ABOUT LEILANI

A Family Tradition
of Hard Work
and Compassion

A Native Texan, Leilani Barnett makes her home in Wichita Falls, and her roots in this district go back to her great-great grandparents. “My mother and her siblings grew up in Clay County,” she says proudly, “as did her parents and their parents.”

For a Better Texas - Leilani Barnett

A Focus on Education

A political writer and teacher with more than 31 years of experience, Leilani Barnett holds a Bachelor’s degree with a double major in Journalism and English; an MA in Educational Leadership; and an MA in Literature. She's now in the last phase of completing a Ph.D. in Education.

Faith and Freedom

Leilani is a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wichita Falls and a friend of the Wichita Falls Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Her vision for Texas is guided, though, by what she first learned as a child in a Baptist Sunday school: Love your neighbor and Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you. She is a staunch believer in separation of church and state, which allows every Texan to worship in the way they wish.

Leilani Barnett is a native Texan and lives in Wichita Falls. She holds a bachelor's degree with double majors in journalism and English, as well as master's degrees in educational leadership and literature. She is a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wichita Falls and a friend of the Wichita Falls Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

A Teacher's Heart

In addition to her professional experiences in education and leadership at local, state, and national levels, Leilani Barnett previously worked with the National Children’s Advocacy Center, training police officers, attorneys, social workers, mental health and medical professionals in more than 22 cities across the United States. Leilani wrote national curricula on a multidisciplinary team approach that reduces trauma for victims of child abuse.

Leilani Barnett is a political writer and teacher. She previously worked with the National Children’s Advocacy Center.

2026 Texas General Election

As State Representative in the Texas House, Leilani will be a proactive partner with Sheppard Air Force Base — recognizing that its success strengthens our local economy, supports thousands of families, and enhances national defense. She will fight for state investments in infrastructure and quality-of-life improvements that benefit the base and our community, such as roads, broadband expansion, and workforce housing. These investments make Wichita Falls a more attractive place for military personnel and their families to live and stay long-term.

A Proactive Partner for Sheppard AFB

Rents continue to skyrocket, starter homes vanish, and wages fail to keep pace with the cost of living. Teachers, nurses, young families, and even seniors on fixed incomes are finding it harder each year to stay rooted in the communities they love. Every Texan deserves the stability, dignity, and opportunity that comes with a safe place to call home. Leilani stands ready to face the issue of affordable housing, an issue that requires bold state action.

Priority Issues for District 69

Make the Economy Work for Working People!

Leilani Barnett believes affordability is not just an economic issue—it’s a quality-of-life issue and a moral one! For too many, the promise of Texas prosperity feels out of reach. We must stop giving billion-dollar tax breaks to corporations that don’t reinvest in Texas families. North Texans deserve an economy that ensures everyone can afford to live, work, and thrive right here at home.

She will work to ensure that state agencies coordinate effectively with base leadership on issues like mental health services, childcare access, and family support programs, so our servicemembers and their families receive the resources they deserve. Finally,Barnett will champion local economic development incentives that attract defense-related businesses and suppliers to our region, creating more jobs and deepening Wichita Falls’ role in national readiness. Supporting Sheppard Air Force Base means strengthening our community, our economy, and Texas’ standing as a leader in military excellence!

Plans to seek state investments in roads, broadband, and workforce housing near Sheppard Air Force Base.

Calls for state action on affordable housing.

Calls for ending billion-dollar corporate tax breaks when corporations do not reinvest in Texas families.

Plans to support local incentives for defense-related businesses and suppliers in the Wichita Falls region.

- Plans to seek state investments in roads, broadband, and workforce housing near Sheppard Air Force Base.
- Calls for state action on affordable housing.
- Calls for ending billion-dollar corporate tax breaks when corporations do not reinvest in Texas families.
- Plans to support local incentives for defense-related businesses and suppliers in the Wichita Falls region.

Economy

Leilani Barnett believes every child deserves to learn in a school where safety is a given—not a privilege. She's coming to the table with commonsense measures that respect the Second Amendment while prioritizing the safety of our children. Along with reinforcing background checks and red flag buyers, simple upgrades can make a dramatic difference, including, for example, requiring--and providing funding for--schools to provide modern, functional classroom furniture designed to increase bullet resiliency and capable of better shielding students during emergencies.

Supports stronger background checks, red-flag measures, and funding for bullet-resistant classroom furniture.

Supports stronger background checks, red-flag measures, and funding for classroom furniture that has increased bullet resiliency.

- Supports stronger background checks, red-flag measures, and funding for classroom furniture that has increased bullet resiliency.

Public Safety

Affordable and Accessible Health Care

North Texas families are grappling with skyrocketing premiums, deductibles, and prescription prices. Leilani doesn't believe one should need to be rich to access health care! Strengthening rural hospitals through targeted state funding, expanding Medicaid, and investing in telehealth infrastructure are critical steps. These are commonsense, cost-effective solutions will keep care close to home, protect rural economies, and ensure every Texan—no matter where they live—can get the treatment they need without going broke.

She will support workforce development and education pipelines that align with Sheppard’s training mission — from expanding career and technical education in our high schools to strengthening partnerships with local colleges and certifications that help military spouses and veterans find good jobs. She will work to ensure that state agencies coordinate effectively with base leadership on issues like mental health services, childcare access, and family support programs, so our servicemembers and their families receive the resources they deserve.

Supports rural-hospital funding, Medicaid expansion, and investments in telehealth infrastructure.

Plans to coordinate state agencies and Sheppard Air Force Base leadership on mental health, child care, and family-support services.

- Supports rural-hospital funding, Medicaid expansion, and investments in telehealth infrastructure.
- Plans to coordinate state agencies and Sheppard Air Force Base leadership on mental health, child care, and family-support services.

Healthcare

PRIORITY ISSUES FOR DISTRICT 69
Public Schools -- The Heart of Texas Towns

Leilani Barnett believes the future of Texas depends on a strong, fully-funded public school system that serves every child—regardless of their ZIP code, family income, or learning needs. School vouchers fail that basic test of fairness.

She will fight for state investments in infrastructure and quality-of-life improvements that benefit the base and our community, such as roads, broadband expansion, and workforce housing. These investments make Wichita Falls a more attractive place for military personnel and their families to live and stay long-term. She will support workforce development and education pipelines that align with Sheppard’s training mission — from expanding career and technical education in our high schools to strengthening partnerships with local colleges and certifications that help military spouses and veterans find good jobs.

Supports fully funding public schools and opposes school vouchers.

Supports career and technical education and college partnerships for military spouses and veterans.

- Supports fully funding public schools and opposes school vouchers.
- Supports career and technical education and college partnerships for military spouses and veterans.

Education

Clean, Safe, Abundant -- Water Solutions

No Texan should have to worry whether their tap will run dry. North Texas has lived with drought-driven water shortages for far too long, and it’s time for a state representative who will step up with real, sustained solutions. State-supported measures must begin with modernizing our water infrastructure.

Calls for state-supported modernization of water infrastructure to address North Texas water shortages.

- Calls for state-supported modernization of water infrastructure to address North Texas water shortages.

Energy & the Environment

Donate to Leilani's Campaign

Until we can get Leilani in office to promote campaign reform to level the financial playing field for those candidates who aren't millionaires and who aren't accepting big corporation money, we NEED your help! Leilani's opponent is HEAVILY funded by special interest PACs, by big industry, and by his personal wealth which far exceeds the salary of a retired Texas school teacher.

But, Leilani doesn't believe a candidate should be able to "buy" an election victory! And, Leilani believes ALL TEXANS deserve representation -- not just the millionaires!

Advocates campaign-finance reform to level the financial playing field for candidates.

- Advocates campaign-finance reform to level the financial playing field for candidates.

Voting & Elections

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Leilani Barnett

- Calls for ending billion-dollar corporate tax breaks when corporations do not reinvest in Texas families.
- Plans to support local incentives for defense-related businesses and suppliers in the Wichita Falls region.

Leilani Barnett is from Texas. She has a bachelor 27s degree with a double major in journalism and English, a master 27s degree in educational leadership, and a master 27s degree in literature. She is a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wichita Falls and a friend of the Wichita Falls Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

Leilani is a political writer and teacher. She has more than 31 years of experience in education and leadership. She previously worked with the National Children's Advocacy Center, training police officers, attorneys, social workers, and mental health and medical professionals. She is also completing a Ph.D. in Education.

Leilani Barnett — Donate via ActBlue

Opposes providing "billion-dollar tax breaks to corporations that don’t reinvest in Texas families."

Supports lowering property taxes for homeowners and raising support for renters.

Supports local economic development incentives to attract defense-related businesses, aiming to create more jobs and enhance Wichita Falls' national readiness role.

Supports workforce development and education pipelines that align with Sheppard’s training mission.

Supports measures that "respect the Second Amendment while prioritizing the safety of our children."

Supports gun control measures such as expanding background checks, closing loopholes, and supporting red-flag laws.

Supports strengthening rural hospitals through targeted state funding, expanding Medicaid, and investing in telehealth infrastructure.

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.

Supports gun control measures such as expanding background checks, closing loopholes, and supporting red-flag laws to enhance school safety.

Supports modernizing Texas' water infrastructure, saying "Aging pipes, leaking systems, and outdated treatment facilities waste millions of gallons each year. Investing in repairs and high-efficiency technology not only conserves water but creates good-paying jobs across North Texas."

Supports expanding drought-resilient water sources like aquifer storage, advanced water recycling, and environmentally responsible desalination.

Opposes candidates being able to "buy" an election victory.

Opposes giving "billion-dollar tax breaks to corporations that don’t reinvest in Texas families."

Supports lowering property taxes for homeowners and increasing support for renters.

Supports local economic development incentives to attract defense-related businesses, aiming to create jobs and enhance Wichita Falls' national readiness role.

Supports measures that "respect the Second Amendment while prioritizing the safety of our children," including reinforcing background checks, red flag buyers, and funding for bullet-resilient classroom furniture.

Supports expanding Medicaid and investing in telehealth infrastructure.

Supports increasing funding for public schools.

Supports gun control measures such as expanding background checks, closing loopholes, and supporting red-flag laws to enhance building safety and protect children.

Supports modernizing water infrastructure in North Texas to address drought-driven shortages, believing water is a public good essential for all aspects of society and economic stability.

Buket Urgen

Alejandra Gracias

James B. Frank

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Texas House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Texas State Legislature
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws. 
- There are 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives, each representing a single district. Representatives must be at least 21 years old and reside in the state for at least two years before their election. 
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- State representatives make $7,200 annually in addition to a $221 payment per day during legislative sessions and mileage reimbursements.

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