Texas Governor Greg Abbott's quest to bring school vouchers to the Lone Star State got a boost on Tuesday after Republican voters approved an initiative endorsing taxpayer funding for both public and private schools.
Republican Proposition 11 argues that "Texas parents and guardians should have the right to select schools, whether public or private, for their children, and the funding should follow the student." The non-binding measure passed with more than 70 percent of the vote in the Texas GOP primary on Tuesday, according to the Texas Secretary of State website.
While the proposition will not affect laws in Texas, it was one of 13 measures that Republicans put on the ballot to serve as a guidepost for GOP lawmakers to address the priorities of their voting base. It is unclear whether or when the Texas legislature might take up the issue.
Regardless of the next move, the proposition's approval will likely be seen as great news by Abbott, whose long push for what he refers to as "school choice" was rebuked by Republicans in the Texas state House last year.
Prior to the House vote, Abbott suggested that he was also prepared to pass vouchers "the hard way" and would have "everything teed up in a way where we will be giving voters in a primary a choice" if his effort failed.
Newsweek reached out for comment to the office of Abbott via email on Tuesday night.
The Texas House voted against the attempt to include a school voucher program into the state's education funding bill in November, delivering a crushing blow to what had been one of the governor's top priorities last year.
The proposal had been highlighted by Abbott during his successful 2022 reelection campaign. The version voted down in the House would have given eligible parents $10,500 per year in taxpayer money for their children to attend private school.
Opponents, including several GOP lawmakers representing rural areas, argued that the program would negatively impact their communities by taking money away from public school systems.
Abbott vowed to seek revenge against those who blocked the program, going on to endorse a significant number of primary challengers to the 16 Republicans who were seeking reelection this year after voting against vouchers.
Abbott spent at least $4.4 million in the month leading up to the primary to campaign against the anti-voucher candidates, according to The Texas Tribune.
"Governor Abbott has the resources needed to back strong conservative candidates who support his bold agenda to keep Texas the greatest state in the nation, including expanding school choice for all Texas families and students," Kim Snyder, Abbott's campaign manager, said in a statement quoted by the publication ahead of the primary.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Aila Slisco is a Newsweek night reporter based in New York. Her focus is on reporting national politics, where she ... Read more
