Democratic gubernatorial candidates differ little on top issues
AUSTIN — Texas Democratic primary runoff voters have a choice between two novices in the governor’s race when early voting begins Monday: Retired Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez, 70, and Houston entrepreneur Andrew White, 45, son of late Gov. Mark White.
While they agree on many key issues, the Democrats’ two choices have widely different backgrounds and divergent approaches to governing, in a year when Democratic activists are predicting a “blue wave” of higher turnout, even if their gubernatorial options have so far run low-budget, low-impact races to get into the runoff.
Criminal Justice
Valdez: Supports decriminalizing the possession of small amounts or marijuana, wants to end cash bail for minor offenses and outlaw private prisons.
White: Supports decriminalizing the possession of small amounts or marijuana, wants to end cash bail for minor offenses and end the death penalty.
Education
Valdez: Supports universal pre-kindergarten for all students and additional funding for public education, including a pay raise for teachers.
White: Opposes vouchers, supports universal pre-K, a $5,000 pay raise for teachers and $5,000 college scholarships for high school grads with a 3.0 GPA or better. Proposes paying for education enhancements by closing a $5 billion property tax loophole for commercial owners and expanding gambling at horse race tracks.
Environment
Valdez: Supports climatechange science, wants to expand Texas’ clean-energy options in wind and solar.
White: Supports climatechange science, wants to shift Texas’ economy to more cleanenergy options such as wind and solar.
Guns
Valdez: Supports universal background checks for all gun sales and a prohibition on gun possession by domestic abusers.
White: Supports universal background checks on all gun sales, new limitations on highcapacity magazines and bump stocks, a prohibition on gun possession by domestic abusers, a “red flag” to keep mentally unstable people from buying guns and raising the age to purchase a rifle to 21 from 18, with a military exception.
Health care
Valdez: Supports Medicaid expansion.
White: Supports Medicaid expansion, has a plan to reduce costs, reduce fraud and increase preventive care so fewer Texans will have to go to emergency rooms for routine health issues.
Immigration
Valdez: Supports repeal of state ban on sanctuary cities, supports immigration reforms to protect Dreamers from being deported, wants to cut bordersecurity spending by state and opposes President Donald Trump’s wall.
White: Supports repeal of state ban on sanctuary cities, supports immigration reforms to protect Dreamers from being deported, wants to cut bordersecurity spending by state and opposes the wall.
Jobs and the economy
Valdez: Supports increasing the minimum wage, making college affordable for everyone and mandatory paid sick leave for workers.
White: Supports increasing the minimum wage and making college affordable for everyone.
LGBTQ rights
Valdez: Supports LGBTQ rights, opposes bathroom bill.
White: Supports LGBTQ rights, opposes bathroom bill.
Property taxes
Valdez: Wants to close property tax loopholes that benefit the wealthy, cut property taxes for homeowners and reform property tax laws.
White: Was the first to propose closing a tax loophole benefiting commercial property owners to cut taxes for homeowners; also wants to reform property tax laws and provide more funding for schools.
Redistricting
Valdez: Supports having a nonpartisan commission — not state lawmakers — draw legislative boundaries.
White: Supports having a nonpartisan commission — not state lawmakers — draw legislative boundaries.
Transportation
Valdez: Supports investment in expanded transportation infrastructure, high-speed rail, better public transit and selfdriving cars.
White: Supports investment in expanded transportation infrastructure, high-speed rail, better public transit and selfdriving cars.
Voting rights
Valdez: Opposes Voter ID law, supports automatic voter registration.
White: Opposes Voter ID law.
Water
Valdez: Supports investment in state water infrastructure to ensure adequate supplies, clean drinking water.
White: Supports investment in stater water infrastructure to ensure adequate supplies, conservation programs.
Women’s issues
Valdez: Pro-choice, supports Planned Parenthood, paycheck equity and providing comprehensive sex education in schools.
White: Pro-choice, supports paycheck equity, reopening women’s health clinics and providing comprehensive sex education in schools.