Cris Wright
From Ballotpedia
Cris Wright is running in a special election to the Houston City Council to represent At-large Position 4 in Texas. She is on the ballot in the special general election on November 4, 2025.[source]
Wright completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Cris Wright was born in Houston, Texas. She earned a high school diploma from Jack Yates High School and a bachelor's degree from Howard University in 2009. Her career experience includes working as a consultant. Wright has been affiliated with Howard University Alumni, the NAACP, and Superneighborhood.[1]
Elections
2025
See also: City elections in Houston, Texas (2025)
General election
The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.
Special general election for Houston City Council At-large Position 4
The following candidates are running in the special general election for Houston City Council At-large Position 4 on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
| J. Brad Batteau (Nonpartisan) | ||
 | Dwight Boykins (Nonpartisan) | |
 | Ethan Hale (Nonpartisan) | |
| Miguel Herrera (Nonpartisan) | ||
 | Martina Lemond Dixon (Nonpartisan) | |
| Al Lloyd (Nonpartisan) | ||
 | Sonia Rivera (Nonpartisan) | |
 | Adrian Rogers (Nonpartisan)  | |
| Alejandra Salinas (Nonpartisan) | ||
 | Sheraz Siddiqui (Nonpartisan) | |
 | Kathy Lee Tatum (Nonpartisan) | |
 | Angeanette Thibodeaux (Nonpartisan) | |
 | Jordan Thomas (Nonpartisan) | |
 | Cris Wright (Nonpartisan) | |
| Kristal Mtaza-Lyons (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | ||
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Cris Wright completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Wright's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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A former award-winning local government reporter who spent 15 years covering U.S. city halls and community issues, Cris went on to advise more than 500 microbusiness owners and lead strategic planning for organizations that strengthen neighborhoods. She’s a proud graduate of Jack Yates High School and Howard University, where she earned a journalism degree that taught her how to ask hard questions and build smart systems. Today, she uses that experience to help first-generation builders navigate knowledge gaps and create sustainable impact. Cris believes every Houstonian deserves clear paths to participate in city decisions — from safe housing to fair business opportunities and real workforce development. Her campaign centers on equipping residents with the information and tools to influence the politics that affect their daily lives.
- Houston needs a modern civic infrastructure that helps people see and shape what’s happening at City Hall. Cris will work to create and strengthen the practical tools residents need — from user-friendly ways to track city projects and budgets, to clear guides on how to testify, contact decision-makers, and organize neighbors. When more people understand the system and can move through it easily, the city’s decisions become fairer, more transparent, and better connected to real community needs.
- Houston faces deep poverty and a fast-changing job market driven by gig work. Strengthening first-generation builders and small businesses is not just fair — it’s a smart economic strategy to stabilize neighborhoods and grow local wealth. Cris has advised more than 500 microbusiness owners and knows they need help that meets them where they are — in both understanding and location. On Council, she will push to take resources and know-how directly to overlooked communities, open access to city contracts, and partner with workforce programs so more Houstonians can build sustainable businesses and jobs close to home.
- Houston is a tapestry of communities — long-established neighborhoods alongside newcomers drawn to our diversity and opportunity. As the city grows and redevelops from every end, we risk losing the character, culture, and access that make Houston strong. Preservation must include more than buildings; it must protect the voices and opportunities of those who built these communities. Cris will push for engagement structures that meet people where they are — from neighborhood-based listening sessions to easy digital tools — so residents can help shape growth, keep history alive, and ensure change benefits everyone across the city.
I’m passionate about building civic infrastructure so every Houstonian can navigate and influence City Hall — from tracking budgets to weighing in on neighborhood decisions. I care deeply about inclusive economic growth, meeting first-generation builders and small businesses where they are with resources and opportunity, because supporting local entrepreneurs is key to fighting poverty and stabilizing a gig-driven economy. I’m equally committed to housing and city preservation — protecting Houston’s tapestry of diverse communities while guiding growth so longtime residents and newcomers can thrive together.
An elected official should be accountable, transparent, and accessible — open about decisions and responsive to the people they serve. They should practice integrity and put community needs before personal or political gain. Listening and learning are critical; policy should reflect lived experiences across the city, not just insider voices. They must be collaborative and solutions-driven, willing to work across differences to get results. And above all, they should have the courage to lead with fairness and clarity, making government understandable and empowering residents to engage.
The core responsibility of a City Council member is to serve the people — to represent every Houstonian, not just insiders or special interests. That means listening to residents, making city processes understandable, and ensuring resources are distributed fairly across neighborhoods. It also includes shaping policy that strengthens our civic infrastructure, supports economic opportunity, and protects the character of our communities while planning for growth. Council members must hold city agencies accountable, vote transparently on budgets and ordinances, and connect people with the tools they need to influence decisions that affect their daily lives.
Bringing people back to City Hall, not in protest but in unity.
9/11. I was 15 years old, at a school newspaper meeting, when I saw the planes hit the buildings. I went into reporter mode quickly, calling around the city offices and talking to school administrators.
My first job was for the NAACP-Houston Branch at 15 years old, as a youth newsletter editor and peer counselor. I worked there for two years.
Many Houstonians don’t realize City Council controls billions in city spending and decides how that money reaches neighborhoods, from street repairs to parks and safety programs. Council also approves development deals and tax incentives, which shape how our city grows and who benefits. Members can create and change ordinances that affect everyday life, from permitting rules to how small businesses operate. And Council has power to hold city departments accountable through public hearings and oversight, a key check to make sure services work fairly and efficiently.
Serving on City Council requires the ability to research issues deeply — to move beyond headlines and understand the real impact of policies on people’s daily lives. It takes strategic thinking to connect long-term goals with practical solutions, build coalitions, and use limited resources wisely. And it demands leadership — the courage to listen, make clear decisions, and guide the city through growth and change. These skills together ensure a council member can translate community needs into smart, actionable policy and hold the city accountable for results.
City Council’s at-large seats are unique because they represent the entire city, not just one district. That gives them the ability to spot connections across neighborhoods and push for solutions that benefit all of Houston — from infrastructure and transit to economic growth and safety. At-large members can champion equity by making sure resources and opportunities reach every corner of the city. They also serve as a bridge between districts, helping unify diverse communities into one stronger Houston while still staying close to residents’ everyday concerns.
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
2025 Elections
External links
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Candidate Houston City Council At-large Position 4 |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 29, 2025
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