This was initially published in the Austin Chronicle as a letter to the editor but has been republished here verbatim in its entirety

Dear Editors,

As progressives, we must fight for climate justice each and every day, and it saddens me to see the Chronicle endorse multiple candidates for railroad commissioner (oil & gas commissioner) that will not seek to move Texas away from oil, but rather regulate it slightly better than the Republican [“Endorsements for the November 2024 General Election,” News, Oct. 18].

We must support Eddie Espinoza’s fight to clean up our environment and not just accept the lesser of two evils, with regard to our health and safety.

The Democrat running in this race does not prioritize our health and safety over the continuation of a fossil fuel economy, and neither does the Republican.

This is one of the few races that electing either mainstream candidate will truly change next to nothing, and we need to vote our conscience and campaign for an end to the fossil fuel economy with a just transition for workers.

We don’t need to elect a leader in oil and gas, we need to elect a commissioner that will end it, and pretending like we don’t in your endorsements ultimately doesn’t make change towards a green future.

Sincerely,

Reese Armstrong

LASA Young Democratic Socialists of America Co-Chair