State of Texas
State Representative, District 147
Jolanda Jones
Democratic Incumbent- On ballot as
- JOLANDA JONES
- Current role
- State Representative, Texas House District 147 (since May 18, 2022); attorney
- Background
- Alief Elsik High School graduate
- B.S., University of Houston (1989)
- J.D., University of Houston (1995)
- Owner and attorney, Law Office of Jolanda Jones
- 4-time national track and field champion (per official biography)
- Basketball All-American (per official biography)
- Experience
- Ran for U.S. House District 18 (Nov. 4, 2025 special election); finished third with 19.1%
- Houston ISD Trustee, District IV (2016–2020)
- Houston City Council member (January 2008–January 2012)
- Top priorities
- "Protecting voting rights and making life affordable" (Community Impact Q&A)
- Says she will file legislation to "expand Medicaid, increase affordable housing and childcare, and raise wages"
- Education: "Texas must fully fund public education" and "I will also fight to end TEA's takeover of HISD and restore local control"
- "Ensuring health care is affordable and accessible to all Texans" (campaign site)
- "Driving policies that enforce good policing and reforming our criminal justice system" (campaign site)
- Tidbits
- Abortion: Pro Abortion
- Border and immigration: Criticized ICE operations and immigration enforcement tactics. She has stated that she cares about and will fight for immigrants, noting that her own family includes immigrants.
- Guns: "Supporting legislation to eliminate guns from falling into the wrong hands"
- Public schools and vouchers: "I voted against the Republican voucher bill and, given the opportunity, will vote to repeal it in a heartbeat."
- Property taxes: "I voted to raise the small business exemption for business personal property taxes"
Claims and the record- 2011 city ethics investigation: Houston's inspector general found she improperly used city resources and employees in connection with her law practice (2011). The district attorney's office said evidence was insufficient to prosecute; a mayor-led panel said she "used extremely poor judgment" but declined formal punishment and faulted the investigation's thoroughness. She called the accusations "baseless and defamatory".
- 2025 quorum-break fine: Fined $8,354.25 by the House Administration Committee (April 2026) for the August 2025 quorum break. She said she would not pay and would appeal because she did nothing wrong.
- Endorsements
- Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus
- CLEAT PAC
- Houston Chronicle Editorial Board
- Campaign website
- jolandajones.com
Open in the full comparison: Harris County