Introducing Democratic Candidate Ebony Turner
October 15, 2024, Candidacy Announcement
By Zurina Wright
The Texas Democrats
Black Caucus
is Supporting
Ebony Turner
Candidate
Texas House District 96
Election season is near and Ebony Turner is on the ballot for Texas House District 96.
Turner is a practicing attorney with 23 years of experience in criminal and civil cases. Her background includes employment with the Texas Legislative Council, where she drafted bills for its members. While she has worked on countless cases as an attorney and on bills for the government, Turner’s son, Isaiah, motivated her to join the ballot as a Democratic candidate.
Candidate Turner is running her campaign focusing on education and women’s reproductive health, the two major issues affecting HD96, and Texas overall.
Improving education is a personal matter to Turner. Turner’s son, Isaiah, diagnosed with Down Syndrome at 9 weeks postpartum, has experienced difficulties navigating the special education system. The lack of funding to provide the resources necessary for his success has been a large contributing factor to his challenges, like many other students throughout HD96, and is a concern for Candidate Turner.
Turner is against vouchers and calls for full funding for public schools. “I know that in some places vouchers seem like a good idea because the schools are underperforming,” Turner said.
The second focus of Turner’s platform centers around advocating for women’s reproductive health. “The vouchers are one thing,” Turner said. “Women’s reproductive health is another. I feel like that’s huge, and I believe in women’s reproductive health, privacy.”
Disagreeing with how policies are currently, Ebony Turner believes there should be, at the minimum, exceptions in cases of traumatic events resulting in pregnancy. When discussing the Texas climate around women’s reproductive rights, Candidate Turner empathized with the mothers who have communicated their fears for their daughters. “I think there are a lot of women who are terrified,” Turner said. “If they have daughters and something happens, their daughter gets pregnant, there’ll be no exception.”
Adding experience to her campaign and its pillars, Ebony Turner has a substantial history of advocating for constituents, forming outreach programs, and encouraging the next generation to be more civically involved. She founded and sponsored EMTLaw Future Lawyers Internship at the University of Texas in Arlington, and spoke out against removing early voting sites on college campuses, as this can significantly impact students’ ability to vote.
While giving court testimony this September, Candidate Turner made her stance regarding voter suppression clear. “I rise to oppose the elimination of any early voting sites in Tarrant County,” Turner said. “None of the proposed options work because they all disenfranchise the voters of certain groups of citizens, namely, college students and people of color.”
Seeking to represent and stay connected with her district, Turner aims to establish open communication and interaction with constituents. “I believe in my ability to listen and I have my finger on the pulse of this community,” Turner said. “I’m working in the community and I think I know what this community is about. I would have an open-door policy for my constituents to come in and talk to me about issues.”
Candidate Turner continues to campaign and maintains her intent to support and advocate for the constituents of House District 96. “I might not always agree, but I’m gonna listen. I’m committed to listening,” Turner said.
For updates on Candidate Ebony Turner’s campaign for Texas HD96 visit https://www.ebforhd96.com/.
