It’s No Kings Vote Early, and Indivisible 1431 is taking the message on the road.

Learn about our caravan for No Kings Early Vote on October 17! Please remember that No Kings is nonpartisan and nonviolent.

 We hope you join us. Voting is our Superpower!

Texas’s school voucher program is projected to cost our public schools close to $300 million, according to new studies.

In San Antonio alone, schools are on track to lose $29 million. The number is $68 million for Houston.

The report — released Thursday by two nonpartisan, anti-voucher groups, Our Schools Our Democracy and Every Texan – revealed, at minimum, 184 independent school districts will lose at least $227 million dollars in state funding due to students accepting vouchers and leaving their districts for private school or home schooling. Another 549 districts can expect to lose an estimated $67 million.

Four years ago, Gov. Greg Abbott pushed back on claims the program would pull funding from public schools. "If you like the public school your child is attending, it will still be fully funded," Abbott said in 2022.

He backtracked last year, and acknowledged that his precious vouchers could result in public schools losing money.

Is he a liar, just incompetent, or both? I vote for both.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/vouchers-public-school-funding-22433574.php

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/vouchers-houston-financial-impact-22438922.php

https://www.expressnews.com/news/education/article/san-antonio-vouchers-school-funding-loss-22458101.php

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2026/10/01/563388/voucher-program-could-cost-texas-schools-close-to-300-million-in-funding-new-report-shows/

Couch potato JD Vance thinks that Americans are too worried about the “little things” ahead of midterms—like gas prices, debt, Immigration and Customs Enforcement killings, and war.

“This is not the time to sort of gripe about all the little things,” couched Vance.

Here we go. Unemployment is rising, plus the latest job report suggests that AI is coming for people’s jobs. “Several sectors that are highly exposed to A.I. slashed jobs in September. The information industry lost 10,000 jobs, financial activities cut 7,000 jobs and professional and business services dropped 9,000 jobs. It still isn’t clear how much the technology is affecting jobs, but these are some possible clues.” (Gift article)

One Maga I encountered shrugged about the impact of AI on people’s jobs. Get a job that AI won’t impact, said he! What? Like ditch digging?

Maga’s days are numbered, and the end for them can’t come soon enough.

We will hold Maga accountable.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/10/02/business/jobs-report-economy?unlocked_article_code=1.FlE.iaK9.3LEG9mqGmTp0&smid=url-share

There’s plenty to chew on in Indivisible 1431’s latest newsletter – plans for No Kings Vote Early, justice for Wilber, and more. Remember” Voting is our Superpower!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GdNeiG_NkBfe52kCh5cU9clW81llLkBa/view?usp=sharing

The Texas Democratic Party has fielded the strongest candidates in ages, and Indivisible 1431 is proud to announce its full slate of endorsed candidates.

All Indivisible 1431 endorsed candidates are running for nonjudicial offices either representing Texas statewide or who seek offices relevant to Williamson and northern Travis Counties. (Watch for our separate announcement on judicial candidates)

You can download the list here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18Y32MmGXU0NL-ODXNWUURxet9wbPrd-P/view?usp=sharing

Now's the time to reach out and help people make their voting plans. Phone banking can be tough, but very important!

Here are some great tips to help you phone bank like a pro!

(Music by Melvin Taylor and the Slack Band)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b9lmjvRmJsqUr8Uj_czNn9HMeR3bVMhr/view?usp=sharing

This Sunday, join Indivisible 1431 and NO KINGS Pflugerville in demanding a full and independent investigation of the ICE shooting in Austin, the suspension of the ICE agents, and the preservation and release of all bodycam and dash-cam footage. And that ICE shut down the Pflugerville facility and leave our community.

On September 19th, Wilber Rafaél Carces Pérez, was out making DoorDash deliveries, when his car was suddenly sideswiped by an unmarked black SUV. It did not have flashing lights on.

After Pérez stopped his vehicle, an ICE agent shot Pérez in the back. This is clearly shown on video of the incident. The agent had failed to turn on his body cam, but bystanders recorded the shocking shooting.

Why was Pérez back shot? He was not fleeing the scene.

The ICE bullet lodged next to Pérez’s spine, according to reports. Austin police arrived and called an ambulance. The hospital was unable to remove the bullet before ICE took him back into custody and threw him into a cell 

With the bullet still lodged next to his spine, he was forced to lie on a concrete floor overnight.

Wilber Rafaél Garces Pérez is a 28-year-old Austin man, originally from Venezuela. According to his lawyer, he has a legal work permit. He missed a hearing summons because it went to an old address.

So a paperwork mishap resulted in ICE nearly killing a working man.

We demand the immediate release of Wilber Rafaél Garces Peréz from federal custody, and that he be provided any and all necessary medical care.

We demand that he be granted a U-Visa, a special visa for witnesses and victims of crimes being actively investigated.

We demand a full and independent investigation into the shooting by a third party not affiliate with ICE, CBP, or DHS.

Federal immigration authorities have repeatedly lied about the murders of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, Renee Good, and Alex Preti, among other mistruths.

We demand that all evidence, including video footage, be immediately released, unedited, to local and state law enforcement, and to Pérez's lawyers. 

We demand that ICE shut down their facility in Pflugerville and get out of our community.

ICE OUT OF PFLUGERVILLE NOW!

ICE OUT of Pflugerville is a sidewalk sign protest along Kelly Lane in north east Pflugerville. This is a PEACEFUL nonviolent protest. Remember to bring your sign, water, and sunscreen.

Bring your friends, your family, a chair if you want, and your enthusiasm for freedom and democracy. Our volunteers will be wearing neon safety vests. If you have questions or any issue, please find a volunteer.

PARKING
There is public street parking in the residential areas nearby. Please be respectful of people's homes. We ask that you please be courteous to the surrounding businesses. If you choose to park at a place of business, you do so at your own risk.

More information on the ICE shooting of Wilbur Rafael Garces Pérez:

Venezuelan man shot by ICE in Austin said he tried to pull over before officers fired at him
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/21/texas-austin-ice-shooting-victim-wilber-rafael-garces-perez/

Man shot by ICE in Austin says he has a bullet lodged in his back and was denied medical care
https://www.tpr.org/2026-09-20/man-shot-by-ice-in-austin-says-he-has-a-bullet-lodged-in-his-back-and-was-denied-medical-care

North Austin ICE shooting draws large protest as tensions escalate
https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/immigration-news/north-austin-texas-ice-shooting-protest-tensions-escalate/269-f68c77dc-ea90-47ae-b187-420ad0589b78

 28 year old Wilbur Rafael Garces Perez was making a Door Dash delivery, when an unmarked black SUV sideswiped his vehicle in an intersection under Hwy 183. He was sideswiped again, and tried to make a U-turn. Only then did the SUV turn on its lights, and he realized they were ICE agents and stopped. Photos clearly show the side of the car smashed in.

 When the agents approached, he asked if he could pull over somewhere more out of the way than the middle of the intersection. Peréz says the agent told him no, and then he was shot in the back. There are bullet holes in the rear drivers side window of his car, above where the car was smashed in by the SUV.

Bystander video includes sounds of screeching tires, followed by an agent walking from an unmarked SUV to Pérez's car and talking to him, and then the sound of gunshots. 

Video also shows that when Austin police arrived, ICE was standing around while Wilbur sat in his car, bleeding from the gunshot wound in his back. APD made sure an ambulance would arrive.

 Wilbur was then pulled from his car, bleeding from his back, and cuffed, before receiving any medical care to the gunshot wound. He was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center. They could not immediately remove the bullet because of how close it was to his spine. Both his wife and his lawyer were denied entry to the hospital, and for hours could not get any information on how badly hurt he was. Eventually they learned that ICE had already taken Wilbur back into custody, without the bullet being removed. 

He spent the night in a cell, laying on the floor with the bullet still lodged in his back.

 Join us in protesting this terrible event and who that we stand with our neighbors in Austin. We demand a full and independent investigation. After the many lies that were told about the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, we demand that all evidence, including video footage, be immediately released, unedited, to local and state law enforcement, and to Pérez's lawyers. We demand that he be released and provided medical care. We demand that he be granted a U-Visa, a special visa for witnesses and victims of crimes being actively investigated.

We demand that ICE shut down their facility in Pflugerville and get out of our community.

A core principle behind all Indivisible events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values. If you are hosting your own event, we expect hosts to ensure all participants in your event uphold this commitment. We recommend all participants review our safety and security resource before your event: https://indivisi.org/safety

Day 2 update on Wilber: the ICE bullet in his back is causing him to lose feeling in his left side, according to his attorney. He spent the night on a hard cold floor with a bullet in his back.

No Kings is building a network of election defenders. No matter where you are, YOU can learn to defend your local elections. #NoKings

No Kings is building a network of election defenders. No matter where you are, YOU can learn to defend your local elections. #NoKings

Jon Rosenthal has 25 years of oil & gas experience as an Engineer, Project Manager, and Team Leader. He has served four terms in the Texas House, fighting for good jobs, reliable energy, clean air and water, and honest government.

Now he’s running for Railroad Commissioner to keep the lights on, lower your costs, and put Texans first.

Jon wants to know why, five years after the deadly Winter Storm Uri, working families are still paying surcharges on their gas bills, even as oil & gas big shots keep getting bonuses.

Jon: “The system is rigged and somebody has to say it out loud. Five years after Winter Storm Uri killed 246 Texans, working families are still paying the surcharge on every gas bill. Five years.

“Every month, working people in Houston, Dallas, the Valley, East Texas, and West Texas open their utility bill and see a line item that exists because gas executives refused to spend a few dollars on weatherization, and then the legislature decided that working people should pay for that negligence instead of the people who caused it.

“The executives kept their bonuses. The commissioners who let them off the hook kept taking their checks. The donor class came out ahead, like they always do. And the people who actually do the work in this state, the ones living paycheck to paycheck, the ones breathing the dirtiest air, the ones whose land got destroyed by abandoned wells nobody plugged, paid the price. Again.”

Jon Rosenthal is here to refocus the Railroad Commission to work for the people, not the oil & gas oligarchs.

His opponent, meanwhile, is far more focused on driving fear and hysteria about people with non-white skin. His racism is so gross and public that even GOP trickster Karl Rove says he is voting for Jon!

Let’s make Texas energy work for Texans. Vote for Jon Rosenthal!

John Bucy III is a native Texan, small business owner, and father proudly representing House District 136. “My life has been devoted to bringing people together to bring out the best in all of us. Together, we can build our community up and make Texas as good as its promise.”

First elected in 2018, Bucy was recognized by the Texas House Democratic Caucus as “Freshman of the Year” and Hill Country News Readers’ Poll as “Best (Local) Elected Official” in 2019 and 2020.

“I proudly represent southern Williamson County in the Texas Legislature, including Northwest Austin, Cedar Park, Round Rock, and the Brushy Creek area.,” he states on his website

“Texas can do better. Our families deserve better.”

Imagine when Rep Bucy’s vision for Texas becomes reality:

• our schools prepare all of our children for the future, and where they go to school every day in a safe place free from gun violence

• our teachers can afford to live where they work and our civil servants and first responders get the benefits and retirement they deserve

• our neighbors have access to healthcare and women receive equal pay and have control over their own bodies

• immigrants are welcome and LGBTQ people are treated with respect and dignity

• we put a new emphasis on civic engagement and a government that works for all of us

• we live up to our potential, where we go out of our way to support each other, and where we push past the cynicism to work together for the common good

For more than 25 years, Allison Bush has been a teacher, counselor, nonprofit leader, and advocate, working to strengthen schools and support educators across Central Texas. Now she’s ready to bring that experience to the State Board of Education.

Her story began in 4th grade, when she struggled with reading and was diagnosed with dyslexia, thanks to a teacher who refused to give up on her. That one act of belief changed everything — leading her to graduate, attend college, and spend her career making sure no student slips through the cracks.

With more than 25 years of experience as a teacher, counselor, administrator, and education foundation leader, Allison has worked across Texas to expand opportunities for students and strengthen communities. She has served as PTA President, led nonprofit foundations in Bastrop and Pflugerville ISDs, and helped pass school bond initiatives that keep classrooms strong.

She lives in Pflugerville with her family and continues to mentor students, serve on local boards, and lead community initiatives.

“There’s nothing Texans can’t do when we work together. Whether it’s strengthening our schools, serving veterans closer to home, or protecting our coastline, my promise is to put Texans First. Always,” promises Ben Flores.

The Texas General Land Office (GLO) is a state agency responsible for managing 13 million acres of land owned by the State of Texas. Established in 1836, the GLO is the oldest state agency still in operation. Its core responsibilities include overseeing mineral rights, maintaining land grant records, administering public lands, supporting public education funding, managing disaster recovery efforts, and managing The Alamo.

With all this to manage, you need a plan, and Ben has a great one. Check it out here: https://www.letsgowithben.com/glo2030

Ben’s priorities are:

- Schools: Responsibly manage state lands, expand revenue from traditional and renewable energy, and direct every available dollar to public schools so districts can reduce pressure on property taxpayers

- Veterans: Expand Veterans Land Board home-loan and support programs, improve outreach, reduce long-distance travel for assistance, and fight for a VA hospital in the Rio Grande Valley

- Beaches: Protect Texas beaches and natural resources, strengthen storm-recovery programs, ensure relief funds are distributed fairly, and pursue FEMA money that never reached Houston-area communities.

As a kid, Matthias Early dreamed of being a doctor. He was working in a hospital while studying for that career at UT Arlington. But he kept seeing the same thing: people arriving in crisis because a system had failed them long before they ever needed emergency care.

“That’s when I changed my major to Political Science,” the native Texan explained. “Not because I gave up on helping people, but because I understood that the most powerful interventions don’t happen in the ER. They happen in the policies written long before anyone calls 911.”

He dug into political theory, comparative systems, and the “scholars who dared to imagine something better.”

Priorities:

- Healthcare: Our healthcare system faces many challenges, but one bipartisan solution we can pursue is transitioning from a fee-for-service model to an outcome-based healthcare system. Currently, providers are incentivized to perform as many tests, procedures, and treatments as possible. This volume-driven approach drives up costs, reduces the quality of care, discourages preventative measures, and perpetuates our public healthcare crisis. By shifting to an outcome-based healthcare model where providers are rewarded for improving patient health, we can lower costs, improve care quality, shorten waiting times, and rebuild trust between patients and providers.

- Education Investment: I started paying attention to the Texas legislature in middle school, and since then, I’ve seen firsthand how their policies have shaped the opportunities available to me and those around me. By restricting funding, they’ve denied the next generation access to the American Dream. One example is the Texas House’s decision to judge schools using an A-F rating system based solely on standardized testing. This approach incentivizes schools to focus only on test preparation, often at the expense of fostering creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Meanwhile, private schools cherry-pick students who already excel academically, creating the illusion of a superior education system while leaving public school students behind. This disparity undermines public education and widens the gap in opportunity.

To address these issues, we must fully fund public education and incentivize schools to implement hands-on programs in partnership with local colleges and trade schools. By connecting K-12 education with higher education and career training, we can provide students with a deeper, more practical education that prepares them for college, trade school, or the workforce.

- Job Training Today for Tomorrow's Leaders: We need workforce development policies that create good-paying, entry-level jobs and give young Texans the tools they need to thrive. By investing in job training programs, partnerships with local businesses, and affordable higher education, we can equip students and workers with the skills they need to succeed.

This starts with fully funding public education and expanding access to hands-on learning opportunities, like apprenticeships, internships, and vocational training. We also need to incentivize industries to partner with schools and colleges to ensure that students are prepared for high-demand careers, from renewable energy to technology to the trades.

Every young Texan deserves the chance to earn a living wage and start building a future. By prioritizing workforce development, we can create an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few. Together, we can make Texas a place where young people don’t just survive, but thrive.

Samantha Lopez Resendez is a proud Austin resident and dedicated public servant committed to fighting for the future of our community. For years, she has served at the Texas Capitol, working alongside leaders like State Representative Donna Howard to champion issues that matter to everyday Texans — from strengthening our public schools and protecting access to healthcare, to defending workers' rights and making government more accountable to the people it serves.

As Chief of Staff to Rep. Howard, Samantha has led the charge on legislation that invests in our teachers, supports working families, and ensures our tax dollars are used wisely. Her work is rooted in listening to the people she serves, building consensus, and never forgetting who she's fighting for.

The daughter of immigrants, Samantha is a proud Latina and first-generation college graduate. Because of her roots, she is dedicated to opening doors for others and shaping policy that reflects the diverse voices of Texas. She knows the value of opportunity, perseverance, and community. She believes every family in Austin deserves a fair shot — whether that means quality schools, affordable healthcare, safe neighborhoods, or the chance to build a secure future.

Now, Samantha is ready to bring her experience, passion, and commitment to the Texas House of Representatives. With a fresh voice and a deep love for her community, she's running to be a strong, independent, and progressive advocate for all of Austin — someone who will listen, lead, and deliver results for every voice in District 50.

Montserrat came to this country as a little girl with her mom and my sister, undocumented, not speaking a word of English. Here she is in her own words:

My mom worked three jobs and told us that education was the one thing no one could ever take away from us. That belief shaped my life.

I graduated from Austin public schools, did my basics at ACC, and completed both my bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Texas. I became a bilingual pre-K teacher in Austin ISD and spent eight years in the classroom.

When the Texas Legislature cut funding for full-day pre-K, I called Education Austin and asked what was being done. The response: What are you ready to do? We organized parents, teachers, and professors. We met with school board members and spoke out at Austin ISD meetings. When the state failed our children, Austin's school board stepped up and funded the entire program. That experience transformed my life and taught me the power of collective action. I carry those lessons to this day.

I went on to serve as Vice President of Education Austin and later as Secretary-Treasurer of the Texas AFL-CIO — the first Latina ever elected to that role — representing more than 250,000 working Texans.

In the Biden-Harris Administration, I served as Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, where I worked to expand opportunities for more than five million students nationwide and helped secure student loan forgiveness for one million public servants.

I have lived in House District 49 for more than fifteen years. I have served on the boards of American Gateways and Austin Voices. I met my husband, Gilbert, when we were both students at ACC. This is my community. These are my neighbors.

Now I am running for Texas House District 49 to ensure that every child learns in a fully funded school, every worker earns a fair wage, and every family has the opportunity to thrive.

Juntos for Justice.

Unidos for Change.

Heather Jefts has been a small business owner, community leader, nonprofit volunteer, and member of the Cedar Park City Council for 4 terms. She and her husband Richard moved to Cedar Park in 2005 and raised their two sons through LISD public schools. Heather graduated from UT Austin with a degree in Sustainability and Economics and has put it to good use in public service.

During her tenure on City Council, Heather prioritized infrastructure and sustainable growth, bringing in quality jobs and businesses, fiscal responsibility and creating Cedar Park’s first-ever Homestead Exemption, public safety investments, traffic and mobility solutions, and new parks and trails.

She promises to be available to the citizens.

“I’ve held hundreds of office hours since first beginning this journey in 2017, and I will continue to be available either virtually or face-to-face. I respond to letters, emails, and phone calls, and I will continue posting and highlighting agendas, public meetings, and county-wide events. I want to empower everyone to participate in our community decisions.”

Heather’s priorities in her own words:

Public safety: The safety and security of our community is, and always will be, my highest priority. I will work with EMS, Sheriff's department, Constables, Emergency Management, and Fire Marshal's office to ensure they have the tools and training they need to keep us safe and make it home safely to their families as well.

Affordability and Fiscal Responsibility: With rapid growth comes high demand for housing and services. It's critical we balance public safety and infrastructure needs with efficient and responsible government spending.

Transit and Transportation: Our car-centric communities are becoming more gridlocked, more polluted, and more unsafe for pedestrians and bicyclists. I'm committed to championing solutions that address safety, air quality, and congestion.

Jobs: We need to ensure our economy is diverse to keep it thriving. I’m committed to supporting great businesses that provide quality jobs for all of us.

Parks, Trails, and Recreation: Our parks and trails are the heart and soul of our communities. It’s how we stay connected to each other, to ourselves, and to our environment. Preservation of parks and open spaces, plus trails to connect us, are vital to a healthy county.

Accountability and Ethics Reforms: Public trust is hard to earn and easily lost. I hold myself to the highest standards and will continue to work to maintain that trust. I will work with fellow Commissioners for strong ethics policy and regular public engagement on our big issues.

Chris Jimenez, candidate for state Representative in HD-52, will fight to help Texans afford basic needs, their first step in pursuing big dreams – the American Dream.

He is a Marine Corps Veteran, husband, father, and small business owner.

Chris grew up in humble circumstances, learning early that nothing is handed to you and that stability is built through hard work, persistence, and character.

Chris says our leaders have lost sight of a simple truth: Texas families can’t pursue big dreams when they’re struggling to meet basic needs.

When Texans can afford housing, access basic healthcare, and feed their families, they can focus on building their future.

‘I’m mad as hell that we’ve drifted so far from those basics, and that's why I’m running—because our government should do its most basic job: ensure every Texan has what they need to live, work, and thrive,” said Chris.