The 2025 legislative session was a challenging one for the education community, with the adoption of a voucher program, resistance to providing adequate funding for school district or appropriate salary increases for teachers and other employees, and a number of controversial changes addressing social issues. Teacher involvement in campaigns, elections and the legislative process is more important than ever.
TCTA can help you establish and maintain relationships with state lawmakers during their terms in office and help those who support public education during election season. Next spring and fall, participate as much as possible in elections for state House and Senate seats, other state-level positions including governor and lieutenant governor, newly-configured U.S. House of Representative seats, and one of Texas’ two Senate seats.
Keep in contact with your elected representatives throughout their time in office. You don’t have to appear at the Capitol in Austin to make your voice heard. The easiest way to participate in state legislative matters is to call your state representatives and senators, tell them the issues that matter most to you, and encourage your colleagues to do the same.
Campaign season will be in full swing during 2026. If you’re aware of a candidate you would like to support, getting involved early is a great way to become known and establish the groundwork for a long-term working relationship. Cover all of “the basics” below; if you would like to help a candidate get elected, take at least three actions in the “what’s next” section.
Know your election dates. The primary election is set for Tuesday, March 3, 2026. You must register to vote by Feb. 2. Early voting begins Feb. 17. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Whether you vote early, by mail or on Election Day, cast a ballot and make sure your vote is counted. You can find your polling location and early voting information, and see what is on the ballot in your area, at Vote411.org or VoteTexas.gov.
Pay attention to the March primaries (and May runoffs). Legislative and congressional districts in Texas generally favor one party over another — normally only a handful are considered “swing” districts. If you are in a strongly Republican or strongly Democratic district, the best time for your involvement is the primary (and any subsequent runoffs), where you will have the opportunity to select which candidate will move on to (most likely) win the November election.
Identify the candidates. As the elections near, go to TexasTeachersVote.org for information on candidates for the Texas Legislature and State Board of Education. TCTA’s site includes links to candidate websites and social media and incumbents’ 2025 voting records on key education issues.
Check candidates’ voting records and/or education issue positions. Look at the “Issues” page of the candidates’ websites and watch debates and town hall meetings to learn about their goals for public schools and teachers.
Pay careful attention to the language they use. “Local control” or “deregulation” may mean a loss of teacher legal protections, and “payroll protection” means the end of your ability to pay for association dues via payroll deduction.
Now that you’ve determined there is a teacher-friendly candidate you would like to support, here’s how you can help:
Contact the candidate to offer your assistance. TCTA does not endorse candidates, so you will need to offer to help with a campaign as an individual, not as a TCTA representative.
Spread the word. Tell your friends and family, colleagues, neighbors and other acquaintances about the candidate and urge them to vote. Inform them of the candidate’s pro-education positions, and direct them to his/her campaign website. Join a postcard-writing campaign or a phone bank for the candidate.
Get local teachers excited and involved. Talk to your colleagues about how they can help the candidate’s campaign. Plan to carpool to your voting location and proudly wear your “I VOTED!” sticker. (One caution: Don’t use your school email address or any school-owned devices for political communications).
Check to see if the candidate has requested a contribution and/or mailing labels from ACT For TCTA (TCTA’s political action committee). TCTA does not endorse candidates, so campaign contributions and mailing labels are ways we can provide support for pro-education candidates.
Take advantage of early voting. Teachers (and other busy people) often find it difficult to get to polling places on Election Day. Early voting provides more options to cast a ballot.
Make a financial contribution — even a small one. As little as $25 can help pay for tools that allow a candidate to carry on a conversation with voters. For example, a $25 donation will cover a yard sign or two, and just a few signs on a single street can have a positive impact. Consider becoming a fundraiser by convincing a few friends or colleagues to match your own contribution. Your $25 can quickly become $100 or $200, and make a big difference in any campaign.
The best time to make contact with your state senators and representatives is before the start of a legislative session. Whether you write, call or visit, it’s always best to start with a thank you, identify yourself as a constituent, tell a little about yourself, then get to the point of the communication.
Map out the issues you’d like to cover and do your homework. Legislators expect you to be an expert on classroom issues, not state law, but having some familiarity with the basics is a must. Always be professional; try to relate all issues, including those concerning teacher pay and benefits, back to your students; and be concise. If you’ve scheduled a face-to-face or virtual visit, follow up with a thank-you note.
TCTA avoids providing form letters for our members — research and experience tell us that policymakers routinely ignore such communications. Individual communications relating personal experiences are the best way to get a point across. TCTA provides the background information you need to get started, and we’re happy to answer any specific questions you may have before you make those legislative contacts.
Gov. Greg Abbott
The Honorable Greg Abbott
Office of the Governor
PO Box 12428, Austin, TX 78711-2428
Information and Referral Hotline: 800-843-5789
Web-based email form: www.gov.texas.gov/contact
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
The Honorable Dan Patrick
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
PO Box 12068, Austin, TX 78711-2608
Phone: 512-463-0001
Web-based email form: www.ltgov.state.tx.us/contact/
All state senators
The Honorable (Full Name)
Texas Senate
PO Box 12068, Austin, TX 78711-2068
Web-based email form at senate.texas.gov
(can be found on each senator’s page)
All state representatives
The Honorable (Full Name)
Texas House of Representatives
PO Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768-2910
Web-based email form at house.texas.gov
(can be found on each representative’s page)
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