Vikki Goodwin, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, made a stop in El Paso to get out the vote ahead of the November General Election.
Goodwin, who currently represents House District 47 in the Texas House of Representatives, stopped by on Friday, Oct. 2, to attend the NAACP Convention in El Paso. But that morning, she made time to join students at the University of Texas at El Paso for a voter registration drive.
The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 3 General Election is Monday, Oct. 5.
The top issue among UTEP students was affordability, Goodwin said, noting that many feel the cost of higher education is getting out of hand. She also noted that she met a few unhoused students.
"It's very hard to study if you don't have a solid
place to live," she said during the voter registration event. "I think affordability is important to everyone in this race."
Goodwin said her top priorities if elected lieutenant governor would be making things better for people rather than corporations, including an ambitious and comprehensive state-run healthcare system that would extend health coverage to millions of uninsured Texans.
"I'm feeling very optimistic," she said of her chances of toppling incumbent Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in November. "There's just a lot of concerns and I think people recognize it's time for some change."
Later that evening, Goodwin took part in the NAACP forum where she discussed her plans to lower costs and raise wages, expand healthcare coverage, invest in education and rein in data centers.
"Our vote is our voice," she said in an email. "Texans are tired of the corruption and culture wars. They are looking for leaders with tangible plans to improve their lives. I've been on the campaign trail for nearly two years talking about my healthcare plan, how we need to invest in public education, and, most recently, how to regulate data centers.
"You can feel the energy building for November. Early voting begins on October 19, and I always encourage people to vote early for shorter lines."
Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Goodwin rallies El Paso voters, spotlights affordability concerns
