Texas and defended clients of every background with the same rigor because that’s what representation means.

Texas is the energy capital of the world and a leader in clean energy. We have been blessed with vast natural resources but it’s up to us to preserve our environment. We’re facing a record drought and inclement weather events are becoming more frequent such as hurricanes, winter storms, flooding, and wildfires. While serving in the Texas Legislature, I was a founding member of the Texas House Energy & Climate Caucus because we need policies at every level of government to meet our climate goals.

As a civil rights attorney who has worked on these issues first hand, I know there is no shortage of solutions. We deserve leaders with the courage to take action. Throughout my career I have fought to reform policing with an emphasis on accountability, trust, and training. At the same time, I have prioritized keeping our community safe from violent crime through data driven measures, not through fear.

I’m proud to support our brave uniformed service members who keep our nation safe and free. For many families, the military has provided opportunities for education, job security, skills training, and strong benefits. Texas has one of the highest populations of active-duty military and we have more than a dozen active military bases generating over $150 billion in economic activity annually.

As a civil rights attorney, I am appalled by the myriad ways our government continues to not provide equal access and opportunity to Americans with disabilities. Despite over 70 million Americans living with some kind of disability, far too often their suffering is sidelined by our society, ignored and unaddressed. You have my commitment, and my record clearly shows that I have always and will continue to focus on breaking down the barriers that prevent Americans with disabilities from living a life with dignity and opportunity.

My entire career, I’ve fought the system and the system is fighting me back. I’m fighting those broken laws that try to silence our voices, take away our representation, and favor the few over the many. I serve on the Judiciary Committee, the Supreme Court Task Force, and am a licensed attorney of 20 years who practiced civil rights law. I’ve been deeply concerned about the state of our democracy and the direction our country is headed. I’ve said for a few years now that we’re in the midst of a modern day civil rights movement, it’s up to us to protect the rights our foremothers fought to secure and it’s on us to forge ahead with progress.