Allison Bush
Allison Bush (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Texas State Board of Education to represent District 5. She is on the ballot in the Democratic primary runoff on May 26, 2026. She advanced from the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026.
Bush completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Allison Bush graduated from Lumberton High School. She earned an associate degree in communication and visual arts from Kilgore College and a bachelor's degree in communication and special education from Stephen F. Austin State University. Her career experience includes working as a teacher, counselor, administrator, and education foundation leader.[1][2]
Bush has been affiliated with the following organizations:
- Kaufman ISD Education Foundation
- Hays CISD Education Foundation
- Moe & Gene Johnson High School Athletic Booster Club
- Moe & Gene Johnson High School PTA
- Pflugerville ISD PTO
- Pflugerville Chamber of Commerce
- Bastrop ISD PTA
- Texas Association of Partners in Education
- Bastrop County Child Protective Services
- St. David’s North Austin Medical Center Ethics Committee
- Leadership Women[3]
Elections
2026
See also: Texas State Board of Education election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on May 26, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Texas State Board of Education District 5
Mica Arellano (R) is running in the general election for Texas State Board of Education District 5 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Mica Arellano (R) | ||
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 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary runoff
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Democratic primary runoff for Texas State Board of Education District 5
Stephanie Bazan (D) and Allison Bush (D) are running in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas State Board of Education District 5 on May 26, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Stephanie Bazan | |
 | Allison Bush | |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Democratic primary for Texas State Board of Education District 5
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Texas State Board of Education District 5 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Allison Bush | 35.6 | 83,648 |
| ✔ | | Stephanie Bazan | 21.0 | 49,407 |
 | Abigail Gray | 13.8 | 32,394 | |
 | Kevin Jackson | 13.7 | 32,185 | |
 | Neto Longoria | 10.7 | 25,156 | |
 | Victor Sampson | 5.3 | 12,455 | |
| Total votes: 235,245 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Republican primary for Texas State Board of Education District 5
Mica Arellano (R) advanced from the Republican primary for Texas State Board of Education District 5 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Mica Arellano | 100.0 | 78,523 | |
| Total votes: 78,523 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Bush received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Bush's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Allison Bush completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bush's responses.
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Allison has served as Executive Director of the Pflugerville Education Foundation and Bastrop Education Foundation, where she led strategic fundraising initiatives, coordinated community volunteers, and secured critical resources for public schools. She has served as President of a statewide education association and currently advises multiple public school education foundations on board development, voter engagement, and grassroots organizing.
She is a proud graduate of the LBJ Women’s Campaign School at The University of Texas at Austin, Leadership Women, and Stephen F. Austin State University, reflecting her commitment to leadership and public service. Allison has also served as a Texas Education Agency surrogate parent for special needs foster children, advocating for students who often lack a consistent voice. Her professional experience bridges classroom realities with the policy decisions that shape public education statewide.- Texas faces a teacher crisis driven by shortages, burnout, and low pay. Allison Bush knows what it's like to be in the classroom, and she will fight for policies that reduce paperwork, provide resources, improve teacher retention, and restore dignity to the teaching profession. As a former educator and proud union member, Allison believes teachers should never be used as political pawns or punching bags. She is committed to listening to teachers themselves, understanding that every district, every subject, and every community has unique needs. Supporting teachers also means supporting their mental health and well-being so they can focus on what matters most: inspiring the next generation of Texas students.
- No child should fall behind simply because of where they live or which school they attend. Texas has allowed unchecked charter expansion without proper oversight, diverting critical resources from traditional public schools, the backbone of our communities. Allison Bush will ensure all schools receiving taxpayer dollars, whether traditional public or charter, are held to the same high academic standards, fiscal transparency, and accountability requirements. She will fight to ensure that voucher and funding policies strengthen classrooms rather than fuel corporate profits, putting equity and responsible spending at the center of every education decision.
- Every student in Texas deserves a classroom where learning, not politics, comes first. Allison Bush will fight to protect accurate history education, age-appropriate health education, and safe, inclusive school campuses while ensuring teachers have the trust and autonomy to do their jobs effectively. She believes the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards should serve as a roadmap for preparing students for success, not as a tool for partisan political agendas. Academic standards must reflect the expertise of educators and subject matter professionals. Allison will center the voices of parents, students, and communities in shaping school policy, not politicians.
She advocates for accurate, age-appropriate, and inclusive curriculum standards free from political interference; strong teacher support and retention policies; safe, supportive school environments; and responsible stewardship of public education dollars. She is committed to educational equity for all Texas students, regardless of zip code or personal circumstances.
José Velásquez, Austin City Council
Zohaib “Zo” Qadri, Austin City Council
Ryan Alter, Austin City Council
Paige Ellis, Austin City Council
Victor Gonzales, Former Mayor of Pflugerville
Kimberly Holiday, Pflugerville Mayor Pro Tem
Doug Weiss, Mayor of Pflugerville
Rudy Metayer, Pflugerville City Council
Johnathan Coffman, Pflugerville City Council
Omar Pena, Former Pflugerville City Council
Jim McDonald, Former Pflugerville City Council
Brigid Shea Travis County Commissioner
George Morales Former Travis County Constable
Anna Cortez Manor ISD Trustee
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Bush's campaign website stated the following:
PRIORITIES
Supporting Teachers
Texas faces a teacher crisis driven by shortages, burnout, and low pay. Allison knows what it’s like to be in the classroom, and she will fight for policies that reduce paperwork, provide resources, improve retention, and restore dignity to the teaching profession.
As a former educator and proud union member, Allison believes teachers should never be used as political pawns or punching bags. She sees education as a collective effort to prepare students for the future, not a platform for advancing partisan agendas. Allison is committed to listening to teachers themselves, understanding that every district, every subject, and every community has unique needs. She is ready to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to find real solutions.
Supporting teachers also means supporting their well-being. Classroom management is tied not only to student mental health, but also to the mental health of educators who face increasing pressures. Allison will fight for policies that respect teachers’ voices, protect their time, and strengthen their ability to focus on what matters most: teaching and inspiring the next generation.
Fair Funding & Accountability
No child should fall behind simply because of where they live or which school they attend. While some charter schools may provide benefits, the reality is that Texas has allowed unchecked charter growth without proper oversight. This unchecked expansion diverts critical resources away from traditional public schools—the backbone of our communities.
All schools receiving taxpayer dollars—whether traditional public or charter—must be held to the same high academic standards, fiscal transparency, and accountability. We must set clear guidelines for how funds are distributed, including vouchers, and ensure public dollars are strengthening classrooms, not fueling corporate profits.
Texans deserve confidence that every education dollar is spent responsibly, with equity and transparency at the center, so that every child has access to a strong classroom, supported teachers, and the tools they need to succeed.
Strong Classrooms
Every student in Texas deserves a classroom where learning—not politics—comes first. Allison will fight to protect accurate history, age-appropriate health education, and safe schools, while ensuring that teachers have the trust and freedom to do their jobs effectively.
She believes academic standards must reflect the expertise of educators and subject matter professionals, not the shifting winds of partisan politics. Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) should be a roadmap for preparing students for success, not a tool for political agenda.
Allison is dedicated to ensuring that every child in Texas has access to a well-rounded, high-quality education. Students should learn from accurate information, feel reflected in what they study, and gain the knowledge and perspective needed to understand the past so they can shape a brighter future for themselves and for our state.
Strong classrooms are grounded in high expectations, well-supported teachers, and a safe and inclusive environment. With the voices of parents, students, and communities leading the way—not politicians—we can ensure that every child in Texas has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.
— Allison Bush's campaign website (January 16, 2026)
Campaign finance summary
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
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Candidate Texas State Board of Education District 5 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 29, 2026
- ↑ Allison Bush for State Board of Education District 5, "About Allison Bush", accessed January 16, 2026
- ↑ Allison Bush for State Board of Education District 5, "About Allison Bush", accessed January 16, 2026
