Who is running for Texas House, District 147 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Texas House, District 147 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Texas House District 147.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Theodis DanielRepublican | Jolanda JonesDemocrat |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | No public position | Keep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenSaid · low |
| Abortion | No public position | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Said · low |
| AI data centers | No public position | Welcome them, but make them pay their full share of grid and water costsVoted · medium |
| School choice | Yes, universal school choice for every familySaid · low | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsSaid · medium |
| Election rules | No public position | Easier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyoneSaid · medium |
| Marijuana | No public position | Decriminalize small amounts (fines, not jail)Voted · medium |
| Kids online | No public position | Ban social media accounts for minorsVoted · medium |
Theodis Daniel
RepublicanPrivate citizen
Theodis Daniel is the Republican nominee for Texas House District 147, having won the March 3, 2026 Republican primary unopposed23. He is a military veteran and the father of DJ Daniel, a teenager with brain cancer who joined President Trump at a joint address to Congress54. He ran in the Nov. 4, 2025 special election for Texas's 18th Congressional District1.
Where they stand 2 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familylow
Said · low confidence- His campaign says he supports school choice and high-quality charter programs that give parents the power to choose the best education for their children regardless of ZIP code. (2026) source
Policing and crimeNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign says he will fight to raise starting pay for police, recruit officers from the communities they serve, expand de-escalation and language training, provide mental health support for officers, and hold officers accountable when trust is broken. (2026) source
- His campaign calls for tougher sentencing for violent offenders along with partnerships with faith leaders and investment in youth programs. (2026) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, AI data centers, Curriculum and books, Property taxes, Housing and growth, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, 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, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Jolanda Jones
Democrat · IncumbentState Representative, Texas House District 147
Jolanda Jones has represented Texas House District 147 in Houston since May 20221. She is an attorney with degrees from the University of Houston, a former Houston City Council member (2008 to 2012) and a former school board trustee14. She faces Republican Theodis Daniel on Nov. 3, 202623.
Where they stand 19 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium
Said · medium confidenceElection rulesEasier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyonemedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign calls for replacing Texas's opt-in voter registration with an opt-out system, restoring voting rights to people who have served prison time, and opposing laws that hinder access to the ballot. (2026-09) source
Kids onlineBan social media accounts for minorsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 186, 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
- Was away from her desk when SB 2420, the app store age check law, passed 120 to 9 and filed a House Journal statement that she would have voted yes. (2025-05-09) source
MarijuanaDecriminalize small amounts (fines, not jail)medium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 218, which would have reduced the criminal consequences of possessing small amounts of marijuana; it passed the House 87 to 59 but did not pass the Senate. (2023-04-27) source
- Voted no on SB 3, 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
AI data centersWelcome them, but make them pay their full share of grid and water costsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 6, 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
HealthcareKeep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenlow
Said · low confidence- Her campaign calls for expanding Medicaid and health coverage for the uninsured and simplifying enrollment in children's Medicaid and CHIP. (2026-09) source
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
Said · low confidence- Her campaign lists standing up for a woman's right to choose among her priorities. (2026-09) source
- Her campaign home page says she is a champion for affordable health care, including abortion care. (2026-09) source
- Voted no on HB 7, which set prohibitions on making and providing abortion-inducing drugs; it passed the House 82 to 48. (2025-08-28) source
Minimum wageNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign calls for paying living wages with benefits, including health care. (2026-09) source
RedistrictingNo single answer fitsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Filed a House Journal statement that she refused to be present for the 2025 congressional map vote because the map cracks and packs Black and brown districts in violation of the 14th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act, and that her constituents asked her not to give the majority a quorum. (2025-08-20) source
Gender care for minorsNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on SB 14, which banned gender transition procedures and treatments for minors; the House passed it 87 to 56. (2023-05-15) source
Transgender athletesNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on SB 15, which requires college athletes at public universities to compete based on biological sex; it passed the House 95 to 50. (2023-05-18) source
DEI programsNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on SB 17, which banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices and related practices at public colleges; it passed the House 83 to 62. (2023-05-22) source
- Voted no on SB 12, 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, which requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms; it passed the House 82 to 46. (2025-05-25) source
- Voted no on SB 11, which allows schools to set a period for prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious texts; it passed the House 88 to 48. (2025-05-23) source
Curriculum and booksNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on HB 900, which regulated library materials sold to or kept in public school libraries; it passed the House 95 to 52. (2023-04-20) source
- Voted no on SB 13, which set up local school library advisory councils and parental rights over school library materials; it passed the House 86 to 55. (2025-05-28) source
ImmigrationNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on SB 4, which made illegal entry into Texas a state crime and allowed state judges to order people to leave the country; it passed the House 83 to 61. (2023-11-14) source
- Voted no on SB 8, which requires certain sheriffs to enter agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration law; it passed the House 86 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
China policyNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on SB 17, which restricts purchases of Texas real property by certain foreign governments, entities and people, including from China; it passed the House 86 to 59. (2025-05-09) source
School vaccinesNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on HB 1586, which requires the state to post the school vaccine exemption affidavit form online; it passed the House 83 to 54. (2025-05-14) source
Property taxesNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on SB 10 in the 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
GunsNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign says she supports legislation to keep guns from falling into the wrong hands and to keep schools safe from gun violence. (2026-09) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Business regulation, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.