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Mike Siegel
2025 - Present
2029
0
Mike Siegel is a member of the Austin City Council in Texas, representing District 7. He assumed office on January 6, 2025. His current term ends on January 6, 2029.
Siegel ran for election to the Austin City Council to represent District 7 in Texas. He won in the general runoff election on December 14, 2024.
Siegel completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Mike Siegel was born in Oakland, California and has lived in Austin, Texas. He earned a bachelor's degree from Brandeis University, a law degree from Cornell Law School, and additional education from California State University. Siegel’s career experience includes working as a public school teacher with Teach for America. He co-founded two nonprofit education organizations and serves as the executive director of Oakland Leaf. Siegel has worked as a civil rights attorney and as an assistant city attorney in Austin.[1][2]
Elections
2024
See also: City elections in Austin, Texas (2024)
General runoff election
General runoff election for Austin City Council District 7
Mike Siegel defeated Gary Bledsoe in the general runoff election for Austin City Council District 7 on December 14, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mike Siegel (Nonpartisan)  | 51.2 | 4,420 |
 | Gary Bledsoe (Nonpartisan) | 48.8 | 4,211 | |
| Total votes: 8,631 | |||
| = 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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General election
General election for Austin City Council District 7
The following candidates ran in the general election for Austin City Council District 7 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Siegel (Nonpartisan) | 39.8 | 13,681 |
| ✔ | | Gary Bledsoe (Nonpartisan) | 19.3 | 6,624 |
 | Pierre Nguyen (Nonpartisan) | 14.9 | 5,110 | |
 | Adam Powell (Nonpartisan) | 11.1 | 3,828 | |
 | Todd Shaw (Nonpartisan) | 8.7 | 2,973 | |
 | Edwin Bautista (Nonpartisan) | 6.2 | 2,135 | |
| Total votes: 34,351 | |||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Daniel Dominguez (Nonpartisan)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Siegel in this election.
2020
See also: Texas' 10th Congressional District election, 2020
Texas' 10th Congressional District election, 2020 (March 3 Democratic primary)
Texas' 10th Congressional District election, 2020 (March 3 Republican primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House Texas District 10
Incumbent Michael McCaul defeated Mike Siegel and Roy Eriksen in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 10 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Michael McCaul (R) | 52.5 | 217,216 |
| Mike Siegel (D) | 45.3 | 187,686 | |
 | Roy Eriksen (L) | 2.2 | 8,992 | |
| Total votes: 413,894 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Lloyd Coker (Conservative Party)
- Olis Bahari (Independent)
Democratic primary runoff election
Democratic primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 10
Mike Siegel defeated Pritesh Gandhi in the Democratic primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 10 on July 14, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Siegel | 54.2 | 26,799 |
 | Pritesh Gandhi | 45.8 | 22,629 | |
| Total votes: 49,428 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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 U.S. House Texas District 10
Mike Siegel and Pritesh Gandhi advanced to a runoff. They defeated Shannon Hutcheson in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 10 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Siegel | 44.0 | 35,651 |
| ✔ | | Pritesh Gandhi | 33.1 | 26,818 |
 | Shannon Hutcheson | 22.9 | 18,578 | |
| Total votes: 81,047 | |||
| = 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 U.S. House Texas District 10
Incumbent Michael McCaul advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 10 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michael McCaul | 100.0 | 60,323 |
| Total votes: 60,323 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 10
Roy Eriksen advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 10 on March 21, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Roy Eriksen (L) |
| ||||
| = 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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2018
General election
General election for U.S. House Texas District 10
Incumbent Michael McCaul defeated Mike Siegel and Mike Ryan in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 10 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michael McCaul (R) | 51.1 | 157,166 |
| Mike Siegel (D) | 46.8 | 144,034 | |
 | Mike Ryan (L) | 2.2 | 6,627 | |
| Total votes: 307,827 | |||
| = 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 U.S. House Texas District 10
Mike Siegel defeated Tawana W. Cadien in the Democratic primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 10 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Siegel | 70.2 | 12,181 |
 | Tawana W. Cadien | 29.8 | 5,164 | |
| Total votes: 17,345 | |||
| = 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 U.S. House Texas District 10
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 10 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Siegel | 40.0 | 15,434 |
| ✔ | | Tawana W. Cadien | 18.0 | 6,938 |
 | Tami Walker | 15.6 | 6,015 | |
 | Madeline Eden | 14.3 | 5,514 | |
| Matt Harris | 7.3 | 2,825 | ||
 | Kevin Nelson | 4.1 | 1,589 | |
 | Richie DeGrow | 0.8 | 302 | |
| Total votes: 38,617 | |||
| = 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 U.S. House Texas District 10
Incumbent Michael McCaul defeated John Cook in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 10 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michael McCaul | 80.1 | 41,881 |
 | John Cook | 19.9 | 10,413 | |
| Total votes: 52,294 | |||
| = 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 themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Mike Siegel completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Siegel's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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As a teacher, Mike taught third grade, fifth grade, and eighth grade in the public schools, and was active in his teachers’ union. He has co-founded multiple nonprofit organizations, including Ground Game Texas, which fights for democracy and social justice through local issue campaigns in cities across the state.
As an attorney, Mike has 13 years of experience, including several years in private practice as a civil rights and employment lawyer, and more recently several years of service as an Austin city attorney. While working at City Hall, Mike represented dozens of city departments, co-wrote ordinances including our paid sick leave ordinance, and appeared for the City in numerous cases in state and federal court.
Mike has been a part of several community victories over the last several years, through his work as a city attorney, political organizer, and Democratic nominee for Congress, such as suing Greg Abbott on behalf of the Texas immigrant community; defending voting rights at Prairie View A&M University; and protecting Travis County Students during the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring Travis County school districts could require mask mandates to mitigate COVID transmission.
Mike is committed to helping make Austin a safe and welcoming place where people from all backgrounds can thrive.- Climate Action: Austin has been hit by destructive freezes and massive heat waves in recent years, and our people are ready for climate action. This City owns our own electric, water, and waste management utilities, and the federal government has made new resources available to fuel the energy transition. We must prioritize a 3-part strategy to (1) decarbonize City programs and resources, (2) develop a “just transition” for fossil fuel workers to obtain good jobs in a renewable energy economy, and (3) remedy the legacy of environmental pollution and injustice. I’m committed to building a strong coalition across the community to take comprehensive action on climate change.
- Leadership and Experience I am the only candidate for this City Council position who has the leadership and experience to take on the work of representing a diverse community and passing essential policy in a major American city. My 25 years of experience in public education and law—and in particular my four years as an Austin City Attorney advising staff, writing policy, and representing the City in Court—have prepared me for the work of crafting policy and building coalitions in the community and on the Council dais.
- Housing and Affordability Austin is one of the fastest growing cities in America, and at the same time we are one of the most segregated, both by race and by economic status. Although some of the economic factors driving up the cost of living can be better addressed by state and federal lawmakers, the City can take strong, progressive action to increase the supply of affordable housing, expand access to public transportation, and facilitate the creation of good-paying union jobs. I support creative and aggressive solutions to the housing crisis, including using City resources to build new housing and collaborating across regional local governmental entities to finance, build, and operate diverse housing programs.
Housing and Affordability: Austin must use every tool at its disposal to build housing, expand public transportation, and create good-paying union jobs, so that the people who work to make Austin a great city can afford to live within the city limits.
prepared me to help build the coalitions we need for progressive change in Austin.
When Austinites come together and organize, great things happen. In recent years, we’ve won city-wide campaigns on issues like affordable housing, police oversight, and mass transit — all with huge margins of public support. The people here are ready to take action when called to do so.
A key goal would be to balance the day-to-day work of being a Councilmember with long-term objectives for a four year term. As one Councilmember out of 11, I’d prioritize my time and energy to not try to do everything, but instead “concentrate to make a breakthrough.” There are so many different types of issues that come across your desk as a Council Member, many of which are an emergency for the person bringing the issue to you, and our current council has shown how even well-meaning members can get swept away by a City Hall “crises of the moment” instead of pushing for deeper, structural change. I hope to avoid this trap.
The balance I want to strike would be a sustained focus on one or more key issues (climate action, for one), while also being nimble and responsive to the moment as issues arise in the community. One strategy would be to “multiply” the efforts of our council office by building alliances with other council offices (who could take the lead on some issues, for example, to enhance our capacity to take on other work), and by building alliances with community groups engaging in various areas of policy reform.
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.
2020
Mike Siegel did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
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Fighting for our shared values We need a bold vision My work in public service, as an educator and civil rights advocate, has shown me that we are strongest when we work together. Right now, our economy and political system is not working for most Americans. Huge corporations use their money and influence to rig the game to their own advantage. To build a stronger America, a country that truly serves the greater good, we need a movement. Healthcare Health care is a human right. It is essential to everything we do: our personal and family health, our ability to work and run businesses, our financial stability and our plans for retirement. We must chart a path that guarantees high quality healthcare for every American. I support efforts to guarantee universal care, including current proposals for Medicare for All. The United States is a wealthy nation that spends far too much on far too little care. With Medicare for All, we will save billions of dollars a year, and instead of paying for burdensome paperwork requirements and bonuses for corporate CEOs, we will provide healthcare for 30 million uninsured Americans and tens of millions more who currently have insufficient protection. The TX-10 incumbent, Michael McCaul, is complicit in every Republican attack on our healthcare. He voted dozens of times to repeal the Affordable Care Act, including its protections for pre-existing conditions. He has also done nothing while rural hospitals are closed. My commitment is to fight for the people of the Texas 10th, for your health and your security. Until we achieve Medicare for All, we must defend the important gains we have made for Medicare and Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Affordable Care Act. We must lower prescription drug prices and pursue other important reforms. And most of all, we must put people before profits, and ensure every American has the care and support they need. Voting Rights Mike Siegel has been fighting for equal opportunity and social justice for the last twenty years, first as a public school teacher and then as a civil rights lawyer. As an educator and union organizer, community activist and trial attorney, Mike has committed himself to advocating for disadvantaged communities and working for a better future. In 2018, Mike was the Democratic nominee in the Texas 10th Congressional District, taking on a longtime Republican incumbent in a heavily gerrymandered district. His opponent, Michael McCaul, is one of the richest members of Congress and won his 2016 election by 19 points. With a grassroots campaign backed by organized labor, Indivisible groups, and other progressive organizations and activists, Mike narrowed the gap to 4 points on Election Day, surprising many outside observers. Now, TX-10 is on the national “battleground” lists for both parties, and Mike is running again. One of the highlights of Mike’s 2018 campaign was his fight for voting rights at Prairie View A&M University. The historically-black college in Waller County has been the source of a series of struggles for voting rights dating back several decades. In 2018, on the eve of the voter registration deadline, local officials told PVAMU students they would not be able to vote on Election Day without signing an affidavit swearing to their residence — an unnecessary impediment to voting that would surely suppress voter turnout. Mike joined together with local Democrats to protest this policy, and in the course of delivering a demand letter, Mike’s local organizer was arrested. As a result, Mike was featured on Rachel Maddow, and a day later, the Texas Secretary of State forced Waller County to reverse its policy on student voting. Public education is the foundation of our democracy. If every student has the opportunity to learn and succeed, the American Dream continues. But if we weaken public education—through for-profit schemes, attacks on teachers’ unions, systemic under-funding and the like—we lose the heart of our nation. My beliefs about public education are informed by my own experience attending public schools, and my work as a public school teacher. I taught third grade, fifth grade, and eighth grade; I ran after-school and summer programs; and I organized as a member of the teacher’s union. I’ve seen what is possible, when students and parents and teachers and administrators unite in pursuit of quality education. And I’ve seen the threats from those who would sell our public resources to the highest bidder, and attack our system of education as a way to reduce political opposition. As your representative, I will fight for:
And as your representative, I will fight against:
Public education is essential to what this country stands for. Elect a teacher who will protect our schools for the generations to come. Green New Deal for TX-10 Over the past century, fossil fuels have raised the standard of living for people around the world and fueled a boom in the Texas economy. But this same boom has led us to a crisis: we have 10 years to cut greenhouse gas emissions by half, or else face increasing floods, droughts, fires, heat waves, and other catastrophic events. Poor and working people, people of color, seniors, and people with disabilities are among those most at risk; we only need to look at the impact of Hurricane Harvey, and recent industrial disasters in Houston to see the truth. In order to solve this massive crisis, we need massive solutions. The Green New Deal is designed to confront the twin crises of climate change and inequality. It is a plan to take immediate action to (1) address climate change, and create millions of jobs in the process; (2) guarantee a just transition for affected workers and their families, including a jobs guarantee, so they will not suffer as we rebuild the American economy; and (3) remedy the legacy of environmental injustice and focus resources on those communities that have been on the front lines of fossil fuel pollution. The original New Deal had a project in every Congressional district, and here in the Texas 10th, we have a project ready to implement. In Fayette County, the Fayette Coal Plant was built 40 years ago with the promise of “clean” coal power, but has instead poisoned the groundwater, polluted the air, killed livestock and crops, and created a corridor of cancer cases, childhood asthma, and other calamitous health impacts. The plant should be immediately closed; funds allocated to clean up coal ash waste and other pollution; and new industry developed to employ local workers in a sustainable industry for the 21st Century. We have begun the work of a Green New Deal for Texas. In September 2019, my campaign was the first to organize a town hall event on the Green New Deal, bringing together national & local experts across politics, labor, economics, agriculture, environmental justice, and youth climate organizing. The highlights and complete town hall video are below. Dignity for Workers by Protecting and Growing Union Membership The labor movement has won tremendous gains for Americans, from minimum wage laws and safe working conditions to healthcare guarantees, Social Security, pensions and more. For several decades, however, unions and workers have been under attack. The results of this right-wing assault are clear: more people in poverty, a massive gap between rich and poor, millions of people working multiple jobs just to survive. At this moment in history, when progressive movements are winning hearts and minds with plans for “Medicare for All” and a “Green New Deal,” we must also put the fight for unions at the front of the agenda. We must ensure that every American who wants it has a good job and is treated with dignity. We must also protect the right to organize. We know that corporations have increasing power, as massive companies like Amazon and Walmart control millions of jobs. The only way to balance out this concentration of wealth is with worker power. Mike Siegel has been a union activist and labor ally throughout his professional career. He was raised in a union family; his mom was a machinist and organizer with the International Association of Machinists, and his father is a labor lawyer for farmworkers, janitors, and healthcare workers. Mike earned his first union card in 1999, as a public school teacher and member of the National Education Association; he was elected as a site representative and national delegate. As a civil rights lawyer, Mike represented unions, and later joined AFSCME as an employee of the City of Austin. He has earned the endorsements of numerous unions as the Democratic nominee for Congress in 2018 and again as a candidate for 2020. As your representative, Mike Siegel will fight to expand the union movement, and support the following demands:
Medicare For All: The debate about private vs. public insurance often revolves around the concept of “choice.” Those who support private insurance say it allows workers to choose the insurance they like. The truth is, it allows workers to choose health insurance if their boss likes that insurance as well. Medicare for All eliminates this need for employers to agree with their employees about what healthcare is best – you can choose what doctor to see whether or not your employer agrees. Medicare for All also allows people to have not only more healthcare options but also more employment options; workers will not be forced to stay in jobs they don’t like just because that job offers them health insurance. Relying on employer based insurance means unions are forced to negotiate for better coverage instead of better working conditions, and we know that people using employer-based insurance already lose their health care constantly. Finally, employer-based insurance burdens businesses with intense administrative & financial costs. We’re going to put an end to it. Police Reform and Racial Justice Our nation is grappling with a 401-year history of racism and oppression. With the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many more, millions of us are in the streets to demand justice, to demand that Black Lives Matter, and to demand an end to impunity for police murder. This movement is layered on top of existing crises, including COVID-19, a healthcare crisis and an economic depression, that all disproportionately impact the Black community. We are seeing that Black workers are more likely to be the “essential workers” who face the greatest risk of exposure to COVID-19. We are seeing that Black Americans are among those most likely to die from COVID-19. We live in a country with an “original sin” of slavery that resulted in enormous class disparities, with a legacy of Jim Crow and “redlining” in housing practices, where Black mothers face overwhelming maternal mortality rates, and where a Black baby is more likely to be born into poverty and live in a community with under-resourced public schools. As plain as day, we can see that the American Dream has not been for everyone. And of course the Black community is not the only community that faces systematic racism in this country. Contrary to ideals that many of us hold, the United States has not provided equal opportunity for all. Latino, Asian, Middle Eastern and Native American communities face unique assaults and oppressions on a daily basis, from our police forces, our economic institutions, and society in general. In Texas we see anti-immigrant sentiment, anti-Muslim sentiment, anti-Asian sentiment — much of it coming, unfortunately, from the leaders in power, in the White House and the Texas Capitol. I come to this struggle as a civil rights lawyer who has taken on suits to challenge racist police practices, to stop housing discrimination, to challenge anti-immigrant policies and fight for voting rights. I taught in public schools in Houston, New York City, and Oakland, California, working to meet the needs of diverse students, including Black children. As a candidate for Congress, I’ve fought to protect the right to vote of students at Prairie View A&M, a historically Black college in the Texas 10th. I’ve spoken out, I’ve marched, I’ve organized and filed lawsuits, dedicating myself to the struggle against racism and inequality. I also come to this work as a father and husband. As a white man who is married to a Black woman, and who is the father of Black children. When my wife Hindatu and I met in Houston, Texas in 1999, neither of us knew the path ahead. We were first-year public school teachers with our lives ahead of us. 21 years later we are raising two children in Texas. For the greater community, and for our children, we are committed to the fight for true public safety, justice, and equality for all. And given our background in teaching, we know first-hand how poverty and inequality are deeply rooted and intersectional challenges. Policing is connected to housing. Housing is connected with jobs. Jobs are connected with education. We can’t just change policing policy without addressing the underlying structure of our society To that end, I believe we must work on multiple fronts, to directly address racism in police practices, while also working to address the essential preconditions to equality and opportunity. To address racism in policing, I support demands including the following:
To advance the American Dream of equality for all, I support demands including the following:
Corporate PAC Money We are in a fight for our democracy. Big monied interests and corporations are buying our politicians. Our campaign is rejecting corporate PAC money because I want to represent the people, not large corporations. Pro-Choice I believe that reproductive choice is a universal human right. Women should have simple, informed, and universal access to all aspects of reproductive care. Common Sense Gun Reform We must take action to stop gun violence in America. As a political issue, gun control is complex: there are many proposals, opinions, and ideas out there for helping turn the tide of gun violence in this country. There’s a lot to talk about. But in the short term, I want to make you three promises and suggest three principles that should guide our efforts towards reducing gun violence. I promise you this:
As we go forward and try to get something done, here are three principles that should guide us:
Crushing College Debt The new generation has been sold a promise that we couldn’t keep. We were promised that with a college education, comes a good paying job. Millions of people are struggling because of their large amounts of debt. We must undo this damage. I support College For All. Empowering our LGBTQIA+ Community This campaign recognizes the long struggle of the movements for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, and asexual rights. There have been huge strides toward equality and justice in the 50 years since the Stonewall Riots of 1969, but true equality is still a horizon we continue to fight toward. We know that LGBTQIA+ people still experience higher rates of discrimination, homelessness, suicide, police profiling, incarceration, poverty, and violence stemming from hate than the rest of the country, and these outcomes worsen dramatically for Black, Latino, and indigenous people. Many of our hard-fought victories are currently under attack by the Trump administration and the current balance of the Supreme Court, so we need a Legislative branch packed full of allies. As a parent and family member, as a teacher and organizer, as a civil rights lawyer, I am committed to fighting for the dignity and right of self-determination of every member of our community. When elected, I will work to:
Criminal Justice Reform As a civil rights lawyer and a former school teacher, I see the United States’ criminal justice system as a reflection of our democracy. The Bill of Rights lays out great aspirations: due process, the right to legal counsel, a ban on cruel and unusual punishment, the guarantee of equal protection under the law. But in practice, the system has achieved mixed results, with justice for some and oppression for others. Here in Texas, our work is to undo the legacy of Jim Crow injustice. We have an extremely inequitable system of policing, prosecution, and incarceration, a system that is biased against poor people and people of color. The vast majority of prisoners have not been convicted of a crime – they are in jail because they cannot afford bail. We continue to arrest, prosecute and jail non-violent drug offenders, but most Texans and Americans support drug legalization. And while the jails are full of people who have committed property crimes and other non-violent offenses, we rarely if ever prosecute corporate criminals, including those who steal from working Texans and pollute our air and water. As your next Congressperson, I will fight for a criminal justice reform agenda, including the work to:
The Work in TX-10 The Texas 10th is a part of the national movement for criminal justice reform. A few years ago, Sandra Bland died in police custody in Waller County after an unconstitutional arrest. The movement for justice for Sandra Bland continues to inspire organizers and reformers across Texas. On November 20, 2019, the State of Texas is preparing to execute Rodney Reed, an African-American man from Bastrop County who was convicted of murder twenty-two years ago. Rodney Reed’s case represents what Jim Crow injustice can look like: a rigged investigation, untested DNA evidence, flawed “expert” witnesses, even a confession that has not been considered by the court. Mike has joined the movement to free Rodney Reed, using his campaign to amplify this grave injustice. Immigration The U.S. immigration system is broken. The government is not managing migration in an efficient or effective manner, and often fails to treat human beings with the dignity and respect we each deserve. One of the greatest qualities of the United States is how this country has provided sanctuary and opportunities for people from around the world. In the process, immigrants have enriched our culture, strengthened our economy, and made America a better place for everyone. My own family has benefited from this legacy of America: my Protestant ancestors who escaped persecution in Britain, and my Jewish ancestors who fled pogroms in Eastern Europe, all came here for a better life. My wife was born in Nigeria, grew up in Pittsburgh, attended university and veterinary school and is a thriving businesswoman in Austin. My children are growing up in a vibrant community of rich cultures and perspectives. I want the United States to implement a humane border policy that is consistent with international law. We must end the practice of criminalizing asylum-seekers, and the related programs that encourage the detention of vulnerable individuals and families. We must take the profit motive out of immigration enforcement by outlawing private immigration jails. We must look at comprehensive reform of U.S. immigration agencies currently housed under the Department of Homeland Security – including ICE and Customs and Border Patrol, agencies that have shocked the world with their cruel treatment of migrant families. This is why we must build consensus on comprehensive immigration reform: • I support a path to citizenship for Dreamers, people with Temporary Protected Status, and undocumented immigrants and families who are living and working in the United States. • I support the Reuniting Families Act, which will reform the visa system, strengthen family reunification, and address some of the bureaucratic challenges in our immigration system. • I support rescinding harmful and punitive policies like the Muslim Ban and the practice of deporting veterans, which violate the promise of our democratic nation and do not make us safer. • I oppose the Border Wall, which is a wasteful, ineffective monument to hatred. • I support the repeal of Section 1325, the law which allows for family separation. • I support investing in immigration courts and social services that will allow for the efficient processing of claims and cases. Finally, in terms of international relations, we must address the root causes of increased migration from the South. Domestically, we should end the War on Drugs, a racist and wasteful policy that only destroys families within the United States, but that also exacerbates the scourge of drug cartels and narco governments. And outside our borders, we must support democracy in Latin America, oppose dictatorships and corruption, and promote economic development, the development of civil society, and protections for workers and their unions. By promoting stable conditions and addressing the push factors for migration in Mexico and Central America, we can reduce the number of individuals and families forced to seek protection within our borders. Housing is not an option. People need shelter. The United States is in the middle of a decades-long affordable housing crisis, which is pushing people out of their homes and neighborhoods. Almost 20 million Americans spend over half their income on housing while over 500,000 Americans are experiencing homelessness. Speculators drive up costs at rates that far outpace income growth, in the process pushing renters and homeowners out of their chosen neighborhoods. We must reform federal housing and financial policy to protect our homes and neighborhoods, and to ensure that we are meeting the needs of local communities instead of the profit expectations of investors. We must address the legacy of racial discrimination in housing by prioritizing distressed frontline communities with a reparative framework. And our housing policy must address the climate crisis by making existing public and municipal housing more sustainable while we build millions of new, environmentally-sound public housing units. In his professional career, Mike has taken on slum landlords and fought to protect low-income renters. As a city attorney in Texas, Mike successfully sued apartment complex owners who refused to maintain good quality housing, in the process achieving long-term affordable housing guarantees for hundreds of families. He also sued the Texas Governor to stand up for renters who use housing vouchers, challenging the de facto housing discrimination that still divides our cities and determines who has opportunity, and who does not. As your representative, Mike will fight for housing for all, and will support policy initiatives like the following:
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| —Mike Siegel 2020 campaign website[4] | ||
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Austin City Council District 7 |
Officeholder Austin City Council District 7 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Mike Siegel for Congress, "Meet Mike Siegel, Democrat for Congress," accessed February 15, 2018
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 25, 2024
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Mike Siegel 2020 campaign website, "Issues," accessed February 17, 2020
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Leslie Pool |
Austin City Council District 7 2025-Present |
Succeeded by - |
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