Shehla Faizi is running for Texas comptroller as the Green Party candidate in the Nov. 3 general election. She faces Don Huffines (Republican), Sarah Eckhardt (Democratic) and V. Alonzo Echevarria-Garza (Libertarian).

Asked why she is running, Faizi said in our candidate questionnaire: "I'm a Texas mom fed up with big money donors controlling our government and harming our public schools. Both my Democratic and Republican opponents accept billionaire-funded PAC donations and corporate PAC donations, including from industries that do business at the Comptroller's office. I take no PAC donations or lobbyist donations of any kind."

Candidate information

Party: Green

Education: Faizi said in our questionnaire: "I have a Master's Degree in Strategic Communication, but my best education has been as a wife and mother of two teenage boys." She also holds a bachelor's degree in graphic design, according to her campaign website.

Family: "I'm a daughter, sister, wife, and mother of two boys. My children are the reason I entered politics!" Faizi said in our questionnaire.

Occupation: "I'm a podcaster, the host of 'I'm A Muslim (And That's Okay!)' My podcast covers family, culture, and politics," Faizi said in our questionnaire.

Previous office: "This is my first time running for office, I am not a career politician nor a big political donor," Faizi said in our questionnaire.

Experience and public service

Faizi said she volunteered with the Stein/Ware Green Party presidential campaign in 2024, according to her campaign website. She said she previously worked in advertising and marketing journalism, according to her campaign website. This is her first campaign as a candidate.

On the issues

Critical differences from opponents: Asked what sets her apart, Faizi said in our questionnaire: "My Republican opponent used wealth from his family's car dealership to become an influential political donor, and then eventually self-funded the start of his own political career. He takes tons of PAC money, including over $3.6 million from Defend Texas Liberty PAC, funded mainly by oil billionaires Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks."

She added: "My Democratic opponent takes corporate PAC donations from industries like construction and consulting, which have business with the Comptroller's office. … As a Green Party candidate, I proudly refuse to take PAC donations of any kind."

Revenue estimates and political independence: Asked how she would keep revenue estimates free of political pressure, Faizi said in our questionnaire: "By refusing to fundraise from corporate PACs or billionaire-funded PACs, and by refusing to engage in politics as usual, I would be a truly independent Comptroller. Neutral technical experts, not political insiders, should run the Comptroller's office and work on revenue estimates."

School vouchers: "The school voucher scam drains money from our public schools and gives handouts to private schools and education vendors," Faizi said in our questionnaire. She added: "As Comptroller I would use all legal means and public pressure to end school vouchers and focus on equitable funding for our public schools."

Property taxes and school funding: "Property taxes are not the best way to fund school districts. But raising tax money in new ways is politically difficult," Faizi said in our questionnaire. "Those who want to eliminate school district property taxes should find new sustainable revenue streams to fill that gap first, not cut taxes and hope to find new revenue later."

Economic development and transparency: Asked about economic development incentives, Faizi said in our questionnaire: "Our economic development incentives must be depoliticized and reimagined to benefit Texans, not big donors. For example, we must end the 100% sales tax exemption for Data Centers, which costs the state more than $1 billion per year."

She also called for a more accessible comptroller website: "There should be an English and a Spanish version of the website."