Laurel Jordan Swift For House District 121
The Blue Battle 2024: Inside the Democratic races.
Bexar County is one of the most important counties in this year’s November election. Aside from the county expecting to become bluer this year, three Texas House seats in Bexar County are within the flippable range. One of those seats is House District 121, and it should prove to be an exciting race. (The other two are HD118 and HD122.)
HD121 is undoubtedly one of the Democrats’ targets, but it’s also a target of Greg Abbott and his voucher scheme. Which means there is a lot of stake in this San Antonio district. Let’s get into it.
Who is Laurel Jordan Swift?
Laurel Jordan Swift stands out as a candidate deeply rooted in the community she aims to serve. With over two decades of experience and a personal commitment to District 121, Swift brings a unique blend of professional expertise and heartfelt dedication. Her background in biology and medical sales, coupled with her journey through healthcare advocacy and raising a family, provides her with a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the district.
Swift advocates for Medicaid expansion, focusing on its potential to provide healthcare coverage to over a million low-income Texans with federal funding, thereby reducing the burden on local property taxes. Her stance on public education is equally compelling. Swift is a staunch opponent of diverting funds to private and homeschooling, which she argues lacks accountability. Instead, she champions increased state funding for public schools, competitive pay for teachers, and the development of critical thinking and trade skills among students.
Swift was born and raised in San Antonio and has a family history intertwined with the district. Her journey, from raising children to dealing with family health issues, informs her compassionate approach to governance.
Who is she running against?
House District 121 used to be the seat of Steve Allison, one of the last moderate Republicans in Texas. However, Allison voted against school segregation vouchers in the previous legislative session, so he became a prime target for Governor Greg Abbott to spend Jeff Yaas’ $10 million haul on.
Governor Abbott gave Marc Lahood’s campaign $730,000 to oust long-time incumbent Steve Allison. It worked. Although, Lahood spent most of that money on the primary race and currently has about $50,000 on hand. This primary race was an upset and likely alienated some of the Republican base in Bexar County.
Needless to say, Lahood is running as a far-right extremist in this race, which won’t gain him any brownie points in this district.
You know that old saying, “Hurt people hurt people?” Marc Lahood is a perfect example of this saying. Tragic incidents scar his past in the 1970s and 1990s, which have shaped who he is. He made that clear in the ‘about’ section on his webpage and several interviews on YouTube.
When a loved one passes, especially if it’s violent, it can traumatize a person for the rest of their life. We all deal with trauma in different ways. Lahood appears to be dealing with his trauma by looking to inflict trauma on others. Look at this snippet from his website:
Whether Lahood’s traumas are what drove him to extremism or not, we can’t ignore the fact that Lahood’s ideals are very far-right and align with fascism.
His focus on immigration and border security reveals an alarming disregard for human rights. He advocates for draconian measures like immediate deportation and the establishment of a permanent Border Protection Unit. This rhetoric is about fostering fear and division, hallmarks of fascist ideology.
Lahood’s approach to education, specifically his push for school vouchers and undermining public education, demonstrates his desire to dismantle public institutions in favor of private interests. He wants to strip resources from public schools, widening educational inequality. This is a fascist tactic to centralize control and weaken communal support systems.
Furthermore, Lahood’s vehement opposition to what he terms “woke culture” and his attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives reveal an intolerance for differing perspectives and a drive to homogenize thought. Framing these initiatives as threats, Lahood seeks to rally support through the manufactured cultural war, a classic fascist strategy to manipulate public sentiment.
Lahood’s insistence on “election integrity” under the guise of combating voter fraud is a fascist strategy to suppress dissent and manipulate democratic processes. His proposals to aggressively pursue alleged fraudsters and his criticism of reducing penalties for illegal voting serve to intimidate voters and stifle democratic participation, ensuring that only those who align with his extreme views feel safe to vote.
Furthermore, Lahood signed Brian Harrison’s racist “Contract On Texas” to remove political representation from communities of color in Texas.
What about this district?
When Republicans redrew these maps in 2021, they gave themselves a +2.3 advantage. A Democrat did challenge Allison in 2022, but Allison won by +10 points. However, as we all know, Democrats largely stayed home in 2022. This district only saw a 49% voter turnout. Plus, it was a midterm, which always favored Republicans. So, we don’t compare 2022 to a presidential year in 2024.
HD121 is a majority-minority district where the educational attainment and income are higher than in Texas as a whole.
This should work in Swift’s favor since polling from earlier this year told us that college-educated Hispanic voters are most likely to vote Democrat.
Of course, that poll was taken before Kamala Harris replaced Biden as the Democratic nominee. A new survey from earlier this week found Harris is substantially ahead of Trump among Latino voters.
These are all good signs for Laurel Jordan Swift in HD121. Because Bexar County is so instrumental in flipping Texas this year (fingers crossed), we know many people are on the ground working to ensure voters turn in November. That includes Swift, who is doing regular block walking.
If you’re in the San Antonio area and want to help flip this district, you can sign up to get to work with the Laurel Jordan Swift campaign here.
What is it going to take to flip this district?
Flipping House District 121 from red to blue is no small feat, but it is within reach. Ensuring that Democratic voters turn out in full force is critical. HD121 is a majority-minority district, and engaging these communities is essential. Swift must connect with minority voters, addressing their concerns and demonstrating how her policies will benefit them.
Swift’s firm stance on public education and Medicaid expansion should be central to her campaign. Her commitment to improving public schools and providing healthcare coverage to low-income Texans can attract voters who prioritize these issues.
Exposing Marc Lahood’s far-right extremism is crucial. Swift’s campaign should continue to highlight Lahood’s radical positions and how they do not align with the moderate and diverse values of HD121. Educating voters on the potential dangers of Lahood’s policies can sway undecided voters who his extremist views may put off.
The current political climate favors a Democratic shift, especially with Kamala Harris’s strong performance among Latino voters. Swift’s campaign should leverage this momentum, aligning her messaging with the broader Democratic agenda and capitalizing on the enthusiasm surrounding the national ticket.
Laurel Jordan Swift’s campaign is one of hope and progress for House District 121.
With her deep roots in the community, unwavering dedication to public service, and practical solutions to pressing issues, Swift embodies the change that HD121 needs.
This election is an opportunity for the residents of HD121 to choose a leader who understands their struggles and shares their vision for a brighter future. Supporting Swift isn’t just about flipping a district; it’s about fostering a community where everyone can thrive.
Vote early, vote often, just vote.
You can learn more about Laurel Jordan Swift on her website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
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:
August 19: Last day for write-in candidates to declare their candidacy.
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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a little lagniape; from TT
More Texans join unions although national membership is down
The growth in union membership came from the technology and nonprofit sectors, as well as coffee shops.
this could be helpful....my CD 12 candidate likely not to mention it, much less make it a campaign issue
but maybe better candidates can use:
"Texas is one of the worst states to have a baby in 2024, WalletHub study finds"
from FWST