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We can have a strong border while reforming our draconian and unwieldy immigration system. If good people want to live and work here legally, it shouldn’t take them decades to make that happen. America, and Texas in particular, was built by and for immigrants. This should be a point of pride, not shame.

Immigration Reform

JD Vance <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2025/10/29/jd-vance-immigrants-neighbors-language-racist/86966480007/">recently expressed</a> his fear and distrust of immigrants: "I don't want to live next to four families of strangers." Well, JD, I don't know about you, but I was raised to believe that a smile and an invitation to a neighborhood barbecue is a really easy way of turning a stranger into a friend. Luckily, the only thing standing between me and a delicious international buffet is a little something called Google Translate. <img src="https://run.imgix.net/50134015-8872-4ae0-aea3-c9052afbe0aa/bb7ddc20-027d-4d52-87d1-aca703350775/bb7ddc20-027d-4d52-87d1-aca703350775.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C111%2C1272%2C1531&amp;w=1500" alt="Image by bluenautica from Pixabay" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">Despite what MAGA Republicans will tell you, immigration is good for American society. According to the <a href="https://www.centerforpolicyprogress.org/_files/ugd/87a795_ec636f87d64349ef854f27a3e0362f27.pdf">Center for Policy Progress</a>, most immigrants come to the U.S. legally, immigration is vital to a strong U.S. economy, and they pay into things like Social Security without using nearly as many benefits as native-born Americans, on average. In fact, the data show that the massive deportation effort by the Trump Administration has done serious long-term damage to our country, as seen by <a href="https://www.nilc.org/articles/mass-deportations-the-economy-and-you/">increased food and housing costs</a>. Does this mean that our immigration system doesn't need to be fixed? Heck no. It needs an overhaul. In fact, one of the reasons for illegal immigration is because <a href="https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/fact-sheet/why-dont-they-just-get-line/">it is virtually impossible to obtain legal status for many immigrants</a>. I don’t know about you, but if I’m in a situation in which I literally can’t feed my own children or I’m worried about being killed by drug cartels, I’m going to do whatever it takes to protect my family, including crossing a border illegally. When the Trump Administration tries to justify deportation of undocumented immigrants by calling them “criminals” for merely crossing the border, it is just an excuse to do what he has long wanted to do: empty America of anyone poor and brown or black.When I'm elected, I'll defund ICE. Period. Instead of funding an unregulated, above-the-law secret police department, I’ll focus on increasing our resources at the border. This will allow us to have a safe and secure border while efficiently screening immigrants seeking asylum (by the way, “seeking asylum” doesn’t mean “escaped from an insane asylum,” as is often <a href="https://okmagazine.com/p/donald-trump-dumber-rock-confuses-political-insane-asylums/">confused by some people</a>). I’ll seek to improve the <a href="https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20220824">guest worker program</a>, thereby providing the labor we need while reducing the motivation for illegal border crossings, and I’ll create a quick pathway to citizenship for <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/DACA">DACA</a> recipients.

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It’s common knowledge that West Texas runs on oil and gas jobs. But that “common knowledge” is a misconception. Texas now has more green energy jobs than oil and gas combined. This is a good thing, because we need these industries if Texas is to remain competitive as an energy producer.

Energy Production

Yes, it’s true! The green energy sector now <a href="https://climatepower.us/news/clean-energy-workers-in-texas-surpass-those-working-in-oil-gas-industry/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">employs more West Texans</a> than oil and gas combined. Texas remains America’s top producer of oil and gas, with the majority of that coming from the Permian Basin, a huge part of which is in District 11, our district. According to <a href="https://texas2036.org/posts/texas-extraordinary-energy-production-growth/">Texas 2036</a>, a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy research organization, Texas currently accounts for 42% of U.S. oil production, 27% of natural gas production, 22% of wind energy generation, and 17% of solar energy production. I am a progressive Democrat who believes that climate change is real, but let me be frank: I will not endanger the jobs of the people in my district. Period.&nbsp; <img src="https://run.imgix.net/50134015-8872-4ae0-aea3-c9052afbe0aa/a8f88792-ad37-4d6c-88c5-901be3f2e732/a8f88792-ad37-4d6c-88c5-901be3f2e732.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1920%2C1280&amp;w=1500" alt="Image by Walter Bichler from Pixabay" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">However, my interest is in protecting the jobs of my constituents, not catering to the oil and gas billionaires. This means that oil and gas executives (<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/august-pfluger/summary?cid=N00045421">all happily funding the current District 11 Representative</a>) are going to tell you that I’m dangerous and will push for a bunch of impractical regulations that will endanger your jobs. This is a lie.&nbsp;Am I concerned about the use of fossil fuels? Absolutely–for a variety of reasons. The fact is that not only is our heavy reliance on fossil fuels certainly <a href="https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/causes-effects-climate-change">contributing to climate change</a>, but they will run out, <a href="https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=38&amp;t=6">and sooner than you think</a>. The industry’s refusal to acknowledge that last part is what always blows my mind. I was a Girl Scout as a kid, and our motto was “Be Prepared.” Just because something won’t happen tomorrow doesn’t mean we don’t prepare for it today. Increasing production of alternative energies will bring more jobs–and jobs that will still be around for generations to come!

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<img src="https://run.imgix.net/50134015-8872-4ae0-aea3-c9052afbe0aa/b7135fc1-b7c1-4dda-8582-0b992b4ccaaf/b7135fc1-b7c1-4dda-8582-0b992b4ccaaf.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C6187%2C4125&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><h3>¡Hola! Soy Claire Reynolds y me postulo para el Congreso de los Estados Unidos por el distrito congresional número 11 de Texas. Vivo en Austin, y la manipulación de distritos electorales me ha colocado en el distrito 11, que se extiende a través de San Ángelo, Midland y más allá de Odessa.&nbsp;</h3>Nací en Indiana y crecí en el centro de Illinois, en plena región productora de soja. Me licencié en Periodismo por la Universidad Northwestern (Escuela de Periodismo Medill) y viví en Chicago durante varios años. Ahí fue donde aprendí a amar a los Cubs y a no poner nunca, jamás, ketchup en los perros calientes. Sin embargo, tras pasar unos cuantos inviernos más en Chicago, me mudé a San Diego, donde obtuve mi doctorado en Derecho en la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de San Diego y aprobé el examen de acceso al colegio de abogados de California. Ahí también descubrí que no estaba hecha para el surf.Me mudé a Texas en 2007 y no me he arrepentido. Texas es mi hogar y he vivido aquí más tiempo que en cualquier otro lugar. Aquí conocí a mi esposo, crié a mis hijos y descubrí quién soy realmente. Creo que el Parque Nacional Big Bend es el lugar más hermoso que he visto y nos dirigimos al oeste al menos tres veces al año para disfrutar de las rocas, las puestas de sol y el chile con carne. Pero, sobre todo, me encanta que Texas esté lleno de una población tan diversa y vibrante de trabajadores petroleros, emprendedores tecnológicos, vaqueros cósmicos, amantes de la barbacoa, artistas urbanos, inmigrantes trabajadores, músicos de todo tipo, ganaderos tradicionales y astronautas de verdad. Es un lugar increíble y me siento honrada de que se me considere para representar a este hermoso e inspirador estado.<h2 style="text-align: center;">Por qué me postulo</h2>Estoy enojada. Muy, muy enojada. El presidente de los Estados Unidos está pisoteando los derechos civiles de los estadounidenses y parece creer que la Constitución es solo una sugerencia. Está asumiendo poderes que el Congreso está cediendo alegremente. Trata a los inmigrantes, la columna vertebral trabajadora de nuestra sociedad, como delincuentes en el mejor de los casos y como animales en el peor. Está destruyendo nuestras relaciones con los aliados tradicionales de Estados Unidos y acercándose a nuestros adversarios más peligrosos. Está desmantelando programas de investigación científica e instituciones sociales vitales. Está obsesionado con castigar a cualquiera que se atreva a criticarlo. Y el Congreso, incluido nuestro propio representante del Distrito 11, parece estar encantado con este evidente deslizamiento hacia el fascismo y el autoritarismo.Soy optimista. No creo que volvamos nunca a la «normalidad». Pero está bien, porque la «normalidad» no funcionaba realmente para muchos de nuestros vecinos más vulnerables. Ahora tenemos la oportunidad de construir algo mejor. ¿Nuestro sistema de inmigración está hecho pedazos? No pasa nada, desde un principio fue un desorden. ¿Se ha recortado la financiación de nuestro sistema de educación pública? Repensemos cómo debería funcionar la educación pública, desde cero. Aprovechemos el desastre que nos han dejado y, en lugar de intentar recrear una fantasía mítica de lo que teníamos, creemos algo nuevo. Algo que funcione para todos, y no solo para los ricos y los blancos.

We are in this together, and we need your help. We would love for you to join our fight to improve the lives of all Texans in District 11.One easy and fun way to pitch in is to <a href="https://www.mobilize.us/clairefortx11/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">attend an event</a> Claire is supporting.If you have an idea, please use the contact form here.

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<h2>Verification Details</h2>Last updated: 2025-12-20T16:42-06:00 If you would like to verify that something, or someone, is actually connected to the Claire Reynolds for Congress campaign, this is a fine page to do it on! Claire Reynolds is a licensed attorney in Texas, and her bar card number is #24067772.Our campaign manager is Camron Rushin, and can be reached at <a href="mailto:camron@clairereynoldsforcongress.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">camron@clairereynoldsforcongress.org</a>.Our shadow IT admin is Tod Beardsley, and can be reached at <a href="mailto:todb@hugessuccess.org">todb@hugessuccess.org</a>. His biographical information can be found at <a href="https://github.com/todb/">https://github.com/todb/</a> because he's a huge nerd.Our official Reddit account is <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Claire4CongressTX11/">u/Claire4CongressTX11/</a> which will post from time to time. The rest of our social media empire is easily verified by just looking at the icon menus throughout this site.

Nobody should go bankrupt because they break a hip or get cancer. And the current system of having our jobs associated with our health insurance is both absurd and unique in the developed world. A single-payer health insurance system may seem out of reach, but Medicare and the VA do just that for millions and millions of Texans.

Healthcare

Like most Americans, I've had loved ones deal with a serious healthcare issue. I will never forget sitting in a hospital, overwhelmed and scared, wondering how I was going to pay for this hospitalization. I also remember thinking that I was incredibly fortunate to have decent health insurance, because I couldn't even imagine how much worse my situation would be without it. When faced with illness and injury, Americans should be focusing on getting better–not on how to pay their medical bills. <img src="https://run.imgix.net/50134015-8872-4ae0-aea3-c9052afbe0aa/e2b609c5-4dc9-4967-9fbd-8b0c192ed1e5/e2b609c5-4dc9-4967-9fbd-8b0c192ed1e5.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1920%2C1280&amp;w=1500" alt="Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="37" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><a href="https://gfmag.com/data/richest-countries-in-the-world/">America is one of the wealthiest nations in the world</a>. However, according to the <a href="https://www.centerforpolicyprogress.org/_files/ugd/87a795_fcb2b8069aa74c12bbf812295d5581be.pdf">Center for Policy Progress</a>, among large, advanced countries, we have the most expensive healthcare system and the highest percentage of uninsured people. As a result, we have one of the lowest life expectancies of large developed countries and the highest maternal mortality rate. This is unacceptable. When I'm elected to Congress, I will focus on transitioning us to a single-payer healthcare system, such as <a href="https://medicare4all.org">Medicare for All</a>. This obviously won't happen overnight, so first I'll fight to expand Medicare coverage and reduce the cost of prescription drugs. But I want to be very clear: There is absolutely no reason that we cannot have a single-payer healthcare system in this country. Anyone who tells you otherwise either has a financial stake in our current inoperable system or lacks vision. This is America–we&nbsp; can do big things!

Para consultas de prensa, póngase en contacto con: <a href="mailto:press@clairereynoldsforcongress.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">press@clairereynoldsforcongress.com</a>Para cualquier otra consulta, póngase en contacto con: <a href="mailto:press@clairereynoldsforcongress.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">info@clairereynoldsforcongress.com</a>

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<img src="https://run.imgix.net/50134015-8872-4ae0-aea3-c9052afbe0aa/b9f76eaf-0a53-4c8d-bc13-94433df4156b/b9f76eaf-0a53-4c8d-bc13-94433df4156b.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C6187%2C4125&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="37.5" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><h3>Hi! I’m Claire Reynolds and I’m running for U.S. Congress in Texas’s 11th Congressional District. I live in Austin, and gerrymandering has placed me in District 11, which stretches out through San Angelo, Midland, and past Odessa.&nbsp;</h3>I was born in Indiana and grew up in central Illinois, deep in soybean country. I received my degree in journalism from Northwestern University (Medill School of Journalism), and lived in Chicago for several years. That’s where I learned to love the Cubs and to never, ever put ketchup on a hot dog. After a few more Chicago winters, though, I headed out to San Diego, and earned my Juris Doctorate at the University of San Diego School of Law and passed the California bar. That’s also where I learned that I was not cut out for surfing.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/50134015-8872-4ae0-aea3-c9052afbe0aa/41c2a0e1-5ee5-411e-b3d9-dc31873c33d5/41c2a0e1-5ee5-411e-b3d9-dc31873c33d5.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=11&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C958%2C959&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="Rocking bangs" align="right" alignwidth="27" tiltdirection="right" variant="framed">Rocking bangsI moved to Texas in 2007, and I haven’t looked back. Texas is my home, and I’ve lived here longer than I’ve lived anywhere else. I met my husband here, raised my kids here, and I learned exactly who I am here. I think Big Bend National Park is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen and we head out west at least three times a year for the rocks, the sunsets, and the chili. Most of all, though, I love that Texas is filled with such a diverse and vibrant population of oil field roughnecks, tech entrepreneurs, cosmic cowboys, barbecue gourmands, urban artists, hard-working immigrants, musicians of all stripes, good-old-boy cattle ranchers, and literal astronauts. It’s an amazing place and I’m honored to be considered to represent this beautiful and inspiring state.<h2 style="text-align: center;">Why I’m Running</h2>I’m angry. Really, really angry. The President of the United States is trampling the civil rights of Americans and appears to believe the Constitution is just a suggestion. He’s taking over powers that Congress is cheerfully abdicating. He’s treating immigrants—the hard-working backbone of our society—like criminals at best and animals at worst. He’s destroying our relationships with America’s longstanding allies and cozying up to our most dangerous adversaries. He’s dismantling vital scientific research programs and social institutions. He’s obsessed with punishing anyone who dares criticize him. And Congress, including our own District 11 representative, appears to be overjoyed about this obvious slide into fascism and authoritarianism.I’m optimistic. I don’t think we’ll ever get back to “normal.” But that’s okay, because “normal” wasn’t really working for a lot of our most vulnerable neighbors. Now, we have the opportunity to build something better. Our immigration system is in tatters? That’s okay, it was pretty messy to begin with. Our public education system has been defunded? Let’s rethink how public education should work, from the ground up. Let’s take the mess left behind and instead of trying to recreate a mythical fantasy of what we had, let’s make something new. Something that works for everyone, and not just the wealthy and the white.

<h2>Absentee/Ballot by Mail</h2>If you are expecting to be out of town from February 17 to March 3, or otherwise unable to or choose to vote in person, you must <a href="https://www.votetexas.gov/voting-by-mail/application-for-ballot-by-mail.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">request</a> a mail ballot now. Your county's election clerk must have your application for a mail-in ballot on February 20, not just postmarked that day, so you should mail it no later than February 13. If you request a mail ballot but change your mind and vote in person, you may still vote normally in person, but only if you bring the ballot with you to the polling place to surrender it. In some circumstances, you may vote provisionally.You must, of course, return your completed ballot to your county's election clerk no later than March 3. Postmarks may be unreliable; <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/31/usps-postmark-delays-taxes-ballots-bills.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">recent changes</a> by the US Post Office will delay postmarks, making them unreliable markers for when something was dropped in a mailbox.<h4>If you can, avoid the ballot by mail process entirely</h4>As you can see, voting by mail in Texas is somewhat complicated. If you can vote in person, please do so.Specifically, early voting in Texas is much more convenient for most people than waiting until Election Day, or even mailing in a ballot. Polling places are staffed with some of the most helpful people in the world, and they want nothing more than to help you to vote the way you want to vote.<h2>Williamson County</h2>The Republican Party in Williamson County <a href="https://www.kut.org/politics/2026-01-16/williamson-county-voting-locations-texas-primary-election-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">now requires</a> all voters (Republican, Democrat, or Independent) to vote only in their precinct on Election Day, rather than allow the county-wide voting freedom that most other counties in Texas enjoy. If you are planning on voting in person in WIlliamson County, please plan accordingly (and thank a Republican for the inconvenience).

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For Press Inquiries, please contact: <a href="mailto:press@clairereynoldsforcongress.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">press@clairereynoldsforcongress.com</a>For any other inquiries, please contact: <a href="mailto:press@clairereynoldsforcongress.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">info@clairereynoldsforcongress.com</a>To meet Claire in person, <a href="https://www.mobilize.us/clairefortx11/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">attend an event</a> she's likely to be at.

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I want to restore the funding that’s been cut from critical scientific and philanthropic programs. Texas in particular should be a leader in research to cure disease, fight hunger, and maintain local energy independence. Texas is home to NASA and SpaceX for crying out loud.

Scientific Research

For the past year, I’ve been volunteering as a pro bono attorney for <a href="https://www.lawyersforgoodgovernment.org/impact">Lawyers for Good Government’s Fund Protection Clinic</a>. In that role, I advised organizations that had been devastated by the Trump administration’s heavy handed chainsaw cuts to federal grants. I saw amazing organizations wiped out of existence because they dared to care about reducing maternal mortality, mitigate the effects of pollution on communities of color, or perform any <a href="https://www.ehn.org/nasa-shutters-iconic-new-york-climate-lab-as-trump-slashes-earth-science-budget">climate science at all</a>.&nbsp; <img src="https://run.imgix.net/50134015-8872-4ae0-aea3-c9052afbe0aa/2bbd489b-180d-4548-b8d5-d29bed3514c5/2bbd489b-180d-4548-b8d5-d29bed3514c5.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1281%2C1754&amp;w=1500" alt="Image by This_is_Engineering from Pixabay" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="30" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">DOGE didn’t just decimate grants to outside agencies–it annihilated government research targeting <a href="https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty-research/policy-topics/science-technology-data/former-white-house-science-advisor-warns">weather, disease, and space exploration</a>. Even <a href="https://cisa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CISA</a>, the Cybersecurity and Information Security Agency (and my husband’s former employer), <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/03/cisa-staff-layoffs-resignations-trump-cuts">saw massive reductions</a> in personnel in 2025, at a time when our international adversaries are actively arming up. Those government research positions are gone, and it’s not like we can just easily bring those people back. What was once considered a stable, fulfilling career is now known to be a job that can easily be eliminated based on the whims of the current President, a member of his Cabinet, or even a <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/who-big-balls-teen-doge-engineer-edward-coristine-2027698">very weird flunky</a>. I don’t know about you, but watching decades of work and research being gleefully wiped away has infuriated me. When I’m elected to Congress, I will not only work to restore funding to these very important institutions, but I’ll spearhead investigation into how and why DOGE was allowed to cut funding that Congress had authorized. Furthermore, I’ll seek additional protections for federal workers against these kinds of cuts.&nbsp; We can be good stewards of the taxpayers’ money without taking a chainsaw to vitally important programs.

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<h2 style="text-align: center;">One Sentence Bio</h2>Claire Reynolds is an attorney running for U.S. Congress in Texas’s 11th Congressional District to defend civil rights, uphold the Constitution, and build a government that works for everyone.<h2 style="text-align: center;">One Paragraph Bio</h2>Claire Reynolds is an attorney and candidate for U.S. Congress, representing Texas’s 11th Congressional District (CD-11) who has called Texas home since 2007. Born in Indiana and raised in rural Illinois, she earned her undergraduate degree in journalism from Northwestern University and her Juris Doctorate from the University of San Diego School of Law. After passing the California bar, she headed to Austin to make her home, and has served at the Texas State Bar in the <a href="https://www.texasbar.com/Content/NavigationMenu/ForThePublic/ProblemswithanAttorney/GrievanceEthicsInfo1/OfficeOfCDC.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel</a> for the last 12 years. Claire is running because she believes Congress must stand up to an out-of-control authoritarian administration by protecting immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and communities of color.<h2 style="text-align: center;">Full Bio</h2>Claire's full bio is available at &lt;<a href="https://www.clairereynoldsforcongress.org/about">https://www.clairereynoldsforcongress.org/about</a>&gt;, which is also short-linked and redirected from &lt;<a href="https://claire-11.org/about">https://claire-11.org/about</a>&gt;. Permission is granted to reuse all three of these bios under the the <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CC-BY-SA 4.0</a> license.<h2 style="text-align: center;">Endorsements</h2>Claire's running list of endorsements is at <a href="https://www.clairereynoldsforcongress.org/endorsements" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">https://www.clairereynoldsforcongress.org/endorsements</a><h2 style="text-align: center;">Press Releases</h2>Press releases from the campaign are available at <a href="https://www.clairereynoldsforcongress.org/news" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">https://www.clairereynoldsforcongress.org/news</a>

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Fighting for Our Community

Inflation has far outstripped salaries over just the past few years, not to mention the past several decades. Jobs that used to allow a family to live comfortably now can’t even keep a single person living above the poverty level. <a href="https://demographics.texas.gov/Visualizations/2024/PovertyInTx/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Texas is currently the 11th poorest state in the country</a>, and 1 in 5 children live at or below the poverty level in Texas. This is unconscionable.

Affordability

Nobody should go bankrupt because they break a hip or get cancer. And the current system of having our jobs associated with our health insurance is both absurd and unique in the developed world. A single-payer health insurance system may seem out of reach, but Medicare and the VA do just that for millions and millions of Texans.

We can have a strong border while reforming our draconian and unwieldy immigration system. If good people want to live and work here legally, it shouldn’t take them decades to make that happen. America, and Texas in particular, was built by and for immigrants. This should be a point of pride, not shame.

A woman's right to choose had been settled law since 1973, but the radical right in Texas and the Supreme Court have rolled back almost 50 years of reproductive freedom in 2022. <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/fact-sheet/public-opinion-on-abortion/">Most Americans do not want this</a>. Abortion in Texas should be safe, legal, and rare.

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Claire Reynolds is running for Congress in <a href="https://tx11.us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Texas’s 11th District</a> to challenge the entrenched interests that gerrymandered her neighbors into a deeply conservative district, and build a government that works for everyday people in Odessa, Midland, San Angelo, and TX-11’s new slivers of north Austin and Pflugerville. She believes bold ideas can make real change happen.Claire Reynolds se postula para el Congreso en <a href="https://tx11.us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">el distrito 11 de Texas</a> con el objetivo de desafiar los intereses arraigados que manipularon a sus vecinos para convertirlos en un distrito profundamente conservador, y construir un gobierno que trabaje para la gente ordinaria de Odessa, Midland, San Ángelo y las nuevas franjas del distrito TX-11 al norte de Austin y Pflugerville.

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A woman's right to choose had been settled law since 1973, but the radical right in Texas and the Supreme Court have rolled back almost 50 years of reproductive freedom in 2022. <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/fact-sheet/public-opinion-on-abortion/">Most Americans do not want this</a>. Abortion in Texas should be safe, legal, and rare.

I’ll be frank: I absolutely understand why people oppose abortions. Truly! If your religion teaches you that life begins at conception, then the idea of legal abortion must be incredibly distressing to you. I don’t believe this, but I’m capable of empathizing with other people and understanding their point of view. <img src="https://run.imgix.net/50134015-8872-4ae0-aea3-c9052afbe0aa/619b8879-de9d-4268-98b8-6705e0d2612a/619b8879-de9d-4268-98b8-6705e0d2612a.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1920%2C1280&amp;w=1500" alt="Image by Carrie Z from Pixabay" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">But here’s the thing: The data shows that <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/05/27/1099739656/do-restrictive-abortion-laws-actually-reduce-abortion-a-global-map-offers-insigh">banning abortions does not prevent abortions</a>–it just endangers the lives of women.&nbsp; Not only does it endanger their physical well-being, but also <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10003498/">their psychological and economic well-being</a>. Since the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade, the number of abortions in the United States has actually <a href="https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/abortion-trends-before-and-after-dobbs/">increased</a>. Women are better served when they can reduce unplanned pregnancies by having easy access to sex education, family planning services, and contraception.&nbsp; When I am elected, I will make it a priority to push for federal legislation protecting a woman’s right to choose and protecting abortion providers. Currently, providing an abortion in Texas can result in a felony conviction with <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2022/08/25/texas-trigger-law-abortion/">a penalty of life imprisonment and a $100,000 fine</a>. No wonder women are <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/josseli-barnica-death-miscarriage-texas-abortion-ban">dying</a>. Doctors are afraid to treat things like ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages. Doctors aren’t lawyers, and honestly, we probably don’t want them to be. Nobody should fear going to jail or losing their livelihoods because someone chose to end a pregnancy. Family planning shouldn’t stop there. If we are truly trying to show Americans that we value the lives of children, then we need to do more than policing their parents. Let’s reduce our maternal mortality rate, eliminate childhood poverty, implement universal pre-K, and make it easier for families to access affordable childcare.

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Inflation has far outstripped salaries over just the past few years, not to mention the past several decades. Jobs that used to allow a family to live comfortably now can’t even keep a single person living above the poverty level. One in five children live at or below the poverty level in Texas.

Donald Trump called “affordability” a “<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/12/11/nx-s1-5639957/trump-affordability-hoax-economy-midterms">hoax</a>” and a “<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-trump-says-the-word-affordability-is-a-con-job-by-the-democrats">con job</a>.” Despite what he may believe, Americans are not stupid. I may not be a math wizard, but I can do basic arithmetic like comparing prices from year to year, and I can see that our paychecks don’t cover basic necessities like housing, food, doctor’s appointments, and childcare.&nbsp; According to <a href="https://texas2036.org/posts/2025-policy-impact-improving-housing-affordability/">Texas 2036</a>, a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy research organization, “since 2019, median home prices have risen 40%, far outstripping income growth… [and] Texas needs an estimated 320,000 additional units to meet current demand.” We don’t have to just sit and take this. As your representative, I will do the following: <img src="https://run.imgix.net/50134015-8872-4ae0-aea3-c9052afbe0aa/bb08f570-83c4-46f5-880e-59513794d185/bb08f570-83c4-46f5-880e-59513794d185.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1920%2C1440&amp;w=1500" alt="Image by S Cross from Pixabay" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">Housing: <a href="https://www.housingwire.com/articles/updated-list-of-all-trumps-actions-that-impact-housing/">restore funding</a> to federal housing programs and get rid of the <a href="https://www.agc.org/tariff-resources-contractors">tariffs on construction</a> materials, thereby making new housing more affordableFood: reverse Trump’s funding cuts to programs like <a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/by-the-numbers-harmful-republican-megabill-takes-food-assistance-away-from">SNAP</a> and expand access to more people; <a href="https://taxfoundation.org/blog/trump-tariffs-food-prices/">reduce tariffs on food</a> and <a href="https://www.fb.org/market-intel/understanding-the-new-tariffs">agricultural equipment</a> (while still maintaining preference for food grown by American farmers); and restore funding to local programs designed to assist community members with food access, including providing enough funds for free lunch for schoolchildrenChildcare: Fully fund federal programs like the <a href="https://acf.gov/occ/guide-ccdf-resources">Child Care and Development Fund</a> and <a href="https://www.headstart.gov/">Head Start</a>/<a href="https://www.headstart.gov/programs/article/early-head-start-programs">Early Head Start</a> Taxpayer money should be spent on things that make life better for us, not on things like ICE goon squads that kidnap people off the street or manufactured wars in Venezuela and Central America.

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Healthcare

But what if we did?

Artificial intelligence is here and it isn’t going away–but that doesn’t mean we have to accept whatever is thrown at us by a few billionaires racing to cash in. It's possible to embrace scientific advances while still ensuring that they proceed in a responsible way that will do the least harm to Americans. Sensible regulation is sensible.

AI

According to a <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/694685/americans-prioritize-safety-data-security.aspx">recent Gallup poll</a>, Americans want their government to regulate AI, even if it means “progress” will be slower. Why? Well, AI output is only as good as the models it’s trained on. In other words, “garbage in, garbage out.”&nbsp; <img src="https://run.imgix.net/50134015-8872-4ae0-aea3-c9052afbe0aa/2d9dff9d-3c55-40c0-8acd-b8ace1ca121a/2d9dff9d-3c55-40c0-8acd-b8ace1ca121a.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1920%2C1280&amp;w=1500" alt="Image by Sergei Tokmakov, Esq. https://Terms.Law from Pixabay" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">A prime example: When I was working at the State Bar of Texas, in the Office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel, I saw a number of cases in which <a href="https://www.damiencharlotin.com/hallucinations/">attorneys used artificial intelligence</a> to write their legal briefs, only to be found out once the judge realized they cited hallucinated cases in those briefs. Why is this? Well, AI platforms like ChatGPT do not have access to the full universe of legal research, nor can they understand the complicated-yet-subtle differences between case outcomes. Siri is not a trained paralegal. In addition, bad actors can easily manipulate AI platforms into producing <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/07/09/nx-s1-5462609/grok-elon-musk-antisemitic-racist-content">racist diatribes</a>, giving <a href="https://www.psychiatrist.com/news/neda-suspends-ai-chatbot-for-giving-harmful-eating-disorder-advice/">terrible medical advice</a>, or even <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/10/19/g-s1-29030/us-probe-tesla-full-self-driving-system">causing fatalities</a>. Alexa is not a registered nurse. Yet the Trump administration is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/technology/ai-trump-executive-order.html">trying to stop</a> states from implementing even the most basic, low-level regulations on artificial intelligence. This doesn’t mean outlawing AI or blocking scientific progress, but there are practical steps we can take to keep pace with China while minimizing the very real risks and costs highlighted by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_Anyone_Builds_It,_Everyone_Dies">experts</a>.For example, we can pass laws regarding the use of AI to create deepfakes or to impersonate real people; we can require that companies use independent experts (and I mean truly independent experts) to evaluate the safety of AI protocols and new implementations; and we can collaborate with other nations to develop an international regulatory framework for AI research.When I’m elected to Congress, I will make <a href="https://rollingstoneindia.com/terminator-dark-fate-review-sarah-connor-saves-world-franchise/">Sarah Connor</a> proud and fight like hell.

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Claire Reynolds in a Speed Campaigning musical chairs event (with an intently focused listener)

Claire Reynolds sharing a laugh with West Texas voters

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Claire Reynolds at the Texas State Capitol

Affordability

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Claire Reynolds is a progressive Democrat running for Congress in Texas District 11.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJanuary 20, 2026Contact: Claire Reynolds, <a href="mailto:media@clairereynoldsforcongress.org">media@clairereynoldsforcongress.org</a>, 512-666-0424Austin, TX - Claire Reynolds, Democratic candidate for U.S. House in Texas’ 11th Congressional District, announced today that the campaign’s first Federal Election Commission filing shows more than $10,000 raised in its opening reporting period, all from individual donors.Crossing the five-figure mark in a first filing is an early viability benchmark for first-time challengers like Reynolds, signaling that a campaign has the organizational capacity and donor interest needed to establish a serious, competitive operation.“This campaign is being built the right way, from the ground up, with support from individual donors and volunteers who believe this district deserves a real choice in 2026,” said Reynolds. “This filing shows that the campaign is organized and underway, and that after five years without a serious challenge, incumbent August Pfluger will now face a credible, well-supported opponent.”The report reflects grassroots support with no PAC money and no party committee funding, with 100% of fundraising coming from individual donors. Just one month after filing to run, Reynolds has established an early foundation as the campaign continues to expand its in-district donor base and volunteer network.In the months ahead, the campaign will focus on growing local support, building field capacity, and taking Reynolds’s message directly to voters across TX-11.Additional information about Claire Reynolds’ campaign can be found at her website, <a href="http://clairereynoldsforcongress.org">clairereynoldsforcongress.org</a>.

The campaign’s first Federal Election Commission (FEC) filing shows more than $10,000 raised in its opening reporting period, all from individual donors. <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/claire-reynolds-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">You can keep the momentum going!</a>

Claire Reynolds Clears Key Early Fundraising Benchmark in First FEC Filing

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The Trump administration is actively working to undermine 2026 elections, including through bizarre redistricting. But, to paraphrase Dr. Ian Malcom, Democracy finds a way. Do not be doomered into giving up, and make a <a href="/094374df-08ca-4af9-8017-e6c1fc28419b">plan to vote</a>.

Trump is trying to change how the midterm elections are conducted

<h4>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</h4>AUSTIN, Texas - Claire Reynolds, an experienced attorney with a career devoted to upholding ethical standards and protecting the public, today announced her candidacy for Congress in Texas’s 11th Congressional District. Reynolds is running to challenge entrenched political interests that have repeatedly manipulated district lines to enhance partisan advantage rather than reflect the diverse communities of Central Texas. Texas’s 11th District now stretches across West Texas from Odessa to San Angelo and into portions of North Austin and Pflugerville, following a controversial redistricting process that was challenged in court over the use of race, with litigation that ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court. “For my entire career, I’ve believed that the rule of law only matters if it’s applied fairly and enforced without fear or favoritism,” Reynolds said. “I’ve seen what happens when powerful people think the rules don’t apply to them, and I’ve spent my career holding them accountable.” Reynolds served in the Office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel at the State Bar of Texas for 12 years. In that role, she worked in attorney discipline enforcement, supporting investigations and prosecutions of lawyers who violated the law or professional ethics, helping victims recover stolen client funds. Her work placed her at the intersection of law, accountability, and real-world harm–experience she says is urgently needed in Congress.Now, she is launching her candidacy to call out a broader pattern of executive overreach and the erosion of constitutional checks and balances.“Congress is supposed to be a co-equal branch of government, not a spectator,” Reynolds said. “When the executive branch interferes with elections, ignores due process, and concentrates power in the White House, it’s Congress’s job to say ‘no.’ Too many members have chosen silence instead.” A lifelong progressive Democrat, Reynolds cites deep concerns about civil liberties, immigration enforcement without due process, and the lack of meaningful accountability for abuses of power. She says her campaign is grounded both in anger at the current state of American democracy and optimism that something better can be built. “I’m running because I believe we can build a government that actually works for everyday people, not just the wealthy or the well-connected,” Reynolds said. “We don’t need to go back to a broken ‘normal.’ We need to create something fairer, more humane, and more just.” Reynolds emphasized that her legal background gives her a practical understanding of how laws are written, enforced, and misapplied, and how those decisions affect real working Texans.“I’ve spent my career standing up for people who were harmed when systems failed them,” she said. “Texas deserves a representative who knows the law, respects the Constitution, and has the courage to defend both.”<h2>CAMPAIGN EVENT</h2>Reynolds will host an in-person <a href="https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/879924/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">campaign meetup</a> on January 9 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Little Woodrow’s Parmer, 6301 W Parmer Ln, Ste. 501, Austin, TX.Members of the community are encouraged to attend.

Claire Reynolds, an experienced attorney with a career devoted to upholding ethical standards and protecting the public, today announced her candidacy for Congress in Texas’s 11th Congressional District.

Attorney and Ethics Watchdog Claire Reynolds Announces 11th District Run in Texas

Artificial intelligence is here and it isn’t going away–but that doesn’t mean we have to accept whatever is thrown at us by a handful of techbro billionaires racing to cash in. It is possible to embrace scientific advances while still ensuring that they proceed in a responsible way that will do the least amount of harm to Americans. Sensible regulation is… well, it’s sensible.

The Texas Tribune has published their 2026 March 3 primary voter guide. This detailed guide covers what will be on the ballot, mail-in-voting information, voter registration requirements, and so much more. Do not be intimidated. Voting in Texas is difficult by design. Show them the power of the people's voice when push comes to shove.

Texas Tribune's Primary Voter Guide

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“At the request of the Travis County Republican Party regarding early voting tabulation procedures, early voting ballots will not be counted until Election Day. As a result, early voting results may not be available when polls close at 7 p.m., and posting of results to the website could be delayed,” Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado said.

Travis County Republicans Delay Primary Returns

Late-night host Stephen Colbert accused his network, CBS, of refusing to broadcast his interview with Texas Rep. James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, during Monday night’s airing of “The Late Show” for fear of running afoul of the Trump administration.

Stephen Colbert blasts CBS for nixing James Talarico interview

Inflation has far outstripped salaries over just the past few years, not to mention the past several decades. Jobs that used to allow a family to live comfortably now can’t even keep a single person living above the poverty level. Texas is currently the <a href="https://demographics.texas.gov/Visualizations/2024/PovertyInTx/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">11th poorest state in the country</a>, and 1 in 5 children live at or below the poverty level in Texas. This is unconscionable.

Affordability

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It’s common knowledge that West Texas runs on oil and gas jobs. But that “common knowledge” is a misconception. Texas now has more green energy jobs than oil and gas combined.This is a good thing, because we need these industries if Texas is to remain competitive as an energy producer. China has gone “all in” on all types of energy: coal, oil, gas, and nuclear, but also solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal. Texas should do the same.We cannot afford another Texas energy crisis.

The NorthEast Travis County Democrats released their 2026 endorsement slate today, naming Claire Reynolds along with James Talarico, Greg Casar, Caitlin Rourk and Tanya Lloyd in key federal races.

Reynolds Wins NorthEast Travis County Democrats Endorsement

"My first order of business will be to make Congress start doing its job. Article I of the U.S. Constitution says that the job of making law and determining how to spend our hard-earned tax dollars is supposed to be done by Congress, not the President."

Claire Reynolds Wants Congress to do its Job

"This isn't the America I know. This isn't the America I was raised in. What we're talking about are our civil liberties, the roles of our three branches of government, and basic human decency."

Democrat Claire Reynolds Challenges Republican August Pfluger

Midland ISD and the district’s police chief Robert Doporto did not respond to requests for comment on what criminal violation the anti-ICE protest organizers may have committed that would warrant a police investigation. The right to protest is broadly protected by the First Amendment.

After Anti-ICE School Walkout, Midland ISD Police Seek to Identify Organizers

With Trump's high disapproval ratings in an off-year election, this may be their best chance to start clawing back from the brink.

Democrats Hoping for a Comeback, Again

The Liberal Austin Democrats of Travis County released their 2026 endorsement slate today, naming Claire Reynolds along with James Talarico, Greg Casar, Caitlin Rourk, Kristin Hook, and Tanya Lloyd in key federal races.