Candidates in Southwest Fort Worth Face Off in Runoff Election for Texas House District 97

In a heated runoff election in southwest Fort Worth, two Democratic Party candidates are vying for the nomination in the race for Texas House District 97. Carlos Walker, director of the Fort Worth ISD Family Action Center, is facing off against photographer and former presiding election judge Diane Symons.

Both Walker and Symons are first-time candidates, with Symons leading in the initial race with 44.1% of the vote against Walker’s 34.6%. The third candidate, Arlington high school teacher William Thorburn, finished with 21.3% of the vote.

The runoff election has become a battleground for anti-voucher candidates, as both Walker and Symons are advocates for abortion rights and are determined to prevent pro-voucher candidates from gaining a majority in the Texas House. Governor Greg Abbott has urged voters to support pro-school voucher candidates, emphasizing the importance of passing the school choice bill.

Walker, who has received endorsements from the Texas American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, is focused on increasing teacher pay and fighting for robust public education funding. He has pledged to vote against Abbott’s school voucher campaign and support North Texas farmers and sustainable agriculture.

On the other hand, Symons, who has no endorsements, is prioritizing education, economy, and equality in her platform. She opposes school choice and aims to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15. Symons, with her background as a presiding election judge and a photographer, believes her unique perspective will bring much-needed change to the district.

The winner of the May 28 runoff will face either Republican Cheryl Bean or Republican John McQueeney in the November election. House District 97 includes southwest Fort Worth, Benbrook, Crowley, and White Settlement, with an estimated population of nearly 190,000.

Early voting is scheduled for May 20-24, and voters who participated in a party primary in March can only vote in the same party’s runoff. Those who did not cast a ballot in the primary can choose to vote in either party’s runoff. Stay tuned for updates on this closely watched race for the Texas House District 97 seat.