CONTACT: Emily Witt (she/her), [email protected]

TEXAS — With all eyes on Texas, voters last night elected a full statewide slate of Democrats, flipped the Texas House for Democratic control, shrunk the Texas Supreme Court’s Republican majority, and ended three decades of Republican leadership. 

All but two of Avow Texas’ endorsement slate of reproductive justice champions won their races, securing historic victories up and down the ballot, and final returns are still incoming. Win or lose, we’re honored to continue building power with every candidate on our slate. These wins are the culmination of decades-long organizing, power-building, and reproductive justice education alongside elected officials, Texans, and fellow members of the reproductive justice movement.

Notably, Rep. James Talarico was endorsed as part of our first slate in 2020. As a representative, Talarico committed to long-term culture change alongside our movement, propelling him to historic statewide victory just six years later. 

The candidates we endorsed and the candidates who’ve secured historic wins in this election see clearly that Texans deserve access to food, housing, public education, and healthcare, including access to abortion.

Avow Texas Chief Executive Officer raven e. Freeborn (they/them) issued the following statement:

“Texans have proven that after over three sustained decades of statewide Republican control, we will no longer numbly accept leadership that governs through punishment and cruelty. We have rejected leaders who seek to distract and divide us, and we have elected leaders who will fight for the material change we deserve: Food, housing, and healthcare, including abortion — the resources we need to thrive, not merely survive. 

“The laws and policies that created a state where abortion is banned, Texans are underinsured at the highest rates in the nation, our neighbors are kidnapped and terrorized by ICE, our elected officials villainize trans Texans, and we struggle to feed and house our families were not created overnight. Our fight to transform those systems of oppression will not end overnight, either.

“We must continue centering abortion access as a non-negotiable human right, instead of accepting the lie that it is a ‘culture war’ issue or a political bargaining chip. Autonomy and freedom over own bodies is foundational.

“Texans, voters, and the reproductive justice movement cannot let this victory lull us into stillness or contentment. We are contending for a governance rooted in care and abundance. These victories build the political power we need to create our vision for the future — but we cannot stop organizing, transforming culture, and holding our elected officials accountable to reproductive justice-centered governance.”