Texas Retirees Show the Power of Their Vote

Election season has arrived in Texas, bringing a simple but powerful question: Who will stand up for the retirees and workers who spent their lives serving our communities?

The people elected to public office make decisions that directly impact our benefits and the future of public employee retirement security. Retirees bring a unique voice to the ballot box, shaped by decades of public service. When we vote, we protect what we have earned.

That’s why AFSCME Texas Retirees takes our endorsement process seriously. Our chapter carefully reviewed each candidate’s record, spoke directly with campaigns, and evaluated where they stand on issues that matter to retirees, including securing a 13th check and achieving a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for more than 130,000 Texans who rely on Employees Retirement System (ERS) pensions. Our goal is simple: support leaders who respect public service and will fight for retirees’ economic security.

In the 2026 primary elections, several AFSCME-endorsed candidates earned victories in their races:

Ron Reynolds – HD 27 (Missouri City Area)

Pooja Sethi – HD 47 (Austin Area)Suleman Lalani – HD 76 (Houston Area)

Charlene Ward Johnson – HD 139 (Houston Area)

These victories reflect the strength of our collective voice. AFSCME Texas Retirees congratulates each of these candidates and looks forward to continuing to work with leaders who stand with Texas retirees.

While these wins mark an important step forward, the work is not finished.

In several contests, no candidate received a majority of the vote, sending races to runoff elections. These runoffs present another opportunity to shape the future of leadership in Texas, and retiree participation will once again be critical:

Montserrat Garibay – HD 49 (Austin Area)

Venton Jones – HD 100 (Dallas Area)

Adrian Reyna – HD 125 (San Antonio Area)

In the weeks ahead, AFSCME Texas Retirees will remain engaged, sharing information and encouraging retirees across the state to participate in these important runoff elections. Together, we will continue standing up for the dignity, respect, and retirement security that every public worker deserves.

Visit our voter portal to find important runoff information and learn how you can stay involved.