About

Ashley Bean Thornton is running for Texas House District 56 because she believes our state is off track when it comes to public education and support for working families—and she’s not willing to sit back and let that continue.
A longtime community leader in Waco, Ashley is known for her red hi-tops, her commonsense approach to complicated issues, and her deep belief that politics should be about helping people—not scoring points. She’s running as a Democrat because she believes in fairness, opportunity, and protecting the freedoms that matter most.
Ashley’s campaign is centered around restoring balance in how Texas invests in our schools and supports its communities. In her announcement, she criticized the legislature for prioritizing culture war distractions—like mandating the 10 Commandments in every classroom—while ignoring urgent needs like fixing the broken STAAR accountability system or funding public schools fairly. As Ashley puts it, “Our students—our future workers, leaders, voters—are too important to let that continue.”
She’s also focused on helping working families thrive. That means making sure Texans can afford healthcare, childcare, and transportation, and protecting them from financial ruin when bad luck strikes. As she says, “Most of us are workers. We work better when we don’t have to worry about life necessities.” Her campaign champions policies that give people a fair shot at the American Dream—not just more struggle.
Ashley brings experience in public education, higher ed, small business, and the corporate world to her race. But more importantly, she brings a deep love for her community and a listening ear. She’s committed to building up Waco and the broader District 56 community by working with neighbors, not talking over them.
At the heart of her campaign is a simple, powerful belief: that Texans can do great things when we work together. As she says, “Let’s do that.”