Charlene Ward Johnson
Democrat · IncumbentState Representative, Texas House District 139
Charlene Ward Johnson is a Democrat serving her first term in Texas House District 139, which she won in 202421. She previously served as a trustee of the Houston Community College system and describes a 30-year career in corporate America and service on community boards24. She lists affordable housing, flood control and infrastructure, schools and workforce training, health care and environmental protection as her top priorities3.
Where they stand 13 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
AI data centersAllow them case by case, with strict local rules on siting, noise and watermedium
Said · medium confidence- Said she supports responsible development that brings jobs and investment, but that major projects such as data centers should require transparency, meaningful community input, environmental and infrastructure reviews, and plans for roads, drainage and utilities. (2026-09) source
- Voted yes on SB 6 (2025), which set rules for how very large electricity users such as data centers connect to the grid and share related costs; it passed the House 103 to 25. (2025-05-27) source
MarijuanaMedical use onlymedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 46 (2025), which expanded the state's medical low-THC cannabis program; it passed the House 122 to 21. (2025-05-13) source
- Voted yes on SB 3 (2025), which would have banned most consumable hemp-derived THC products; it passed the House 87 to 54 and was later vetoed by the governor. (2025-05-22) source
Kids onlineBan social media accounts for minorsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 186 (2025), which would have prohibited minors from using social media platforms; it passed the House 116 to 25 but did not become law. (2025-04-30) source
Housing and growthAllow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 15 (2025), which bars certain large cities from requiring large minimum lot sizes for new homes; it passed the House 86 to 43. (2025-05-28) source
- Voted yes on the final version of SB 15 (2025), which bars certain large cities from requiring large minimum lot sizes for new homes; the House approved it 78 to 57. (2025-06-01) source
School choiceNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on SB 2 (2025), which created a state education savings account program that can pay for private school; it passed the House 86 to 61. (2025-04-17) source
AbortionNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on HB 7 (2025 second special session), which restricted the making and distribution of abortion-inducing drugs; it passed the House 82 to 48. (2025-08-28) source
DEI programsNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on SB 12 (2025), which set parental rights rules and prohibited diversity, equity and inclusion duties in K-12 public schools; it passed the House 88 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
Religion in schoolsNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on SB 10 (2025), which requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms; it passed the House 82 to 46. (2025-05-25) source
- Was recorded voting no on SB 11 (2025), which allows schools to set a period for prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious texts, and filed a statement in the House Journal that she intended to vote yes; it passed the House 88 to 48. (2025-05-23) source
China policyNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on SB 17 (2025), which restricts purchases of Texas land by governments, companies and people from certain countries, including China; it passed the House 86 to 59. (2025-05-09) source
ImmigrationNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on SB 8 (2025), which requires certain sheriffs to enter agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to help enforce federal immigration law; it passed the House 86 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
Property taxesNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on SB 10 (2025 second special session), which changed how the voter-approval tax rate is calculated for certain local governments; it passed the House 78 to 52 but did not become law. (2025-08-25) source
School vaccinesNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on HB 1586 (2025), which made the school vaccine exemption affidavit form easier to obtain; it passed the House 83 to 54. (2025-05-14) source
Policing and crimeNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 9 (2025), which tightened bail procedures and regulated charitable bail organizations; it passed the House 118 to 25. (2025-05-20) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Guns, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, Curriculum and books, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes.
Record
- Elected to the Houston Community College Board of Trustees in 20224.
- Won the 2024 Democratic primary runoff for House District 139 and was unopposed in the November 2024 general election1.
- Her campaign says she is the first woman elected to represent House District 139 and that she served on the Higher Education and the Culture, Recreation and Tourism committees in 20255.
- Won the March 2026 Democratic primary with 64.2 percent over two challengers; faces Republican Kyle Harding on Nov. 3, 20261.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.
Sources (21)
Every claim on this page links to one of these
- Texas House of Representatives District 139Ballotpedia
- 2026 Texas Primary Voter GuideHouston Chronicle
- Q&A: Meet the candidates for Texas House of Representatives District 139Community Impact
- State Representative, District 139: Charlene Ward JohnsonHouston Voters Guide (League of Women Voters of Houston)
- Rep Charlene Ward Johnson for TexasCharlene Ward Johnson campaign
- House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 46: SB 2 (Record 300)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
- House Journal, 89th Legislature 2nd Called Session, Day 10: HB 7 (Record 135)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
- House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 73: SB 12 (Record 3506)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
- House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 73: SB 10 (Record 3503)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
- House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 71: SB 11 (Record 3315)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
- House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 60: SB 17 (Record 1881)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
- House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 73: SB 8 (Record 3502)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
- House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 75: SB 6 (Record 3643)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
- House Journal, 89th Legislature 2nd Called Session, Day 7: SB 10 (Record 64)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
- House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 64: HB 1586 (Record 2465)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
- House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 68: SB 9 (Record 3003)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
- House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 63: HB 46 (Record 2257)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
- House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 70: SB 3 (Record 3304)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
- House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 53: HB 186 (Record 972)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
- House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 76: SB 15 (Record 3837)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)
- House Journal, 89th Legislature, Day 80: SB 15 conference report (Record 4137)Texas House Journal (Texas House of Representatives)