Travis County Pilot

The Informed Voter Travis County Pilot

A source-first preview for the Bee Cave / Lake Travis area. This page shows researched ballot data before it becomes part of the recommendation flow.

No recommendations yet. Candidate data still needs official certified general-election ballot confirmation, especially runoff and low-confidence races.

Research status

Ready for review

TX-10, HD-47

Source-backed starter summaries are in place.

Needs runoff/certification

SBOE District 5

Democratic nominee is pending the May 26 runoff.

Needs official ballot confirmation

JP Precinct 3

Sylvia Holmes is sourced, but November ballot status needs confirmation.

Not started

Local / LTISD / ESD / utility race

Needs target election calendar and candidate list.

Questions to answer next

Is this race definitely on the November 3, 2026 ballot?

Are these the final general-election candidates?

Do we have candidate websites or direct statements?

Do we have at least one neutral source or questionnaire?

Do we have enough issue positions to support alignment signals?

Alignment signals are early mappings between sourced candidate statements and the values quiz. They are not match scores or voting recommendations yet.

Ballot area

County

Travis County

City from lookup

Austin

Voting precinct

363

U.S. House

District 10

Texas House

District 47

Texas Senate

District 25

County commissioner

Precinct 3

JP / constable

Precinct 3

State Board of Education

District 5

School district

09 - Lake Travis ISD

ESD

E06

MUD

M25

Federal

U.S. House

District 10

ready for review

U.S. House members vote on federal spending, healthcare, taxes, immigration, and oversight.

Reviewer checklist

Final candidates confirmed
Candidate websites found
Neutral source found
Issue positions sufficient
Ready for alignment scoring

Questions to answer for this race

Confirm the certified November 2026 TX-10 ballot.

Add at least one neutral questionnaire or voter-guide source for each candidate.

Decide which issue dimensions should map to the values quiz.

Chris Gober

Republican

medium confidence

Republican TX-10 candidate whose campaign emphasizes America First conservative priorities, border security, economic growth, cutting regulations, election integrity, free speech, AI competitiveness, and rural affordability.

Alignment signals

Business regulation and economic growth

needs review

Campaign emphasizes cutting regulations, economic growth, technology investment, and competition with China.

Quiz links: business

Voting and election policy

needs review

Campaign emphasizes election integrity and opposition to what it describes as unconstitutional election changes.

Quiz links: voting_access

Sourced signals

border Security

Campaign says he would help secure the border and target cartels.

economy

Campaign emphasizes economic growth, lower regulation, technology investment, and competition with China.

rural Affordability

Campaign says he would address rural affordability, small business opportunity, and rural healthcare access.

election Policy

Campaign emphasizes election integrity and opposition to what it describes as unconstitutional election changes.

civil Liberties

Campaign emphasizes free speech and constitutional rights.

Listed endorsements

Donald Trump, Greg Abbott, Steve Scalise

Source-backed starter summary from campaign website and FEC race page. Still needs official certified general-election ballot source and neutral third-party questionnaire or reporting before user-facing recommendations.

Caitlin Rourk

Democratic

medium confidence

Democratic TX-10 candidate whose campaign emphasizes affordable healthcare, economic opportunity, strong schools and communities, and a federal government responsive to the district.

Alignment signals

Healthcare affordability

needs review

Campaign lists affordable and accessible healthcare as a priority.

Quiz links: healthcare

Education and communities

needs review

Campaign lists strong schools and thriving communities as a priority.

Quiz links: education

Sourced signals

healthcare

Campaign lists affordable and accessible healthcare as a priority.

economy

Campaign lists an economy that lifts everyone up as a priority.

education

Campaign lists strong schools and thriving communities as a priority.

government

Campaign says government should deliver for TX-10 rather than special interests.

service

Campaign biography emphasizes military, public policy, private-sector, and emergency-response service.

Source-backed starter summary from campaign website and FEC race page. Still needs official certified general-election ballot source and neutral third-party questionnaire or reporting before user-facing recommendations.

State

Texas House

District 47

ready for review

Texas House members shape school funding, property taxes, utilities, local control, and statewide policy.

Reviewer checklist

Final candidates confirmed
Candidate websites found
Neutral source found
Issue positions sufficient
Ready for alignment scoring

Questions to answer for this race

Confirm the certified November 2026 HD-47 ballot.

Add a neutral candidate questionnaire or voter-guide source.

Review whether candidate issue positions are balanced enough for scoring.

Pooja Sethi

Democratic

medium confidence

Democratic HD-47 candidate whose campaign emphasizes fully funding public education, family-first neighborhood safety, timely healthcare, and climate action.

Alignment signals

Public education

needs review

Campaign lists fully funding public education as a priority.

Quiz links: education

Healthcare and climate

needs review

Campaign lists timely healthcare and climate action as priorities.

Quiz links: healthcare, environment

Sourced signals

education

Campaign lists fully funding public education as a priority.

public Safety

Campaign lists family-first neighborhood safety as a priority.

healthcare

Campaign lists timely healthcare as a priority.

climate

Campaign lists tackling the climate crisis as a priority.

Listed endorsements

Annie's List, Austin Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, Stonewall Democrats of Austin

Source-backed starter summary from campaign website and Transparency USA race page. Endorsements are listed on campaign site; verify full supporter list and official certified general-election ballot before user-facing recommendations.

Jennifer Mushtaler

Republican

medium confidence

Republican HD-47 candidate whose campaign emphasizes education funding/recapture relief, tax relief, healthcare access, homeowners, and local infrastructure.

Alignment signals

Education funding

needs review

Campaign says she supports reducing recapture, funding schools, and investing in teachers.

Quiz links: education

Tax relief

needs review

Campaign lists smart tax relief to ease cost of living and support small businesses.

Quiz links: taxes

Healthcare and local infrastructure

needs review

Campaign emphasizes affordable healthcare access, homeowners, and local infrastructure experience.

Quiz links: healthcare, local_control

Sourced signals

education

Campaign says she supports reducing recapture, funding schools, and investing in teachers and classrooms.

taxes

Campaign lists smart tax relief to ease cost of living and support small businesses.

healthcare

Campaign says she supports improving affordable, quality healthcare through local providers and patient-centered solutions.

homeowners

Campaign lists lower property taxes and insurance rates while keeping communities safe.

local Infrastructure

Campaign biography cites local infrastructure work as a planning commissioner and limited district president.

Source-backed starter summary from campaign website and Transparency USA race page. Needs endorsements, neutral questionnaire or reporting, and official certified general-election ballot source before user-facing recommendations.

State

State Board of Education

District 5

in research

State Board of Education members influence curriculum standards, instructional materials, and long-term public school policy.

Reviewer checklist

Final candidates confirmed
Candidate websites found
Neutral source found
Issue positions sufficient
Ready for alignment scoring

Questions to answer for this race

Wait for the May 26 Democratic runoff result.

Find or confirm Mica Arellano's campaign website and public issue statements.

Confirm the certified November 2026 SBOE District 5 ballot.

Mica Arellano

Republican

medium confidence

Republican SBOE District 5 candidate listed as advanced to the November 2026 general election. Teach the Vote lists her occupation as client advocate and notes she had not responded to the 2026 ATPE candidate survey.

Sourced signals

education Survey

Teach the Vote reports no 2026 ATPE candidate survey response as of the source crawl.

Republican candidate appears to be set for November, but current public sources found only candidate/status listings and no reliable issue-position statements. Keep limited-data warning before recommendations.

Allison Bush

Democratic

medium confidence

Democratic SBOE District 5 runoff candidate whose campaign emphasizes teacher support, fair funding and accountability, strong classrooms, accurate history, age-appropriate health education, and safe schools.

Alignment signals

Public school funding and educator support

needs review

Teach the Vote survey says schools need adequate resources, educator support, and policies centered on student and classroom needs.

Quiz links: education

Educator input and local classroom expertise

needs review

Teach the Vote survey says educators' input should carry significant weight in curriculum standards and instructional-material decisions.

Quiz links: education, local_control

Charter school oversight

needs review

Teach the Vote survey says charter approvals and expansions should include transparency, accountability, and community input.

Quiz links: education, local_control

Sourced signals

teacher Support

Campaign says she would reduce paperwork, provide resources, improve retention, and restore dignity to teaching.

school Funding

Campaign emphasizes fair funding, transparency, and accountability for all schools receiving taxpayer dollars.

curriculum

Campaign says academic standards should be led by educators and subject-matter professionals rather than partisan politics.

inclusive Classrooms

Campaign supports accurate history, age-appropriate health education, safe schools, and student-centered classrooms.

charter Oversight

Teach the Vote survey says the SBOE should retain authority over new charter applications and have a role in significant charter expansion requests, with transparency and community input.

testing Accountability

Teach the Vote survey says testing should support meaningful learning rather than excessive testing or punitive outcomes.

Listed endorsements

Austin Chronicle, Moms Demand Action, Austin Central Labor Council AFL-CIO

Bush is in the May 26 Democratic runoff, not yet the November nominee. ATPE survey responses provide stronger issue-position depth, but keep recommendations off until the runoff and November ballot are certified.

Stephanie Limon Bazan

Democratic

medium confidence

Democratic SBOE District 5 runoff candidate whose campaign emphasizes student supports, stronger public schools, educator support, accurate curriculum standards, and reduced high-stakes testing pressure.

Alignment signals

Student supports and public school investment

needs review

Campaign priorities call for comprehensive student supports, special education access, English learner support, and targeted resources for students experiencing poverty.

Quiz links: education

Educator support

needs review

Campaign priorities call for supporting and sustaining educators, including meaningful professional development and a stronger educator pipeline.

Quiz links: education

Curriculum standards

needs review

Campaign priorities say curriculum standards should be accurate, rigorous, developmentally appropriate, and not driven by political or religious agendas.

Quiz links: education, local_control

Testing and whole-child learning

needs review

Campaign priorities say schools should focus on the whole child rather than being hyper-focused on high-stakes testing.

Quiz links: education

Sourced signals

public Education

Campaign says every child deserves high-quality public education regardless of zip code, home language, or learning supports.

school Funding

Campaign FAQ names chronic public school underfunding as a major challenge affecting student supports, educator retention, class sizes, and instructional materials.

college And Career Readiness

Campaign says targeted resources are needed so students experiencing poverty can graduate prepared for college, career, or other post-secondary opportunities.

educator Support

Campaign says Texas educators deserve respect, support, meaningful professional development, and policies that help them thrive.

curriculum

Campaign says curriculum standards should be accurate, rigorous, developmentally appropriate, shaped by educators and experts, and not driven by political or religious agendas.

testing Accountability

Campaign says schools should focus on the whole child rather than being hyper-focused on high-stakes testing.

Listed endorsements

Austin Environmental Democrats, Austin Tejano Democrats

Bazan is in the May 26 Democratic runoff, not yet the November nominee. Campaign priorities and local coverage provide stronger issue-position depth, but keep recommendations off until the runoff and November ballot are certified.

Judicial

Justice of the Peace

Precinct 3

in research

Justices of the Peace handle small claims, evictions, some misdemeanors, magistrate duties, and local court access.

Reviewer checklist

Final candidates confirmed
Candidate websites found
Neutral source found
Issue positions sufficient
Ready for alignment scoring

Questions to answer for this race

Confirm whether JP Precinct 3 is contested on the November 2026 ballot.

Find candidate site or direct public statements if available.

Decide whether judicial races should receive match scoring or only sourced explainers.

Sylvia Holmes

Democratic

medium confidence

Incumbent Travis County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 whose campaign emphasizes accessible court procedures, clear instructions, online forms, translations, safe roads, and respect for everyone in court.

Sourced signals

court Access

Campaign says she wants people to understand the local court system and will keep providing clear instructions and accessible hours.

court Tools

Campaign says she makes routine court procedures simpler through online forms, translations in multiple languages, and easy payment options.

landlord Tenant

BallotReady profile notes experience representing tenants and landlords in residential and commercial leasing disputes.

safe Roads

Campaign highlights safe roads in the context of traffic citations such as speeding, failing to yield, and stop-sign violations.

youth Justice

BallotReady profile says she has spent much of her career helping young people correct mistakes and move forward.

Campaign and office sources provide court-access themes, but judicial races may be better handled as sourced explainers rather than values-match recommendations. Confirm contest status and any opponent before user-facing recommendations.

County/Local

Lake Travis ISD, city, ESD, or utility race

ISD 09 / ESD E06 / MUD M25

not started

School board, city, emergency services, and utility offices can shape taxes, bonds, emergency response, water, development, roads, and daily local services.

Reviewer checklist

Final candidates confirmed
Candidate websites found
Neutral source found
Issue positions sufficient
Ready for alignment scoring

Questions to answer for this race

Choose one local race or measure for the first pilot.

Confirm whether that race appears on the November 2026 ballot.

Collect official candidate or measure source links.

Candidate sourcing still needed for this race.