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‹ State Representative, District 142

Harold V. Dutton Jr.

Harold V. Dutton Jr.
DemocraticIncumbent
Running for State Representative, District 142.

Background

Democrat representing District 142 since January 1985. Authored a 2015 amendment to HB 1842 giving the Texas Education Agency authority over persistently low-performing school districts, later used in the 2023 Houston ISD takeover. 

Current role
State Representative, District 142
Occupation
Attorney
Education
Texas Southern University; J.D., Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Hometown
Houston, Texas

Positions

Property Taxes

What is the candidate's position on property tax levels and relief?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 20, 2026.

Education and School Choice

What is the candidate's position on public school funding, education savings accounts, and curriculum?
No public statement found.
Searched Oct 20, 2026.
Voting record
Voted no on SB 2, which created the education savings account program (often called school vouchers); the House passed it on third reading 86-61 (Record 300, April 17, 2025). 

Border Security

What role should the state play in border security and immigration enforcement?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 20, 2026.

Power Grid and Energy

What is the candidate's position on the ERCOT grid, reliability, and energy production?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 20, 2026.

Abortion

What is the candidate's position on Texas abortion law?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 20, 2026.

Firearms

What is the candidate's position on Texas firearms laws?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 20, 2026.

Public Safety and Bail

What is the candidate's position on bail, policing, and criminal justice?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 20, 2026.

Health Care

What is the candidate's position on Medicaid, insurance coverage, and health costs in Texas?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 20, 2026.

Elections and Voting

What is the candidate's position on election administration, voting rules, and redistricting?
No public statement found.
Searched Oct 20, 2026.
Voting record
Voted no on CSHB 4, the 2025 mid-decade congressional redistricting bill, on the second-reading vote to pass it to engrossment, 88-52 (Record 25, August 20, 2025, 2nd Called Session). 

District Priorities

What does the candidate say are the top issues for this district?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 20, 2026.

Transgender Policy

What is the candidate's position on Texas laws related to transgender people, including medical treatment for minors, school sports, facilities, and legal definitions of sex?
No public statement found.
Searched Oct 20, 2026.
Voting record
Voted Nay on HB 229. HB 229 sets general definitions of sex based on biology for state law and for government collection of information; the House passed it 87-56 (Record No. 2177, May 12, 2025). Voted Nay on SB 8. SB 8 (2nd Called Session) regulates the designation and use of certain spaces and facilities according to sex, with a civil penalty and a private right of action; the House passed it 86-45 (Record No. 134, August 28, 2025). Branch Politics reports he voted for a bill banning medical treatment for transgender minors ("gender-affirming care") and allowed a bill on sports teams by sex to advance. 

Religion and Public Schools

What is the candidate's position on religion in public schools, such as displaying the Ten Commandments, school prayer, and chaplains?
No public statement found.
Searched Oct 20, 2026.
Voting record
Voted Yea on SB 10. SB 10 requires display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms; the House passed it 82-46 (Record No. 3503, May 25, 2025). Voted Nay on SB 11. SB 11 relates to a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text in public schools; the House passed it 88-48 (Record No. 3315, May 23, 2025). 

Religious Liberty and Faith Communities

What has the candidate said or done regarding religious freedom and specific faith communities in Texas, such as Christians, Jews, and Muslims?
No public statement found.
Searched Oct 20, 2026.
Voting record
Voted Yea on HB 4211 on third reading (Absent on concurrence). HB 4211 regulates certain residential property interests controlled by certain entities; the Governor's office described it as aimed at developments like the proposed EPIC City. The House passed it 104-41 (Record No. 1816, May 8, 2025) and concurred in Senate amendments 110-26 (Record No. 4035, May 29, 2025). 

Home Insurance and Housing Costs

What is the candidate's approach to home insurance rates and housing costs in Texas?
No public statement found.
Searched Oct 20, 2026.
Voting record
Absent on SB 15. SB 15 addresses size and density requirements for residential lots in certain municipalities; the House passed it 86-43 (Record No. 3837, May 28, 2025). 

Money

Finance figures are being checked against official FEC and Texas Ethics Commission filings and will appear here once verified.

Endorsements

No public endorsements found. Searched Oct 20, 2026.