State Representative, District 50 - Texas Ballot Compare

Howard Olsen

Republican

On ballot as: Howard Olsen
Current role: Not found
Background: 11 years in the military, including with "the 2-16 rangers and psychological operations" (per campaign)
Describes himself as "not a politician"
Experience: Provided security to local businesses during Hurricane Harvey, with other veterans (per campaign)
Hand delivered over $15,000 of food and medical supplies after flooding in Georgetown, with nine friends (per campaign)
Top priorities: First responders: "They deserve our unwavering support"
Veterans: "We must ensure they never feel alone in their transition home"
Educators: "They shape our future and deserve better resources"
Tidbits: Abortion: No public statement found
Border and immigration: No public statement found
Guns: No public statement found
Public schools and vouchers: Campaign site: "I stand for the teachers in overcrowded classrooms struggling to make sure their students understand the curriculum."
Property taxes: No public statement found
Claims and the record
Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: howardolsen4texas.com

Samantha Lopez-Resendez

Democratic

On ballot as: Samantha Lopez-Resendez
Current role: Chief of staff to state Rep. Donna Howard (per campaign)
Background: First-generation college graduate (per campaign)
Former bilingual educator (per campaign)
Daughter of immigrants (per campaign)
Austin resident (per campaign)
Experience: Helped pass legislation expanding access to advanced math courses (per campaign)
Top priorities: Schools: "fully fund public schools, increase and index the Basic Allotment to inflation"
Health care: "expand access to affordable, comprehensive health care, protect reproductive freedom"
Housing: "smart housing solutions that prioritize affordability for essential workers"
Energy: "a stronger grid, investments in energy resilience"
Higher education: "reestablish an in-state tuition program for first generation and dreamer students"
Tidbits: Abortion: Campaign site: "Health care decisions belong to patients and doctors, not politicians or insurance companies." She says she will "protect reproductive freedom"
Border and immigration: Campaign site: says she "fought to defend the Texas Dream Act" and will work to "reestablish an in-state tuition program for first generation and dreamer students"
Guns: Campaign site: "Samantha helped secure funding for firearm safety education in K-12 schools"
Public schools and vouchers: Campaign site: will fight to "fully fund public schools, increase and index the Basic Allotment to inflation"
Property taxes: No public statement found
Claims and the record
Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements: Texas AFL-CIO
Texas State Teachers Association
Austin Central Labor Council
The Austin Chronicle (listed by campaign)
Pflugerville Area Democrats (listed by campaign)
Show all 19
Hon. Ben Barnes (listed by campaign)
Rep. Donna Howard (listed by campaign)
Rep. Sheryl Cole (listed by campaign)
Rep. Erin Zwiener (listed by campaign)
Rep. Linda Garcia (listed by campaign)
Rep. Josey Garcia (listed by campaign)
Sen. Roland Gutierrez (listed by campaign)
Rep. Vince Perez (listed by campaign)
Judge Charlie Baird (listed by campaign)
Hon. Eddie Lucio III (listed by campaign)
Hon. Charlie Torres (listed by campaign)
Hon. Nan McRaven (listed by campaign)
Hon. Heather Sheffield (listed by campaign)
Diego Bernal, Vice Chair of the House Public Education Committee (listed by campaign)
Campaign website: samanthafortexas.com