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Diane Symons
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Diane Symons (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Texas House of Representatives to represent District 97. She lost in the Democratic primary runoff on May 28, 2024.
Symons completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Diane Symons was born in San Antonio, Texas. She earned an associate degree from Tarrant County College in 1997. Her career experience includes working as an activist.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Texas House of Representatives District 97
John McQueeney defeated Carlos Walker in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 97 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | John McQueeney (R) | 58.1 | 51,432 |
 | Carlos Walker (D)  | 41.9 | 37,132 | |
| Total votes: 88,564 | |||
| = 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 runoff election
Democratic primary runoff for Texas House of Representatives District 97
Carlos Walker defeated Diane Symons in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas House of Representatives District 97 on May 28, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Carlos Walker | 55.7 | 1,228 |
| Diane Symons | 44.3 | 977 | ||
| Total votes: 2,205 | |||
| = 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 runoff election
Republican primary runoff for Texas House of Representatives District 97
John McQueeney defeated Cheryl Bean in the Republican primary runoff for Texas House of Representatives District 97 on May 28, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John McQueeney | 51.4 | 5,477 |
 | Cheryl Bean | 48.6 | 5,175 | |
| Total votes: 10,652 | |||
| = 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 97
Diane Symons and Carlos Walker advanced to a runoff. They defeated William Thorburn in the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 97 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Diane Symons | 44.1 | 3,083 | |
| ✔ | | Carlos Walker | 34.6 | 2,420 |
 | William Thorburn | 21.3 | 1,485 | |
| Total votes: 6,988 | |||
| = 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 97
Cheryl Bean and John McQueeney advanced to a runoff. They defeated Leslie Robnett in the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 97 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cheryl Bean | 49.6 | 9,057 |
| ✔ | | John McQueeney | 29.6 | 5,416 |
| Leslie Robnett | 20.8 | 3,798 | ||
| Total votes: 18,271 | |||
| = 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 Symons in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Diane Symons completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Symons' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am an advocate for the people. I always have. It is how I was brought up. I grew up in the same house that I live in now in Benbrook, TX. I have also lived throughout District 97 during my adult years, which I am very grateful. I know the people in my district. I know and understand the struggles that people in my district go through every day. With low wages, sometimes we have to choose which bill doesn’t get paid this month or which medication do I skip today because I can’t afford to buy them every month. I am a photographer, who sees the beauty in everything. I have had the opportunity to witness history as it was being made in the past few years. We must learn from our history, so we do not repeat the worst of times. I was always proud of Texas and loved that we were the “friendly” state. In the past few years, it has changed and not for the better. We must come together. I voted for Governor Ann Richards, when I was first eligible to vote. Her motto, Don’t Mess with Texas, will always stand. My motto is Don’t Mess with Texans.
- Education should be available for anyone. Our state should want educated people. However when independent school districts have teachers with an average of 3 yrs experience, our students do not get the high quality of education they deserve. We must provide an incentive for teachers to stay. I propose that teachers and school workers, active and retired, shall receive $0 property taxes. I believe that everyone should have the right to receive $8k per year for trade schools, college and universities in the state of Texas. Of course, nothing is free, they would have to complete community service each semester.
- Economy is extremely strong in Texas. There is enough money that each individual should have the right income for them and their family. I propose $15 minimum wage. Each year that the economy grows in Texas, we add $1 to the minimum wage. Small business owners are extremely concerned as the increase will take away from profits. I propose a tax credit to offset the additional expense. Corporations receive 5-10 yr tax abatements. Once the time is completed, some move out of the state. To keep corporations let’s provide an incentive to keep them in Texas. Hire students as interns and after graduation, hire them full time. Corporations will not want to leave if they have invested in training their educated employees.
- Equality is a weakness in Texas. If you are not white, you don’t make as much money. Discrimination based on color of your skin, your sexuality, your religion, your income, the car you drive, where you put your head down to sleep, your health, the way you dress and the type of work you do are unfortunately some and not all of the reasons you become bullied in school. People need to grow up and work together. Texans can do better. Ms Opal Lee says that if people can learn to hate, they can learn to love.
I believe that I am passionate about people and everyone having the same rights. Legalizing marijuana is the right thing to do. It will bring money to our economy. It can be grown and sold safely without having to worry about drug cartels and what may be mixed with it. It needs to be decriminalized. Voting should be available to everyone and that the people that represent you and your district. I believe you should live in their district for 2 years prior to serving. This will stop people from moving around from one place to another just to get elected. People think all politicians are corrupt because of donations from organizations, corporations and people. Their vote is bought. Let the people vote on the issues at the polls.
Ms Opal Lee. She is my mentor and my hero. If I end up being 10% of the woman that she is, I will then know I succeeded in life. No matter how many awful things that her and her family have endured, she stayed positive and doing positive things to help her community. If someone wants something done, they go to Ms Opal Lee. We know she will never give up.
Ethical. Honest. Passionate. Inspirational. Practical. Resourceful. Genuine. Sociable. Analytical. Understanding. Selfless. Compassionate. Determined. Patient. Proactive. Dedicated. Diligent. Persistence. Realistic. Graceful.
Communication. Listen and understand what really matters to the people that you represent. Vote the way they want you to vote. Your vote should be their vote, their voice. Never give up. Be apart of your district and not just on paper. Do everything in your power to provide them with every tool to succeed.
That I was honest. I was a people’s person. I fought the good fight. I persisted. That I made a difference to one person.
Chevron 2 years. Starting pay was $4.50 per hour. After 30 days, I got a $0.10 an hour raise. I thought I was rich. I was promoted to a manager within 90 days. As the manager I would have to sign the beer checks. I would have to get others to sign them because I was only 19 and couldn’t purchase beer.
Medical expenses
They need to work together. Not everyone is going to agree. However willing to come to a mutual understanding.
Immigration and white supremacy
I do not. We need people that are smart and willing to do what’s right. I think you need a heart.
Yes. I believe that you should have working relationships with as many people on both sides of the aisle. We can accomplish a lot if we just talk like normal people.
Eddie Bernice Johnson
I think right now my place is in Texas in my district. Then, I will decide what is best for me and my country.
One evening I was driving around. I sat and talked to 2 individuals in 2 separate locations in my district. The gentleman, age 71, had become homeless 10 days priors because his home was foreclosed on for delinquent property taxes. The other was a 89 year old woman out on the streets. Her home was foreclosed on 2 yrs prior due to delinquent property taxes. I meet with the gentleman every week. He was about to get an apartment 12 days ago, when everything he had was stolen except the clothes on your back. He doesn’t have the photo identification that is needed. He doesn’t have documents needed to get the identification, they were stolen too. He was covered in bruises. I asked him how he was holding up. He said that when he starts losing hope then out of nowhere I show up. He said he has hope because I give him hope. We have to do better.
I better keep quiet on this one.
Yes, the governor has too much power. He can twist words that make some people think he is doing it for one reason when all reality he is actually trying to change the law based on his views.
Increase minimum wage
Disability and education committees. Texas can do so much better in both these categories. Vouchers are not for everyone. A test should not be the only way to determine which grade a child should be in or if a school receives an A or a F. Some people freeze during tests. A child shouldn’t be considered a certain grade because of age. Schools look at kids that misbehave or don’t perform well as not being good students. Sometimes those kids are actually bored as they are gifted. We need to provide those kids the ability to move forward skipping grades. Disabilities come in so many packages. Healthcare in Texas is ridiculous. Why is our state returning money that is for special education in schools, when schools do not currently have the money to teach our kids effectively. Why do we not police handicap parking and fine the people that obtain and use illegal parking permits. Buildings with 2 doors to enter and only the outdoor has a button puts someone in a wheelchair, cane, crutches or walker stuck when the 2nd door doesn’t open automatically or have a button if they do not make it through the door in the time allotted. We need to offer paper ballots in braille.
We need more transparency and accountability. Votes should not be bought. Votes should be the voice of the people.
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
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 5, 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)
