Kristin Hook

Kristin Hook was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. She earned a B.A. and a B.S. in biology from the University of Texas, Austin, in 2007, and a Ph.D. in animal behavior from Cornell University in 2016. Her career experience includes teaching middle school science as part of Teach for America. After obtaining her Ph.D., she became a postdoc at the University of Maryland, a policy fellow in Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D-Mass.) office and for the National Institutes of Health, and a biologist for the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Hook also volunteered as a grassroots organizer for women scientists in the D.C. area.[1][2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m Dr. Kristin Hook – a scientist, public servant, and working-class Democrat running to serve Texas’ 21st Congressional District. I’m running to fight for affordability, expand opportunity, and demand accountability for working Texans. As a former middle school teacher with a PhD in animal behavior, I’m well prepared to handle Congress.

Before running for office, I served the public in both the legislative and executive branches of the federal government. At the U.S. Government Accountability Office, I protected your hard-earned tax dollars from waste, fraud, and abuse and advised Congress on emerging technologies like AI. At the National Institutes of Health, I worked to expand access to health care for all. And in the U.S. Senate, I fought corruption and held powerful politicians and corporate CEOs accountable as an oversight investigator.

As a scientist, I’m trained to solve tough problems using facts – not ideology. That’s the approach we need to fix our broken health care system, strengthen public schools, and unrig an economy that isn't working for everyday Texans. I know how to pull the levers of government so it works for us — not against us.

In 2024, I was the Democratic nominee for this seat and saw how many people were left behind by a lack of real leadership. I’m running again to be the leader our community deserves – one who shows up, listens, and delivers real results through strong constituent services.

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?

IT’S TIME TO PUT WORKING PEOPLE IN CHARGE: Like so many in our district, I know what it’s like when costs go up but paychecks don’t. It’s time to put working people in charge and build an economy that works for all of us – not billionaires and special interests. As an elected union leader and grassroots organizer, I’ve led campaigns to raise staff wages, empowered workers, and held those in power accountable. In Congress, I’ll fight to raise the living wage, lower costs for housing, health care, childcare, and elder care. I’ll protect the ACA and expand programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. I’ll demand fair taxes for the wealthy, crack down on price-gouging and monopolies, and repeal Trump’s billionaire tax cuts.EVERYONE DESERVES A FAIR SHOT: I’m an unlikely scientist. I was raised by a single mom who never had the chance to go to college. Thanks to taxpayers like you, I did. Pell Grants and a National Science Foundation award helped me earn two degrees at UT-Austin and a PhD at Cornell. I chose a career in public service to give back – as a middle school teacher in an underserved community and as a federal scientist. Over the past year, these doors of opportunity have been slammed shut, and too many Texans have seen their rights rolled back. In Congress, I’ll fight to repair what’s broken, strengthen public schools, expand training programs, protect civil and reproductive rights and safeguard our environment for a healthy, liveable future.I’VE HELD POWERFUL INTERESTS ACCOUNTABLE – AND I’LL DO IT AGAIN: As a former federal scientist, I know government can be a force for good – not a weapon of oppression. I’ve protected taxpayer dollars at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, stood up for federal workers as an elected union leader, and held the Trump administration and corporate CEOs accountable as an oversight investigator in the Senate. In Congress, I’ll keep fighting corruption and the abuse of power and will use oversight, subpoenas, and the power of the purse to enforce the law, defend our democracy, and make sure our government works for we the people — not billionaires or special interests.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m a policy nerd, so it’s hard to pick just one! The policies that keep me up at night tend to involve government oversight and reform, healthcare, voting rights, civil rights, science & technology, and education.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Texas AFL-CIO COPE

San Antonio Central Labor Council

Austin Central Labor Council

Joaquin Castro, U.S. Representative in TX-20

Bexar County Young Democrats

John Courage, Former San Antonio City Council Member

Tejano Democrats, Bexar County SD-19

Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio

Liberal Austin Democrats

The Progressive Voter Network

Campaign website

Hook's campaign website stated the following:

Economy: Making It Work For Everyone.

"I grew up in a household that lived paycheck to paycheck and understand firsthand the strain of rising costs. If elected, I will support policies that make sure our economy works for everyone so that every hard-working Texan can thrive."

I started working when I was 14 years old and have worked hard every day since to build a better life for myself. But like so many Americans, I am struggling with rising costs of housing, groceries, and healthcare. We are living in a time of unprecedented economic inequality. Large corporations are posting record profits and passing inflationary costs to us while not paying their fair share in taxes. Meanwhile, roughly 1 in 10 residents in TX-21 are living in poverty.

I believe to build a stronger America, we must foster a fair economic system for all by strengthening the middle class and stamping out poverty. I will support legislation that:

Expands Social Security and Medicare so that everyone can retire in dignity

Raises the federal minimum wage and addresses income inequality

Provides access to affordable childcare and paid family and sick leave

Reforms our tax code so billionaires and corporations pay their fair share

Makes housing more affordable, such as by capping rent increases

Empowers workers and their right to organize

Bolsters small business owners and entrepreneurs so they can thrive

Continues investing in infrastructure to support the rapid growth and need for jobs in our district

Healthcare: Improving Access For All.

"Addressing our broken and expensive healthcare system is one of my top priorities. I believe healthcare is a human right and will fight to make healthcare affordable and accessible so that Texans don't have to worry about getting their medical needs met."

Lack of access to healthcare is not only a moral issue, it is an economic issue. Half of all Texans are struggling to afford healthcare. Like so many of you, I have put off the care I needed, chosen not to fill a prescription due to the cost, and received surprise bills for treatment. And that is WITH health insurance. These problems are worse for people who are young, uninsured, Hispanic, Black, or live in rural areas.

Research shows that health insurance saves lives, yet Texas leads the nation in having the highest percentage of uninsured people, including the highest percentage of uninsured children. This is not by accident. Our state “leaders” have refused to expand Medicaid, leaving many low-income Texans in the dust without access to life-saving services and prescriptions. These bad policies harm our economy and everyday Texans by driving up premiums and property taxes, closing rural hospitals, stifling small business, and putting families one hospital visit closer to losing everything.

Texans deserve solutions, not the same problems of the past. I am committed to supporting more targeted and cost-effective policies that reduce our federal health care spending – a primary cause of our long-term budget deficits. I will fight to make sure that all Texans have access to reliable, affordable, and quality healthcare. If elected, I will advocate for:

Improving access to high-quality healthcare for every Texan, especially for low-income, rural, and veteran communities

Lowering healthcare costs, such as by price transparency and antitrust measures to hold powerful insurance companies, Big Pharma, and hospital networks accountable

Expanding access to mental health services, tele-health, and evidence-based drug treatment programs

Defending and strengthening the Affordable Care Act, Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Medicare

Protecting Medicaid funding and access and fighting restrictive eligibility requirements

Fighting excessive prescription drug costs and protecting and expanding Medicare drug price negotiations

Increasing the registered nurse staffing and strengthening oversight requirements for assisted living facilities and nursing homes

Abortion: Restoring Our Freedoms.

"I believe family planning decisions are deeply personal and should be made by patients and providers, not politicians. Every Texan family should have access to the life-saving healthcare they need, and they shouldn't have to leave home to find it."

In June of 2022, the legal right to abortion was overturned for Texan families, with no exceptions for rape, incest, or fatal fetal anomalies. Texans are experiencing firsthand just how harmful abortion bans are.

Since the Texan abortion ban, there have been over 26,000 rape-related pregnancies, a rise in teen birth rates, and an increase in infant deaths. In addition, numerous women – including 22 plaintiffs who filed suit against the state – have been turned away from ERs, denied emergency abortion care, and forced to remain pregnant despite a fatal fetal diagnosis and life-threatening pregnancy complications, such as ectopic pregnancies. These patients were denied life-saving abortion care because doctors aren’t clear what qualifies as an exception to the ban and are fearful of its legal consequences – from losing their license to life in prison.

No Texan should have to bleed out in a hospital parking lot, go into sepsis, or flee her home state to get the healthcare she needs. This is antithetical to the very purpose of medicine, and these stories illustrate that “medical exceptions” do not work. Having the strictest abortion laws, record-high maternal mortality rates, and the highest uninsured rates in the country are a dangerous combination. ​

As a Texan woman, I am deeply concerned by how our state’s abortion ban is harming women in need of life-saving healthcare. As a scientist, I am deeply concerned by how our state’s abortion ban undermines and threatens to criminalize medical experts for treating their patients. I trust Texans to make their own reproductive health decisions and believe you and your doctor are smart enough to make the best decisions for you and your family.

The majority of Texans agree that abortion should be legal, but extremist conservatives like my opponent are working hard to chip away our reproductive rights by limiting access to abortions, birth control, IVF, and evidence-based sex education. No politician should be allowed to override medical experts and interfere with our family planning. As a reproductive biologist, I understand the importance of protecting safe abortion care and the dangers of disinformation.

If elected to serve, my first priority will be to introduce, co-sponsor, and support legislation that restores the right to an abortion nationwide. I believe this is how we help Texan families, empower women in the workforce, and help our economy grow. I will also work to

Support programs that improve and increase access to family planning services

Establish the right to contraception and protect and expand contraceptive coverage to address disparities in access in Texas

Protect and support access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and mailing of reproductive medicines

Support evidence-based sex education in our public schools

Education: Investing In Public Schools.

"I am the product of Texas public schools. As a former middle school teacher, I will support initiatives that strengthen our public education system so that every teacher and student can thrive – regardless of their zip code."

Education changed my life. I was raised by a single mom who never went to college and worked multiple jobs to help make ends meet. To escape my hard upbringing, I got lost in books and leaned on my teachers for mentorship. I’ll never forget Ms. DeLeon, who believed in me wholeheartedly and gave me math workbooks in exchange for taking care of our classroom guinea pig Omar during the summer. I loved solving those math problems at the school desk in my bedroom. Yes, I was that kind of nerd.

In 2002, I graduated from high school in South Texas and moved up to Austin to attend U.T. College is where I learned that zip codes and household income dictate opportunity in our country. I worked tirelessly to catch up with my peers and, unlike many of them, had to earn my way through school through work study, scholarships, Pell grants, and student loans – which I am still paying over 20 years later. College is also where I fell in love with science and pursued a second degree in biology because of my love for animals. Coming from a family that worked just to survive, higher education gave me the chance to build a career instead of just a job.

​After graduating from U.T., I joined Teach For America to help address the educational inequities I had personally experienced in South Texas. For three years, I served as a middle school science teacher in an under-served community in NYC before attending graduate school. Against all odds, I proudly became the first in my family to earn a PhD (Cornell ‘16) in Behavioral Biology and was able to build a successful career that I love. All thanks to public schools and teachers.

Since I graduated, Texas schools have been woefully underfunded, leaving our students under-prepared for the job market, businesses without a specialized workforce, and teachers paying out-of-pocket for basic supplies for their students and working multiple jobs to make ends meet. Our lack of investments in public schools is stifling our state and our nation’s ability to innovate and compete on the world stage. I believe leveling the playing field for every student is critical for a stronger Texas, and we do that by investing in public education.

This year, Texas Republicans enacted a school voucher program that will further starve public schools. This is wrong. Veiled as a form of “parental choice,” vouchers are nothing short of a scam that takes money away from public schools to subsidize private education for the wealthiest Texan families. Rural communities within our district will be harmed the most by this voucher scam because they lack private school options and are centered around public schools.

I believe public dollars belong in public schools and will always put Texan families first. As an elected official, I will prioritize initiatives that strengthen our public schools and ensure our teachers and students, no matter where they live, can thrive. Legislative efforts I support include:

Adequately funding public schools and raising teacher salaries

Universal pre-K and improving access to affordable child care that meets the developmental needs of our kids

Protecting the Department of Education and bolstering federal student aid for first generation college students and students from rural and under-served communities

More federal support for community colleges and workforce training programs that correctly recognize the dignity and societal value of America’s blue-collar workers

Making college more affordable and accessible, especially for low income youth

Immigration: Securing The Border.

"Growing up near the border, I know firsthand the value that immigrants bring to our communities. I believe a more humane and just immigration system is possible and am dedicated to supporting long-term bipartisan solutions to fix our broken immigration system so everyone feels safe."

I grew up two hours north of the border in Corpus Christi, Texas and – like so many others in our country – am the descendant of Mexican immigrants who came here to build a better life. I know firsthand that immigrants enrich our communities and lives.

Texas has a long history of immigration, but record high migrant encounters at our southern border have raised concerns about border security. Our federal government should at least know who is crossing our border, but this requires both resources and political will. Too many Republicans use this issue as a political football, putting innocent people in the crossfire instead of honest attempts at comprehensive immigration reform to actually solve the problem.

The fact is that the majority of immigrants are not criminals. Instead, they are nearly a quarter of the Texan workforce and make significant contributions to our communities that benefit us all – by starting businesses, creating jobs and innovation, and paying into Medicare and Social Security without receiving these benefits themselves. Immigrants are essential to our economy, with economists projecting that immigrant workers will add $7 trillion to the U.S. economy and $1 trillion in federal tax revenue over the next decade.

Trump's recent immigration crackdowns across the U.S. are not only immoral, they will undo American innovation. Instead of addressing the broken system, ICE has bullied and attacked vulnerable people – including arresting over 75,000 immigrants with no criminal record and snatching up and mistreating U.S. citizens in violation of their civil rights. This is wrong.

Our district deserves a leader who is willing to garner bipartisan support to solve this issue once and for all so that Texas Republicans stop wasting taxpayer dollars on dehumanizing, cost-ineffective, and anti-immigrant border policies. We need fewer slogans and more solutions. Texas has the most to gain or lose from fixing our broken border, so we should be the leader in building a safe, orderly, and humane immigration system.

If elected, I will support bipartisan efforts for comprehensive immigration reform and evidence-based border solutions that curbs illegal crossings and addresses safety concerns while supporting hardworking and law-abiding immigrants, including legislation that:

Restores accountability and stops anonymous ICE raids

Advocates for new legal pathways to citizenship

Addresses the root causes of migration

Improves the efficiency of case processing

Democracy: Strengthening Voting Rights.

"Our democracy is at stake. I am committed to getting money out of politics and will support legislation that protects voting rights to make sure that every Texan voice is heard."

It is harder to register to vote than to get a gun in the state of Texas. A 30-day waiting period for your voter registration to take effect is just one of many ways Texas lawmakers have suppressed our right to vote. Other suppression tactics include restricting polling locations and mail-in voting, un-registering voters quietly without notification, requiring county-by-county certification to register voters, threatening felonies for unintentional mistakes when registering people to vote, confusing ID requirements, and drawing our electoral maps so that corrupt and power-hungry officials can choose their voters instead of us choosing our leaders. As your elected representative, I will fight to

Get rid of gerrymandering by establishing independent redistricting commissions

Expand voting rights nationwide

Make it easier to vote – including protecting early voting periods, voting by mail, and expanded locations and hours

Implement controls to prevent purges of legitimate voters from the rolls

Restore the protections in the Voting Rights Act

Environment: Protecting Our Planet.

"The natural beauty of Texas is what inspired me to become a biologist. As a scientist, I am wholeheartedly committed to protecting, restoring, and funding our natural environment and its resources – especially water."

The Texas Hill Country was my backyard growing up, and its natural beauty is what inspired me to pursue a career in biology. From a young age, my dad instilled in me a love of nature and the desire to preserve and protect it.

As a PhD-trained scientist, I trust the experts and know that the science is irrefutable – the threats and impact of climate change on our planet and our district are real and getting worse. Here in Texas, we are on the front lines of these climate-related issues as we experience intense periods of heat, long periods of drought, and frequent flooding in our area – which devastated much of our district this past summer. We can address the climate and biodiversity crises, but only if our elected leaders take bold action.

The longer we bury our heads in the sand, the more expensive the solutions become.

As your next Congresswoman, I will meet the urgency of this moment. I am committed to forward-thinking legislation that puts our community’s future first and builds the critical infrastructure we need to support our rapidly changing district and world. And I will defend the important role of science in our global fight to reverse the trends of climate change and will fight for

Funding and strengthening key federal agencies and the scientific workforce within them that serve and protect us from climate disaster and carry out critical conservation efforts

Healthy communities and an environment with clean air, clean water, and wild places for current and future generations

Solutions to address our water shortage crisis here in Central Texas

Slashing pollution and holding companies that pollute accountable

Advancing clean energy technologies, investments, and incentives

Protecting public lands, wild lands, and open spaces

I am also committed to fighting the corrupting influence of money in politics so that our country works for working people, not just the rich and powerful. As one resident in New Braunfels put it, “If they just paid that amount in taxes instead of political contributions, would we have a federal deficit? We would certainly have a better government.”

[3]

—Kristin Hook's campaign website (2026)[4]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am not a polished politician. I grew up in a working class family in South Texas and became the first in my family to earn a PhD. I was a teacher and scientist before I transitioned to a career in public service in the federal government. For the last three years, I have served our country as a science and tech expert in the U.S. Senate, at the National Institutes of Health, and at the Government Accountability Office. I am deeply committed to public service and holding elected officials accountable to we the people. I am running for office to fight for a government and economy that works for every Texan.

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?

I trust Texans to make their own personal healthcare decisions. I believe these decisions should be made by patients and providers, not politicians. I believe all Texans should have access to affordable healthcare and childcare. We need to fix our broken healthcare system once and for all and help parents get the childcare support they need. Every Texan deserves an equal voice in the democratic process. We need to expand voting rights and get the corrupting influence of money out of politics.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Healthcare, reproductive rights, civil rights, science & tech, education, government oversight and reform.

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

Honesty, integrity, accountability, a strong moral compass, empathy, passion for public service, ability to understand nuance, data-driven, willing to compromise and work across the aisle.

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

I was 14 years old and worked as a secretary at a local family-owned insurance company where my mom worked. I spent two summers there to cover my expenses and help support my single mom.

Both sitting representatives 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 have been moved by all of the personal stories from women about how Texas’ abortion ban has negatively impacted their family directly and their ability to access the healthcare they need.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes. An intelligent and balanced approach to governance is ideal.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Texas AFL-CIO, Stonewall Democrats, Tejano Democrats, and Austin Young Democrats so far.

Campaign website

Hook’s campaign website stated the following:

HEALTHCARE

I believe healthcare decisions are deeply personal and should be made by patients and their providers, not politicians. Making sure every Texan family has access to the life-saving healthcare they need is at the heart of why I am running for Congress.

DEMOCRACY

Our democracy is at stake. I am committed to getting money out of politics and will support legislation that protects voting rights to make sure that every Texan voice is heard.

IMMIGRATION

As a child of South Texas and the descendant of immigrants, I know how much generations of newcomers have contributed to our local economies and communities, which enables all Texans to thrive. I am committed to a secure, orderly, and humane border so that everyone feels safe.

ECONOMY

I grew up in a household that lived paycheck to paycheck. I want to support policies that make sure our economy works for everyone so that every hard-working Texan can build a successful life.

ENVIRONMENT

The natural beauty of Texas is what inspired me to pursue a science career. I am wholeheartedly committed to protecting, restoring, and funding our natural environment and its resources.

EDUCATION

I am the product of Texas public schools. As a former classroom teacher, I aim to support initiatives that strengthen our education system so that every teacher, student, and small business owner in need of a skilled workforce can thrive.[3]

—Kristin Hook’s campaign website (2024)[5]