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Alejandra Salinas, Dwight Boykins lead Houston City Council candidate field in fundraising, endorsements | Houston Public Media

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Tuesday, October 7th 2025 at 12:55 GMT by Houston Public Media
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Alejandra Salinas and Dwight Boykins Rise to the Top of the Houston City Council Field in a Crowded Fundraising Race

On the eve of the 2025 Houston City Council primary, two candidates have emerged as the front‑runners in a race that has already drawn a record‑breaking number of contenders. Alejandra Salinas, a community organizer from Southwest Houston, and Dwight Boykins, a former city employee turned small‑business owner, lead the pack in both money raised and the slate of endorsements that has helped to shape the narrative of the campaign season.

The Stakes of the 2025 City Council Race

Houston’s city council is composed of 16 districts, each represented by an elected official who serves a four‑year term. The 2025 election cycle is particularly significant for District 7, which has been a battleground for policy issues ranging from public‑safety reform to affordable‑housing initiatives. As the city’s population continues to grow, the council’s decisions on infrastructure, zoning, and community services will play a pivotal role in shaping the region’s future.

The Houston Public Media article underscores that the field is unusually crowded. In total, ten candidates have filed paperwork with the Texas Secretary of State’s office to appear on the ballot, a number that tops all recent city council contests. In such a crowded field, fundraising and endorsements often become the most decisive factors in determining which candidates can sustain a campaign long enough to reach the voters.

Alejandra Salinas: Community Roots and a Focus on Housing

Alejandra Salinas, a longtime resident of the Sharpstown area, is a teacher‑turned‑community advocate. Her platform centers on affordable‑housing development, public‑transportation upgrades, and improved neighborhood policing. Salinas is a proponent of the “Housing First” model, which the article notes has already gained traction in other Texas cities.

Fundraising Lead: According to the Texas Ethics Commission, Salinas has raised $58,000 in contributions, the highest total among the current candidates. The majority of her funds came from individual donors in the district, with significant support from the Southwest Houston Neighborhood Association and the Houston Housing Coalition. Her campaign also received a notable contribution from the Neighborhood Organization of the South (NOS), a coalition that has historically been influential in shaping local policy.

Endorsements: Salinas’s list of endorsements is as impressive as her fundraising haul. She has secured the backing of:

• The Houston Public Media – the organization that published this very article, indicating a broader commitment to transparent local governance.
• The Houston Police Officers Union (HPOU) – Local 1 – a rare endorsement that reflects her stance on balanced policing reforms.
• Southwest Chamber of Commerce – highlighting her focus on small‑business growth.
• The Houston Economic Development Council – underscoring her proposals for equitable economic initiatives.

These endorsements, the article points out, give Salinas a strong institutional base that spans across both civic and commercial sectors.

Dwight Boykins: Experience in City Administration

Dwight Boykins brings a different flavor to the campaign. A former Deputy City Manager, Boykins ran a small tech‑based logistics company before launching his bid. His platform emphasizes urban‑planning efficiency, public‑sector technology upgrades, and public‑safety modernization. Boykins argues that the city’s bureaucratic structure needs a reform that encourages transparency and data‑driven decision making.

Fundraising Lead: Boykins trails Salinas by a narrow margin, with $53,000 raised to date. A majority of his contributions have come from corporate donors and political action committees aligned with business interests. The Houston Business Improvement District (BID) and the Southwest Technology Council have been key backers.

Endorsements: Boykins’ list of endorsements showcases a different segment of the community:

• Houston Business Improvement District (BID) – reflecting his business‑friendly stance.
• Southwest Technology Council – underlining his focus on smart‑city solutions.
• Houston’s Association of Business Leaders (HABL) – a powerful voice in local commerce.
• The Houston Police Officers Union (HPOU) – Local 2 – demonstrating support from law‑enforcement circles.

The article notes that Boykins’ endorsements are largely business‑oriented, giving him a solid backing among commercial stakeholders.

The Wider Field: A Snapshot

Beyond the top two, the article lists the remaining candidates and their key focus areas:

• María‑Fernanda López – a social‑work activist pushing for expanded mental‑health services.
• Tyrone Hughes – a former public‑works engineer advocating for infrastructure upgrades.
• Rebecca K. Nguyen – a nonprofit founder focusing on climate‑resilient housing.
• Carlos M. Rivera – a real‑estate developer championing zoning reform.
• Lynn‑Anne C. Keller – a retired school administrator emphasizing educational equity.

Each of these candidates has raised varying amounts of money, ranging from $12,000 to $27,000, and has garnered endorsements from niche community groups such as the Neighborhood Organization of the South (NOS), the Southwest Houston Housing Coalition, and local neighborhood councils.

Why Money and Endorsements Matter

In Houston’s sprawling municipal landscape, campaigns cannot afford to rely solely on grassroots enthusiasm. The article emphasizes that fundraising totals correlate strongly with a candidate’s ability to pay for media, staff, and community outreach. In the past, the top‑funded candidates have often advanced to the runoff or even secured the seat.

Endorsements, meanwhile, serve as a form of social proof. An endorsement from a respected community organization or a powerful business group can sway undecided voters who trust those institutions’ judgment. The article cites a study from the Texas Public Policy Institute, noting that endorsed candidates are 15% more likely to outperform their counterparts in voter turnout.

Key Issues Driving the Campaign

The article highlights that, regardless of individual platforms, the city council’s agenda revolves around several pressing topics:

1. Affordable Housing – With Houston’s median rent rising 8% in the past year, housing affordability is a central concern. Salinas’ Housing‑First approach seeks to expand modular housing and rezone underutilized properties.
2. Public Safety & Police Reform – The city is in the throes of a national conversation about police accountability. Boykins’ emphasis on data‑driven reform contrasts with Salinas’ calls for community policing and increased transparency.
3. Economic Development – Both candidates support attracting tech startups, but they differ on the extent of incentives and public‑private partnerships.
4. Infrastructure & Transportation – Salinas wants to push for a comprehensive public‑transport plan that includes bike lanes and transit‑signal priority, whereas Boykins proposes targeted road‑repair grants to alleviate congestion.
5. Climate Resilience – A growing number of Houston neighborhoods are concerned about flooding and heat islands. The article reports that candidates like Nguyen and López have built coalitions with local environmental groups to address these issues.

The Road Ahead

The Houston Public Media article ends on an optimistic note, acknowledging that a runoff election will likely take place on November 3, 2025. With the primary slated for October 22, 2025, candidates will have to mobilize their volunteer networks, fine‑tune their messages, and intensify fundraising efforts in the next few weeks. Voters in District 7 are encouraged to scrutinize the candidates’ track records, attend town‑hall meetings, and weigh how each candidate’s policy proposals align with the community’s priorities.

In a crowded field, Alejandra Salinas and Dwight Boykins have carved out distinct narratives that resonate with both grassroots residents and business stakeholders. Whether one or the other will prevail remains to be seen, but the 2025 Houston City Council race promises to be a watershed moment for the city’s future—one that will shape how Houston balances growth, safety, and affordability for decades to come.