Thomas Ray Garcia

Democratic

On ballot as: Thomas Ray Garcia
Current role: English professor, South Texas College
Background: Valedictorian, PSJA North High School class of 2012
Bachelor's degree in English, Princeton University
Master's degree in English, UCLA
Master's degree in higher education administration, UTRGV
Author, books about South Texas
Show all 7
Co-founder, Beyond Borders Books, publisher (2024)
From Pharr
Experience: Founder, College Scholarship Leadership Access Program (CSLAP), at age 19
Later executive director and board chairman, CSLAP
Former high school teacher
Taught composition, literature and creative writing courses at UCLA as a graduate student
Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
Top priorities: "I am against our state's school voucher program."
"I am against the state-developed Bluebonnet Learning curriculum."
"I am against using the STAAR to grade public schools' accountability scores."
"I support funding increases to Texas public schools, especially for school safety and literacy initiatives."
"I support pay increases for school workers."
Tidbits: Curriculum and instructional materials: "I am against the state-developed Bluebonnet Learning curriculum."
Library books: "I believe local communities should have the freedom to decide what books belong in their own school libraries."
School funding and bonds: "I support funding increases to Texas public schools, especially for school safety and literacy initiatives."
Vouchers / school choice: "I am against our state's school voucher program." He says he supports "school choice in the form of open-enrollment public schools"
Endorsements: Texas AFL-CIO
Texas AFT
Campaign website: thomasraygarciatx.com

Thomas Ray Garcia

Member, State Board of Education, District 2

Thomas Ray Garcia