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Brett Robinson (Texas)
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Brett Robinson (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Texas House of Representatives to represent District 130. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Robinson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Brett Robinson was born in Kingwood, Texas. Robinson earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Houston in 2022. As of 2024, Robinson was a graduate student at the University of Houston studying public administration. Robinson has been a field organizer fellow, vice president of UH Democrats, and an undergraduate at-large senator. He has been affiliated with the Cypress-Tomball Democrats, Harris County Young Democrats, and UH Democrats.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Texas House of Representatives District 130
Incumbent Tom Oliverson defeated Brett Robinson in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 130 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tom Oliverson (R) | 68.8 | 63,270 |
 | Brett Robinson (D)  | 31.2 | 28,671 | |
| Total votes: 91,941 | |||
| = 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 election
Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 130
Brett Robinson defeated Henry Arturo in the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 130 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Brett Robinson | 59.7 | 2,430 |
 | Henry Arturo | 40.3 | 1,643 | |
| Total votes: 4,073 | |||
| = 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 election
Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 130
Incumbent Tom Oliverson advanced from the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 130 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tom Oliverson | 100.0 | 13,882 |
| Total votes: 13,882 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Robinson in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Brett Robinson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Robinson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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My name is Brett Robinson and I have lived in the Cypress area for fifteen years, ever since I was nine years old. When my family moved here, our house was brand new and one of the only homes in the neighborhood. As I grew up in the community, I saw it develop with me as well. I care deeply about my fellow neighbors and I am always looking for ways to improve day-to-day lives through public policy.
I am currently a graduate student at the University of Houston, and I will be earning my Masters in Public Administration May 2024. The program teaches advanced courses in leadership, public management, and public budgeting, but my favorite topics are policy research and implementation. I believe this is because I love to solve puzzles like crosswords, picross, and hidato in my free time. For me, the joy I have in solving puzzles can also be found in discovering solutions to policy problems.
During my college career, I was heavily involved on campus. I served as an Undergraduate At-Large Senator, Cub Camp Counselor and Co-Chair, and UH Democrats Vice President. In each of these roles, my focus was always on supporting my classmates. As a Senator, I sponsored legislation that fostered a culture of student inclusivity. In the Cub Camp program, I mentored incoming freshmen to ensure a seamless transition to college life. Lastly, as UHDems VP, I engaged in civic empowerment by registering students to vote and providing networking opportunities to our members.- My first priority is to restore reproductive freedom. We just recently had a fifty year precedent overturned with the Dobbs decision, and we are seeing states all over the nation attacking women's autonomy. My opponent is the author of the Heartbeat Act, which bans abortion after 6 weeks and provides no exception for rape or incest. Kate Cox’s story, and many more like hers, have shown us how extreme the law truly is. Women wanting families are afraid to get pregnant in Texas, as they know they will likely be denied care if they have a miscarriage. My opponent is directly responsible for the loss of this basic human right, and he needs to be held accountable. I decided to run when I saw he went unchallenged in the last election cycle.
- My second priority is to create an economy that works for everyone. We can start by recognizing growing income inequality is leaving the working class behind. In a research project where I conducted a data analysis across all fifty states, I found that high sales taxes and the lack of rural broadband are both correlated with higher levels of income inequality. In addition to reform in these areas, I would also protect unions and public education. If we want economic opportunity for all, then we need to adequately fund our public schools and allow workers to collectively bargain for good wages and benefits.
- My third priority is reasonable gun reform. Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in the U.S., and the 2nd Amendment clearly allows for regulation. My philosophy is that we should be regulating firearms like we do with the automobile industry. Before you can get a license to drive, you need to prove that you have competent and sufficient driving skills. Likewise, we ought to require licenses for gun ownership that prove competency in the use, safety, and storage of firearms. No lawmaker in their right mind would get rid of driver's licenses, nor would anyone suggest that they “take away our cars.” So why do we tolerate permitless carry? It is insulting to the victims of gun violence demanding change.
I have been mostly fascinated with income inequality and taxation policy, but I am also passionate about prison and rehabilitation reform. I have done research projects on these topics specifically.
In general, I am interested in the most difficult areas of public policy. I mentioned earlier that I like puzzles and enjoy coming up with solutions. If a problem is complicated and hard to solve, I am likely to be attracted to it.
In general, I am interested in the most difficult areas of public policy. I mentioned earlier that I like puzzles and enjoy coming up with solutions. If a problem is complicated and hard to solve, I am likely to be attracted to it.
It’s hard to narrow it down! As a candidate, it is important to have role models that encourage you each and every day. I admire State Representative James Talarico for his dedication to public service and for putting his constituents first. He has done uplifting work on common sense, bipartisan legislation, such as lowering insulin prices. I also admire Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a devout Christian who calls out Christian nationalism and hypocrisy. As a faithful man myself, I admire how he firmly believes in the separation of church and state, while also being very honest about how his faith guides him.
I highly recommend all works by John Rawls, who I mentioned earlier. Rawls is overall a great reference for my political philosophy, but there are other works that have influenced my opinion on specific issues. For example, Lorraine Hansberry's “A Raisin in the Sun” and Judith Jarvis Thompson’s “In Defense of Abortion,” guided my opinion around abortion rights. “In the Country We Love” by Diane Guerrero defined my stance on immigration reform, as it spotlighted the cruel nature of our current immigration system.
I will never forget when I attended a lecture that discussed the “veil of ignorance,” which is a thought experiment created by John Rawls. In general, his theory is that fair institutions require their constructors to cast aside their personal and social status. In other words, pretend you were told you are about to be born, and you did not know what circumstances you were about to be born into. What kind of society would you want it to be? If you could create it, which institutions would you make?
Rawls’ believed that people in positions of power often serve themselves and pass laws in favor of an elite class at the expense of everyone else. As your State Representative, I promise to always look for opportunities to improve your life. It is my belief that we will be judged on how we treat the least among us, and I fear we will be judged harshly if we do not change our ways. Let us start by walking in each other’s shoes, and our compassion will come naturally out of understanding. We should demand this from all our public officials.
Rawls’ believed that people in positions of power often serve themselves and pass laws in favor of an elite class at the expense of everyone else. As your State Representative, I promise to always look for opportunities to improve your life. It is my belief that we will be judged on how we treat the least among us, and I fear we will be judged harshly if we do not change our ways. Let us start by walking in each other’s shoes, and our compassion will come naturally out of understanding. We should demand this from all our public officials.
I am a dedicated graduate student at the University of Houston currently pursuing a Masters in Public Administration, and I will be graduating this May. Throughout my college career, I have been strongly committed to community service. From mentoring incoming freshmen in the Cub Camp program to advocating for student inclusivity in Student Government and registering students and Third Ward residents to vote as UH Democrats Vice President, I have always been actively involved. My passion for service, combined with the advanced teachings in leadership, public management, and policy implementation from the MPA program, positions me as an ideal candidate for State Representative.
Having resided in Cypress for fifteen years, I possess a deep understanding of the unique needs and concerns of my community. I contemplated a political career for some time, but I was motivated to take action when the loss of abortion rights reached a tipping point. My opponent, the author of the controversial Heartbeat Act, is responsible for a law that is deemed overly extreme and harmful to women and doctors alike. I am determined to hold my opponent accountable by shedding light on this extremism and providing my community with an alternative on the ballot. If elected, I have outlined key priorities that focus on restoring reproductive freedom, tackling income inequality, and safeguarding public education.
Having resided in Cypress for fifteen years, I possess a deep understanding of the unique needs and concerns of my community. I contemplated a political career for some time, but I was motivated to take action when the loss of abortion rights reached a tipping point. My opponent, the author of the controversial Heartbeat Act, is responsible for a law that is deemed overly extreme and harmful to women and doctors alike. I am determined to hold my opponent accountable by shedding light on this extremism and providing my community with an alternative on the ballot. If elected, I have outlined key priorities that focus on restoring reproductive freedom, tackling income inequality, and safeguarding public education.
The role of a State Representative is quite interesting, because you are elected by a small district in Texas, and yet you enact policy that has an effect on all Texans. Additionally, as we see in the fight for abortion access, state law has the potential to influence policy on the federal level. This means every district in Texas has national implications. For this reason, I will work not only to serve the interests of my district, but the interests of all Texans as well.
My campaign is only a few months old, and I have been approached by many people my age saying I have encouraged them to run for office. I could not be more honored, as I hope to leave a legacy that continues to inspire people to get involved. May we realize just how powerful we are.
I was 8 years old when Barack Obama was running for President, and I had just turned 9 when he was inaugurated. As a kid, I did not fully grasp the importance of his victory, but I vividly remember the energy, excitement, and hope that surrounded his campaign.
My first job was a coach at a Christian sports camp. Each week, I worked at a different church, as we had partnerships throughout the Houston area. I loved serving as a coach and teaching kids about Jesus’s love for them. I came back to the job every summer for five years.
My favorite has to be the Hunger Games series. I have always had an appreciation for the series since I was in middle school, but I love it even more now as an adult. It is truly magical how the themes appear to change as you grow up. When you read the series as a kid, you likely put yourself in Katniss shoes, and wonder what it would be like to fight for your life in the Games. But as I got older, I became more aware of the political themes. Donald Sutherland, who plays President Snow in the movies, said he begged to have a role in the cinematic adaptation. It was his hope the story would help motivate young people to get involved in the political process. He once said, “we (his generation) have wrecked this world, and if you are gonna fix it, you gotta do it now.”
Spider-Man for sure, who wouldn't want to web swing?
Holiday by Green Day! It has so much energy and its one of the best to belt out in a car.
I was very shy when I was a kid. I did not know what anxiety was back then, but I remember keeping to myself on first days of school because I was afraid to meet new people. I know now I'm not the only one, and that it is ok to feel that way. I only bring it up because I imagine many candidates would consider themselves extroverted, and I am different in that regard. However, I continue to be dedicated in letting my district know what the Legislature has been up to. My shyness disappears when I am talking about issues that matter.
One of my favorite videos on the internet is the one where the shark puppets go “Ok guys we have to be careful. Someone here is possessed by an owl.”
“Who?”
Reproductive freedom is the largest focus of my campaign, because my opponent played a key role in the loss of this fundamental human right. If I am elected, it would be because Democrats, Independents, and Republicans alike stood up and declared that his extreme law is unacceptable. It would be a disservice to my community if on day one, I did not immediately put forth a bill that protects reproductive freedom. I promise you, I will work tirelessly to codify Roe v. Wade.
Run For Something (RFS)
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 finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Texas House of Representatives District 130 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 6, 2024
Current members of the Texas House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Dustin Burrows
Representatives
District 1
Gary VanDeaver (R)
District 2
Brent Money (R)
District 3
Cecil Bell (R)
District 4
Keith Bell (R)
District 5
Cole Hefner (R)
District 6
Daniel Alders (R)
District 7
Jay Dean (R)
District 8
Cody Harris (R)
District 9
Trent Ashby (R)
District 10
Brian Harrison (R)
District 11
Joanne Shofner (R)
District 12
Trey Wharton (R)
District 13
Angelia Orr (R)
District 14
Paul Dyson (R)
District 15
Steve Toth (R)
District 16
Will Metcalf (R)
District 17
Stan Gerdes (R)
District 18
Janis Holt (R)
District 19
Ellen Troxclair (R)
District 20
Terry Wilson (R)
District 21
Dade Phelan (R)
District 22
Christian Manuel (D)
District 23
Terri Leo-Wilson (R)
District 24
Greg Bonnen (R)
District 25
Cody Vasut (R)
District 26
Matt Morgan (R)
District 27
Ron Reynolds (D)
District 28
Gary Gates (R)
District 29
Jeffrey Barry (R)
District 30
A.J. Louderback (R)
District 31
Ryan Guillen (R)
District 32
Todd Hunter (R)
District 33
Katrina Pierson (R)
District 34
District 35
Oscar Longoria (D)
District 36
Sergio Munoz (D)
District 37
Janie Lopez (R)
District 38
Erin Gamez (D)
District 39
Armando Martinez (D)
District 40
Terry Canales (D)
District 41
Robert Guerra (D)
District 42
Richard Raymond (D)
District 43
J.M. Lozano (R)
District 44
Alan Schoolcraft (R)
District 45
Erin Zwiener (D)
District 46
Sheryl Cole (D)
District 47
Vikki Goodwin (D)
District 48
Donna Howard (D)
District 49
Gina Hinojosa (D)
District 50
James Talarico (D)
District 51
District 52
Caroline Harris (R)
District 53
Wesley Virdell (R)
District 54
Brad Buckley (R)
District 55
Hillary Hickland (R)
District 56
Pat Curry (R)
District 57
Richard Hayes (R)
District 58
Helen Kerwin (R)
District 59
Shelby Slawson (R)
District 60
Mike Olcott (R)
District 61
District 62
Shelley Luther (R)
District 63
Ben Bumgarner (R)
District 64
Andy Hopper (R)
District 65
Mitch Little (R)
District 66
Matt Shaheen (R)
District 67
Jeff Leach (R)
District 68
David Spiller (R)
District 69
James Frank (R)
District 70
Mihaela Plesa (D)
District 71
Stan Lambert (R)
District 72
Drew Darby (R)
District 73
Carrie Isaac (R)
District 74
Eddie Morales (D)
District 75
Mary Gonzalez (D)
District 76
Suleman Lalani (D)
District 77
Vincent Perez (D)
District 78
Joseph Moody (D)
District 79
Claudia Ordaz (D)
District 80
Don McLaughlin (R)
District 81
Brooks Landgraf (R)
District 82
Tom Craddick (R)
District 83
Dustin Burrows (R)
District 84
Carl Tepper (R)
District 85
Stan Kitzman (R)
District 86
John Smithee (R)
District 87
Caroline Fairly (R)
District 88
Ken King (R)
District 89
Candy Noble (R)
District 90
Ramon Romero (D)
District 91
David Lowe (R)
District 92
Salman Bhojani (D)
District 93
Nate Schatzline (R)
District 94
Tony Tinderholt (R)
District 95
Nicole Collier (D)
District 96
David Cook (R)
District 97
John McQueeney (R)
District 98
District 99
Charlie Geren (R)
District 100
Venton Jones (D)
District 101
Chris Turner (D)
District 102
Ana-Maria Ramos (D)
District 103
Rafael Anchia (D)
District 104
Jessica Gonzalez (D)
District 105
Terry Meza (D)
District 106
Jared Patterson (R)
District 107
Linda Garcia (D)
District 108
Morgan Meyer (R)
District 109
Aicha Davis (D)
District 110
Toni Rose (D)
District 111
Yvonne Davis (D)
District 112
Angie Button (R)
District 113
Rhetta Bowers (D)
District 114
John Bryant (D)
District 115
District 116
Trey Fischer (D)
District 117
Philip Cortez (D)
District 118
John Lujan (R)
District 119
Elizabeth Campos (D)
District 120
District 121
Marc LaHood (R)
District 122
Mark Dorazio (R)
District 123
Diego Bernal (D)
District 124
Josey Garcia (D)
District 125
Ray Lopez (D)
District 126
Sam Harless (R)
District 127
District 128
Briscoe Cain (R)
District 129
Dennis Paul (R)
District 130
Tom Oliverson (R)
District 131
Alma Allen (D)
District 132
Mike Schofield (R)
District 133
Mano Deayala (R)
District 134
Ann Johnson (D)
District 135
Jon Rosenthal (D)
District 136
John Bucy (D)
District 137
Gene Wu (D)
District 138
Lacey Hull (R)
District 139
District 140
Armando Walle (D)
District 141
District 142
Harold Dutton (D)
District 143
Ana Hernandez (D)
District 144
Mary Perez (D)
District 145
District 146
Lauren Simmons (D)
District 147
Jolanda Jones (D)
District 148
Penny Shaw (D)
District 149
Hubert Vo (D)
District 150
Valoree Swanson (R)
Republican Party (88)
Democratic Party (62)
