“We’re not going to be able to make the change that we need until we’re able to flip some of those statewide seats.”

The Texan: Houstonians to Vote Twice in May on Replacement for Mayor Whitmire in Texas Senate

An emergency room nurse, Cook previously ran against Whitmire for SD 15 in 2022 and took 42 percent of the vote. An opponent of plans to relocate and widen portions of the Interstate 45 freeway in Houston over environmental and civil rights concerns, she has a long history of activism within the community and campaigns for increased access to abortion, LGBT rights, and opposition to both school choice initiatives and expansion of public charter schools.

Despite Johnson’s criminal justice reform work, the Texas Organizing Project — which advocates for significant changes to end “mass incarceration” and racially disparate outcomes — has endorsed Cook. She is also endorsed by the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus and Annie’s List, a pro-choice PAC.

Both candidates expressed support for the right to abortion, with Cook noting that she brought not only nursing experience but the experience of a woman who has had an abortion in the State of Texas.

“That’s a perspective that we need to fight for all of us,” said Cook, adding that women needed access to safe abortions. She also committed to working to help Democrats take control of the Texas House.

“We’re not going to be able to make the change that we need until we’re able to flip some of those statewide seats.”