AUSTIN, Texas — At least one former public radio journalist believes that "Texas needs Joy!"
That’s the slogan Joy Diaz contrived to announce her bid for governor.
“I recently left journalism to fulfill a mission — an unshakeable dream, a fire in my soul to serve you as the next governor of the great state of Texas,” Diaz said in her announcement video.
As part of her campaign, Diaz, who’s running on the Democratic ticket, plans to focus on the “border, challenges to public education and state preparedness.”
“When we look at the border, you should know I’m not one of those people who conveniently parachutes themselves on the border on election season,” she said. “No. The border has been a part of my life since I was born, because my father was an American missionary working in Mexico City. I’ve been crossing that border since I was a child.”
Entering the governor’s race, Diaz has no prior experience in the political arena. Still, she assures residents that her experience as a journalist has prepared her for this moment.
“Now, as a Texas reporter for almost two decades, I’ve been going to all corners of the state learning from Texans on the ground about how policy affects them,” she said. “And yes, I’ve been learning from books because I love to read. And yes, I’ve been learning from experts. But, the most valuable information comes from the people who live these policies day in and day out — everyday Texans like you and me.”
Pulling from her experience as a former public school teacher, she noted that she could speak to the difficulties facing students and educators. Additionally, both of her children, Camila and Fausto, attend public schools in Austin where she lives with her husband, Luis.
“Now, you’ll hear a lot of people during election season talk about public education,” Diaz said. “But, none of them are educators."
Diaz went on to say that having what she believes as the right people in position, not just funding, would aid in better public education across the state.
“A lot of people will give you one answer to public schools. Fixing them they’ll say requires more money. And yes, money is always helpful. But, you know what is really helpful too? Having an educator at the top of the Texas Education Agency that could help improve our schools dramatically and right now we don’t have that.”
In her video, she criticized the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed the lives of at least 73,000 in Texas and more than 788,000 in the United States.
“I got infected with COVID before people in my age group could get vaccinated and it was tough,” she said. “My son was 10. He got infected, too. And I remember the panic of not being able to breathe and I also remember thinking that if I lived because so many have died, that if I lived, I would live a life of public service.”
In her plea to Texans, Diaz vowed to “listen and learn” from her constituents, adding that she would work hard for their support and votes.
“And you may wonder how hard will I work?” she said. As hard as a missionary lifting others up, as hard as a public school teacher, as hard as a mother full of dreams for a better future for her children. I hope you agree Texas needs Joy and with your help, we can get there.”
Diaz joins Beto O’Rourke in the Democratic gubernatorial race, who announced his campaign in November after months of speculation about whether he’d run.
“Our current leadership has forgotten that their mission is to serve us,” she said. “And yes, conventional wisdom may say that it’s unlikely for an average person, even a qualified one, even one with expertise, even one with a huge heart, to become the next governor of this great state. But, Texans don’t solely rely on conventional wisdom, we believe in miracles. This will happen when you, my brothers and sisters, my fellow Texans lift me up. We can change things for the better.”