The following are the complete and unedited responses submitted by the candidate listed below to the Amarillo Pioneer’s Candidate Questionnaire.
Loya/Photo via campaign
Name: Diana Loya
Office Sought: State Representative, District 87
Party Affiliation: Democratic
Age: 40
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
What is your occupation?
District Emergent Bilingual Curriculum Coordinator
If you are a business owner, please list the business or businesses that you own. (If this question is not applicable, please note that below.)
N/A
Please list any civic boards or commissions (non-profit, government, union, religious, political, etc.) on which you have served as a board member or equivalent.
Board Member for Texan Sky Federal Credit Union (2016), Parliamentarian for West Texas Association for Bilingual Educators (current), Secretary for various Youth Wrestling Clubs
Have you previously held or do you currently hold any elected office? If so, what office(s)?
no
If your campaign has any online campaign resources where voters can learn more about you, such as social media accounts or a website, please list them below.
Instagram handle- Dianaloya18
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/share/1BabY5QRim/
Why did you decide to run for this office in 2026?
I decided to run for this office because I’ve seen firsthand how the Texas Panhandle is too often overlooked in Austin. The people of House District 87 works hard, contributes immensely to the state’s economy, and holds strong community value, yet our voices and needs don’t always receive the recognition or support they deserve. As an educator and community advocate, I’ve watched rural schools, working families, and local communities struggle to get fair attention, funding, and policy solutions that reflect the realities of Panhandle life. I’m running to make sure the Panhandle is seen, heard, and respected, and to fight for policies that invest in our people, our schools, and our future.
If elected, what will be your top three priorities in office?
1. Affordability for working families here in the Panhandle
2. Fully funding public education and supporting rural area schools
3. Lowering property taxes’
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.
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.
What is an issue you believe has gone overlooked in your race and how will you address it if elected?
The Texas Panhandle has been consistently overlooked, with too many decisions driven by big-city politics in Austin rather than the realities of rural communities. Our most urgent challenge is the survival and stability of our rural schools. Voucher programs disproportionately harm our rural districts, where there are fewer alternatives and limited resources. We already struggle to recruit and retain qualified teachers, and these policies make that challenge even harder. My first priority will be to address this head-on by proposing targeted support for rural schools so they have the resources they need to succeed.
Do you have any notable endorsements you would like to highlight for voters? If this question is not applicable, please write N/A.
N/A
Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?
I’m running because the Panhandle deserves representation from someone who actually lives our reality. I’m an educator, a working parent, a veteran wife, and a product of public education. I understand affordability pressures, rising property taxes, and the challenges our schools face. I deal with them every day. I’m not backed by special interests or big-city politics; I’m backed by this community. I will fight to lower property taxes, fully support public education, and make sure the Panhandle is finally seen and heard in Austin.