Bonnie Abadie
RepublicanQ1 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?
I have only recently heard about this screwworm and honestly know nothing about it. I would need to defer to industry experts on how to mitigate this outbreak and prevent it from recurring.
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 have recently gone down this rabbit hole to educate myself on the subject of data centers. I believe they are here to stay, however, they must pay their own way. This means no tax incentives or abatements and they must find ways to secure their own energy and water. We should create a commission of residents and the owners/operators of the data centers to make sure everyone is happy and working together.
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?
Just off the top of my head, the state should consider alternative means for collecting all of the rain water. This could include the building of more lakes and / or other collection methods.
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?
2021 was an awakening to the issues with the power grid. I don’t however have any answers to how we solve them.
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?
Big pharma makes millions on the drugs they produce, but they don’t pass along savings to us. I don’t believe we should be subsidizing pharmaceutical or any scientific research unless the savings are passed along to the public.
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?
While I’m not an anti-vaxer (my kids had all of their vaccines growing up), I have come to learn a great deal about them. This is all due to the CV19 vax being perpetrated upon us. If I had known then what I know now, I probably would be an anti-vaxer. I think certain vaccines are safe, but they’ve been around forever. I also think there is something to be said for building a natural immunity to diseases. The number of vaccines recommended for children has risen exponentially as well. We need to make sure parents are educated about the risks and benefits of vaccines so that they can make the decision on whether or not to vaccinate their children and not just rely on the word of their doctors.
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?
The legislature is made up of a multitude of people with different backgrounds. We have lawyers, doctors, business people, educators, and others each bringing their own expertise. We also have or should have committees of industry experts guiding us in the decision making process.