State Representative, District 42 - Texas Ballot Compare

Teresa Johnson-Hernandez

Republican

On ballot as: Teresa Johnson-Hernandez
Current role: Small business owner and health care provider (per campaign)
Background: Ph.D. in Leadership Studies (per campaign)
Degrees from Laredo College, Texas A&M International University and Our Lady of the Lake University (per 2024 Laredo Morning Times questionnaire)
Nearly two decades as small business owners and health care providers, with her husband Leonel (per campaign)
Husband Leonel is a U.S. Army veteran (per campaign)
Lifelong Webb County resident (per campaign)
Experience: Joined Republican Party to run for House District 42 (announced 2025)
Ran for Texas House District 80 (March 2024 Democratic primary); finished fourth of five candidates
No previous elected office (per 2024 Laredo Morning Times questionnaire)
Republican primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
Top priorities: Campaign site: "Work to create a regional secondary water project for Laredo"
"Work to cut taxes and lower the burden on families"
"Advocate for Healthcare Professionals, Military Veterans, First Responder, and Educators"
In her campaign announcement: "bringing faith, common sense, and accountability back to Austin"
Tidbits: Abortion: No public statement found
Border and immigration: No public statement found
Guns: No public statement found
Public schools and vouchers: No public statement found
Property taxes: Campaign site: "Work to cut taxes and lower the burden on families"
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: teresafortexas.com

Richard Pena Raymond

Democratic Incumbent

On ballot as: Richard Pena Raymond
Current role: State Representative, Texas House District 42 (Laredo; since January 2001)
Background: B.A. in government, University of Texas at Austin
J.D., University of Texas School of Law
Businessman from Laredo; father of three (per campaign)
Served four and a half years as a captain in the Texas State Guard (per campaign)
Born in Alice; raised in Benavides, Texas
Experience: Member, House State Affairs and Elections committees (per the Texas Tribune directory)
Democratic nominee, Texas Land Commissioner (1998); lost to David Dewhurst
Texas House, rural South Texas district (first elected 1992; six years)
Worked for U.S. Senators Lloyd Bentsen and Paul Simon, Land Commissioner Garry Mauro and Railroad Commissioner Bob Krueger
Top priorities: Campaign site: "Fighting for quality education, better teacher pay, and increased funding for our schools"
"Expanding access to affordable healthcare and protecting the health and wellbeing of Texas families, seniors, and all those in need of medical care"
"Creating jobs, supporting small businesses, and building a strong economy that works for everyone"
"Keeping our communities safe while ensuring justice and accountability in our law enforcement and criminal justice systems"
"Fighting to keep Laredo the #1 inland port in America"
Tidbits: Abortion: No public statement found
Border and immigration: No public statement found
Guns: No public statement found
Public schools and vouchers: To the Laredo Morning Times in April 2026: "I have always been against the school vouchers because the vast majority of students attend public schools"
Property taxes: Campaign site: "Delivered historic property tax relief including a $140,000 homestead exemption for every homeowner and $200,000 for seniors 65 and over."
Endorsements: Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) PAC
NFIB Texas PAC (primary)
TruckPAC (Texas Trucking Association) (primary)
Campaign website: richardraymond.com