Houston voters deal another political blow to HISD Superintendent Mike Miles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov. 5, 2025

CONTACT: Nicole Hill, [email protected]

Voters elected pro-public education candidates who will resume control when the state takeover ends

HOUSTON, Texas - Last night, Houston voters elected two new trustees to the Houston Independent School District board in another electoral defeat for state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles. Though seats on the Board of Managers are currently state-appointed, elections are still held for five Board of Trustees positions, which will regain control of the district when the state takeover ends.

Voters last had the opportunity to weigh in on the direction of HISD and Miles's tenure in 2024, when roughly 58% voters rejected the district's $4.4 billion bond proposal in an election that largely became a referendum on Miles's leadership.

"Houston voters have again rebuked Mike Miles and his failed leadership of Houston ISD," said Zeph Capo, president of Texas AFT. "When local control is restored to Houston ISD, our new trustees will make sure that power is vested in the hands of parents, educators, and public education champions - not more of Mike Miles's lackeys."

Educator-endorsed candidates elected tonight include incumbent trustee Myrna Guidry (District 9) and newcomer Felicity Peyreyra (District 1); both ran uncontested and did not appear on the ballot. They will be joined by educator-endorsed Maria Benzon (District 5) and Michael McDonough (District 6).

"When this painful takeover eventually ends, Houston educators and their students will need leaders they can trust to right the ship. No more unceremonious layoffs, no more retaliation against employees, and no more destruction of the wraparound services our students need," said Jackie Anderson, president of Houston Federation of Teachers. "Today's results get us a little bit closer to restoring thoughtful leadership to the Houston ISD school community."

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The Texas American Federation of Teachers represents 66,000 teachers, paraprofessionals, support personnel, and higher-education employees across the state. Texas AFT is affiliated with the 1.8 million-member American Federation of Teachers and the AFL-CIO.