Angie Carraway
DemocraticQ1 In June 2026, USDA confirmed New World screwworm in Texas livestock for the first time in decades; as of early July, dozens of infestations have been confirmed across South Texas (USDA APHIS , 2026). USDA estimates a full-scale outbreak comparable to past infestations could cost the regional economy billions of dollars (USDA APHIS). What policies, if any, would you support to respond to the current outbreak and improve Texas’s agricultural biosecurity (practices and safeguards that prevent pests and diseases from spreading through livestock populations), and what evidence or considerations would inform that approach?
What I believe in is science, and I believe in listening to the scientists and experts who have devoted their careers to understanding these issues. I fully acknowledge that I am not an expert on screwworm, but I am willing to listen to those who are. I believe it was negligent to cut funding for programs designed to protect our livestock from serious threats. Our agricultural industry is too important to take those risks. I support policies that strengthen Texas’s agricultural biosecurity, protect our livestock, and ensure that we are prepared to respond to threats before they become a crisis.
Keywords: Science, Expertise, Preparedness
Q2 Texas is on track to become the nation’s leading data center market within the next three years (Bloom Energy, 2026). The state’s grid operator has more than doubled its 2030 forecast for data center power demand over the past year (ERCOT, 2025). Such growth brings economic opportunity while placing significant demands on water, land, and energy systems, raising questions about tax incentives, utility costs, and local community impacts. What policies, if any, would you support around water/energy allocation, tax incentives, or utility costs for data center development in Texas, and what evidence informs that position?
I support businesses that strengthen the Texas economy, create jobs, and contribute to our communities. What I do not support is giving data centers a free ride while Texans are left to shoulder the costs. We should not be handing out tax breaks and incentives while allowing these facilities to place enormous demands on our water and energy resources, strain our infrastructure, and negatively impact our environment and communities.
Data centers may create a significant number of jobs during construction, but once operational, they typically employ far fewer people. That means we need to take a hard look at whether the long-term benefits justify the public resources and tax incentives being given to these companies.
I believe Texas should stop putting corporate interests ahead of Texans. We need fair and responsible water and energy allocation, an end to unnecessary tax breaks and subsidies for data centers, and policies that ensure these facilities pay their fair share of the utility and infrastructure costs they create. Economic development should work for Texans, not at their expense.
Keywords: Accountability, Sustainability, Fairness
Q3 Texas faces flooding while simultaneously experiencing water scarcity driven by drought, groundwater depletion, and population growth (TWDB, 2024). Hundreds of Texas waterways are listed as impaired for bacteria, mercury, and other pollutants, threatening water quality for communities across the state (TCEQ, 2024). Agriculture is the largest consumer of the state’s groundwater, yet it is also well positioned to be a valuable partner in conservation efforts. What policies, if any, would you support to improve Texas’s water infrastructure, and what considerations would guide your approach to the state’s agricultural economy?
Water is one of our most precious resources, and protecting it must be a top priority. There should be no reasonable idea left on the table when it comes to preserving and improving the quality, availability, and sustainability of Texas water.
I would support policies that strengthen and modernize Texas’s water infrastructure, protect our water supplies, and ensure that communities have reliable access to clean water for generations to come. At the same time, we must recognize that agriculture is a cornerstone of the Texas economy. Our agricultural industry should remain strong and be an essential partner in water conservation efforts.
We can protect our water resources while supporting a thriving economy. But we must be willing to plan for the future and make responsible decisions today.
Keywords: Conservation, Infrastructure, Sustainability
Q4 The Texas power grid continues to face strain from extreme heat and increasing demand, including from data centers. What policies, if any, would you support to improve grid reliability for Texas consumers and businesses?
I still remember when the Texas electric grid failed, and I remember the devastating consequences for Texans. We had been warned that a grid failure was possible, yet our state leadership failed to take the necessary steps to adequately prepare. I remember Texans being left without power during freezing temperatures and, tragically, people losing their lives.
We cannot allow that to happen again. Reliable electricity is not a luxury, it is essential to the safety, health, and economic security of every Texan. Our electric grid must be modernized and strengthened so that it can withstand extreme weather and meet the needs of a growing state.
I will support policies that improve the reliability and resilience of our grid, protect consumers from preventable failures, and ensure that Texas businesses have the dependable electricity they need to operate and grow. Texans deserve an electric grid they can count on, especially when they need it most.
Keywords: Reliability, Resilience, Accountability
Q5 Texas universities and hospitals receive approximately $1.9 billion annually in NIH funding across 118 research sites, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and driving medical and scientific innovation (FASEB, 2025). NIH grants reimburse institutions for both direct research costs and indirect costs, the facilities, administration, and support infrastructure that make research possible. A 15% indirect cost cap proposed by NIH in 2025, currently blocked by federal courts, would sharply reduce this reimbursement below the rates Texas institutions have negotiated, cutting an estimated $300 million in annual support that institutions would need to absorb or backfill (Kamerlin & Elias, 2025). What policies, if any, would you support at the state or federal level to protect the long-term stability of Texas’s research infrastructure, and why?
Education is one of the most powerful tools we have to strengthen our communities and move society forward. We must invest in education, particularly in science, research, and innovation. These investments are essential to how we grow, adapt, and solve the challenges of the future.
As a lifelong educator, I understand firsthand the transformative power of education. I believe Texas should be a national leader in education, scientific research, and innovation. I will support policies that protect and strengthen Texas’s long-term research infrastructure, expand opportunities for students and educators, and ensure that our state remains at the forefront of discovery and progress.
Keywords: Education, innovation, research
Q6 Texas kindergartners’ measles vaccination rate fell to 93.24% in the 2024-2025 school year, a decline from prior years amid a national resurgence (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2025). That year, Texas recorded 762 confirmed measles cases, including the deaths of two unvaccinated school-age children, in the state’s largest outbreak since 1992 (Texas DSHS, 2025). Measles can cause serious complications: roughly 1 in 5 unvaccinated people who contract it are hospitalized, and it can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling, or death (CDC). As a policymaker, how do you approach engaging with communities that have concerns about infectious disease outbreaks and vaccine safety, and what policies, if any, would you support related to these issues, and why?
I believe in the science behind vaccinations and in the researchers and medical professionals who dedicate their careers to making vaccines as safe and effective as possible. Vaccination has played a critical role in protecting individuals and communities from serious infectious diseases.
I recognize that no vaccine is perfect, and I believe it is reasonable to ask questions and continue researching safety and effectiveness. But our response to infectious disease outbreaks should be grounded in credible scientific evidence, reliable data, and the expertise of public health professionals, not fear or misinformation.
When communities have concerns about infectious diseases or vaccine safety, I believe the best approach is to listen respectfully, provide transparent information, and encourage people to make informed decisions based on sound science and evidence. As a lifelong educator, I believe we have a responsibility to help Texans understand the data and have confidence in the scientific process.
Keywords: Science, evidence, trust
Q7 Scientific evidence is generated through the systematic testing and evaluation of ideas. It provides knowledge the helps us understand the world and predict the likely consequences of different choices, such policy making related to public health, energy, agriculture, and environmental regulation. What role, if any, should scientific evidence and expert input play in your policymaking process, and how would you evaluate competing or uncertain scientific claims when making policy decisions? What role, if any, should that process play when scientific consensus and public opinion diverge?
Science is not something we should take lightly. Even the best scientists understand that healthy skepticism, careful questioning, and rigorous testing are essential to producing reliable results. Some of the biggest mistakes in science happen when researchers are pressured to move too quickly or when findings are rushed before they have been properly tested.
Good science takes time. It requires research, rigorous trials, careful review, and a willingness to question results before drawing conclusions. I will support policies that give scientists and researchers the time, resources, and independence they need to conduct thorough research and have confidence in their findings.
Keywords: Rigor, patience, integrity