Charlene Ward Johnson
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?
The screwworm outbreak requires a rapid, evidence based response. I would support increased funding for surveillance, faster diagnostic capacity, and more field veterinarians, since early detection is proven to limit spread. I’d strengthen emergency response tools, quarantine zones, treatment programs, and producer assistance, because delays increase economic losses. I’d expand biosecurity training and cross border coordination, which USDA APHIS data shows are effective at preventing re introduction. My approach would rely on veterinary science, APHIS guidance, and producer input.
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?
My approach is not anti-development; It is community focused, fiscally responsible growth New development for data centers should use reliable data to evaluate impacts, require developers to internalize the costs they create, protect finite resources, ensure communities share in the benefits and be transparent with the results.
I support development when it involves input from the community & delivers economic benefits such as jobs, economic development without shifting environmental, infrastructure, or utility costs to the residents causing health and financial strain.
The rapid increase in ERCOT’s projected data-center electricity demand, from roughly 30 GW to 78 GW by 2030, shows why we need evidence-based planning. Large projects should undergo transparent assessments of energy, water, land, grid, and environmental impacts before approval.
For water, I support conservation standards, water-recycling requirements where feasible, and demonstrated protection of local groundwater and surface-water resources. For energy, large data centers should pay their fair share of generation and transmission upgrades so residential and small-business customers are not subsidizing increased demand.
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?
Texas faces both flooding and clean water issues, so I would support policies that strengthen water infrastructure, improve conservation, and protect water quality. I would invest in modernizing aging drainage systems, expanding flood mitigation projects, and upgrading water treatment facilities to reduce contamination in impaired waterways. I also support increasing funding for aquifer recharge projects, leak detection programs, and regional water reuse systems, which are proven to extend supply during drought.
Agriculture is central to Texas’s groundwater use, so my approach would focus on collaboration rather than penalties. I would support incentives for producers who adopt water efficient irrigation, soil moisture monitoring, and conservation practices shown to reduce groundwater drawdown. I would also expand partnerships with agricultural extension services and the Texas Water Development Board to ensure producers have access to data, training, and cost share programs. My decisions would be guided by hydrological science, TWDB projections, and input from farmers, water managers, and local communities.
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?
Extreme heat and rising demand continue to strain the Texas grid, and HD 139 is directly affected by outages and reliability challenges. I would support policies that expand grid resilience through diversified generation, improved transmission infrastructure, and stronger demand‑management tools. This includes accelerating investments in battery storage, renewables, modernizing substations, and expanding microgrids for critical facilities in our district.
I would also support requiring large energy users—including data centers—to participate in demand‑response programs and adopt efficiency standards backed by ERCOT data. Evidence shows that coordinated load management and expanded storage significantly reduce peak‑time stress. My approach would be guided by engineering research, ERCOT reliability reports, and collaboration with scientists, utilities, and local communities to ensure HD 139 and throughout Texas has a grid that can withstand extreme heat and continued growth.
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?
I support protecting predictable, long-term federal investment in medical and scientific research. NIH funding supports jobs, medical innovation, and Texas’s economy, so sudden reductions in research support can have consequences far beyond individual grants. I would oppose across the board indirect cost caps that undermine existing research agreements and institutional infrastructure.
At the state level, I support strengthening partnerships among Texas universities, hospitals, industry, and government; expanding state investments in research infrastructure and workforce development; and pursuing matching funds for competitive federal grants. At the federal level, I would advocate for stable NIH funding and reimbursement policies that reflect the actual costs of maintaining world-class research facilities.
Texas should remain a national leader in scientific research, innovation, and medical discovery. Protecting that infrastructure is an investment in our economy, our workforce, and better health outcomes for Texans.
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 public health policy should be guided by science, transparency, and trust. Parents deserve clear, evidence-based information about vaccine safety and the risks of preventable diseases, without being dismissed when they have questions or concerns.
The 2025 measles outbreak demonstrated the consequences of declining vaccination rates. I would support strengthening access to routine childhood vaccinations, improving public-health communication, and ensuring schools and communities have timely information during outbreaks.
I also believe we must engage communities directly listening to concerns, working with trusted healthcare professionals and community leaders, and communicating the evidence in language people can understand. Vaccine confidence is built through trust, not simply mandates.
At the same time, schools have a responsibility to protect students, teachers, and medically vulnerable children. I support maintaining evidence-based school immunization requirements while ensuring families have reasonable access to vaccines and accurate information about exemptions and their public-health implications.
My goal is not to shame or divide communities. It is to protect children, prevent avoidable illness and deaths, and build enough trust that families can make informed decisions based on sound scientific evidence.
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?
As a policymaker, I believe public health policy should be guided by sound science, transparent communication, and respect for families. I would engage communities by listening to concerns, partnering with trusted healthcare professionals and local leaders, and ensuring residents have access to clear, evidence-based information about vaccine safety and infectious disease risks.
I support policies that increase access to recommended vaccinations, strengthen public-health education, improve outbreak monitoring, and protect schools and communities from preventable disease. I also believe we must address barriers such as cost, transportation, and access to healthcare. My goal is to build trust through facts, transparency, and respectful engagement while protecting the health of children and the broader community.