Cody Arn
From Ballotpedia
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Cody Arn (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Texas House of Representatives to represent District 51. He lost in the Democratic primary on March 1, 2022.
Arn completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Cody Arn was born in Heidelberg, Germany. His career experience includes working as a hotelier. Previously, he was the assistant director of the MasterWorks Festival for the Classical Performing Arts and a professional actor.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Texas House of Representatives District 51
Maria Luisa Flores defeated Robert Reynolds in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 51 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Maria Luisa Flores (D)  | 84.4 | 42,393 |
| Robert Reynolds (R) | 15.6 | 7,818 | ||
| Total votes: 50,211 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 51
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 51 on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Maria Luisa Flores | 60.3 | 8,113 |
| Cynthia Valadez-Mata | 11.4 | 1,528 | ||
 | Matthew Worthington | 10.5 | 1,412 | |
| Claire Campos-O'Neal | 7.4 | 992 | ||
| Albino Cadenas | 4.7 | 636 | ||
| Mike Hendrix | 3.7 | 499 | ||
 | Cody Arn | 2.0 | 269 | |
| Total votes: 13,449 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 51
Robert Reynolds advanced from the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 51 on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Robert Reynolds | 100.0 | 1,615 | |
| Total votes: 1,615 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Campaign finance
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Cody Arn completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Arn's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Cody Arn is a young progressive who is fighting to champion universal housing, LGBTQ rights protections, access to healthcare, and more. He grew up in central Texas in a military family that in the fallout of the 2008 recession found themselves impoverished and struggling to make ends meet. It was there that Cody discovered just how much good policy can save lives, as their access to food stamps and other programs were all that kept them afloat. Despite great grades in high school, Cody couldn't afford to go to college and so he interned for the MasterWorks Festival for the Classical Performing Arts, an organization to which two years later he would be named the Assistant Director. Through his work in the arts, Cody developed a sense of sympathy with those in need like his family had been growing up. In 2018 he volunteered on his first campaign, Beto O'Rourke's senate run. Channeling the energy of theatre and acting into social causes, Cody became a passionate defender of the rights of women and those of the LGBTQ community, of which he himself is a member. He moved to Austin to pursue legislative change in the capitol and started fighting for voting rights, abortion access, LGBTQ protections, affordable housing, affordable quality education, real climate action, universal healthcare, and more. He's excited to take this step in his home of HD-51 to bring a new progressive vision to the Texas House.
- Housing is a human right and we must do more to provide affordable housing for all Texans.
- In the face of a hostile legislature that has mounted an all-out attack on the rights of LGBTQ Texans, we must take steps to ensure the safety of gay, trans, and queer Texans.
- It is ridiculous that every day Texans should have to worry about their lights or heat staying on. Texas must modernize its grid and take steps to connect to nearby grids and implement other strategies to make sure our energy is reliable.
Housing, LGBTQ rights protections, healthcare access, climate change action, education, workers' rights, reproductive rights, voter protections, transit and urban planning
The greatest mentor I've ever had was my old friend and former employer Dr. Patrick Kavanaugh. He was a composer and classical conductor who founded and ran the MasterWorks Festival for the Performing Arts for decades. Upon graduating from high school, I went to work for him as an intern, and two years later I was brought on as the Assistant Director for the Festival, which was an international month-long program in the summer for opera, orchestra, theatre, ballet, and other classical art forms. Patrick was an incredible generous man who took me under his wing and filled in a hole that had been left by other mentors in my life. He taught me about music and faith, and was one of the first men to really teach me about the practicalities of chasing your dreams. He never sat still, and worked fervently on his passions until we sadly lost him in 2018. I think about Patrick a lot and hope that I am doing him proud.
I read a lot, particularly from biographies, law books, and studies on policy. If there were only one book I had to choose though, I would say Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin.
They should be policy oriented with a focus on restorative justice. They should be compassionate and communicative with constituents, but not afraid to stand their ground on unpopular decisions where they must follow their conscience and experience. They must be diligent and hard working, with a passion for knowledge, always ready to learn more about the issues affecting their jurisdiction.
I'm very knowledgable on policy and history with a passion and curiosity for always learning more. I read law books and policy papers and write essays on them for my own amusement, this is my passion.
Passing policies to lift Texans who are most in need out of poverty and ensuring that Texans are able to survive and thrive in the state they call home.
I grew up in an impoverished family that found themselves stuck all through my early life. Despite great grades in high school, I was unable to attend college due to the expense, and it was several years until I was able to afford a car, a computer, or health insurance. I want to do everything I can to make sure that reality ceases to exist for anyone in my home state. I want to do everything I can to make sure Texans are housed, fed, educated, and cared for to the fullest extent possible, because I believe that is my obligation to my fellow Texans. More than anything, I want us to make progress on helping folks in need.
I think the earliest event I can adequately remember was the disaster involving the Columbia shuttle exploding in 2003. I was just 6 years old and can remember the footage being played on TVs for weeks thereafter, imprinting itself on my memory.
I first began working as a young teenager, trying to help support my family, which was impoverished in the fallout of the 2008 recession, make ends meet. I worked in construction in the Texas summers, building houses, installing tile and drywall, and doing functionally any other home maintenance that needed doing where our company could get a bid. At the same time, I also worked part time as the groundskeeper for a local event venue, again doing a lot of outdoor work pulling up weeks and tending to various flower beds and lawns. I worked there for a year and a half before taking on a new job as a door carpenter.
Oh no, now you've really gone and done it. I'm a huge reader (it's January 30th, 2022 and I'm on my 6th book of the year thus far) and couldn't possibly choose only one book so buckle up, here are just a few of my favorites.
-American Ulysses by Ronald C. White
A biography of Ulysses S. Grant, this book really spoke to my heart and made me fall in love with President Grant. It is certainly informational, but it is also genuinely charming and funny. One of my favorite presidential biographies.
-The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
Growing up, I read and reread these books dozens of times, as well as The Silmarillion, the Hobbit, the histories of Middle-Earth, and more. I love the world of Middle-Earth and how much there is always more to learn about it.
-Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Simply the best biography of Abraham Lincoln but also of politics in general that has been written. This book challenges us to be better.
-The Years of LBJ by Robert A. Caro
Reading this behemoth collection is one of the prides of my life. There is no biography set so informative of both the man and the world he came from as these.
-The Alchemist by Paolo Coehlo and The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
These books hit a special place in my heart reserved for adult fairy tales. They whisk me away to a place that's magical.
-Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
What can I say? I love classical literature.
-The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
I know of no other author who has done more to raise awareness of the racial motivations captured into law in the formation of our cities.
-The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo
I first read this book in middle school and it spoke so deeply to me that I've regularly reread it since.
-The Universe in a Nutshell by Stephen Hawking
All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version)
This one's easy, money. My family has never had it and I learned early on how to survive without it. But surviving is less than truly living, and my opportunities have been severely limited many times because of this lack. But this same struggle also gives me an understanding for the realities of what it is to be in that position, to be unemployed, to be homeless. For that, I am grateful.
I think that the Legislature should be a full time, year round partner of the Governor, acting as the primary force behind lawmaking. I think that the Governor's job is to enforce those laws, not write them. We in Texas have gotten far too comfortable with a part-time legislature that has ceded much of its authority to the Governor by simple virtue of not being in session when policy must be put into play. A Legislature must also act as a check on the Governor when he overreaches his authority, ensuring that he is not micro-managing the lives of Texans or imposing his will on a powerless population.
I believe our most existential issue we are facing is that of democracy itself. Texas has become ground zero for stripping back voting rights and imposing ever more hurdles and roadblocks to voting, ensuring that only those that look or think a certain way will be able to make it to the voting booth. These issues will affect not just voting itself, but the very shape of our state as an ever-more authoritarian majority party enforces its will and chooses its voters to stay in power. Our policies will be written by despots unless we take action to protect Texans' right to voting and self-governance.
I think a unicameral body is far more effective at implementing the will of the voters and quick action on the part of the government, as we see worldwide. I think a single legislative body also helps to cut back on logjams for important policy as bills don't get stuck between the houses in an eternal legislative tennis game. While a unicameral body does pose the risk of a dangerous majority having few checks on what they can get away with, I believe this risk is relatively inconsequential when faced against the very real impossibilities of getting legislation through a bicameral body.
I think it can be beneficial as we need folks who know how legislation works and how to move the levers of government, but I also think we should seek a state legislature that is diverse in backgrounds and opinions so that they are better able to serve their public. Proper representation relies in part in having folks actually from the various backgrounds being represented. While most legislators should probably have some form of governing experience prior to entering the capitol, it should not be a pre-requisite.
Of course, at the end of the day fellow legislators are coworkers who can be relied on to help whip up votes and draft legislation. Democracy is a team sport.
We should institute independent bodies who draw district maps similar to Arizona, ensuring that districts reflect the general makeup of the state's partisan interests, rather than act as a tool for legislators to shore up their own districts.
Urban Affairs, County Affairs, Energy Resources, Environmental Regulation, and Ways and Means
I'm running for State House in part because I love the process of legislation and I think I could do some good here. Other legislative roles such as US Congress or Austin City Council naturally appeal to me in the same way, but for now state issues are my focus.
I know a young lady whose family has lived within east Austin for generations. As housing costs have continued to rise, they've adapted as needed, moving across town, housing multiple generations within one home, and all trying to work to cover the costs of rent, utilities, and other needs. Now, with those same housing costs skyrocketing even further, they are heartbroken to consider that they will have to leave the city soon. This has been their home for the better part of a century, but because their leaders aren't taking care of them, they will have to leave.
A duck walked up to a lemonade stand and he said to the man running the stand. "Hey! Got any grapes?"
Generally no, but emergency powers should also be stripped back so that the Governor does not have unlimited access to whatever power he should like to use until the next year the Legislature is in session.
I do believe it is necessary, but I think we often fall into a trap of prizing the concept of compromise over the merits of the policies themselves. At the end of the day, what is commendable is if we can pass bills that benefit folks in need, not whether or not we got 50 votes or 100 votes or 1000 votes. We must compromise to see progress happen, but we should not make compromise itself the end goal.
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.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 31, 2022
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)
