State of Texas
State Representative, District 17
Mary Elizabeth Klenz
Democratic- On ballot as
- MARY ELIZABETH KLENZ
- Current role
- Retired physician (per Secretary of State filing)
- Background
- Bachelor's degree, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1986) (per Ballotpedia)
- M.D., Duke University School of Medicine (1995) (per Ballotpedia)
- Obstetrics and gynecology training, New York University (per campaign)
- U.S. Peace Corps, southern Africa, after college (per campaign)
- Practiced for 25 years in the Rio Grande Valley (per campaign)
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- Grew up in North Carolina (per campaign)
- Came to Texas in 1999 (per campaign)
- Lives on a small ranch outside Giddings in Lee County (per campaign)
- Experience
- Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): won, 60.2% over Frank Gomez III and Robert Salter
- Top priorities
- On groundwater export projects: "We need to pause future projects of this kind, conduct an assessment of the current state of our aquifer, and ensure that local residents and landowners are heard."
- "I will support strengthening the Affordable Care Act and continuing Medicaid expansion"
- "Increase public school funding, with a focus on raising teacher salaries"
- "If elected, I will work to repeal HB 2127 and restore genuine local control."
- "I will work to repeal SB 8 and HB 1280, restoring safe and compassionate standards of care."
- Tidbits
- Abortion: "I will work to repeal SB 8 and HB 1280, restoring safe and compassionate standards of care."
- Border and immigration: "I will oppose costly, ineffective projects like an expanded border wall that damage private property, harm our environment, and divert funds from proven security measures."
- Guns: No public statement found
- Public schools and vouchers: "The recently implemented Voucher program threatens to siphon even more resources away from public classrooms and into private institutions"
- Property taxes: No public statement found
- Endorsements
- Texas AFL-CIO
- National Democratic Redistricting Committee
- Campaign website
- drklenzfortexas.com
Open in the full comparison: Burleson County, Caldwell County, Bastrop County, Lee County, Milam County