By Lenora Small
Forward Times
https://www.forwardtimes.com/

Inflammatory claims are flooding the airwaves. Here’s what the record shows about the candidates seeking power over your rights, your money and your future.

You have probably heard the accusations before you have heard the candidates explain their plans.

A political advertisement claims James Talarico supports jailing parents who refuse gender-transition surgery for their children. Another says Gina Hinojosa voted 40 times to raise property taxes.

Both are serious accusations. But when you look at the facts behind them, the claims fall apart.

So let’s look at what actually happened.

Because while those advertisements compete for your attention, other questions deserve answers. Who supports restrictions on your medical decisions? Where do candidates want your tax dollars to go? Who backs policies that increase household costs? And who will question a president’s actions, including when that president belongs to their own party?

We know people are tired. Tired of politics. Tired of promises. Tired of trying to stretch a paycheck across groceries, gas and rent.

Following every campaign claim can feel like another job. It should not take hours of research to understand the choices on your ballot.

Last week, the Forward Times Voters’ Guide explained who does what. This week, we’re taking the next step: looking at who wants the power, what they have done with it and what their positions could mean for your life.

First, let’s clear up the claims

Talarico: The question was about a child’s welfare, not mandatory surgery

A Texas PAC advertisement claims Talarico supported jailing parents who refuse gender-transition surgery for their children. Its evidence does not support that claim.

The cited reporting concerns a 2019 bill that would have barred courts from considering a parent’s acceptance or rejection of a child’s gender identity in custody and child-abuse decisions. Talarico opposed that restriction, arguing that rejection could harm a child.

That concerned how courts evaluate a child’s welfare. It did not require surgery or propose jail time for parents who refuse it.

Hinojosa: Opposing a tax limit is not the same as raising a tax

Abbott’s advertisement says Hinojosa voted 40 times to raise property taxes. But that count includes multiple votes on the same bills, including amendments and procedural steps.

Many involved state limits on local governments’ ability to raise property taxes. Hinojosa voted against those limits.

Voting to let local officials make a tax decision is different from voting to raise the tax yourself. Abbott’s campaign argues her votes could allow higher taxes. That does not make them 40 votes to increase your tax bill.

We’ve seen why the details matter

Wanting something different is understandable. Knowing what that difference means is essential.

During the 2024 campaign, Donald Trump distanced himself from Project 2025, the conservative blueprint for reshaping the federal government. Once in office, he pursued policies overlapping with it, including dismantling federal diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. His January 2025 order directed agencies to terminate DEI offices, positions and related programs to the extent allowed by law.

That is a reason to examine what candidates propose, who they align with and what they have already done. Campaign-season reassurance is not a substitute for a governing record.

The same scrutiny belongs in conversations about affordability.

Tariffs can be presented as a way to make other countries pay. But import taxes can reach consumers through higher prices. New York Fed researchers found that the 2025 tariffs raised consumer prices, including through higher costs for domestic producers and reduced competition from imports.

The Iran war also reaches into household budgets. Disruption of oil shipping has put upward pressure on energy prices. Decisions about military action, funding and oversight affect what families pay long after the speech announcing them.

Trump is not on this ballot. The Congress that can fund his priorities, investigate his administration and challenge its decisions is.

Congress includes the House and Senate. Control of those chambers affects spending, investigations and which legislation advances. The Senate also approves or rejects presidential nominees, including federal judges. Changing congressional control would not eliminate presidential authority, but it would change the checks the administration faces.

Here’s a breakdown of selected races, the differences we can document and what those differences mean.

Don’t stop before the judges

The judicial races farther down the ballot affect decisions people often encounter at the hardest moments of their lives.

Depending on the court, judges handle criminal charges, custody, divorce, protective orders, civil disputes and other matters. Those races deserve the same preparation as the contests at the top.

Black women’s representation on the bench is also part of Harris County’s recent electoral history. Judges interviewed about this election have raised concerns that voters will stop before reaching judicial contests.

Review each candidate’s qualifications, experience and record. Use your sample ballot to identify the courts you will be voting on, and make those decisions before arriving.

Now, take that information with you

Early voting runs October 19–30. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. During early voting, you may vote at any early-voting location in your county of registration. Check locations and hours before leaving.

Texas no longer offers a single straight-ticket selection. Review each contest and your choices before casting your ballot. Harris County permits handwritten notes and printed sample ballots, so prepare what you need before arriving instead of relying on your phone.

Your county election office can help you find your address-specific ballot. This feature examines selected races, not every contest or candidate on every reader’s ballot.

Start with what matters to you. Look at the record. Separate a promise from an accomplishment and an accusation from the evidence.

The loudest commercial should not have the final word. Your informed vote should.