Crystal Dillard

Crystal Dillard (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Texas House of Representatives to represent District 131. She declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on March 3, 2026.^[source]

Biography

Crystal Dillard was born in Houston, Texas. She earned a bachelor's degree from Texas Woman's University in 1986. Her career experience includes working as a history teacher and as a principal in family-owned businesses. Dillard has been affiliated with the Jones Memorial United Methodist Church Health and Wellness Ministry and the American Federation of Teachers.^[1]

Elections

2026

General election

The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 131

Lawrence Allen Jr. (D), T.J. Baker (D), Staci Childs (D), Crystal Dillard (D), and Erik Wilson (D) are running in the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 131 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Lawrence Allen Jr.
		T.J. Baker
		Staci Childs
		Crystal Dillard
		Erik Wilson

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 131

Scott Whitmarsh (R) is running in the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 131 on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Scott Whitmarsh

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

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2022

General election

General election for Texas House of Representatives District 131

Incumbent Alma Allen defeated Gerry Monroe in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 131 on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Alma Allen (D)	80.5	25,066
	Gerry Monroe (R)	19.5	6,063

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 31,129
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 131

Incumbent Alma Allen defeated James Guillory and Crystal Dillard in the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 131 on March 1, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Alma Allen	54.3	4,741
	James Guillory	32.2	2,813
	Crystal Dillard	13.4	1,171

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 8,725
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 131

Gerry Monroe advanced from the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 131 on March 1, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Gerry Monroe	100.0	1,391

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,391
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Campaign finance

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

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2022

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released July 27, 2021

Crystal Dillard completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Dillard's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a native Houstonian, a proud product of Houston schools, and an honored graduate of Texas Woman’s University.

I grew up in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Houston, Texas. I graduated high school from St. Agnes Academy in 1982 and received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Texas Woman’s University in 1986 with a Journalism major. Vanessa Williams, the first African-American Miss America, made an indelible impression on me, and I entered the Miss Houston USA pageant. I eventually became the 4th Runner Up to Miss Texas USA in 1986 and have coached numerous young women to pageant success in subsequent years. After working at the United Way as a Campaign Coordinator, I became the Director of the Miss Gulf Coast USA Pageant. I have also been a co-founder of two family businesses, Hannibal Men’s Specialty Apparel and The REJOICE! Television Network. In the year 2000, I decided to follow in the footsteps of my family of educators. I began work in the Pearland Independent School District and have worked in the Houston Independent School District for a total of 15 years of dedicated service. I currently teach Social Studies and U.S. History at Yolanda Black Navarro Middle School. I pride myself on being an inspirational, forthright, and caring educator.

I acknowledge that I stand on the shoulders of giants, and in running for Texas State Representative of District 131, I am eager to give back to the residents of this district all that I received throughout my lifetime.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Supporting education is the most important element in shaping the future of Texas as a diverse, forward-moving, prosperous state.
I will work to build strong Law Enforcement/Community partnerships that will bring the crime rate down and improve the quality of life for all Texans. I will also work to provide re-entry opportunities for those Texans that have been formerly incarcerated and have paid their debt to society. These individuals provide an eager workforce that will contribute to the success of our state, and to our economy.
I will fight for Texans' rights to voting access, quality healthcare, reproductive choice and equity in opportunity, regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My passion is education! As a lifelong learner and classroom teacher by vocation, I delivered U.S. History lessons to students whose concerns were much more in step with figuring out how they were going to eat, where they would sleep, or if they would even have a home to return to when school ended, than learning about the founding fathers! Yet, education and educators have been on the defensive as of late. Our top priority should be to provide an honest education to students with respect to learning how our diverse state has overcome past challenges, while building a future that is a shining example of 21st century growth and prosperity.
Our community, our city, our state, and our country has undergone a tremendous metamorphosis in recent years. We’ve come together to meet urgent challenges, but moreover, we’ve faced some realizations of circumstance that have left us polarized in many ways as Americans. For as much as we’ve gained throughout our short history as a nation, we can all agree that there is definitely room to grow in terms of ensuring life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all. We can do this District 131. We can do this Harris County. We can do this Texas!

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

I believe that myself or anyone elected to this office has a tremendous responsibility to their constituents. However, some of these responsibilities are difficult. It is difficult, but necessary, to be honest when the truth is unpopular. It is difficult but necessary, to be empathetic to those whom society shuns and scapegoats. It is difficult, but necessary, to be uncomfortable temporarily for the potential good of society as a whole. A legislator has the responsibility to see a Texas House seat as a vehicle to generate the greatest amount of good for constituents in the time served. A House seat should never be seen as a principality to be handed to a "groomed" successor and it should never be seen through the lens of what it may garner for the legislator. Holding a government office is a privilege. The people of the great state of Texas own every seat in the Statehouse, regardless of rank. A legislator should always be cognizant of the responsibility of being not an owner, but an occupant of the People's seat of honor. I will hold that responsibility sacrosanct.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to leave a legacy of character, and of service to the people I represent. I am a full-time classroom teacher and have done that job proudly for 15 years. As education is the bedrock of preparing our children for an increasingly technological age, I would like to include young people in many meaningful positions within my office. I would also encourage other legislators to take a hard look at their activities when not in session. If a legislator has a background as an educator, be a substitute teacher in a school in an underserved community. Sit in on classes and observe the rigors and realities of the average classroom teacher in 2022. If a legislator is a businessperson, create internships where young people who may not have legacies and connections, can assist and learn about business. If a legislator is in the military, an athlete, a health professional, or in any one of hundreds of professions represented in the Texas Statehouse, be a mentor to a young person. GIVE BACK! A helping hand, a kind word of encouragement, a good deed done without fanfare or accolades to the giver is an indication of character, and a model of service to constituents. That model of character and service is the legacy I will leave.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was as a 15-year-old high school intern at KYOK Radio in Houston, Texas. The position actually didn't exist! Yet, I wanted to learn Broadcasting so badly that I talked my way into an interview with legendary Houston radio host, Rick Roberts, who happened to be the father of my schoolmates. He took a chance on me based on my sheer audacity and enthusiasm! I learned production, wrote copy for advertisements, and even did on-air promos. I enjoyed it immensely and excelled at my first foray into Journalism. As a summer internship, it was a three-month introduction to my eventual major of Broadcast Journalism at Texas Woman's University. I will forever be grateful to Rick Roberts, and I try to pass along that same kind of opportunity to young people with similar drive, enthusiasm and, yes, audacity!

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite book is "Oh the Places You'll Go", by Dr. Seuss. I received this book as I was leaving a corporate position and getting ready to start our family-owned company, Hannibal Men's Specialty Apparel. This is probably one of the most popular books given for graduations, and rightly so. It is truly an analogy for life. I related in so many ways to the small creature who climbed mountains, went into valleys, met strange birds, and sat in the "Waiting Place". I believe we often think of life as a series of steps upward. Yet it is more often a winding, dipping, climbing road that sometimes stops and restarts, straightens and curves, zigs and zags. This is exactly why "Oh the Places You'll Go" has a special place in my library. Acknowledging that a person may start at one place in life, and end up in a very different, often better place is acknowledging the presence of absolute faith in the journey. An old saying goes, "There is only one path to now". If one twist or turn or millisecond of my path was changed, I might not be on this very exciting journey from the "Schoolhouse to the Statehouse". Yet, like the small Seussian creature, I'm determined to relish every minute, indeed. (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Absolutely not! The wider the frame of reference among policy makers, the better. Government and politics are interests that are similar to a single lane highway in a large metropolis with many on and off ramps. The intricacies of legislating, from building bipartisan coalitions, to understanding "Roberts Rules of Order" are within the grasp of many people, regardless of background. However, I do believe that a desire to honestly and compassionately be a benefit to those one represents, without regard to personal interest, is the most important quality one can have as a representative. That quality transcends government and politics, and wholly depends on the character of the individual.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

I believe that the only TRULY fair way to redistrict is to form a bipartisan committee of legislators, with an equivalent number of members representing both parties. That committee should draw districts based on demographic representation that has been revealed in the most current Census. Texas is one of the most diverse states in the country, yet voices from an exploding population of diverse communities are being diluted to preserve the current hierarchy. This brings to mind history's most recent heinous example of unfair representation, Apartheid. We, as a nation and as a world, have learned that struggling to maintain the status quo, against all balance and reason, is like trying to stop a moving train. Fair and equitable representation, regardless of the political outcome, should always be the primary goal of redistricting.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I recently visited constituents of the district for which I am running and have disappointed by the unsolicited comments I have been hearing. Disappointed, because there seems to be a common thread that politicians show up to civic groups, churches and businesses when they want your vote, and are never seen again for YEARS! There may be a prevailing thought among those running for office that doing so will win votes, when in fact it has the opposite effect. Voters are very smart, and in my opinion, tend to be wary and resentful when they are seen merely as a "photo-op", or a number on a leader board. They want access and communication with a legislator, and they want to be told the truth. In 2022, there are numerous ways that a legislator can have dialogue with their constituents, most of them inexpensive or free. When there is opportunity to speak to individuals or groups, those people and their needs should be respected, and never passed over without acknowledgment. If it is not within a legislator's power to accomplish a goal that is important to a constituency, be upfront! it is imperative to say that although one, as a legislator, may not be able to solve a problem, everything within their power will be done to assist that group in finding a solution. I respect honesty and transparency, and I believe voters will also.

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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.

Crystal Dillard campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2022	Texas House of Representatives District 131	Lost primary	$1,288	$2,322
Grand total			$1,288	$2,322
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

External links

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Candidate

Texas House of Representatives District 131

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Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 16, 2022

[show]

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

Denise Villalobos (R)

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

Maria Luisa Flores (D)

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

Keresa Richardson (R)

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

Giovanni Capriglione (R)

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

Cassandra Garcia Hernandez (D)

District 116

Trey Fischer (D)

District 117

Philip Cortez (D)

District 118

John Lujan (R)

District 119

Elizabeth Campos (D)

District 120

Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D)

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

Charles Cunningham (R)

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

Charlene Ward Johnson (D)

District 140

Armando Walle (D)

District 141

Senfronia Thompson (D)

District 142

Harold Dutton (D)

District 143

Ana Hernandez (D)

District 144

Mary Perez (D)

District 145

Christina Morales (D)

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)

[bio-1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 16, 2022

[1]

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Crystal Dillard

Contents

Biography

Elections

2026

General election

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 131

Republican primary

Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 131

Endorsements

2022

General election

General election for Texas House of Representatives District 131

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 131

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 131

Campaign finance

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

2022

Video for Ballotpedia

Campaign finance summary

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2026 Elections

2025 Elections

Election analysis

Trending

Public Policy

Information for candidates

Get Engaged

Services

Additional analysis

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