Amanda Edwards

[{"question": "Ballotpedia survey responses", "answer_html": "<p>See also: <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a></p>\n<div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-xs-10 col-md-6 col-xs-offset-1 col-md-offset-3\"><p><a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\"><img align=\"middle\" alt=\"Candidate Connection\" src=\"https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/8/88/Candidate_Connection_Logo.png\" width=\"90%\"/></a></p></div></div>\n<p>Amanda Edwards completed <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Edwards' responses.</p>\n<p><span class=\"expand-all\">Expand all</span> | <span class=\"collapse-all\">Collapse all</span></p>\n<div aria-multiselectable=\"true\" class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-390030-2026-01-27\" id=\"heading-bio-390030-2026-01-27\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-390030-2026-01-27\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-390030-2026-01-27\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho are you? Tell us about yourself.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bio-390030-2026-01-27\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-390030-2026-01-27\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI am Amanda K. Edwards — an attorney, nonprofit leader, and former At-Large Houston City Council Member who has spent my career fighting to expand opportunity and deliver results for working families. I was born, raised, and educated in Houston, and this community shaped who I am and why I serve.\r\n<p>I began my public service working in Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s office, helping families navigate federal resources and bringing solutions back home. On Houston City Council, I worked to strengthen fiscal responsibility, support small businesses, invest in resilient infrastructure, and advance equity-focused economic development.\r\n</p>\nMy work has always centered on people: protecting access to healthcare, creating pathways to good-paying jobs, supporting entrepreneurs, and building safer, stronger neighborhoods. I am running for Congress because our community deserves leadership that listens, delivers, and puts people over politics. I have the vision, the skills, and the experience to deliver policies for our communities so that everyone can thrive.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-390030-2026-01-27\" id=\"heading-key-message-390030-2026-01-27\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-390030-2026-01-27\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-390030-2026-01-27\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tPlease list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-key-message-390030-2026-01-27\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-390030-2026-01-27\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li>I am running to put people over politics and deliver real results for Houston families. As a former At-Large City Council Member and public finance attorney, I have a proven record of turning policy into progress — expanding economic opportunity, strengthening infrastructure, supporting small businesses, and protecting access to healthcare. We need these foundational investments in our communities to create a system where everyone can thrive. I know how to navigate government to bring home the bacon and make sure our community gets its fair share.</li><li>Our democracy only works when every voice is heard and every vote is protected. I will fight to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore federal preclearance, stop discriminatory election laws before they take effect, and hold states accountable when they target vulnerable communities. I oppose extreme and mid-decade gerrymandering that silences communities of color and undermines fair representation. In Congress, I will defend reproductive freedom, protect civil rights, and strengthen the foundations of our democracy so families decide the future of our communities.</li><li>As a product of Eisenhower High School, I know strong public schools are the backbone of opportunity and economic mobility. I will fight to fully fund public education, protect neighborhood schools, and ensure every child—regardless of ZIP code—has access to quality teachers, safe facilities, modern technology, and pathways to success. That means increasing federal investment in Title I schools, expanding workforce training and apprenticeships, and supporting educators with fair pay and classroom resources. As a former Houston City Council Member, I worked to connect education, workforce development, and economic opportunity so students can graduate prepared to thrive. In Congress, I will always put students first.</li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-390030-2026-01-27\" id=\"heading1-390030-2026-01-27\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-390030-2026-01-27\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-390030-2026-01-27\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading1-390030-2026-01-27\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-390030-2026-01-27\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI am deeply passionate about policies that expand opportunity, protect fundamental freedoms, and improve quality of life for working families. That includes protecting access to affordable healthcare, strengthening public education, and building an economy that works for small businesses and workers — not just those at the top. I am also committed to defending voting rights, reproductive freedom, and civil rights so every person can participate fully in our democracy. As a public finance attorney and former Houston City Council Member, I care deeply about responsible budgeting, resilient infrastructure, and disaster preparedness because smart investments today protect families and communities tomorrow.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-390030-2026-01-27\" id=\"heading2-390030-2026-01-27\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse2-390030-2026-01-27\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-390030-2026-01-27\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading2-390030-2026-01-27\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse2-390030-2026-01-27\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tMy campaign has been endorsed by a broad coalition of community, labor, and advocacy organizations, including EMILY’s List, Elect Democratic Women, Higher Heights, Elect Black Women PAC, AKA1908 PAC, Common Good, HUE PAC, PEARL PAC, Run Sister Run PAC, UFCW Local 455, Greater Heights Democrats, and the Minister’s Coalition of Harris County &amp; Vicinity. I am also proud to be designated a Gun Sense Candidate by Moms Demand Action. I have been endorsed by Congresswoman Jenn McClellan, Congresswoman Lateefa Simon, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Hill Harper, Tina Knowles, State Rep. Jolanda Jones and more.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"small\" data-nosnippet=\"\"><p><i><b>Note:</b> Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.</i></p></div>\n<div><div style=\"margin-bottom:1.5rem\"><h4>Campaign website</h4><p>Edwards' campaign website stated the following:</p><div style=\"max-height:400px;overflow-y:auto;border:1px solid #ccc;padding:10px;margin:20px\"><blockquote style=\"margin:0px\"><p>We Deserve a Healthier 18th Congressional District. We Deserve a Safer 18th Congressional District. We Deserve a More Resilient 18th Congressional District. We Deserve a More Equitable 18th Congressional District.\n</p><p><u>We Deserve an 18th Congressional District Where Everyone Can Thrive.</u>\nWe deserve an 18th Congressional District where everyone can thrive — not just the few at the top, but all of us.\n</p><p>The past few years have shown us what happens when we allow leaders who prioritize personal gain over the well-being of the people they serve. Under President Trump’s leadership, our country has seen devastating attacks on our democracy, divisive rhetoric that weakened communities, and policies that have harmed the middle class and working families. \n</p>\n<p><strong>We need a change. We need someone who works for the people, not against us.</strong></p><p class=\"mw-empty-elt\"></p><p><br/></p><p class=\"mw-empty-elt\"></p><h4><strong>A Thriving 18th Congressional District</strong></h4><p>Amanda has always fought for an economy that works for everyone. As a Houston City Council member, she created the City of Houston Women and Minority-Owned Business Task Force to ensure that small business owners have fair access to capital. Amanda also fought for higher wages and better protections for workers — something the Trump administration has consistently tried to undermine.\n</p><p>As a proud graduate of Eisenhower High School, Amanda knows that the foundation for a better future starts with high-quality public education. And unlike Trump’s undermining of our public schools and gutting of the U.S. Department of Education, Amanda believes that every child deserves a great education, and that higher education should be accessible to all.\n</p><p>As a Member of Congress, Amanda will:\n</p>\n<ul><li>Expand access to capital, training, and other resources for small business owners.<br/></li><li>Strengthen the rights of workers to unionize and collectively bargain, and push back against the Trump administration’s efforts to weaken worker protections.<br/></li><li>Fight for a true living wage, because hardworking Americans deserve to earn enough to support their families.<br/></li><li>Create opportunities for workers by expanding apprenticeship programs and introduce innovative and modern approaches to job training.<br/></li><li>Tackle the soaring costs of higher education, champion initiatives to support community colleges, and fund innovative education initiatives in our neighborhood schools.<br/></li><li>Fight back against the Trump administration’s wholesale attacks on the federal programs and agencies we rely on, starting with working to reverse the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” which passed in July and will slash food programs like SNAP and Meals on Wheels, leaving millions of people hungry; shrink the funding available to students trying to pay for graduate school; rob more than sixteen million people of healthcare access nationally; and raise taxes for more than fourteen million households – all to pay for tax cuts for a handful of billionaires.</li></ul><p><br/></p><p class=\"mw-empty-elt\"></p><h4><strong>A Healthy 18th Congressional District</strong></h4><p>Amanda knows firsthand that healthcare access isn’t just a policy issue — it’s a matter of life and death. Having lost both of her parents to cancer, Amanda understands the importance of affordable healthcare. Under Trump, millions of Americans are now left vulnerable as his administration guts Medicaid, actively dismantles the Affordable Care Act and rolls back protections for pre-existing conditions.\n</p><p>Here in Texas, we have the most uninsured people in the country, in part because our state leadership refused to expand Medicaid under the ACA. Texans also live with bans on reproductive health care – and experience some of the biggest health disparities in the country, including one of the highest rates of Black maternal mortality. We deserve leadership that puts people’s health first.\n</p><p>As a member of Congress, Amanda will:\n</p>\n<ul><li>Fight for health care access for everyone, ranging from plugging the gaps in Affordable Care Act coverage that leave too many residents underinsured to lowering the price of prescription drugs &amp; premiums.<br/></li><li>Work to preserve Medicare, Social Security, and other benefits that our seniors rely on to survive – and defend these vital programs against the slash-and-burn tactics of the Trump administration.<br/></li><li>Address Black maternal mortality and other disproportionate health outcomes by securing research funding for conditions that disproportionately harm communities of color and working to expand access to care.<br/></li><li>Protect health privacy by expanding HIPAA to ensure that private medical decisions, especially decisions about women’s reproductive health, truly stay private.<br/></li><li>Work to codify the protections of Roe v. Wade at the federal level.<br/></li><li>Fight against bounty-style abortion bans by pursuing protections that would prevent the stalking or hunting of people seeking abortion care.</li></ul><p><br/></p><p class=\"mw-empty-elt\"></p><h4><strong>A Resilient 18th Congressional District</strong></h4><p>When Amanda served on H-GAC, our regional planning body, she learned that our eight-county region will grow by 4.2 million people within 20 years. With this type of anticipated growth, ensuring resiliency by investing in our transportation and flood mitigation infrastructure, housing stock, and the systems that power our region is mission critical. But under Trump, federal investment in critical infrastructure and climate change mitigation being slashed, and environmental rules that protect the health of our communities are being rolled back wholesale. Amanda is prepared to fight back against this disinvestment and bring our district the investments in flood infrastructure, disaster recovery, and environmental remediation that we need and deserve.\n</p><p>As a Member of Congress, Amanda will:\n</p>\n<ul><li>Champion an improved, efficient, long-term funding system to address the unique infrastructure needs of the Houston region – especially the flood infrastructure that is increasingly taxed by major storms.<br/></li><li>Fight to ensure that our disaster systems – from early warning through disaster relief and recovery – have the funding and resources necessary to protect and restore our communities.<br/></li><li>Work across industries and communities to ensure Houston will lead the energy transition – and be the energy capital of the world of today and tomorrow<br/></li><li>Invest in multi-modal transportation infrastructure to support the anticipated 4 million people joining our region.<br/></li><li>Work to right-size our housing supply by expanding federal support for housing planning for cities and using federal resources to incentivize the building of new housing.<br/></li><li>Develop innovative solutions to protect our residents from gentrification and displacement, and champion increased resources for CDBG programs.<br/></li><li>Support policies that combat climate change, which continues to pose severe threats to the longevity of our community.</li></ul><p class=\"mw-empty-elt\"></p><p class=\"mw-empty-elt\"></p><p> </p><p class=\"mw-empty-elt\"></p><p class=\"mw-empty-elt\"></p><h4><strong>An Equitable 18th Congressional District</strong></h4><p>Amanda is inspired in her work by the deep civil rights legacy of the 18th Congressional District. The late, legendary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan and Congressman Mickey Leland made our region an important hub in the fight for democracy and civil rights for everyone. But today, our civil rights are under threat in a way we have not seen in generations. From Trump’s wholesale targeting of immigrant communities, to his willingness to unleash the military against peaceful protesters, to his attacks on birthright citizenship, voting rights, elections – and the very existence of the 18th Congressional District – the foundations of our democracy are in danger. We need a representative in Congress who understands the stakes – and will not back down from this fight. \n</p><p>Amanda, with her deep roots in the district and her record of stalwart service to our community, is the leader we need in this moment.\n</p><p>As a Member of Congress, Amanda will:\n</p>\n<ul><li>Fight to keep the 18th Congressional District in tact against an ongoing redistricting effort that is an explicit attempt by the Trump Administration to strip Black and Latino Texans of their voting power.<br/></li><li>Champion a comprehensive approach to securing our democracy, including expanding and protecting voting rights and addressing the extreme gerrymandering that suppresses the votes of Black and Latino communities.<br/></li><li>Fight to ensure LGBTQIA+ people are federally protected from discriminatory policies that states including Texas are increasingly enacting.<br/></li><li>Fight for environmental justice. Develop comprehensive equitable solutions for communities impacted by environmental injustice and resulting health issues, like the Fifth Ward cancer cluster.</li></ul><p><br/></p><p class=\"mw-empty-elt\"></p><h4><strong>A Safe 18th Congressional District</strong></h4><p>Having lost her own cousin at an early age to gun violence, Amanda knows real solutions are needed to keep more families from losing their loved ones. But Trump’s repeated failure to address the gun violence epidemic in America, combined with his consistently encouraging rhetoric toward political violence, has left our communities without the safety and security they deserve. In contrast to this failure of leadership, Amanda knows that everyone deserves to be safe, both from crime and from police violence. Amanda will fight for a common-sense gun safety regime, and a law enforcement and justice system that treats us all fairly. \n</p><p>As a Member of Congress, Amanda will:\n</p>\n<ul><li>Advocate for community-led training and resources to support true community policing practices that build trust and collaboration between law enforcement and our communities.<br/></li><li>Support reforms included in the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.<br/></li><li>Fight for common-sense gun control measures, including mandatory background checks and a federal red flag law.<br/></li><li>Support the expansion of community violence intervention programs, which are proven to make a difference in the safety of our communities.</li></ul><p class=\"mw-empty-elt\"></p><p class=\"mw-empty-elt\"></p></blockquote><div style=\"text-align: right; font-size: 0.9em; color: #555; margin-top: 0.5em;\"><p style=\"font-size:0.9em;color:#555\">— Amanda Edwards' <a href=\"https://www.edwardsforhouston.com/policy\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">campaign website</a> (January 21, 2026)</p></div></div></div><div style=\"text-align: center; font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;\"><i>Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.</i></div></div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"></div>\n<p>Amanda Edwards did not complete <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection</a> survey.\n</p>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"></div>\n<p>Amanda Edwards did not complete <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection</a> survey.\n</p>", "answer_text": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\n\nAmanda Edwards completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Edwards' responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. I am Amanda K. Edwards — an attorney, nonprofit leader, and former At-Large Houston City Council Member who has spent my career fighting to expand opportunity and deliver results for working families. I was born, raised, and educated in Houston, and this community shaped who I am and why I serve. I began my public service working in Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s office, helping families navigate federal resources and bringing solutions back home. On Houston City Council, I worked to strengthen fiscal responsibility, support small businesses, invest in resilient infrastructure, and advance equity-focused economic development. My work has always centered on people: protecting access to healthcare, creating pathways to good-paying jobs, supporting entrepreneurs, and building safer, stronger neighborhoods. I am running for Congress because our community deserves leadership that listens, delivers, and puts people over politics. I have the vision, the skills, and the experience to deliver policies for our communities so that everyone can thrive. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? I am running to put people over politics and deliver real results for Houston families. As a former At-Large City Council Member and public finance attorney, I have a proven record of turning policy into progress — expanding economic opportunity, strengthening infrastructure, supporting small businesses, and protecting access to healthcare. We need these foundational investments in our communities to create a system where everyone can thrive. I know how to navigate government to bring home the bacon and make sure our community gets its fair share. Our democracy only works when every voice is heard and every vote is protected. I will fight to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore federal preclearance, stop discriminatory election laws before they take effect, and hold states accountable when they target vulnerable communities. I oppose extreme and mid-decade gerrymandering that silences communities of color and undermines fair representation. In Congress, I will defend reproductive freedom, protect civil rights, and strengthen the foundations of our democracy so families decide the future of our communities. As a product of Eisenhower High School, I know strong public schools are the backbone of opportunity and economic mobility. I will fight to fully fund public education, protect neighborhood schools, and ensure every child—regardless of ZIP code—has access to quality teachers, safe facilities, modern technology, and pathways to success. That means increasing federal investment in Title I schools, expanding workforce training and apprenticeships, and supporting educators with fair pay and classroom resources. As a former Houston City Council Member, I worked to connect education, workforce development, and economic opportunity so students can graduate prepared to thrive. In Congress, I will always put students first. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? I am deeply passionate about policies that expand opportunity, protect fundamental freedoms, and improve quality of life for working families. That includes protecting access to affordable healthcare, strengthening public education, and building an economy that works for small businesses and workers — not just those at the top. I am also committed to defending voting rights, reproductive freedom, and civil rights so every person can participate fully in our democracy. As a public finance attorney and former Houston City Council Member, I care deeply about responsible budgeting, resilient infrastructure, and disaster preparedness because smart investments today protect families and communities tomorrow. What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign? My campaign has been endorsed by a broad coalition of community, labor, and advocacy organizations, including EMILY’s List, Elect Democratic Women, Higher Heights, Elect Black Women PAC, AKA1908 PAC, Common Good, HUE PAC, PEARL PAC, Run Sister Run PAC, UFCW Local 455, Greater Heights Democrats, and the Minister’s Coalition of Harris County & Vicinity. I am also proud to be designated a Gun Sense Candidate by Moms Demand Action. I have been endorsed by Congresswoman Jenn McClellan, Congresswoman Lateefa Simon, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Hill Harper, Tina Knowles, State Rep. Jolanda Jones and more.\nNote: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.\nCampaign website Edwards' campaign website stated the following: We Deserve a Healthier 18th Congressional District. We Deserve a Safer 18th Congressional District. We Deserve a More Resilient 18th Congressional District. We Deserve a More Equitable 18th Congressional District. We Deserve an 18th Congressional District Where Everyone Can Thrive. We deserve an 18th Congressional District where everyone can thrive — not just the few at the top, but all of us. The past few years have shown us what happens when we allow leaders who prioritize personal gain over the well-being of the people they serve. Under President Trump’s leadership, our country has seen devastating attacks on our democracy, divisive rhetoric that weakened communities, and policies that have harmed the middle class and working families. We need a change. We need someone who works for the people, not against us. A Thriving 18th Congressional District Amanda has always fought for an economy that works for everyone. As a Houston City Council member, she created the City of Houston Women and Minority-Owned Business Task Force to ensure that small business owners have fair access to capital. Amanda also fought for higher wages and better protections for workers — something the Trump administration has consistently tried to undermine. As a proud graduate of Eisenhower High School, Amanda knows that the foundation for a better future starts with high-quality public education. And unlike Trump’s undermining of our public schools and gutting of the U.S. Department of Education, Amanda believes that every child deserves a great education, and that higher education should be accessible to all. As a Member of Congress, Amanda will: Expand access to capital, training, and other resources for small business owners. Strengthen the rights of workers to unionize and collectively bargain, and push back against the Trump administration’s efforts to weaken worker protections. Fight for a true living wage, because hardworking Americans deserve to earn enough to support their families. Create opportunities for workers by expanding apprenticeship programs and introduce innovative and modern approaches to job training. Tackle the soaring costs of higher education, champion initiatives to support community colleges, and fund innovative education initiatives in our neighborhood schools. Fight back against the Trump administration’s wholesale attacks on the federal programs and agencies we rely on, starting with working to reverse the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” which passed in July and will slash food programs like SNAP and Meals on Wheels, leaving millions of people hungry; shrink the funding available to students trying to pay for graduate school; rob more than sixteen million people of healthcare access nationally; and raise taxes for more than fourteen million households – all to pay for tax cuts for a handful of billionaires. A Healthy 18th Congressional District Amanda knows firsthand that healthcare access isn’t just a policy issue — it’s a matter of life and death. Having lost both of her parents to cancer, Amanda understands the importance of affordable healthcare. Under Trump, millions of Americans are now left vulnerable as his administration guts Medicaid, actively dismantles the Affordable Care Act and rolls back protections for pre-existing conditions. Here in Texas, we have the most uninsured people in the country, in part because our state leadership refused to expand Medicaid under the ACA. Texans also live with bans on reproductive health care – and experience some of the biggest health disparities in the country, including one of the highest rates of Black maternal mortality. We deserve leadership that puts people’s health first. As a member of Congress, Amanda will: Fight for health care access for everyone, ranging from plugging the gaps in Affordable Care Act coverage that leave too many residents underinsured to lowering the price of prescription drugs & premiums. Work to preserve Medicare, Social Security, and other benefits that our seniors rely on to survive – and defend these vital programs against the slash-and-burn tactics of the Trump administration. Address Black maternal mortality and other disproportionate health outcomes by securing research funding for conditions that disproportionately harm communities of color and working to expand access to care. Protect health privacy by expanding HIPAA to ensure that private medical decisions, especially decisions about women’s reproductive health, truly stay private. Work to codify the protections of Roe v. Wade at the federal level. Fight against bounty-style abortion bans by pursuing protections that would prevent the stalking or hunting of people seeking abortion care. A Resilient 18th Congressional District When Amanda served on H-GAC, our regional planning body, she learned that our eight-county region will grow by 4.2 million people within 20 years. With this type of anticipated growth, ensuring resiliency by investing in our transportation and flood mitigation infrastructure, housing stock, and the systems that power our region is mission critical. But under Trump, federal investment in critical infrastructure and climate change mitigation being slashed, and environmental rules that protect the health of our communities are being rolled back wholesale. Amanda is prepared to fight back against this disinvestment and bring our district the investments in flood infrastructure, disaster recovery, and environmental remediation that we need and deserve. As a Member of Congress, Amanda will: Champion an improved, efficient, long-term funding system to address the unique infrastructure needs of the Houston region – especially the flood infrastructure that is increasingly taxed by major storms. Fight to ensure that our disaster systems – from early warning through disaster relief and recovery – have the funding and resources necessary to protect and restore our communities. Work across industries and communities to ensure Houston will lead the energy transition – and be the energy capital of the world of today and tomorrow Invest in multi-modal transportation infrastructure to support the anticipated 4 million people joining our region. Work to right-size our housing supply by expanding federal support for housing planning for cities and using federal resources to incentivize the building of new housing. Develop innovative solutions to protect our residents from gentrification and displacement, and champion increased resources for CDBG programs. Support policies that combat climate change, which continues to pose severe threats to the longevity of our community. An Equitable 18th Congressional District Amanda is inspired in her work by the deep civil rights legacy of the 18th Congressional District. The late, legendary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan and Congressman Mickey Leland made our region an important hub in the fight for democracy and civil rights for everyone. But today, our civil rights are under threat in a way we have not seen in generations. From Trump’s wholesale targeting of immigrant communities, to his willingness to unleash the military against peaceful protesters, to his attacks on birthright citizenship, voting rights, elections – and the very existence of the 18th Congressional District – the foundations of our democracy are in danger. We need a representative in Congress who understands the stakes – and will not back down from this fight. Amanda, with her deep roots in the district and her record of stalwart service to our community, is the leader we need in this moment. As a Member of Congress, Amanda will: Fight to keep the 18th Congressional District in tact against an ongoing redistricting effort that is an explicit attempt by the Trump Administration to strip Black and Latino Texans of their voting power. Champion a comprehensive approach to securing our democracy, including expanding and protecting voting rights and addressing the extreme gerrymandering that suppresses the votes of Black and Latino communities. Fight to ensure LGBTQIA+ people are federally protected from discriminatory policies that states including Texas are increasingly enacting. Fight for environmental justice. Develop comprehensive equitable solutions for communities impacted by environmental injustice and resulting health issues, like the Fifth Ward cancer cluster. A Safe 18th Congressional District Having lost her own cousin at an early age to gun violence, Amanda knows real solutions are needed to keep more families from losing their loved ones. But Trump’s repeated failure to address the gun violence epidemic in America, combined with his consistently encouraging rhetoric toward political violence, has left our communities without the safety and security they deserve. In contrast to this failure of leadership, Amanda knows that everyone deserves to be safe, both from crime and from police violence. Amanda will fight for a common-sense gun safety regime, and a law enforcement and justice system that treats us all fairly. As a Member of Congress, Amanda will: Advocate for community-led training and resources to support true community policing practices that build trust and collaboration between law enforcement and our communities. Support reforms included in the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Fight for common-sense gun control measures, including mandatory background checks and a federal red flag law. Support the expansion of community violence intervention programs, which are proven to make a difference in the safety of our communities. — Amanda Edwards' campaign website (January 21, 2026) Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.\n\nAmanda Edwards did not complete Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey.\n\nAmanda Edwards did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey."}, {"question": "Campaign website", "answer_html": "<p>Edwards’s campaign website stated the following:\n</p>\n<div style=\"height:400px;overflow:scroll;border:1px solid gray;margin:20px;padding:10px;\">\n<table data-nosnippet=\"\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border: none;background-color: transparent; auto; ;\">\n<tbody><tr>\n<td style=\"border:none; color:#B2B7F2;font-size:35px;font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 10px 3px;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"20\">“\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; padding: 4px 10px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p><b>A Thriving 18th Congressional District</b><br/>\nAmanda has a long track record of fighting for an economy where everyone can thrive. As a Houston City Council Member, she created the City of Houston Women and Minority-Owned Business Task Force to facilitate fair access to capital and supportive resources. She also supported the adoption of higher wages and improved protections for workers on City of Houston construction projects. And as a proud graduate of Eisenhower High School who went on to some of the top universities in the country, she knows that a high-quality public school education can open doors, and she believes higher education should be accessible to everyone.\n</p><p>As a member of Congress, Amanda will:\n</p>\n<ul><li>Expand access to capital, training, and other resources for small business owners.</li>\n<li>Strengthen the rights of workers to unionize and collectively bargain.</li>\n<li>Fight for a true living wage for American workers.</li>\n<li>Create opportunities for workers by expanding apprenticeship programs and introduce innovative and modern approaches to job training.</li>\n<li>Tackle the soaring costs of higher education, champion initiatives to support community colleges, and fund innovative education initiatives in our neighborhood schools.</li></ul>\n<p><b>A Healthy 18th Congressional District</b><br/>\nHaving lost both of her parents to cancer, Amanda knows first-hand that healthcare access is a matter of life or death in many households. Yet Texas has the most uninsured people in the country, in part because our state leadership has refused to expand Medicaid under the ACA. Texans also live with bans on reproductive health care – and experience some of the biggest health disparities in the country.\n</p><p>​As a member of Congress, Amanda will:\n</p>\n<ul><li>Increase access to health care by supporting the improvement and expansion of the Affordable Care Act coverage.</li>\n<li>Work to preserve Medicare, Social Security, and other benefits that our seniors rely on to survive.</li>\n<li>Protect health privacy by expanding HIPAA to ensure that private medical decisions, especially decisions about women’s reproductive health, truly stay private.</li>\n<li>Work to codify the protections of Roe v. Wade at the federal level.</li>\n<li>Fight against bounty-style abortion bans by pursuing protections that would prevent the stalking or hunting of people seeking abortion care.</li></ul>\n<p><b>A Resilient 18th Congressional District</b><br/>\nWhen Amanda served on H-GAC, our regional planning body, she learned that our eight-county region will grow by 4.2 million people within 20 years. With this type of anticipated growth, ensuring resiliency by investing in our transportation and flood mitigation infrastructure, housing stock, and the systems that power our region is mission critical. As the community grows, we must be prepared to lead on the energy transition, and to combat the impacts of climate change.\n</p><p>As a member of Congress, Amanda will:\n</p>\n<ul><li>Champion an improved, efficient, long-term funding system to address the unique infrastructure needs of the Houston region.</li>\n<li>Work across industries and communities to ensure Houston will lead the energy transition – and be the energy capital of the world of today and tomorrow</li>\n<li>Invest in multi-modal transportation infrastructure to support the anticipated 4 million people joining our region.</li>\n<li>Work to right-size our housing supply by expanding federal support for housing planning for cities and using federal resources to incentivize the building of new housing.</li>\n<li>Develop innovative solutions to protect our residents from gentrification and displacement, and champion increased resources for CDBG programs.</li>\n<li>Support policies that combat climate change, which continues to pose severe threats to the longevity of our community.</li></ul>\n<p><b>An Equitable 18th Congressional District</b><br/>\nAmanda is inspired in her work by the deep civil rights legacy of the 18th Congressional District. The late, legendary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan and Congressman Mickey Leland made our region an important hub in the fight for democracy and civil rights for everyone. Yet today, our basic civil rights are under attack. In 2020, voting in Texas was harder than anywhere else in the country, and it has gotten even more restrictive since. \n</p><p>As a Member of Congress, Amanda will:\n</p>\n<ul><li>Champion a comprehensive approach to securing our democracy, including expanding and protecting voting rights and addressing the extreme gerrymandering that suppresses the votes of Black and Latino communities.</li>\n<li>Fight to ensure LGBTQIA+ people are federally protected from discriminatory policies that states including Texas are increasingly enacting.</li>\n<li>Fight for environmental justice. Develop comprehensive equitable solutions for communities impacted by environmental injustice and resulting health issues, like the Fifth Ward cancer cluster.</li></ul>\n<p><b>A Safe 18th Congressional District</b><br/>\nHaving lost her own cousin at an early age to gun violence, Amanda knows real solutions are needed to keep more families from losing their loved ones to senseless gun violence. Amanda will fight for a common-sense gun safety regime, as well as a law enforcement and justice system that treats us all fairly. Amanda believes that everyone deserves to be safe, both from crime and from police violence.\n</p><p>As a Member of Congress, Amanda will:\n</p>\n<ul><li>Advocate for community-led training and resources to support true community policing practices that build trust and collaboration between law enforcement and our communities.</li>\n<li>Support reforms included in the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.</li>\n<li>Fight for common-sense gun control measures, including mandatory background checks and a federal red flag law.</li>\n<li>Support the expansion of community violence intervention programs, which are proven to make a difference in the safety of our communities.<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-quotedisclaimer_6-0\"><a href=\"#cite_note-quotedisclaimer-6\">[6]</a></sup></li></ul>\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 35px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: right; padding: 10px 1px;\" valign=\"bottom\" width=\"20\">”\n</td></tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"cquotecite\" colspan=\"3\" style=\"border: none; padding-right: 4%\"><cite style=\"font-style: normal;font-size: smaller; float: right;\">—Amanda Edwards’s campaign website (2024)<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-7\"><a href=\"#cite_note-7\">[7]</a></sup></cite>\n</td></tr></tbody></table>\n</div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"></div>\n<p>Amanda Edwards did not complete <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection</a> survey.\n</p>\n<p>The following excerpts highlight Edwards' campaign themes as listed on her website:<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-8\"><a href=\"#cite_note-8\">[8]</a></sup>\n</p>\n<p><b>Improving infrastructure and transportation</b>\n</p>\n<p><b>Strengthening our economy and fiscal health</b>\n</p>\n<p><b>Protecting public safety</b>\n</p>\n<p><b>Enhancing quality of life</b>\n</p>", "answer_text": "Edwards’s campaign website stated the following:\n“ A Thriving 18th Congressional District Amanda has a long track record of fighting for an economy where everyone can thrive. As a Houston City Council Member, she created the City of Houston Women and Minority-Owned Business Task Force to facilitate fair access to capital and supportive resources. She also supported the adoption of higher wages and improved protections for workers on City of Houston construction projects. And as a proud graduate of Eisenhower High School who went on to some of the top universities in the country, she knows that a high-quality public school education can open doors, and she believes higher education should be accessible to everyone. As a member of Congress, Amanda will: Expand access to capital, training, and other resources for small business owners. Strengthen the rights of workers to unionize and collectively bargain. Fight for a true living wage for American workers. Create opportunities for workers by expanding apprenticeship programs and introduce innovative and modern approaches to job training. Tackle the soaring costs of higher education, champion initiatives to support community colleges, and fund innovative education initiatives in our neighborhood schools. A Healthy 18th Congressional District Having lost both of her parents to cancer, Amanda knows first-hand that healthcare access is a matter of life or death in many households. Yet Texas has the most uninsured people in the country, in part because our state leadership has refused to expand Medicaid under the ACA. Texans also live with bans on reproductive health care – and experience some of the biggest health disparities in the country. ​As a member of Congress, Amanda will: Increase access to health care by supporting the improvement and expansion of the Affordable Care Act coverage. Work to preserve Medicare, Social Security, and other benefits that our seniors rely on to survive. Protect health privacy by expanding HIPAA to ensure that private medical decisions, especially decisions about women’s reproductive health, truly stay private. Work to codify the protections of Roe v. Wade at the federal level. Fight against bounty-style abortion bans by pursuing protections that would prevent the stalking or hunting of people seeking abortion care. A Resilient 18th Congressional District When Amanda served on H-GAC, our regional planning body, she learned that our eight-county region will grow by 4.2 million people within 20 years. With this type of anticipated growth, ensuring resiliency by investing in our transportation and flood mitigation infrastructure, housing stock, and the systems that power our region is mission critical. As the community grows, we must be prepared to lead on the energy transition, and to combat the impacts of climate change. As a member of Congress, Amanda will: Champion an improved, efficient, long-term funding system to address the unique infrastructure needs of the Houston region. Work across industries and communities to ensure Houston will lead the energy transition – and be the energy capital of the world of today and tomorrow Invest in multi-modal transportation infrastructure to support the anticipated 4 million people joining our region. Work to right-size our housing supply by expanding federal support for housing planning for cities and using federal resources to incentivize the building of new housing. Develop innovative solutions to protect our residents from gentrification and displacement, and champion increased resources for CDBG programs. Support policies that combat climate change, which continues to pose severe threats to the longevity of our community. An Equitable 18th Congressional District Amanda is inspired in her work by the deep civil rights legacy of the 18th Congressional District. The late, legendary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan and Congressman Mickey Leland made our region an important hub in the fight for democracy and civil rights for everyone. Yet today, our basic civil rights are under attack. In 2020, voting in Texas was harder than anywhere else in the country, and it has gotten even more restrictive since. As a Member of Congress, Amanda will: Champion a comprehensive approach to securing our democracy, including expanding and protecting voting rights and addressing the extreme gerrymandering that suppresses the votes of Black and Latino communities. Fight to ensure LGBTQIA+ people are federally protected from discriminatory policies that states including Texas are increasingly enacting. Fight for environmental justice. Develop comprehensive equitable solutions for communities impacted by environmental injustice and resulting health issues, like the Fifth Ward cancer cluster. A Safe 18th Congressional District Having lost her own cousin at an early age to gun violence, Amanda knows real solutions are needed to keep more families from losing their loved ones to senseless gun violence. Amanda will fight for a common-sense gun safety regime, as well as a law enforcement and justice system that treats us all fairly. Amanda believes that everyone deserves to be safe, both from crime and from police violence. As a Member of Congress, Amanda will: Advocate for community-led training and resources to support true community policing practices that build trust and collaboration between law enforcement and our communities. Support reforms included in the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Fight for common-sense gun control measures, including mandatory background checks and a federal red flag law. Support the expansion of community violence intervention programs, which are proven to make a difference in the safety of our communities. [6] ” —Amanda Edwards’s campaign website (2024) [7]\n\nAmanda Edwards did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.\nThe following excerpts highlight Edwards' campaign themes as listed on her website: [8]\nImproving infrastructure and transportation\nStrengthening our economy and fiscal health\nProtecting public safety\nEnhancing quality of life"}]