Pride Corpus Christi is proud to announce the launch of our VotewithPride.org initiative, a resource designed to inform the LGBTQIA+ community about where candidates stand on critical issues. As we approach the upcoming local elections, it is essential for every voter to be empowered with the knowledge of how their potential leaders plan to support inclusivity and the rights of marginalized communities.

The website currently houses responses from City of Corpus Christi Mayoral and City Council candidates, with plans to expand to include candidates for State Representative District 34, CCISD School Board and Judicial offices. These responses are crucial in understanding the perspectives and policies that candidates will bring to office, especially in regard to LGBTQIA+ issues that impact our community.

Why VotewithPride Matters

At Pride Corpus Christi, we believe that an informed community is a powerful one. With LGBTQIA+ rights increasingly under scrutiny, it is more important than ever to know which candidates will stand for inclusivity and protect the rights of all citizens, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. The responses collected through VoteWithPride.org give you direct insight into the candidate’s positions on these key issues.

We’ve already received responses from the following mayoral candidates:

Joshua Fraedrick

Dr. Isabel Araiza

For City Council, candidates who have shared their positions include sitting members:

Jim Klein (At-Large)

Sylvia Campos (District 2)

And other council candidates:

Jennifer Gracia (At-Large)

Mark Scott (At-Large)

Eli McKay (District 1)

John Garcia (District 1)

Ben Molina (District 2)

Eric Cantu (District 3)

David Peña (District 5)

Rene Flores (Texas 214th District Court)

Candidates who have yet to respond, such as Carolyn Vaughn (At-Large)—who has previously expressed opposition to supporting LGBTQIA+ rights—will have pages developed based on existing history and public comments.

Example Q&A Segment

As an example of the insights voters can expect, Dr. Isabel Araiza, a candidate for mayor, responded to the question:

How do you plan to ensure fair treatment and equal opportunities for all citizens, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity?

Dr. Araiza’s answer highlights her commitment to inclusivity:

“First and foremost, I will lead by example, treating every single person regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, with respect and dignity… I’ve taught sociology for over 20 years and have been active with social justice issues for years. It has always been my goal to create/foster inclusive and safe environments.”

This is just one of the many thoughtful and direct answers found on VoteWithPride.org, providing our community the information they need to make informed decisions at the polls.

How You Can Get Involved

We encourage all candidates to respond to our outreach. If you are a candidate running for office and would like to share your perspectives on LGBTQIA+ issues, please reach out to us at president@pridecorpuschristi.com or vp@pridecorpuschristi.com. This is an opportunity to show the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies that you care about their votes, voices, and concerns as citizens.

For those candidates who have already participated, we thank you for taking a stand and contributing to the democratic process. We hope this information will assist voters in making informed choices when early voting begins on October 21st or on Election Day, November 5th.

Visit VotewithPride.org today to read the candidate responses and ensure that your vote supports leaders who champion equality and fairness for all.