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Laurel Jordan Swift
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Laurel Jordan Swift (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Texas House of Representatives to represent District 121. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Swift completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Laurel Jordan Swift was born in San Antonio, Texas. She attended the University of Texas at Austin and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2002. Her career experience includes working as a sales representative. Before graduating from college, she worked on the popular radio program, "The Lisle & Hahn Show" on 99.5 KISS. [1]
Elections
2024
See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Texas House of Representatives District 121
Marc LaHood defeated Laurel Jordan Swift in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 121 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Marc LaHood (R) | 52.5 | 51,013 |
 | Laurel Jordan Swift (D)  | 47.5 | 46,104 | |
| Total votes: 97,117 | |||
| = 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 121
Laurel Jordan Swift defeated Shekhar Sinha in the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 121 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Laurel Jordan Swift | 72.9 | 6,066 |
 | Shekhar Sinha | 27.1 | 2,257 | |
| Total votes: 8,323 | |||
| = 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 121
Marc LaHood defeated incumbent Steve Allison and Michael Champion in the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 121 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Marc LaHood | 53.4 | 11,813 |
| Steve Allison | 39.5 | 8,723 | ||
 | Michael Champion | 7.1 | 1,573 | |
| Total votes: 22,109 | |||
| = 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
Swift received the following endorsements.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Laurel Jordan Swift completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Swift's 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 a hard working, happily married mother of five fabulous grown children. I was born and raised in District 121, and I am a product of public schools, as are my kids. I am running to bring back common sense and decency to our state government.
- We must fully fund our public schools, and pay our cherished teachers a competitive wage. Currently, Texas schools rank 46th out of 50. Our teachers are paid 13% below the national average. And our per student funding ranks 44th out of 50. All while our state is sitting on a $30Billion rainy day fund. Prosperity in Texas depends on a well educated population and work force. It's the best investment we can make to ensure our future success.
- Abortion should be legal and safe, as it was for almost 50 years. In no other situation can the government require that a citizen relinquish their bodily autonomy to preserve the life of another. We cannot be required to donate a kidney or even blood to preserve the life of another person. In fact, women are being forced to risk their lives in some situations where their pregnancies could be harmful or deadly. In addition, the Journal of the American Medical Association estimated that 26,000 births have resulted from rape since the abortion ban went into effect. We must repeal these draconian laws, and provide this critical healthcare to Texas women.
- Texas must expand Medicaid. The Affordable Care Act would cover 90% of the cost to expand Medicaid to low income families if the state would raise the income threshold to include more people. Texans' federal tax dollars are going to 40 other states who have expanded Medicaid, but do not benefit our low income citizens. Instead, our local property tax dollars are used to subsidize hospitals to cover uninsured folks. It is morally and fiscally irresponsible of Texas leaders not to take advantage of this provision of the ACA.
I am also passionate about mental illness. My mother suffered from bipolar disorder for 30 years, and my brother developed schizophrenia at 19, and currently lives with my husband and me. I have been navigating the mental health landscape for them all of my adult life, and society is failing. Funding for mental illness has been decreasing since the 90s. We must address this crisis.
While I don't agree with all of his policies, I look up to Bernie Sanders. He embodies what a true "public servant" should be. He doesn't appear to be swayed by donors or their money, but instead sticks to his guns, and does what he thinks is right. He is straightforward, unambiguous, and honest. That is how I plan to be.
I think "The Big Short" was a pivotal movie for me. I watched it multiple times to understand what happened during the housing market crash. This movie inspired me to truly educate myself about other things in our society. I read historical biographies, and subscribe to 7 newspapers. I listen to a podcast called "Pitchfork Economics" which breaks down economic dilemmas in our country for lay people to understand. I believe peole CAN understand the complexities that face our society and make rational choices to solve them.
Our leaders should be honest, hard working public servants. Thet should be accessible and responsive to their constituents, and courageous enough to fight for their majority. Unfortunately, many of our leaders are beholden to special interests that do not benefit the citizens of Texas.
I am interested in serving people. I am going to have to leave a lucrative career to serve, and the Texas Legislature doesn't pay much. I want to use my sales experience and business acumen to get positive things done for my kids, neighbors, and fellow citizens. I am doing this because I truly want to make the world a better place.
Our leaders need to be able to understand the data and information surrounding each individual issue. They must be able to put their partisan views aside, and make decisions that benefit the majority of their constituents. They need to convey the facts to their voters and resist the temptation to skew or manipulate their speech to mislead folks. I believe people are ready to be spoken to with truth and honesty.
I want Texas to be ranked Number One in every category, from education, to sustainable economic development, to affordable housing and healthcare. There is no reason we can't make that happen!
I remember when Ronald Reagan was shot. I was twelve. I came home from school and my mother was devastated. It was the first time I remember being aware of the national political environment.
I got my first job in high school, working at a women's clothing store at "The Mall". I worked there for two years, and it really taught me how to deal with people, respectfully, and I learned how much fun it was to get paid and be self reliant.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S.Lewis. It was a book read to me by a teacher in the 4th grade and inspired my love for reading.
"Just a Girl" by No Doubt
My parents' battles with mental health and drug addiction, as well as caring for my schizophrenic brother have been difficult my entire adult life. But I have been blessed with good health, a wonderful husband and kids, and I'm relatively bright. I believe it is my duty to use my skills to help others who need help.
The Governor and the State Legislature should be able to work hand in hand. Especially if they are from the same party. Unfortunately, in Texas, special interests like folks backing the privatization of schools under the guise of school vouchers have pit even people in the same party against each other. We are wasting money, time and making bad decisions for the state because the Governor refuses to respect the House of Representatives.
Public school funding, affordable housing and healthcare, and the rise of mass shootings.
No. I think its beneficial to have a mix of regular citizens, who have been living regular lives and understand what regular citizens are dealing with. I believe that being in politics for too long can make leaders too far removed from their constituencies. More of us non politicians should run for office!
Yes. Building coalitions with sensible legislators would help educate me on problems in other parts of the state, and vice versa. We must be able to get along and build trust to get things done.
Ann Richards is my political hero.
Potentially. As this is my first attempt to run for office, I want to see if I can be effective for my district. If I don't think I can do that, while maintaining my integrity, I will not continue. But if I can bring honesty, decency and positive change to Texas, I will happily further my political career.
My brother's story is impactful to me. He was voted "Most Likely to Succeed" in high school in 1988. He attended Texas A&M and developed schizophrenia. He never used drugs, and barely even touched alcohol. He had the support and love of his family, but society fails folks like him. If they don't have family and resources, they end up homeless, taken advantage of, or in jail.
I would introduce a bill to fully fund education. I would aspire to make Texas ranked number one in the country for education. I believe that would be the most beneficial investment we could make. Educated citizens would draw more lucrative business to Texas, have a higher standard of living, and commit less crime. Our young people , if they are well educated, can solve problems like climate change and secure a bright future for Texas.
So far, I am honored to be endorsed by Annie's List, Bexar County Young Democrats, The Stonwall Deocrats of San Antonio, and the Tejano Dems.
They all interest me, to be honest. But if I could serve on the Committees of Public Education, Public Health, Natural Resources, and Appropriations, I would be thrilled
One of the most frustrating things for citizens in Texas and around the country is the perception that our leaders are bought and paid for. When the Supreme Court upheld Citizens United, the floodgates for unreported private and corporate dollars to be funneled to politicians opened up. In Texas, there are no limits to what an individual can donate to a campaign or politician. This system inevitably breeds greed in our leaders, and fosters mistrust in them for the public. We need to rethink how we fund our political campaigns and reassure citizens that our leaders can be trusted to look out for the best interests of their constituency.
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 121 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 8, 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)
