Diana Loya

Democrat | Texas

Diana Loya websites FacebookLinkedIn

Candidate Profile*

State Representative, District 87 Texas General and Special General SD 22 | November 3, 2026

Liberal

*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.

BIOGRAPHY

EDUCATION

Angelo State University, San Angelo, M. S. in Educational Leadership, 2019-2021

WORK & MILITARY

Dumas Independent School District, Instructional Support Coordinator, 2009-2026

AFFILIATIONS

West Texas Association of Bilingual Educators, Parlamentarian, 2024-2026

ATPE, member, 2009-2026

TSTA, member, 2026-2026

Methodist Church, member, 2018-2026

Wrestling Booster Club, member, 2017-2026

Texas Association of Bilingual Educators, member, 2009-2026

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Candidate did not provide

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

State Representative House District 87, 2026-2026

ENDORSEMENTS*

*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
LIBERAL (11)

American Federation of Teachers AFT

Annie's List

Texas AFL-CIO

Texas AFT American Federation of Teachers

Run for Something

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (7)

Texas AFL-CIO Cope

Panhandle Young Democrats

Run For Something

Texas AFT

NDRC

OTHER INFORMATION

Jejune Magazine interview, "Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Diana Loya, Texas House of Representatives, District 87.".

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Choose not to answer

I disagree. Taxpayer dollars should not fund elective abortions, but we should not eliminate funding for other essential healthcare services simply because a provider also offers abortion care with separate funds. Programs like Title X provide contraception, cancer screenings, STI testing, and preventive care. This is critically important to rural Texans. Public funds should be protected while ensuring Texans can access essential healthcare.

Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?

I believe decisions about abortion should be made by a patient in consultation with her doctor, based on her individual circumstances and medical needs. Politicians should not be making deeply personal medical decisions for patients or interfering with a physician’s ability to provide appropriate care.

Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.

Choose not to answer

These deeply personal medical decisions should be made by a patient in consultation with her doctor, not by politicians.

The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.

Choose not to answer

These deeply personal medical decisions should be made by a patient in consultation with her doctor, not by politicians.

The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.

Choose not to answer

These deeply personal medical decisions should be made by a patient in consultation with her doctor, not by politicians.


ECONOMY

What is your position on the minimum wage?

I support raising the minimum wage so that Texans who work full time can better afford basic necessities. The current minimum wage has not kept pace with the rising cost of housing, food, healthcare, and transportation; basic needs to live.

Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.

Choose not to answer

I agree. Free enterprise and private property rights are fundamental to a strong economy and individual opportunity. I also believe economic freedom comes with responsibility. Government SHOULD protect property rights, encourage competition and small businesses, and ensure that economic development does not burden taxpayers, communities, or our natural resources at any cost.

List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.

1. Increase transparency and oversight of state contracts and taxpayer funded incentives. 2. End corporate giveaways that fail to produce promised jobs or community benefits and harm our communities. 3. Eliminate duplicative programs and unnecessary administrative bureaucracy. 4. Require measurable results and regular audits for major state expenditures. 5. Protect taxpayer dollars from fraud and abuse while preserving essential services like public education, healthcare, and public safety.


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

Separation of church and state means government should neither establish nor favor a religion, while protecting every person’s right to practice their faith freely. Faith is deeply important to many Texans, and people should be able to live according to their beliefs. At the same time, government must represent and protect people all people.

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Choose not to answer

I believe religious liberty and freedom of conscience must be protected. However, those protections must be balanced with the rights of others. Businesses that serve the general public should follow applicable civil rights and nondiscrimination laws. We can protect sincerely held religious beliefs without allowing those beliefs to become a justification for denying others equal treatment under the law.


HEALTHCARE

What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.

B) Healthcare coverage should be available to every American, but people should retain the freedom to choose private insurance if they prefer it. I support a strong public option that expands affordable coverage, protects Medicare and Medicaid, lowers healthcare and prescription costs, and ensures that rural and working families are not priced out of essential care.

The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.

Choose not to answer

I disagree. Medical privacy should be protected, and government should not maintain databases identifying individuals by their medical conditions simply to measure economic costs. We can use anonymized, aggregated health data to understand healthcare needs, treatment costs, and public health trends without unnecessarily compromising individual privacy.


NATIONAL SECURITY

The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.

Choose not to answer

The United States should respond strategically and protect our national security while maintaining diplomacy and avoiding rhetoric that targets Chinese people or Chinese Americans.

Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?

Our relationship with Israel is important, JUST as our relationships with countries around the world are important. Strong diplomacy, cooperation, and communication help protect our national security, economy, and global stability. The United States should maintain productive relationships with our allies while being willing to speak honestly when we disagree and consistently advocate for peace, human rights, and the protection of innocent civilians.


IMMIGRATION

I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.

Choose not to answer

I believe local law enforcement should focus on keeping communities safe, not serving as federal immigration agents. People should be able to report crimes, cooperate with police, and seek help without fear. At the same time, immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, and we need comprehensive immigration reform that secures our border while providing a fair and lawful pathway for people who have built their lives in our communities.


EDUCATION

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.

Choose not to answer

I disagree with eliminating the U.S. Department of Education. States and local communities should have significant control over how their schools operate, but the federal government has an important role in protecting students’ civil rights and supporting special education, low-income students, and access to educational opportunities. We should reduce unnecessary federal bureaucracy while ensuring every child has access to a quality PUBLIC education.

Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.

Choose not to answer

Foreign governments should not be allowed to secretly fund or influence American education, curriculum, research, or policy. Any foreign funding should be fully transparent, disclosed, and subject to strong national security safeguards. Legitimate international academic and research partnerships can have value, but American educational institutions must remain accountable to American laws and protect their independence.


VALUES

Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.

Choose not to answer

I agree that parents are their children’s first and most important advocates and should have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their education and well-being. Schools should communicate openly and work in partnership with families. Parental rights should also be balanced with our responsibility to protect every child’s safety, civil rights, and access to a quality education.

Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.

Choose not to answer

I do not believe these deeply personal and complex situations should automatically be labeled as child abuse. Decisions involving a child’s health and well-being should be approached carefully by parents, qualified healthcare professionals, and, when appropriate, mental health professionals, with the child’s safety and best interests at the center. Government should be cautious about replacing individualized care with blanket classifications.

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.

Choose not to answer

I respect that many people and faith traditions define marriage as a sacred union between one man and one woman, and government should not force religious institutions to change their beliefs or practices. At the same time, civil marriage is a legal institution, and I believe all Americans are entitled to equal protection under the law. Religious freedom and equal civil rights can and should coexist.

I support the expansion of gambling in my state.

Choose not to answer

I am open to carefully regulated expansion of gambling if Texans support it. Any expansion should include strong consumer protections, safeguards against addiction, transparency about who benefits financially, and clear requirements that revenue benefits Texas communities. Ultimately, Texans should have a meaningful voice in deciding whether and how gambling expands in our state.

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

My faith in God and my family are the foundation of who I am. I believe we are called to love and care for others, be a servant leader, and raise our children with faith, compassion, respect, and a strong sense of right and wrong. I believe family is one of God’s greatest blessings, and my faith reminds me to lead with humility, forgiveness, integrity, and a servant’s heart.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Choose not to answer

I support secure elections and reasonable voter identification requirements.


EQUALITY

Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.

Choose not to answer

Our focus should be on expanding opportunity, strengthening education, supporting homeownership and economic mobility, and ensuring every American receives equal treatment under the law.

Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.

Choose not to answer

I believe women and girls deserve fairness, safety, and privacy, particularly in competitive sports and intimate spaces. At the same time, these issues involve different circumstances and should not be reduced to rhetoric that treats any group of people without dignity. Policies should consider safety, privacy, competitive fairness, and individual circumstances while treating every person with respect.


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.

Choose not to answer

I believe the scientific evidence shows that human activity contributes to climate change and that we should take responsible action. For Texas, that means protecting our water, supporting farmers and ranchers, strengthening our energy grid, investing in diverse energy sources, and encouraging innovation. Solutions should be practical, economically responsible, and developed with the communities they affect.

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

No single energy source should carry our growing electricity demand. Texas needs a reliable, diverse energy portfolio that includes natural gas, nuclear, wind, solar, and emerging storage technologies. We should never sacrifice our water.


ABOUT YOU

When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?

Moderate

Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.

no

Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.

no


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?

The goal of our criminal justice system should be to keep communities safe, hold people accountable, protect victims, and administer justice fairly. It should also recognize that rehabilitation and second chances can reduce repeat offenses and strengthen communities. We should be tough on violent crime while addressing issues such as addiction, mental health, and lack of opportunity that can contribute to people entering the criminal justice system.

Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.

Strongly Agree

I strongly agree. Protecting children from online sexual exploitation, trafficking, grooming, and abuse is a fundamental responsibility of government and law enforcement. We should hold predators accountable, give parents better tools to protect their children, and require appropriate safeguards from technology companies while respecting constitutional rights and individual privacy.

Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.

Choose not to answer

The U.S. Constitution and federal and state laws are the law of the land and must apply equally to everyone. No religious doctrine, whether Islamic, Christian, Jewish, or any other faith, should replace or override American law. At the same time, the First Amendment protects every American’s right to freely practice their religion, so long as doing so complies with the law and respects the rights of others.


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

I respect the Second Amendment and the rights of law-abiding gun owners. Public safety measures should focus on keeping firearms out of the hands of violent criminals and individuals legally prohibited from possessing them. I support enforcing existing laws, effective background checks, responsible firearm storage, and due process based measures that address credible threats while protecting the constitutional rights of responsible gun owners.

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