Desiree Klaus

Texas agriculture is the livelihood of many families and communities across our state. We cannot afford to wait until an outbreak becomes a full-blown crisis before we act.

I support expanding early detection, livestock monitoring, rapid testing, and proven tools like sterile-fly releases to stop the spread. We also need better coordination between Texas, USDA, veterinarians and local producers.

I’m no expert, but I know we cannot create policies from Austin without listening to the experts who are farmers and ranchers. The ones actually impacted.

We know what worked to eradicate screwworm before. Let’s follow and utilize the science, listen to our producers, and act early. Protecting Texas agriculture means protecting Texas families, jobs, and our economy.

Keywords: Scientific facts should not change based on what is politically popular

I support requiring large data centers to pay their fair share. Especially when the people of communities are speaking out against them. Communities are feeling undermined by BIG TECH, we can’t simply continue to take from our resources and communities. Tech growth should strengthen our economy, not shift the cost onto taxpayers and working families.

Keywords: Texas can remain competitive without writing a blank check.

Water is essential. I support investing in aging water and drainage infrastructure, fixing leaks, expanding flood mitigation, protecting groundwater and holding polluters accountable for contaminating our waterways.

But conservation cannot be at the expense of the farmers. Agriculture must have a seat at the table. I would support incentives and resources that help producers adopt water-saving technology and conservation practices. Texas needs a long-term water strategy that protects our supply while supporting the communities and industries that depend on it.

Keywords: Texas should prepare for both sides of our water challenge too much water when it floods and not enough when drought comes.

Grid reliability is personal to me. I lived through Hurricane Harvey, Winter Storm Uri, and Hurricane Beryl. I’ve watched family, friends, and neighbors lose electricity during some of the moments when they needed it most.

Those experiences shape how I approach this issue. I support an all-of-the-above strategy that strengthens transmission, adds reliable generation, and improvement in weatherization, that prepares our grid for both extreme heat and severe storms.

Texas demand for electricity is growing. Data centers and other large users can bring economic opportunity, but families and small businesses should not be left paying for the infrastructure their projects require. Large users should pay their fair share.

As a first-time candidate and community builder, I believe solutions start by bringing people to the table energy experts, workers, businesses, local communities, and everyday consumers and focusing on what works.

For me, reliability means more than numbers on an ERCOT report. It’s whether a family can keep their home safe after a hurricane, whether a senior has air conditioning during extreme heat, and whether a small business can reopen after a storm. Texas families deserve a grid that is reliable, resilient, and affordable.

Keywords: Reliability means more than numbers on an ERCOT report.

Research funding is an investment in Texas jobs, our universities and hospitals, and the medical and scientific breakthroughs that can improve lives. With approximately $1.9 billion in annual NIH funding supporting research across Texas, protecting that infrastructure also means protecting our economic competitiveness.

I support a stable and transparent system for reimbursing legitimate research costs rather than an arbitrary, one-size-fits-all cap. Research does not happen in a vacuum. Laboratories, equipment, utilities, technology, safety requirements, and administrative support are all part of what makes medical and scientific research possible.

At the same time, protecting research funding does not mean writing a blank check. Institutions receiving taxpayer dollars should be able to demonstrate where that money goes. I support transparency, regular review of negotiated rates, and strong accountability measures to ensure public dollars are being used for legitimate research needs.

At the state level, Texas should strengthen partnerships among universities, hospitals, the private sector, and state agencies and consider targeted investments that protect critical research infrastructure when federal funding becomes uncertain.

Texas has built a strong medical, scientific, and research economy. We should protect that investment while demanding accountability for taxpayer dollars. My goal is for Texas to continue competing for researchers, jobs, investment, and the next generation of medical breakthroughs not watch those opportunities move to other states.

Keywords: We should demand accountability for taxpayer dollars without undermining the research ecosystem those dollars helped build.

Public health works best when people trust the information they receive. When parents have questions about vaccines or infectious disease outbreaks, they deserve clear answers, credible information, and the opportunity to speak with healthcare professionals not judgment or political rhetoric.

I support keeping parents informed about outbreaks in their schools and communities, strengthening access to vaccines through pediatricians, pharmacies, and local health departments, and ensuring rural and underserved communities have access to care. Texas should also invest in disease surveillance and rapid-response systems so local officials can identify and contain outbreaks quickly.

I believe vaccine policy should be guided by medical evidence, public health data, and transparency about both benefits and potential risks. State leaders should work with physicians, nurses, schools, faith leaders, and trusted community organizations to communicate accurate information in ways that meet people where they are.

Texas must also take seriously declining vaccination rates and outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles. Protecting individual choice and protecting vulnerable people in our communities, including infants and people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, requires thoughtful policymaking.

Keywords: We should demand accountability for taxpayer dollars without undermining the research ecosystem those dollars helped build.

Scientific evidence and expert input should be an important part of policymaking, especially when decisions affect public health, energy, agriculture, and our environment. But policymakers also have a responsibility to ask questions, understand the evidence, and consider how decisions affect everyday Texans.

When scientific claims compete, I would look at the quality and independence of the research, whether findings have been replicated, the level of scientific consensus, potential conflicts of interest, and input from multiple qualified experts. When the science is still developing, we should be transparent about what we know and what we don’t—and be willing to adjust policy as better evidence becomes available.

Public opinion matters because people live with the consequences of the policies we pass. But scientific facts should not change based on what is politically popular. When public opinion and scientific consensus differ, leaders should listen to concerns, communicate the evidence clearly, and explain why a decision is being made rather than dismissing people’s questions.

Good policymaking requires evidence, transparency, and listening. Science helps us understand the likely consequences of our choices, while communities help us understand how those choices affect real lives. I believe we need both to make practical, responsible decisions for Texas.

Keywords: Scientific facts should not change based on what is politically popular.