Lauren Ashley Simmons
LA
Lauren Ashley Simmons
DemocraticIncumbent
Running for State Representative, District 146.
Background
Democrat who defeated incumbent Shawn Thierry in the 2024 primary runoff and won the general election; took office in January 2025.
- Current role
- State Representative, District 146
- Occupation
- Union organizer, Texas State Employees Union
- Education
- University of Texas at Austin
- Hometown
- Houston (Third Ward)
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
Was not listed among the Yeas or Nays 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?
Calls for repealing the Texas ban on medical treatment for transgender minors ("gender-affirming care") and for protecting parents' medical decision-making with doctors (per Branch Politics summary).
Voting record
Absent 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).
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 Nay 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
Absent on HB 4211 third reading; voted Yea on concurrence in Senate amendments. 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
Voted Nay 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). In a statement of vote she said she was shown voting no and intended to vote yes.
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.