I Ran For Congress
Gretel Enck ran for U.S. House of Representatives for Texas District 23 in 2026 because she understands what is at stake. She has seen the consequences when the government stops working for the people it serves. She knows the damage caused when leaders ignore public lands, public institutions, and the needs of working families. Gretel knows how powerful the government can be when guided by courage, service, and love for people.
Gretel has spent her life serving the public and standing with communities whose voices have been overlooked. From her rural New York upbringing to 25 years with the National Park Service, she worked across the West protecting public lands, preserving honest history, and supporting families whose stories were too often ignored. After seeing firsthand how weakened public services hurt everyday people, Gretel stepped forward to make sure government truly works for the communities it’s meant to serve, beginning with:
Democracy
Our democracy is being tested. The current administration in Washington has undermined the rule of law, weakened constitutional checks and balances, and treated members of our communities with cruelty instead of compassion. I refuse to stand by while this harm continues. This campaign is about defending our democracy, protecting our shared values, and restoring accountable, humane leadership.
Common Ground
Bringing people together is essential to the future of our communities. Most of us want the same things, even when we disagree on how to achieve them. By listening to one another and treating every neighbor with respect and dignity, we can find common ground and move forward together. This work matters because our strength has always come from standing together, not being divided.
Common Good
Advancing the common good for working Americans means creating policies that make life more affordable for families, seniors, children, and the most vulnerable in our communities. It means ensuring large corporations and billionaires pay their fair share so small businesses and family farms can thrive. Extreme wealth inequality is the result of policy choices, and it’s time to make better ones that work for everyone.
I believe that the policies, rhetoric, and behavior coming out of the Trump administration are not only authoritarian, but also cruel and extremely harmful to honestly most Americans. The gutting of government programs alone threatens our water and air, our health and safety, and our ability to take care of ourselves and our families. But maybe even worse is the way our leaders talk about us and to us, even to each other. I cannot and will not stand for the crude and denigrating treatment of all kinds of my neighbors and family members.
Health Care That Puts People First
Gretel has seen what happens when families cannot access the care they need, whether it is because services are underfunded, hospitals are stretched thin, or politicians put ideology ahead of people. Across rural and underserved communities, too many residents face long drives, high costs, and limited options just to see a doctor.
Gretel believes health care is a basic right for every person. She supports expanding Medicaid so more Texans can receive affordable, reliable care. She is committed to protecting and strengthening Medicare so seniors can access the doctors and treatments they depend on. She also supports stronger
services and funding for people with disabilities, including home and community based care that allows individuals to live with independence and dignity.
Her priorities include improving access to primary care, mental health care, reproductive health care, and preventive services. When people can get the care they need close to home, families are healthier and communities are stronger.
Gretel is committed to building a health care system that puts people first and ensures every Texan can get the care they deserve.
Supporting Small Businesses and Family Farms
Gretel understands that small businesses and family farms are the backbone of local economies across Texas and the country. In many communities, local entrepreneurs, ranchers, and growers keep the economy moving, create jobs, and preserve the character and culture of their regions. Too often they are overlooked while large corporations receive the benefits and attention.
Gretel supports policies that make it easier for small businesses to start, grow, and thrive. This includes access to affordable capital, grants for rural entrepreneurs, support for local manufacturers and artisans, and improved broadband and infrastructure so businesses can compete in a modern economy. She believes in strengthening local chambers, business incubators, and community organizations that help small employers succeed.
Gretel also understands the challenges farmers and ranchers face. She supports programs that help family agricultural operations manage rising costs, conserve water, adapt to a changing climate, and stay profitable without sacrificing their land or way of life. She believes in expanding resources for soil health, drought resilience, and regenerative practices that strengthen both the land and the local economy.
Gretel is committed to a future where small businesses can thrive, where farmers and ranchers are supported, and where communities have the tools they need to grow and succeed.
Building a Strong and Fair Economy
Gretel believes every community deserves an economy that works for working people, not just for the wealthy or well-connected. She has seen how years of underinvestment, rising costs, and political gridlock have made it harder for families to get ahead. Too many people are working multiple jobs, struggling with housing costs, and facing barriers to stable, good-paying work.
Gretel supports an economy built on fairness, opportunity, and long-term growth. Her priorities include raising wages, expanding workforce training and apprenticeships, and creating jobs through investments in infrastructure, clean energy, and resilient communities. She believes families should be able to build financial security through stable employment, affordable housing, and access to childcare.
communities. She believes families should be able to build financial security through stable employment, affordable housing, and access to childcare.
Gretel also supports policies that hold corporations accountable, protect consumers, and prevent price gouging that hurts everyday people. She believes in strengthening the middle class, restoring economic mobility, and ensuring that every person has a fair chance to build a better future.
Gretel is committed to a strong and fair economy where every Texan can work, build, and thrive.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform and Protecting DACA
Gretel believes our immigration system should reflect fairness, dignity, and the values that define our nation. For too long, Congress has failed to act, leaving families in uncertainty and communities without the stability they deserve. Gretel knows that immigrants strengthen Texas. They build businesses, care for our families, serve in our communities, and contribute every day to our economy and our future.
Gretel supports creating a clear and achievable path to citizenship for long term residents who live, work, and raise families in the United States. She believes Dreamers deserve permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship that honors their contributions. She is committed to protecting and expanding
DACA so young people can pursue education, careers, and stability without fear of being torn from the only home they have ever known.
Her priorities include modernizing the immigration system, reducing backlogs, strengthening legal pathways, improving border infrastructure in ways that prioritize safety and humanity, and ensuring families are not separated. Gretel believes immigration reform must be rooted in compassion, smart policy, and respect for human rights.
Gretel is committed to an immigration system that is fair, functional, and reflective of the values that make this country strong.
Protecting Public Lands and Environmental Stewardship
Gretel spent 25 years safeguarding America’s most treasured landscapes, from deserts to coastlines to mountain parks. She saw firsthand how weakened protections, political interference, and underfunding threaten the places people rely on for clean air, clean water, recreation, and cultural heritage. She believes public lands must remain accessible, protected, and managed with science and integrity.
Gretel is committed to restoring strong environmental protections and ensuring public agencies have the resources they need to protect land, water, and wildlife. She supports science-based
decision-making, climate resilience investments, and policies that prevent special interests from exploiting public resources at the expense of local communities.
She knows that when we invest in our public lands and natural resources, we strengthen economies, expand recreation opportunities, and protect the health and safety of future generations.
Gretel is dedicated to preserving the landscapes and communities that define our country and ensuring they remain protected for everyone.