KERA News, Voter Guide

Rachel was born in Bell County, Texas. She is married and has three children.

Rachel currently works as a teacher at a charter school in Dallas. 

Rachel Mello's campaign for state senator in State Senate District 8 is her first run for public office. 

As of September 7, 2024, Rachel Mello’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Economy

Candidate website

Opposes court decisions that prioritize the enrichment of a few over the general welfare and believes such decisions undermine Constitutional rights, including the 1st Amendment right to petition the government.

Said, "we’ve watched the Supreme Court overturn a bribery conviction and gut our regulatory agencies." and believe such decisions that "minimize the general welfare in favor of the enrichment of the few." undermine Constitutional rights, including the 1st Amendment right to petition the government.

Believes the Court's actions are "dismantling the rights of the people" and increasing their own power.

- Said, "we’ve watched the Supreme Court overturn a bribery conviction and gut our regulatory agencies." and believe such decisions that "minimize the general welfare in favor of the enrichment of the few." undermine Constitutional rights, including the 1st Amendment right to petition the government.
- Believes the Court's actions are "dismantling the rights of the people" and increasing their own power.

Public Safety

Facebook

Supports abortion access and believes "the state of women’s reproductive healthcare currently is absolutely unacceptable". 

Believes the state should expand Medicaid to help pay for more special education services. 

Promises to support policies that expand access to mental health care, improve crisis responses, and expand youth mental health services. 

- Supports abortion access and believes "the state of women’s reproductive healthcare currently is absolutely unacceptable". 
- Believes the state should expand Medicaid to help pay for more special education services. 
- Promises to support policies that expand access to mental health care, improve crisis responses, and expand youth mental health services. 

Healthcare

Youtube, Candidate Forum

Believes every child, regardless of background, should have access to resources and support for academic success.

Plans to prioritize education if elected, saying "it needs to be funded at an adequate level."

Opposes school vouchers, which are programs and policies that allow families to use public school funds to access schools beyond their local option, including private schools.

- Believes every child, regardless of background, should have access to resources and support for academic success.
- Plans to prioritize education if elected, saying "it needs to be funded at an adequate level."
- Opposes school vouchers, which are programs and policies that allow families to use public school funds to access schools beyond their local option, including private schools.

Education

Energy & the Environment

Voting & Elections

Instagram

Rachel Mello

Rachel Mello's campaign for state senator in Texas District 8 is her first run for public office. 

Believes in reducing the influence of regulatory agencies on the economy.

Believes in overturning bribery convictions.

Believes in using "any non-violent and legal means of asking the government to right a wrong or to correct a problem."

Believes that increasing the burden of proof in court cases will hinder people's ability to petition the government and seek redress, ultimately impacting public safety.

Supports the right to petition the government for civil rights compliance.

Supports judicial candidates to enhance public safety.

Believes the Supreme Court decisions will impact issues addressed through the Office for Civil Rights.

Believes the Supreme Court is "corrupt" and "minimize the general welfare in favor of the enrichment of the few," and opposes decisions that undermine the 1st Amendment right to petition the government.

Believes a political party's presumptive nominee's "dictator" comment and "destructive" policies are harmful, despite claiming "God’s blessings."

Supports enforcing civil rights laws by addressing both "disparate treatment" (intentional discrimination) and "disparate impact" (unintentional discrimination) through data analysis.

Supports addressing both "disparate treatment" (intentional discrimination) and "disparate impact" (unintentional discrimination) 

Opposes court decisions that prioritize the enrichment of a few over the general welfare of everyone and believes such decisions undermine Constitutional rights, including the 1st Amendment right to petition the government.

- Opposes court decisions that prioritize the enrichment of a few over the general welfare of everyone and believes such decisions undermine Constitutional rights, including the 1st Amendment right to petition the government.
- Believes the Court's actions are "dismantling the rights of the people" and increasing their own power.

Believes in access to emergency abortions.

Supports the collaboration of civil rights offices with public-facing organizations to ensure compliance with civil rights laws in healthcare.

Supports the advancement of programs for women and disabled individuals.

Supports addressing Office of Civil Rights (OCR) complaints as recommended by Project 2025.

Supports the Department of Health and Human Services.

Supports a 180-day timeframe for submitting written complaints and allows for arbitration if both parties agree, aiming for quick resolutions in healthcare disputes.

Believes the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces civil rights law by addressing "disparate treatment, that is overt, intentional discrimination."

Supports using arbitration to quickly resolve disputes if both parties agree. If not, supports full investigations by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to ensure timely resolutions, believing this is crucial for the education of children and patient healthcare.

Supports access to abortion, saying "the state of women’s reproductive healthcare currently is absolutely unacceptable"

Believes the state should expand Medicaid to help pay for more special education services

Said, "I am committed to supporting policies that will increase access to mental health care, improve crisis response, and expand youth mental health services"

- Supports access to abortion, saying "the state of women’s reproductive healthcare currently is absolutely unacceptable"
- Believes the state should expand Medicaid to help pay for more special education services
- Said, "I am committed to supporting policies that will increase access to mental health care, improve crisis response, and expand youth mental health services"

Believes lack of school safety funding may lead to budget cuts.

Believes in advocating for public schools, at-risk students, and equal educational opportunities for all Texans.

Believes in advocating for public schools and providing quality education to all students.

Believes behavior is communication, emphasizing the importance of understanding student behavior to improve educational outcomes.

Believes in addressing the challenges faced by students in underserved communities to create positive change in education.

Believes in community involvement in education and supports local speakers and candidates to address educational issues.

Believes in giving back to the community, saying "After contributing to the Baton Rouge community, Rachel brought her passion for education back home to Texas."

Believes her values and experience in the education sector will help create a "brighter future for our community."

Opposes the misuse of school voucher systems citing mismanagement of money and neglect of rural or poorer schools.

- Believes every child, regardless of background, should have access to resources and support for academic success.
- Plans to prioritize education if elected, saying "it needs to be funded at an adequate level."
- Opposes the misuse of school voucher systems citing mismanagement of money and neglect of rural or poorer schools.

Believes a republic only functions if voters participate.

Rachel Mello was born in Bell County, Texas, and is a seventh-generation Texan. She is married and has three children.

Rachel Mello has a career spanning 15 years in education, starting as an educator in Baton Rouge and later working in a charter school in South Dallas. She specializes in working with students in at-risk subpopulations.

As of September 12, 2024, Rachel Mello’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- Your state senator represents the interests of your district in the Texas State Senate. The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Texas Legislature.
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process.
- There are 31 Texas state senators, each representing a single district with a constituency of around 1 million.
- State senators are elected to 4-year terms and one 2-year term per decade, and there are no term limits.
- They are paid a salary of $7,200/year and a per diem of $221/day.