It has been three months since state Rep. Charlene Ward Johnson (D-Houston) stepped into the Texas House of Representatives, serving District 139 which spans southwest of Spring through Acres Homes to Independence Heights.
She represents a historically liberal stronghold that has long been led by Black Democrats, including the late Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner who represented it for 27 years.
The Houston native secured her House District 139 seat after winning the Democratic primary runoff election against former Houston Super Neighborhood Council President Angie Thibodeaux, earning 51.9% of the vote. She replaced her ex-husband, Rep. Jarvis Johnson (D-Houston), who left the position to seek a state Senate seat.
Community service has been a priority. As Vice President of Greater Houston Frontiers Club, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Johnson now serves on the House Committees on Higher Education and Culture, Recreation & Tourism.
With 25 years of experience in the energy sector and customer service, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Technology from the University of Houston and a master’s in Organizational Management from the University of Arizona.
Navigating challenges
As one of 64 Democrats in the House, Johnson faces the challenge of garnering bipartisan support for her bills. Her strategy is simple: build relationships and find common ground.
My bills could be bipartisan. Being 65 [the age of some constituents] doesn’t affect which party you’re in…But being a minority in the house is a concern.
Rep. Charlene Ward Johnson
While acknowledging the political challenges, she added she remains committed to advocating for her community.
“I want to be able to come back to the district to say, ‘this is how I fought for you’…I want my constituents to know that I’m here fighting for them.”
Championing higher education
Johnson’s district includes Houston Community College, Lone Star College, University of Houston and HBCUs Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University. Her passion for higher education runs deep, having served as the president of the University of Houston Black Alumni Association and on the Houston Community College Board of Trustees.
“Education is a very important part of people being able to have better jobs and better opportunities,” she said. “That’s what I’ve been focusing on, libraries and scholarships, making education affordable and accessible.”
One of Johnson’s key legislative battles has been opposing school vouchers, which she believes would divert public funds from under-resourced public schools.
There are two ongoing discussions on school choices at the legislature. SB 2 allocates 80% of the funding to disabled or low-income students, 20% to any other student, and a flat $10,000 voucher for students who qualify. Meanwhile, HB 3 prioritizes students with disabilities and seeks to establish an “education savings account” program (vouchers) to use public funds to help pay for private schools.
Johnson plans to vote against HB 3, arguing Houston public schools have more pressing priorities like teacher pay, building repairs and security.
“The fight continues for the school voucher regulation,” she said. “I believe public dollars need to stay in public schools…There are several schools in my district that are closing, and that’s a concern.”
She also filed HB 3549, requiring school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to report data on disciplinary and law enforcement actions, including incidents and demographic information.
Advocating for seniors
Johnson’s commitment to the community extends to senior citizens, many of whom are facing increased financial strain. She introduced bills (HB 3340, HB 3337 and HB 3691) that address some of their most pressing issues, including rent control for senior housing, improved elevator safety regulations and an online method to receive mail-in ballots.
“Inflation is impacting everyone, but it’s hitting our seniors the hardest,” she said. “Their money isn’t going up…I want to make sure that they have a voice ’cause I heard them loud and clear.”
Protecting Black Mothers
One of Johnson’s most impactful legislative efforts addresses maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women in Texas. Motivated by the alarming rate of maternal deaths among Black mothers, her bill (HB 3339) calls for a comprehensive study to investigate the causes and propose solutions.
“Black mothers are dying at a higher rate than any other race or any other gender,” she said. “That is a concern that we need to have more awareness and funding for that.”
Fighting for Environmental Justice
Johnson has made regulating concrete batch plants a priority (HB 3338, HB 1498), being cognizant of environmental justice issues in her district. She added that concrete batch facilities, often located near homes, churches and neighborhood schools in Black and Brown communities, contribute to air pollution and pose significant health risks for residents.
“We definitely need to regulate having quality air,” she said. “We want to make sure that people know that our health is just as important. We want to have a quality of life no matter where your zip code is.”
