After spending 20 years working behind the scenes for the Democratic Party, an Austin-born actor and entertainer is stepping in front of the curtain to run for the Texas House of Representatives.
Sam Slade has worked for many Austin-based radio stations and picked up acting credits from film and television studios, such as A24 and HBO. He also worked on both of Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns and with politicians like former U.S. Rep. Chris Bell, D-Houston, who is running for governor.
Slade is vying for the Texas House District 49 seat, which covers UT and West Campus and is currently held by state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, who is not seeking re-election ahead of a gubernatorial race against incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott. Hinojosa passed a Texas House resolution honoring Slade’s work as a Democratic precinct chair in Travis County, but she has not publicly endorsed a successor.
“I couldn’t help but take that house resolution that Gina passed… as loud of a call to action that I could get,” Slade said.
As someone who comes from a family of public school teachers and as a graduate of Austin High School, Slade said he wants to prioritize public education and “hold people accountable” for funding cuts and school closures.
If elected, Slade said he would pass legislation that restricts the development of new data centers to conserve the water used to cool them down and to decrease water bills throughout Austin.
“We’re giving hundreds of millions of dollars to tech companies with no ROI,” Slade said. “(We’re giving) hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars that should be going to schools to Elon Musk.”
Slade said Democrats are often too focused on how they come across to the public instead of serving the voters’ needs. If elected, Slade said he will commit to “staying in touch with the district” by taking 10 constituent calls per week and hosting monthly round table meetings with community members.
“I know what it’s like to struggle in Austin,” Slade said. “I know what it’s like to succeed in Austin, and I know what it’s like when Austin is at its best.”
Seven other candidates are running for the nomination, including nurse practitioner Kimmie Ellison and Kathie Tovo, a former Austin City Council member. Crowded races can lead to runoff elections, which occur when none of the candidates reach a majority vote in the initial election, according to the Texas Election Code. This forces the top two finishers to compete head-to-head. A Republican has not been elected for the District 49 seat this century, and there are none currently running for it.
Slade and his opponents will face off in the Democratic primary on March 3, and the general election will take place on Nov. 3.
“I love campaigning, and I love politics,” Slade said. “I can’t imagine anything I would love doing more than representing my hometown in the Texas House.”
