“This is going to be my last year,” my English teacher told us as we finished our final. As a high school student, “last year” is a phrase I’ve heard over and over throughout the year. Teachers, from kindergarten to high school, seem more likely to leave than ever before. To our class, our English teacher leaving was a personal blow—she was one of the best teachers we’d ever had, and her leaving meant next year’s class was temporarily without a teacher.

The Texas Forward Party is deeply concerned by the Senate’s acquittal in the case against Attorney General Ken Paxton. We believe this decision was based on the fear of political consequences, rather than on a sober assessment of the evidence laid before them. Their actions significantly undermine the principles of transparency and accountability that should underpin all areas of public service and compromise the integrity of our judicial and political systems. The Forward Party seeks to restore the core values and ethics that uphold the integrity of our systems and protect the best interests of every Texan.