Carlos Walker For House District 97
The Blue Battle 2024: Inside the Democratic races.
Several Texas House seats are primed for flipping in Tarrant County this year, and House District 97 is undoubtedly one of them. A lot of activity is coming from Tarrant County this year, and Dr. Carlos Walker is a candidate working hard to turn his neck of the woods blue.
I’ve had the opportunity to meet Dr. Walker, and I can tell you that he is a great candidate for this district. He’s well-versed in policy and has a solid platform that includes public education, property taxes, and women’s rights. The question is, can he flip this seat? Let’s get into it.
Who is Dr. Carlos Walker?
Dr. Carlos Walker is a seasoned educator and community leader with over two decades of experience in educational leadership. With a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership, he rose from substitute teacher to principal. As the Director of the Family Action Center within Fort Worth ISD, he has spearheaded initiatives that bridge the gap between education and community needs.
Dr. Walker’s platform focuses on bolstering small businesses, which he views as the engine of the local economy, addressing food insecurities that plague Texas communities, and advocating for the modernization of the electrical grid.
His dedication to public service extends beyond the classroom; he has been instrumental in organizing expunction clinics to help clear the records of those wrongfully convicted. Dr. Walker’s track record of success in improving academic performance in underperforming schools and his hands-on experience in community-driven initiatives highlight his ability to effect real change.
Who is he running against?
Incumbent Republican Craig Goldman left this seat to run for Congressional District 12. There was a heated runoff for this House seat between John McQueeney and Cheryl Bean. McQueeney won.
What do we know about McQueeney? He received Greg Abbott’s endorsement, so he’s pro-voucher. During the primary, the Tim Dunn crew took Bean under their wing and labeled McQueeney as a “RINO,” but the difference between a RINO and a non-RINO these days is so convoluted, who knows what that even means.
On McQueeney’s website, they chose the “laughing aesthetic” (most often used in wedding photos).
Otherwise, his priorities are border, taxes, and vouchers—the same as every other Republican.
What made him a RINO? 🤷🏻♀️ Maybe one of these days, RINO and non-RINO Republicans will become distinguishable to the rest of us. Until then, we’ll have to take their word on it.
What about this district?
When Republicans redrew this district in 2021, they gave themselves a +9.6-point advantage. Like everywhere else in Texas, Southwest Tarrant County is seeing a population boom. According to data from the North Central Texas Council of Governments, Southwest Fort Worth is projected to add roughly 90,000 people by 2045.
HD97, in general, is less diverse, more educated, and wealthier than Texas as a whole. It’s a middle-class-to-upper-middle-class district. Democrats tend to do better with these demographics. Also, it makes sense why Republican voters in HD97 rejected the most extreme and picked the “RINO.”
In districts like HD97, where voters may be more moderate, this discontent could translate into a willingness to consider a Democratic candidate who offers pragmatic solutions and focuses on community well-being.
While flipping a district with a Republican-designed advantage is no small feat, the combination of demographic shifts, a strong candidate like Dr. Walker, and potential voter fatigue with Republican extremism make HD97 one to watch in this election cycle.
Dr. Walker could capitalize on the shifting dynamics in HD97.
His deep community roots and experience in education and public service make him well-equipped to address the district’s needs. As Tarrant County continues to grow and diversify, voters have a real opportunity to break away from the status quo and elect a leader who is committed to putting people first.
As the election approaches, it will be interesting to see how Dr. Walker’s message resonates with the voters of HD97. In a time when many are disillusioned with extreme political rhetoric, his pragmatic and people-centered approach could be exactly what this district needs to turn blue.
You can learn more about Dr. Walker from his website, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
The Blue Battle 2024 is my series covering races in the Texas Legislature (in no particular order). This series will highlight Democratic candidates once or twice a week leading to the November election. If you missed the previous installments:
October 7: Last day to register to vote.
October 21: First day to early vote.
October 25: Last day to apply for a mail-in ballot.
November 1: Last day to early vote.
November 5: Election day!
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