Hava Johnston For House District 106

The Blue Battle 2024: Inside the Democratic races

Over the last several months, at least ten people have contacted me and asked me about Hava Johnston’s race in HD106 in Denton County. Seeing the early voting numbers coming out of Denton, we must discuss this race. There’s something fantastic brewing in Denton, and it isn’t Maga enthusiasm. Let’s get into it.

Who is Hava Johnston?

Hava Johnston is more than a candidate for Texas House District 106—she is a force of change. A fourth-generation Texan with deep roots in the state, Johnston’s passion for public service is as strong as her commitment to the values that shaped her journey. From growing up as a Democrat in North Texas to becoming a vocal advocate for women’s rights and the LGBTQIA+ community, Johnston’s personal story is as diverse as the district she hopes to represent.

Her political journey started with her active involvement in local Democratic organizations. As the precinct chair for the Denton County Democratic Party and president of the Frisco Democratic Club, she organized the largest Democratic rally in North Texas during the 2022 election, showcasing her ability to mobilize and energize the community.

Johnston’s platform reflects her progressive vision for Texas. Her top priorities are public education, healthcare, and environmental protection—issues she believes are neglected by the current Texas legislature. Her stance on abortion rights is clear and uncompromising: “My body, my choice.”

But her deep commitment to public education lies at the heart of her campaign. She’s outspoken about paying teachers fairly and ensuring they can retire with dignity, calling out the underfunded Texas Teacher Retirement System (TRS). For Johnston, happy teachers lead to happy students, creating stronger communities—something she believes Texas desperately needs.

Johnston also stresses the urgency of addressing environmental issues, particularly in HD106, a district that spans suburban developments and rural farmlands. Healthcare, another cornerstone of Johnston’s platform, is a wide-ranging issue for her. She connects the dots between access to mental health care, reproductive rights, and gender-affirming care, emphasizing that healthcare in Texas must be comprehensive and inclusive of all Texans’ needs, regardless of identity or income.

Who is she running against?

This is when I usually say, “Such-and-so needs no introduction.” But, if you’re a Democrat in Texas who looks up Republicans on social media and you look up Jared Patterson, you’ll probably see this:

He’s blocked me on both Twitter and Facebook, but I don’t take it personally because it’s been widely discussed how he blocks every Democrat he sees and some Republicans.

Although, I might have had it coming. During the 87th Legislature, there was a rumor about him and Representative Shelby Slawson getting cozy at one of the bars near the Capitol. All I did was ask him if the rumor was true. Then, he blocked me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Honestly, I don’t know what the big deal was. Everyone knows that Republicans in Austin can’t stay out of their co-workers’ pants.

Jared Patterson has served three terms in office and has done enough damage to Texans that, hopefully, Denton County will finally say, “Enough.”

In 2022, before Beto announced he was running for Governor, he did a tour for democracy, traveling the state and talking to people about registering to vote and becoming VDRs. When he came to Denton, Patterson organized a group of local thugs, calling themselves “DFW Deplorables,” to show up to Beto’s event and harass him and event-goers.

When this group of thugs showed up, Denton activist and journalist Jessica Luther-Rummel walked over to them to record their faces and license plates, which was a dangerous position to put herself in. This resulted in threats against her life and assault, all caught on camera.

🚨Trigger warning, violent language, and violence.

These were the people Jared Patterson invited to Denton to harass and intimidate his neighbors and constituents because he disagreed with them politically. In his call to action, Patterson said, “Tomorrow, we defend Denton County.”

Why would Patterson invite that type of behavior into his own community?

But it’s far from the only gripe we should have with Representative Patterson.

Jared Patterson is a far-right extremist who has voted for or had his name on every harmful piece of legislation to come out of the Texas Legislature over the last three years.

Patterson was also the author of the Book Banning Bill, which targeted civil rights books and stories about adolescence. Luckily, federal courts struck down that bill because it violated our constitutional rights to free speech. We all knew it was unconstitutional the day he filed it, but like most Texas Conservatives, he isn’t beholden to the Constitution.

And here is Jared Patterson playing political games with teacher pay raises, promising to vote down any salary increase:

What about this district?

This Denton County district covers parts of Frisco, the Colony, Prosper, and Denton. These are some of the fastest-growing cities in North Texas. The Colony has doubled its population in the last 20 years, and like everywhere else in Texas, this area is growing more diverse by the day.

When Republicans redrew this district, they gave themselves a +13-point advantage. That was three years ago. Patterson ran unopposed in 2022, but as fast as this area is growing and diversifying, it’s doubtful that Republicans have the same advantage today.

While this district wasn’t yet a minority-majority district in 2021, it’s certainly on its way to becoming one. Residents in HD106 are more educated and wealthy than Texas as a whole, which doesn’t really work out in the Republican’s favor.

Denton County has seen record voter turnout this week. Through Day 3 of early voting, almost 21% of registered voters in Denton have already cast their ballot, one of the highest voter turnouts in the state. Higher voter turnout always favors Democrats.

Denton County has been trending blue, and in the last presidential election, they moved +8 points to the left.

We should expect Denton County to move further to the left this election. If they continue the high voter turnout rate, a countywide flip to blue could happen. Of course, this will benefit all Democrats running for office in this county.

Hava Johnston’s race in Texas House District 106 is one to watch closely.

Denton County’s changing demographics, combined with her strong progressive platform, make this an election that could significantly shift the political landscape in North Texas. With her commitment to public education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability, Johnston represents a new vision for the district—one that prioritizes the well-being of all Texans over divisive, far-right extremism.

The momentum is undeniable as voter turnout surges and Denton County trends further blue. Johnston’s candidacy is not just about challenging Jared Patterson’s harmful policies; it’s about fighting for a Texas that reflects the values of its increasingly diverse and engaged citizens. This could be the election that turns the tide in HD106.

You can learn more about Hava Johnston on her website, Facebook, and Instagram.

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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