Eddie Espinoza

Eddie Espinoza was born in Dallas, Texas. He served in the U.S. Army from 1989 to 1991. Espinoza earned a high school diploma from Mission High School and a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas–Pan American in 1994. His career experience includes working as a teacher.[1][2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Eddie Espinoza is not a politician, he’s a problem solver. At age 19 he enlisted in the US Army and drove a Bradley fighting vehicle into battle. He earned a combat infantry badge for service during Desert Storm. After graduating from college via the GI Bill, Eddie taught in RGV public schools for 26 years, helping thousands of students learn reading and math skills.

In the Army and in the classroom, Eddie had the same mission: serving our people.

His experiences as a teacher inspired him to become an advocate for young people, working class families, and the environment.

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?

Big donors have taken over our government -- and both the Democratic and Republican parties. Elon Musk alone has pledged to spend $200 million on the November election – influence he uses to hurt our community with explosions and land grabs for SpaceX at Boca Chica Beach.

We need a Constitutional Amendment to end Citizens United and rein in PACs, dark money, and billionaires. We need a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

I am doing something different, running for office with the Green Party, because the Greens don't take corporate PAC money or lobbyist money, and neither do I. Let's have real representation for our gente. I am with the people, not big donors.Have you noticed our South Texas summers are getting hotter and longer? The climate crisis is real, and it is here! Climate scientists agree: we must transition to 100% clean renewable energy ASAP. Solar panels with battery storage are cheaper than fossil fuels, so we can even save money with the energy transition.

The new refinery and the new export LNG terminals at the Port of Brownsville must be canceled.

Time us running out to save our climate -- let's act to address the climate crisis to protect our future and for the sake of future generations. For our water supply, for our food supply, and to avoid fueling dangerous storms, we have to address the climate crisis.We need Medicare for All! That means improved and expanded Medicare for everyone. No premiums or copays. No annoying paperwork, no phone calls about billing, no denials of coverage. With prescriptions, dental, vision, hearing aids, and mental health included.

Other countries have achieved universal healthcare and ended medical debt, we can too. Medicare for All is the best solution for healthcare, and it will make our lives more affordable and healthier.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

There are so many issues that are vitally important to our future in this district.

To name just a few: the climate crisis, water security, clean air, education, improved and expanded Medicare for All, tax billionaires, arms embargo on Israel, put Americans first.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Independence to represent the people, not big donors, gained by refusing to fundraise from big donors.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Getting money out of politics, so the government can represent we the people, as intended.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

The Green Party of Texas, the Green Party of Hidalgo County, the Green Party of Cameron County, Brownsville lawyer Ed Stapleton.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Eddie Espinoza is not a politician, he’s a problem solver. At age 19 he enlisted in the US Army and was given the responsibility to drive a Bradley fighting vehicle into battle. He earned a combat infantry badge for his service during Desert Storm. After graduating from college, he taught in Texas Public Schools for 26 years, helping thousands of students develop basic reading and math skills.

His experiences as a teacher inspired him to become an advocate for young people, working class families, and the environment.

You can trust Eddie to represent the people of Texas and advocate for policies that benefit our environment and public health.

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?

Let's protect Texas water sources by plugging, cleaning up, and decommissioning unplugged idle oil and gas wells that are contaminating the environment.Let's ban fracking and stop the expansion of new fossil fuels infrastructure and projects, including proposed LNG export terminals along the Gulf coast.Decarbonize the Texas economy, and make it more resilient to global warming.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My concern for the future of our climate and planet inspired me to run for Railroad Commissioner. Despite the misleading name, the Texas Railroad Commission regulates the oil and gas industry, and scientists have proven that fossil fuel extraction and burning is responsible for much of the carbon dioxide and methane in our atmosphere, which is causing global warming. Climate Justice is my top public policy concern.

Keeping our Texas water supply clean is another huge concern. As the climate warms and droughts worsen, our water supply is more critical than ever. We must treat water as a precious, irreplaceable resource. Water is life.

Decarbonizing the Texas economy will lead to a cleaner environment and make our economy more resilient to climate change challenges.

Labor rights are another key concern. Workers in the oil and gas industry must have safe working conditions. Regardless of immigration status, there must be a fair living wage for all workers. Fossil fuel industry workers must keep their jobs as the industry transitions from extraction to plugging and cleanup efforts.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The Texas Railroad Commission is an important oil and gas regulator, which has major environmental and climate impacts.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to the members of my family and community who demonstrate the value of hard work, honesty, and integrity.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, integrity, and respect for the scientific method are most important for an elected official.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I hope my legacy will be that I did my best to make the world a better, healthier, and happier place.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

Stopping methane from contaminating our air, and stopping toxic spills into our water and soil.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

The Railroad Commission flies under the radar in Texas, and many people might not even know what they're responsible for. I propose changing the name to the Texas Energy Commission, for better public transparency.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Team-building, accountability, accessibility, and listening skills would be helpful for members of the Railroad commission.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Green Party of Texas, Green Party of Bexar County, Green Party of Cameron County, Green Party of Denton County, Green Party of Hidalgo County, RGV Greens, Green Party of the US

Campaign website

Espinoza’s campaign website stated the following:

Action Plan

1. Clean Up and Phase Out the Fossil Fuel Industry

Cap and clean up abandoned gas wells, pipeline leaks, and other sources of fossil fuels pollution.

No fracking, no new fossil fuel projects.

Phase out current fossil fuel energy plants.

Keep Texas livable, and energy affordable, with a timely transition from fossil fuels to clean renewable energy.

2. Protect Water

Prioritize the protection of fresh water resources in all commission work and decisions.

Ban fracking. Save fresh water for drinking, not drilling!

Expand fresh water storage capacity by protecting low lying areas that may act as lakes and ponds.

3. Rename the Railroad Commission

The name “Railroad Commission” is misleading. The commission needs a new name that reflects what it does, like “Texas Energy Commission.”

As former Commissioner Ryan Sitton once said, changing the commission’s name is “about transparency, good government, and keeping people informed about what we’re doing.”

4. Prioritize Lowering Energy Costs for Texans, Not Oil and Gas Bailouts

Broaden the commission’s work to deliver affordable, sustainable, 100% renewable energy to Texans.

Empower the commission to help Texas regionalize the energy grid.

No more subsidies, handouts or bailouts to the oil and gas industry.

5. Monitoring and Enforcement

The Railroad Commission has only 65 inspectors who each cover an average of 7,300 miles of pipeline all over the state. Hire more inspectors!

Improve oversight for orphaned and inactive wells, flaring, and oil and gas waste pits.

Make sure Texas is in compliance with federal environmental regulations from the EPA.

6. Ethics and Conflicts of Interest

Eliminate the commission’s economic and political ties to the oil and gas industry with strict conflict of interest policies.

Avoid rushing oil and gas development at the expense of safety, economic vitality, natural resources, and the environment.

7. Public Participation / Open Meetings / Transparency

Encourage input from public interest groups like the Sierra Club and Commission Shift

Public participation in decision making should be welcomed.

All commission meetings should be livestreamed to the public, with no closed sessions.

All info related to commission work should be easily accessible on the commission’s website.

8. Campaign Finance Reform

Restrict who can donate to Railroad Commissioner candidates, and limit campaign contributions to $5,000, just like statewide judicial races.

Limit campaign fundraising periods to an 18-month period surrounding the election, rather than allowing donations throughout the commissioners’ six-year terms.

Define “personal or private” interest in Texas statutes, to clarify that elected officials must recuse themselves from decisions that involve a company listed on the Personal Financial Statement they submit to the Texas Ethics Commission.[24]

—Eddie Espinoza’s campaign website (2024)[25]