State Representative, Texas House District 47

Vikki Goodwin is a Democratic state representative from Austin, in the House since 2019, and the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor³¹. She is a real estate broker who runs a business with her husband and previously worked as a systems analyst for the Texas attorney general's office²¹¹. She holds business and public affairs degrees from the University of Texas².

Where they stand

• School choice: No, keep public money in traditional public schools Voted · high confidence
  • Goodwin voted no on SB 2, which created the state education savings account program. (2025-04-17) source
  • Goodwin voted yes on an amendment removing the education savings account article from HB 1. (2023-11-17) source
  • Goodwin said her priority as lieutenant governor will be to end private school vouchers or any program that diverts public dollars to private schools. (2026) source
• Minimum wage: Raise it to around $15 Questionnaire answer · high confidence
  • Goodwin said Texas should increase the minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour at minimum. (2026) source
  • Her campaign says she supports raising the minimum wage to at least 15 dollars and raising the tipped-worker wage. (2026) source
• Healthcare: Add a government plan anyone can buy into (a public option) Said · high confidence
  • Goodwin's Texas Cares plan would expand Medicaid and create a state-run insurance option, Lone Star Preferred, available to all Texans with income-based premiums. (2026) source
  • She filed HB 1423 to expand Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act. (2025-03-11) source
• Guns: Add universal background checks and red-flag laws Questionnaire answer · high confidence
  • Goodwin called for strengthening background checks, extreme risk protective orders with due process, and mandatory training and safe storage laws. (2026) source
  • Goodwin voted no on final approval of HB 1927, which allows handgun carry without a license. (2021-05-23) source
• Abortion: Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks) Said · medium confidence
  • Goodwin voted no on SB 8, the 2021 law banning most abortions after cardiac activity is detected. (2021-05-06) source
  • Goodwin voted no on HB 1280, the 2021 law prohibiting abortion. (2021-05-06) source
  • She filed HB 2251 to add exceptions to the abortion ban, including for health risks, severe fetal anomalies and rape or incest, and to repeal older abortion laws. (2025-03) source
  • She said women should have the right to make their own personal, private health care decisions. (2026) source
  • Her campaign calls for restoring full reproductive care, saying recent restrictions have led to serious complications for Texas women. (2026) source
• AI data centers: Pause new approvals until the state finishes studying power and water impacts Said · high confidence
  • Goodwin said Texas must pause new data center construction until the Legislature passes laws putting people's and animals' water and power use first, and she called for a special session on data centers. (2026) source
• Marijuana: Legalize and regulate it like alcohol Said · medium confidence
  • Goodwin said Texas needs a sensible regulatory framework for THC rather than outright prohibition, with age limits and testing. (2026) source
  • Her Texas Cares plan would be funded partly by a proposed state tax on legal cannabis sales. (2026) source
  • She voted yes on HB 218 in 2023, a bill lowering the penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana. (2023-04-27) source
  • News coverage of the House vote describes HB 218 as making possession of an ounce or less a fine-only Class C misdemeanor. (2023-04-26) source
• Ranked-choice voting: Let cities and counties choose it for local races Said · high confidence
  • Goodwin's campaign says she supports allowing ranked-choice voting, particularly in city and school board elections. (2026) source
• Election rules: Easier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyone Said · low confidence
  • Goodwin's campaign says she is pushing for online voter registration and expanded voting options. (2026) source
  • Goodwin voted no on final approval of SB 1, the 2021 election law. (2021-08-31) source
• Property taxes: Keep cutting them and cap how fast they can rise Voted · medium confidence
  • Goodwin voted yes on SB 4, raising the school homestead exemption. (2025-05-21) source
  • Goodwin says the Legislature raised homestead exemptions while capping local tax increases, and that the state should take on more of the cost of schools, health care and roads so Texans are not taxed out of their homes. (2026) source
• Housing and growth: Allow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices down Voted · medium confidence
  • Goodwin voted yes on final approval of SB 15, which limits lot size and density requirements for new homes in certain cities. (2025-06-01) source
  • She says Texas should streamline local permitting and cut regulations that raise housing costs to increase supply. (2026) source
• Childcare and pre-K: Target free pre-K and subsidies to low-income and priority families Official action · medium confidence
  • Goodwin filed HB 4598 to fund the state's subsidized child care program through an employer contribution. (2025-04) source
  • She filed HB 494 to make children of public school employees eligible for free pre-K. (2025-02) source
• Safety net programs: Expand help for childcare, housing and paid family leave Said · medium confidence
  • Goodwin's campaign says she supports new funding streams for child care and a Fair Rent Incentive Act to lower rents. (2026) source
  • Her healthcare page calls for expanding Medicaid. (2026) source
  • She filed HB 1423 to expand Medicaid. (2025-03-11) source
• Gender care for minors: Position does not fit our answer choices; see evidence. Voted · medium confidence
  • Goodwin voted no on SB 14, which prohibits gender transition treatments for minors. (2023-05-15) source
  • Her campaign cites her A+ rating from Equality Texas and support for equal rights regardless of gender identity. (2026) source
• DEI programs: Position does not fit our answer choices; see evidence. Voted · medium confidence
  • Goodwin voted no on SB 17, which bans DEI initiatives at public universities. (2023-05-22) source
  • Goodwin voted no on SB 12, which bars DEI duties in K-12 schools. (2025-05-25) source
• Religion in schools: Position does not fit our answer choices; see evidence. Voted · medium confidence
  • Goodwin voted no on SB 10, requiring Ten Commandments displays in classrooms. (2025-05-25) source
  • Goodwin voted no on SB 11, allowing a period of prayer and Bible reading in schools. (2025-05-23) source
  • In a Ballotpedia survey Goodwin said she will ensure schools maintain religious freedom. (2026) source
  • Her campaign's education page, under 'Protecting Separation of Church and State,' says tax dollars should not fund religious education. (2026) source
• AI regulation: Let states like Texas write their own targeted AI rules Voted · medium confidence
  • Goodwin voted yes on HB 149, which regulates the use of artificial intelligence systems in Texas. (2025-04-23) source
• Energy and climate: A gradual shift to cleaner energy, driven by incentives Said · low confidence
  • Goodwin's campaign says she supports strategies to address extreme weather and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while balancing economic growth. (2026) source
• Immigration: Position does not fit our answer choices; see evidence. Said · medium confidence
  • Goodwin supports comprehensive immigration reform addressing border security and economic realities, and says state and local cooperation with federal immigration agencies erodes trust. (2026) source
  • Goodwin voted no on SB 8, on sheriff agreements with ICE. (2025-05-25) source
• Redistricting: Position does not fit our answer choices; see evidence. Voted · medium confidence
  • Goodwin voted no on HB 4, the 2025 mid-decade congressional map. (2025-08-20) source
• Transgender athletes: Position does not fit our answer choices; see evidence. Voted · medium confidence
  • Goodwin voted no on HB 25, requiring K-12 athletes to compete by biological sex. (2021-10-14) source
  • Goodwin voted no on SB 15, applying the same rule to college sports. (2023-05-18) source
• Curriculum and books: Position does not fit our answer choices; see evidence. Voted · medium confidence
  • Goodwin voted no on HB 900, setting state rules for school library materials. (2023-04-20) source
  • Goodwin voted no on final approval of SB 13, on school library advisory councils and parental rights. (2025-05-31) source
• Policing and crime: Position does not fit our answer choices; see evidence. Voted · medium confidence
  • Goodwin voted yes on SJR 5, a constitutional amendment requiring denial of bail in certain felony cases. (2025-05-19) source
  • Goodwin voted no on HB 1900, which penalizes cities that cut police budgets. (2021-05-07) source

No public position found on: Business regulation, Texas power grid, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Paid leave, Student loans, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, China policy.

Record

• Member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2019, representing parts of Austin and the Lake Travis area³¹¹.
• Won the May 26, 2026 Democratic primary runoff for lieutenant governor over Marcos Velez, 67.8 percent to 32.2 percent³.
• Her campaign says she passed Cati's Act in 2023, requiring child care providers to put life jackets on children who cannot swim when parents request it⁴.
• Listed by the Texas Secretary of State as the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in the November 3, 2026 general election¹.