The following candidates are endorsed by the Texas Humane Legislation Network in the 2016 Primary Elections. We choose to endorse these candidates based on three major criteria:
1. The candidate's overall voting record and platform;
2. The candidate's performance on animal protection issues as an incumbent;
3. The candidate's prospect of mounting a credible, competitive campaign
Texas has closed primaries, meaning that you can only vote in your own party, so we are only endorsing in contested races, and we will be evaluating again in time for the November 2016 general election. We did not endorse in all races and there are many races where we have no endorsements. Please note we only issue endorsements of candidates for state offices and make no endorsements for federal offices. Our goal is for Texas to be a more humane place for animals and for our legislature to pass appropriate laws to protect animals while eliminating cruelty. Thus, we encourage those who care deeply about these issues to consider and be guided by our endorsements, and to support candidates who will support a humane agenda.
To learn more about the Network's priority legislation to end cruel forms of dog tethering and support our campaign click here.
To learn more about previous legislative successes referenced over the last four decades click here.
|
Bryan Hughes
Senate District 1
|
-
Co-Authored the Canine Encounter TrainingBill requiring mandatory training for certain Texas peace officers to avoid future shootings of dogs by law enforcement.
-
Co-Sponsored the Humane Tethering Bill.
Voted YES to:
- Require the inclusion of companion animals inpet protective orders.
-
Limit civil liability on those who render aid to an injured or distressed animal from civil action.
- Allow certain counties to adopt ordinances toregulate the sale of animals (other than livestock).
|
|
Eddie Lucio Jr.
Senate District 27
|
-
Authored the bill to strengthen penalties for shark finning on the Texas coast.
- Consistently supported animal welfare laws and specifically THLN bills.
-
Co-Sponsored the bill to crack down on cock-fighting.
- Achieved a 100% scorecard rating from the 2011 legislative session.
|
|
Joe Straus
House District 121
|
-
Supported numerous animal welfare bills since he was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2009 and has always been extremely supportive of animal causes.
- Fought hard to ensure the Puppy Mill Bill, which faced staunch adversaries in his caucus,made it to the House floor for a vote where it then passed by a majority.
- Provided critical leadership in the passage of other bills that THLN endorsed.
-
Assisted in defeating numerous inhumane billsthat would have repealed critical animal protection laws in Texas.
|
|
Cindy Burkett
House District 113
|
-
Co-Sponsored the Humane Tethering Bill.
Voted YES to:
- Make canine encounter training mandatory for certain Texas peace officers to avoid future shootings of dogs by law enforcement.
- Strengthen the dangerous dog appeals bill.
- Strengthen penalties for shark finning on the Texas coast.
- End euthanasia by way of the carbon monoxidegas chamber for shelter dogs and cats.
- Prohibit a person from attending a cockfight, and strengthen the existing cockfighting law.
- Ensure that animals seized from people charged with cruelty to animals are not held in shelters for extended periods of time pending an appeal.
- Allow a judge to order a person convicted of animal cruelty to attend a responsible pet owner course.
- Require the inclusion of pets and other companion animals in protective orders.
|
|
Mary Gonzalez
House District 75
|
-
Co-Sponsored the Humane Tethering Bill.
Voted YES to:
- Make canine encounter training mandatory for certain Texas peace officers to avoid future shootings of dogs by law enforcement.
- Strengthen the dangerous dog appeals law.
- Strengthen penalties for shark finning on the Texas coast.
|
|
Angie Chen Button
House District 112
|
-
Co-Sponsored the Humane Tethering Bill.
Voted YES to:
- Make canine encounter training mandatoryfor certain Texas peace officers to avoid future shootings of dogs by law enforcement.
- Strengthen the dangerous dog appeals bill.
- Strengthen penalties for shark finning on the Texas coast.
- End euthanasia by way of the carbon monoxidegas chamber for shelter dogs and cats.
- Prohibit a person from attending a cockfight, and strengthen the existing cockfighting law.
- Ensure that animals seized from people charged with cruelty to animals are not held in shelters for extended periods of time pending an appeal.
- Allow a judge to order a person convicted of animal cruelty to attend a responsible pet owner course.
- Require the inclusion of companion animals inpet protective orders.
|
|
Pat Fallon
House District 106
|
Voted YES to:
- End euthanasia by way of the carbon monoxidegas chamber for shelter dogs and cats.
- Make canine encounter training mandatoryfor certain Texas peace officers to avoid future shootings of dogs by law enforcement.
- Strengthen the dangerous dog appeals bill.
- Strengthen penalties for shark finning on the Texas coast.
|
|
Sarah Davis
House District 134
|
-
Co-Sponsored the Humane Tethering Bill.
Voted YES to:
- Make canine encounter training mandatory for certain Texas peace officers to avoid future shootings of dogs by law enforcement.
- Strengthen the dangerous dog appeals bill.
- Strengthen penalties for shark finning on the Texas coast.
- End euthanasia by way of the carbon monoxidegas chamber for shelter dogs and cats.
- Prohibit a person from attending a cockfight, and strengthen the existing cockfighting law.
- Ensure that animals seized from people charged with cruelty to animals are not held in shelters for extended periods of time pending an appeal.
- Allow a judge to order a person convicted of animal cruelty to attend a responsible pet owner course.
- Require the inclusion of companion animals inpet protective orders.
|
|
Jodie Laubenberg
House District 89
|
- Achieved a 100% voting record on the 2011 Humane Scorecard.
-
Co-Authored the bill requiring the inclusion of companion animals in pet protective orders.
-
Co-Authored the Humane Tethering Bill.
Voted YES to:
- Make canine encounter training mandatory for certain Texas peace officers to avoid future shootings of dogs by law enforcement.
- Strengthen the dangerous dog appeals bill.
- Strengthen penalties for shark finning on the Texas coast.
- End euthanasia by way of the carbon monoxidegas chamber for shelter dogs and cats.
|
|
Jason Villalba
House District 114
|
-
Co-Sponsored the bill to end euthanasia by way of the carbon monoxide gas chamber for shelter dogs and cats.
-
Co-Sponsored the Humane Tethering Bill.
Voted YES to:
- Make canine encounter training mandatory for certain Texas peace officers to avoid future shootings of dogs by law enforcement.
- Strengthen the dangerous dog appeals bill.
- Strengthen penalties for shark finning on the Texas coast.
|
|
Jessica Farrar
House District 148
|
-
Authored HB 234 (relating to an animal cruelty database), HB 235 (relating to theseizure of cruelly treated animals), and HB 3963 (creating a statewide animal welfare commission)
-
Co-Authored the Humane Tethering Bill.
Voted YES to:
- End euthanasia by way of the carbon monoxidegas chamber for shelter dogs and cats
- Make canine encounter training mandatory for certain Texas peace officers to avoid future shootings of dogs by law enforcement.
- Strengthen the dangerous dog appeals bill.
- Strengthen penalties for shark finning on the Texas coast.
- Prohibit a person from attending a cockfight, and strengthen the existing cockfighting law.
- Require the inclusion of companion animals inpet protective orders.
|
