Meet Candidate

Meet Diana

My name is Diana Loya. I am an immigrant from Mexico, the wife of a Marine veteran, a mother, and an educator of 20 years.

Diana Loya Democrat for House District 87

My identity and background aren’t just part of my story. They’re exactly why I am ready to serve. I came to this country as a child and had to learn a new language, a new system, and find my place.

Diana Loya: Texas House of Representatives District 87

What is your educational background? Please list any degrees or certificates earned and any institutions attended.

Master's in Educational Leadership, Bachelor's in General Studies with Bilingual Education certification

Diana Loya - Democrat for State House District 87

Diana Loya is an immigrant from Mexico who came to this country as a child. She earned a bachelor's degree in general studies with bilingual education certification and a master's degree in educational leadership. She is the wife of a Marine veteran and a mother.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Diana Loya, Texas ...

What is your occupation?

District Emergent Bilingual Curriculum Coordinator

Diana Loya works as a district emergent bilingual curriculum coordinator.

My name is Diana Loya. I am an immigrant from Mexico, the wife of a Marine veteran, a mother, and an educator of 20 years. I’m running for State Representative for House District 87 because I’ve seen too many teachers in the Panhandle forced to work second jobs just to support their families, too many veterans overlooked after their service, and too many hardworking families struggling to make ends meet in our rural communities.

Have you previously held or do you currently hold any elected office? If so, what office(s)?

no

Diana Loya has not previously held elected office.

2026 Texas General Election

Q: Should Texas end tax subsidies and abatements for large corporations?

I don’t think we should blindly give tax breaks. We should be strategic. We should support businesses that truly invest in our communities, but stop deals that don’t deliver real value. We should also invest in our small businesses, especially here in HD 87.

Meet the Candidates: Diana Loya for Texas House District 87

Push for meaningful property tax relief. Make the state pay their fair share for public education as it once was. This is an easy fix to lower property taxes.
 Support relief for seniors, working families, and agricultural landowners

I support real, responsible tax relief that doesn’t shift the burden onto our schools or local communities.

What is your position on taxpayer-funded lobbying? Please explain.

I oppose taxpayer-funded lobbying. We expect hard-earned tax dollars to go toward essential services such as education, public safety, and infrastructure. We should not be using it to fund lobbyists in Austin. During this affordability crisis, we must be responsible using public money.

Defend farmers against unfair regulations and land grabs
 Support water conservation and rural infrastructure here in the Panhandle
 Ensure farm families have a seat at the table in Austin

Supports strategic corporate tax breaks for businesses that invest in communities and supports investment in small businesses.

Calls for property-tax relief by increasing the state's share of public-education funding without shifting costs to schools or local communities.

Opposes using taxpayer funds for lobbying.

Advocates for protecting farmers from regulations she considers unfair and from land grabs.

- Supports strategic corporate tax breaks for businesses that invest in communities and supports investment in small businesses.
- Calls for property-tax relief by increasing the state's share of public-education funding without shifting costs to schools or local communities.
- Opposes using taxpayer funds for lobbying.
- Advocates for protecting farmers from regulations she considers unfair and from land grabs.

Economy

As of July 22, 2026, Diana Loya’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Fight for stable funding for rural hospitals and clinics
 Support incentives to attract and keep rural healthcare professionals
 Protect emergency and maternal care in rural communities

Rural hospitals are closing or struggling, forcing families to travel far for care. I will fight to support funding of rural hospitals and protect and strengthen programs like Medicaid an CHIP.

A big issue that is rarely spoken about is helping our veterans in our rural areas. Texas has the biggest population of homeless veterans. I am committed to fighting for policies which will expand veteran access to healthcare, housing, and jobs support. We need to bring real understanding of military family sacrifice into policymaking in Austin.

Advocates for stable funding for rural hospitals and clinics and for protecting and strengthening Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Supports incentives to attract and retain rural healthcare professionals.

Advocates for protecting emergency and maternal care in rural communities.

Is committed to policies that expand veterans' access to healthcare, housing, and job support.

- Advocates for stable funding for rural hospitals and clinics and for protecting and strengthening Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.
- Supports incentives to attract and retain rural healthcare professionals.
- Advocates for protecting emergency and maternal care in rural communities.
- Is committed to policies that expand veterans' access to healthcare, housing, and job support.

Healthcare

Fight for full, fair funding for rural public schools
 Oppose voucher programs that harm small districts
 Support competitive teacher pay and retention programs here in the Panhandle

Our public schools, especially in HD 87, are underfunded. We are facing teacher shortages and will further be weakened by voucher programs. I will fight to increase the PSF (per student funding) which has not been raised since 2019. I will also push for meaningful and fair teacher pay raises for our teachers. I will oppose vouchers that will further drain money from our public schools. I will also invest in programs to support our school districts with staff training, adequate resources in curriculum, and ongoing education for our teachers.

Q: Should Texas guarantee free school meals to all K–12 students, regardless of income?

Most families who can afford it will continue to send lunches with their children; that’s already happening. However, the current system only reaches a small number of students and leaves many others in between without consistent access to meals. When kids are in school, they should focus on learning, not being hungry. We need to guarantee no child is left hungry.

Advocates for increased funding for rural public schools.

Opposes school voucher programs, saying they would reduce funding for public schools and harm small districts.

Supports competitive teacher pay, pay raises, and teacher-retention programs.

Supports school-district investments in staff training, curriculum resources, and continuing education for teachers.

Supports guaranteeing that no child is left hungry at school.

- Advocates for increased funding for rural public schools.
- Opposes school voucher programs, saying they would reduce funding for public schools and harm small districts.
- Supports competitive teacher pay, pay raises, and teacher-retention programs.
- Supports school-district investments in staff training, curriculum resources, and continuing education for teachers.
- Supports guaranteeing that no child is left hungry at school.

Education

Finally, I will fight to maintain our water infrastructure and responsibly strengthen economic development.

- Plans to maintain water infrastructure.

Energy & the Environment

Q: Do you support automatic voter registration and same-day registration in Texas?

I absolutely support automatic voter registration and same-day registration in Texas because voting should be accessible for every eligible citizen.

Q: Do you support publicly financed elections to reduce corporate and PAC influence?

I wholeheartedly support this. When campaigns rely heavily on large donors or PACs, it raises real concerns about influence and accountability. Public financing helps ensure that elected officials are working for the people, not for whoever funded their campaigns.

Supports automatic and same-day voter registration in Texas for eligible citizens.

Supports publicly financed elections to reduce corporate and political action committee influence.

- Supports automatic and same-day voter registration in Texas for eligible citizens.
- Supports publicly financed elections to reduce corporate and political action committee influence.

Voting & Elections

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Diana Loya

Diana Loya for Texas House District 87

Diana Loya is an immigrant from Mexico. She is the wife of a Marine veteran and a mother.

How should the legislature go about delivering further property tax relief? Please explain.
First and foremost, we must shift a greater share of public school funding back to the state, as was done in the past.

Another major issue is the rising property taxes which are overwhelming our families. I will oppose cutting them the wrong way which is hurting our schools and local services. Instead, I will fight for use of the state surplus fund to provide relief and reduce reliance on property tases by rebalancing how the state funds education, as it was before.

Diana Loya, Texas House of Representatives District 87

Meet The Candidates: Diana Loya For Texas State House District 87

What is your position on taxpayer-funded lobbying? Please explain.
I oppose taxpayer-funded lobbying. We expect hard-earned tax dollars to go toward essential services such as education, public safety, and infrastructure. We should not be using it to fund lobbyists in Austin. During this affordability crisis, we must be responsible using public money.

Calls for the state to assume a greater share of public-school funding to provide property-tax relief.

- Calls for the state to assume a greater share of public-school funding to provide property-tax relief.
- Supports strategic corporate tax breaks for businesses that invest in communities and supports investment in small businesses.
- Opposes taxpayer-funded lobbying.

Rural hospitals are closing or operating on razor-thin margins. When hospitals close, emergency care disappears and lives are put at risk. In rural areas, distance can be the difference between life and death. Access to healthcare should not depend on your ZIP code. The Panhandle is so geographically large, it is crucial to have accessible hospitals and emergency care.
 Fight for stable funding for rural hospitals and clinics
 Support incentives to attract and keep rural healthcare professionals
 Protect emergency and maternal care in rural communities

Veterans in rural areas often struggle to access healthcare, mental health services, and employment support. Too many fall through the cracks once they return home. Funding for our closest Veteran’s hospital in Amarillo is getting cut constantly. My husband is a veteran and the VA hospital has been crucial for his health. The doctors are trained to treat veterans and understand the struggles most veterans face. I see first hand how cuts to funding affect the accessibility our Panhandle veterans get to appropriate healthcare. Our veterans kept their promise to serve this country. We must keep our promise to serve them when they come home. It is not by providing choice, but by strengthening our Veteran’s hospitals. The staff in our Veteran’s hospitals are trained to work with our veteran’s specifically on their needs.
 Expand access to rural veteran healthcare and mental health services
 Support job training and employment pathways for veterans
 Ensure veterans’ benefits are protected and accessible to all veterans

Plans to fund rural hospitals and protect and strengthen Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Supports incentives to attract and retain rural health-care professionals.

Supports protecting emergency and maternal care in rural communities.

Supports expanding rural veterans’ access to health care and mental-health services.

- Plans to fund rural hospitals and protect and strengthen Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
- Supports incentives to attract and retain rural health-care professionals.
- Supports protecting emergency and maternal care in rural communities.
- Supports expanding rural veterans’ access to health care and mental-health services.

What do you feel are the most important issues right now, why, and how do you plan to tackle them?
Our public schools, especially in HD 87, are underfunded. We are facing teacher shortages and will further be weakened by voucher programs. I will fight to increase the PSF (per student funding) which has not been raised since 2019. I will also push for meaningful and fair teacher pay raises for our teachers.

Our public schools, especially in HD 87, are underfunded. We are facing teacher shortages and will further be weakened by voucher programs. I will fight to increase the PSF (per student funding) which has not been raised since 2019. I will also push for meaningful and fair teacher pay raises for our teachers. I will oppose vouchers that will further drain money from our public schools.

Q: Do you oppose school vouchers and efforts to privatize public education?

I’m strongly opposed to school vouchers because I’ve spent over 20 years inside our public schools, and I’ve seen what our students need to succeed. Taking funding away from public schools doesn’t solve problems; it creates more of them, especially for our rural communities and our most vulnerable students.

I will fight to increase the PSF (per student funding) which has not been raised since 2019. I will also push for meaningful and fair teacher pay raises for our teachers. I will oppose vouchers that will further drain money from our public schools. I will also invest in programs to support our school districts with staff training, adequate resources in curriculum, and ongoing education for our teachers.

Plans to increase per-student funding for public schools.

Opposes school vouchers, saying they divert funding from public schools.

Plans to fund school-district staff training, curriculum resources, and continuing education for teachers.

Supports guaranteeing that no K–12 student goes hungry at school.

- Plans to increase per-student funding for public schools.
- Plans to pursue teacher pay raises.
- Opposes school vouchers, saying they divert funding from public schools.
- Plans to fund school-district staff training, curriculum resources, and continuing education for teachers.
- Supports guaranteeing that no K–12 student goes hungry at school.

Farmers are facing rising costs, unpredictable markets, water challenges, and policies made by people who have never worked the land. Agriculture is the backbone of the Panhandle economy. The majority of our friends survive on agriculture because it has been their livelihood for generations. They do not want to leave the Panhandle because it is home. When farmers struggle, the entire region feels it. Austin does not care about our small town farming communities and it hurts our small towns tremendously.
 Defend farmers against unfair regulations and land grabs
 Support water conservation and rural infrastructure here in the Panhandle
 Ensure farm families have a seat at the table in Austin

Supports water conservation and rural infrastructure in the Panhandle.

Plans to defend farmers against what she describes as unfair regulations and land grabs.

- Supports water conservation and rural infrastructure in the Panhandle.
- Plans to defend farmers against what she describes as unfair regulations and land grabs.

Supports automatic and same-day voter registration for eligible Texas voters.

Supports publicly financed elections to reduce the influence of large donors and political action committees.

- Supports automatic and same-day voter registration for eligible Texas voters.
- Supports publicly financed elections to reduce the influence of large donors and political action committees.

Diana Loya is from Mexico. She has a master 27s in educational leadership. She is married, a mother, and an educator.

Diana is a public school teacher. She has worked in public education for about two decades. She also serves as a parliamentarian for the West Texas Association for Bilingual Educators. 

Diana's campaign for Texas State Representative, District 87, is her first time running for public office.

Supports meaningful property tax relief and believes the state should pay its fair share for public education to lower property taxes.

Supports relief for seniors, working families, and agricultural landowners.

Supports defending farmers against unfair regulations and land grabs.

Supports ensuring access to healthcare in rural areas and emphasizes the importance of keeping rural hospitals open for emergency care.

Aims to fight for stable funding for rural hospitals and clinics.

Supports job training and employment pathways for veterans.

Supports increasing per student funding, fair teacher pay raises, and opposes school vouchers that divert funds from public schools.

Supports fully funding public schools, fair pay for teachers, and opposes voucher programs that divert resources from rural districts.

Supports investing in programs for staff training, curriculum resources, and ongoing education for teachers.

Supports automatic voter registration and same-day registration in Texas to make voting accessible for every eligible citizen.

Supports public financing of elections to reduce the influence of large donors and PACs, ensuring elected officials work for the people.

Diana is a public school teacher. She works in the Texas Panhandle public school system, where she has spent about two decades teaching students and collaborating with teachers and families. She previously served in educational leadership roles after earning a master’s degree in Educational Leadership, working on policy and curriculum improvements within her district.

Diana Loya's campaign for Texas State Representative, District 87, is her first entry into politics.

Supports lowering property taxes by ensuring the state contributes "their fair share" for public education.

Supports providing financial relief for seniors, working families, and agricultural landowners.

Supports protecting farmers from "unfair regulations and land grabs."

Believes closing rural hospitals jeopardizes emergency care and lives, stressing that healthcare access shouldn't depend on location, especially in the vast Panhandle.

Supports stable funding for rural hospitals and clinics.

Wants to protect emergency and maternal care in rural communities.

Supports strengthening Veteran's hospitals to ensure adequate healthcare for veterans, particularly in rural areas, and opposes funding cuts that hinder access to specialized medical care and mental health services.

Wants to expand access to rural veteran healthcare and mental health services.

Plans to increase per student funding, advocate for fair teacher pay raises, and invest in programs for staff training and curriculum resources.

Said, "I will fight to fully fund our public schools, support our teachers with fair pay, and oppose voucher programs that take resources away from our rural districts."

Plans to invest in programs to support school districts with staff training, curriculum resources, and ongoing education for teachers.

Supports automatic and same-day voter registration.

Diana is a public school teacher. She works at a Texas public school, where she has been for about two decades. She previously worked at various public school campuses after earning a master’s in Educational Leadership.

Diana Loya's campaign for Texas State Representative, District 87 is her first entry into politics.

Said, "I don’t think we should blindly give tax breaks. We should be strategic. We should support businesses that truly invest in our communities, but stop deals that don’t deliver real value. We should also invest in our small businesses, especially here in HD 87."

Supports policies to expand access to healthcare, housing, and job support for veterans.

Believes closing rural hospitals jeopardizes emergency care and lives, stressing healthcare access shouldn't depend on location, especially in the vast Panhandle.

Said, "When kids are in school, they should focus on learning, not being hungry. We need to guarantee no child is left hungry."

Diana is a public school teacher. She works in the Texas public education system, where she has been for about twenty years. She previously worked as a classroom teacher, an instructional coach and a campus administrator in Texas public schools.

Texas AFL-CIO COPE 2026 Primary Election Pro-Worker ...

Supports policies to expand access to healthcare, housing, and jobs for veterans.

Supports strengthening Veteran's hospitals to ensure adequate healthcare for veterans, particularly in rural areas, and opposes funding cuts that hinder access to specialized medical care.

Plans to increase per student funding and advocate for "meaningful and fair teacher pay raises."

Opposes diverting funds from public schools.

Buket Urgen

Isaac Brickman

Caroline Fairly

- 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. 
- State representatives are elected to two-year terms during even-numbered years. There are no term limits. 
- State representatives make $7,200 annually in addition to a $221 payment per day during legislative sessions and mileage reimbursements.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Texas House of Representatives.