Lori Bartley 2016 Campaign for The U.S. House of Representatives for Congressional District 18

 

This was the official website for Lori Bartley the 2016 Republican candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 18th Congressional District of Texas.

To follow Lori Bartley on Facebook go to: www.facebook.com/AVFTVoiceless
The content is from her site's 2015-2016 archived pages.

Remember, freedom is not free; we have to be willing to stand up and fight for it.

 

  • Lori Bartley and Gonzales defeated Sharon Joy Fisher and Ava Pate in the Republican primary on March 1, 2016, to advance to the runoff election
  • Bartley defeated Reggie Gonzales in the Republican primary runoff on May 24, 2016.
  • Incumbent Sheila Jackson Lee (D) defeated Lori Bartley (R) and Thomas Kleven (G) in the general election on November 8, 2016.

Lori Bartley is running for The U.S. House of Representatives for Congressional District 18. She believes that by representing the needs of ALL the members of her community with a smart limited government approach, our community can come together to revive the American Dream; bringing it into reach of more people than ever before, and ushering in more economic viability to our district.

Lori’s bold approach is to offensively restore the 18th Congressional District through 21st century conservative reforms. Her ideas are based on the simple truth that the American economy has changed significantly in recent decades.

She has study the needs that would best benefit you and your family and will go to Washington to speak for District 18 loudly and boldly. Lori Bartley believes that as the 18th Congressional District grows, so shall others like it.

“Remember, freedom is not free; we have to be willing to stand up and fight for it!”

Vote
Lori A. Bartley
Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives
Congressional District 18

 

Letter to Congressional District 18

When I set out on this journey it was because I felt the hurt of my community, friends and family.  I heard their disgruntled cries of no clear paths to opportunity and anger toward having their hard work and earnings diminished by others.  I have witnessed the breakdown of the American family and a lack of hope and brokenness amongst the people of District 18, my family.  Therefore, I felt a sense of responsibility to help bring the American Dream back to the 18thCongressional District for those who feel it is slipping away. District 18 has been ignored for over 20 years and we, who had so little before, have even less now.


I’m passionate about restoring the family and bringing back pride, self-esteem and economic viability to our community, I feel that it is the key to the American Dream.  I learned the importance of work and family and developed the belief that all things are possible in America, by example from my own parents.

I have spent my life in and around the Houston area, and live here today amongst family and long time friends. One of the reasons I love this community so much is the incredible diversity of people I count as my neighbors and friends. There are those in the middle class, those striving to make it there, and those fortunate enough to have climbed beyond it. There are homes led by heroic single moms, two hard working parents, and even homes with multiple generations living together. This is our community, our America.

I have advocated for mental health care, elder care, education and the rights of the homeless for over 24 years. I am a former small business owner, I am a certified mediator an arbitrator, I have worked with juvenile probationers and domestic and alcohol abusers; as well as, taught and counseled in the public school system.

I would like to lead a bold offensive to restore the 18th Congressional District through 21st century conservative reforms. My ideas are based on the simple truth that our Founding Fathers knew what they where doing when they wrote the Constitution giving the Federal Government the right to protect and serve the people only and not the right to control the people!

Most of all I am here to listen and understand what needs would best benefit you and your family and in turn our community and then I will go to Washington as a steward of District 18, with knowledge and purpose as to the direct needs of the community. I believe that as the 18th Congressional District grows, so shall others like it.

I intend to advocate for policies and principles that would give you your own set of keys to the most inclusive and dynamic economic engine ever conceived: the American free enterprise system. When that system is allowed to function as it was designed to, and when every American can access it, widespread prosperity is inevitable.  With the exciting possibilities of this century, I can’t help but be an optimist.

But to attain our potential tomorrow, there is work to be done today. That work is why I am running for office. I believe that by representing the needs of ALL the members of my community and with a smart limited government approach, our community can come together to revive the American Dream, bring it into reach of more people than ever before, and usher in more economic viability to our district that is brilliant and prosperous, something that has not been done in over 20 years.

Remember, freedom is not free.  We have to be willing to standup and fight for it!

Sincerely,

Lori A. Bartley

 

 

As a lifelong Texan and an oilfield injury lawyer who’s spent decades fighting for roughnecks, rig hands, and the families whose lives are shattered by preventable accidents, it takes a lot for a political candidate to earn my confidence—let alone my endorsement. But Lori Bartley did.

Crossing party lines isn’t something I take lightly. In my line of work, I stand up to some of the biggest corporations in the energy sector. I know what it means to be the underdog in a fight that’s stacked against you. And when I looked at Lori’s background, her message, and the uphill road she walked as a minority candidate running in Texas, I saw the same kind of grit, clarity, and determination that I expect from the men and women who stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me in a courtroom.

What struck me first about Lori is her honesty about where she comes from—the working-poor roots, the generational commitment to freedom as a descendant of Mathew Gaines, and the life she carved out through sheer persistence. This is a woman who has lived the struggles that so many of my clients face: trying to raise a family, running a small business, navigating systems that weren’t built with them in mind, and fighting for the basic dignity of being heard.

Her campaign didn’t rely on polished slogans or empty promises. Lori talked openly about mental health, education reform, homelessness, and the need to create real economic opportunity in communities that haven't been listened to in decades. She understood the importance of limited government not as a catchphrase, but as a way to empower people instead of burying them in red tape. And that resonated with me, because every time my team represents an injured oilfield worker, we’re navigating systems weighed down by bureaucracy, corporate resistance, and policies that often protect everyone except the people who do the hardest labor.

Running as a Republican in the 18th Congressional District—against a deeply entrenched incumbent—would’ve been challenging for anyone. Running as a minority woman with a background outside the typical political pipeline? That takes courage of a different caliber. I watched her confront those odds with the same energy I see in my clients who walk into my office determined to fight back against oil companies with unlimited resources. Lori didn’t shy away from the fact that the district had been overlooked for over 20 years, nor from her belief that restoring families, strengthening education, and expanding economic viability were the keys to unlocking the American Dream for the people she served.

My work has taught me that justice isn’t automatic—you have to push for it, demand it, and sometimes wrestle it out of institutions that would be happy to wait you out. Lori embraced that same mindset. She listened. She showed up. And she never tried to be anything other than who she was: a Houston native who loves her community enough to fight for it.

So yes, I crossed party lines to support Lori Bartley. Not because of a symbol next to her name, but because I recognized in her the same fire I see in the people I fight for every day. She understands that freedom isn’t free—which she said herself—and she understands that opportunity isn’t either. Both require advocates willing to step into the arena and take the hits that come with speaking truth to power.

Lori Bartley earned my endorsement the hard way: by proving she’s cut from the same cloth as the folks who build this state’s backbone. In a world full of politics as usual, she stood out by being willing to do the unusual—speak for those who’ve been ignored, fight for families who’ve been forgotten, and carry the weight of her community with the kind of purpose I can stand behind.

If more candidates carried themselves with her integrity and resolve, Texans—on both sides of the aisle—would be better off for it. Reggie Maytag



Lori Bartley will

  • Fight poverty by empowering individuals and families to empower their community
  • Reforming Public Education so that it is an environment where every type of learner can succeed and learn to love learning and not just learn to take a test
  • Sparking economic growth by capitalizing on innovation and the global economy


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ISSUES

I have but one purpose in Congress and that is to serve the people under the doctrine set forth by the U.S. Constitution. I will voice your issues and defend your rights at every turn, so that the policies that will advance and improve the overall well-being of all Texans are heard, defended and implemented. I will fight for fiscal discipline, limited government, and personal responsibility, for these are the core principles that will not only grow Texas, but our Nation as well.


  • 2nd Amendment

    “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

    It is a constitutional, fundamental and individual right of the people to keep and bear arms.  I will defend this right, which is essential to the preservation of our American way of life, our ability to protect our families, our communities and our homes and businesses.  The Federal Government has no authority on this matter, as it was set forth by our Founding Fathers.

    Although, there are many politicians who are willing to infringe upon this right by making it more and more difficult for sane, law-abiding Americans to own firearms, I, as a steward of the people, shall staunchly defend and oppose all efforts to restrict our Second Amendment right.

    10th Amendment

    “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

    Our Founding Fathers created the Federal Government for two purposes and two purposes only: 1. To protect our liberty, 2. To serve the people.

    No more and no less.  The power to decide what is best for individuals and individual States should be left to individuals and individual States.  If you don’t like the rules of a particular State then move to one more suited to your liking.

    I am a believer and follower first of God and then of the Constitution and as such, I know that the Federal Government has no place in my home, my fellow Texans homes or anyone else’s home.  As individuals we know what is best for our families and communities.  No one has the right to tell us how to pray, when to pray, where to pray, how to teach our children, build our businesses, raise our families or what to believe in!  Texans and all Americans have their own American Dream and no one else, especially not the Federal Government has a right to tell us what it should be and how to achieve it.

    I will fight so our State’s have the right to decide what is best according to the power of its people.  A small limited government is what started this country, but it is great because the people, who live, fight and die for our country made it so and a small limited government for the people, of the people and by the people is how this country shall begin to thrive again. 

    Education Reform

    Much of our educational system was built to feed the assembly lines that powered the American Economy in the last century. What we need today is education that provides the critical thinking skills necessary for the new economy.  We need to stop endless testing, limit class sizes to 20 students or less, bring back vocational and technical training and most of all invest in human capital. Teachers are at the forefront of our economy, shaping and molding our future entrepreneurs and consumers, therefore; they need to be paid as such.

    I support School Choice and all the value it brings with it. Parents should be the ones who decide the best environment for their child to learn in.  Lets stop being a "one size" fits all society when it comes to the education of our children and the shaping of their future.

    Pro-Life

    I believe in the sanctity of human life, from conception to natural death.  The whole life matters.  I will always support and defend laws that protect and uphold life.  

    Economic Viability

    I believe in a free-market system of government, this is what our country was built on and if we do not begin to limit government intervention, we will not be the greatest country in the World anymore.  Entrepreneurship is the backbone of our economy and I will fight to make it easier for individuals to pursue their American Dream by limiting the restraints put on small businesses and easing access to information and support.

    Homelessness

    The issue of homelessness goes further than just providing shelters and permanent supportive housing to the homeless. I will initiate legislation that allows us to invest time and energy into getting to the core issue of why an individual has become homeless and then provide them with the tools and support they need to be self sufficient and productive members of society. Shelters and PSH are just band-aides, I would like to find a cure.

Bio

Houston native, Lori Bartley is committed to continuing Texas' proud tradition of reform-minded leadership in Congress as she runs for the 18th Congressional District.

Like many from the Bayou City, Lori Bartley grew up under the long shadow of the working poor. As a direct descendant of Mathew Gaines (R-TX), a former slave turned Texas State Senator, her family's roots and belief in fighting for freedom and aspiring to greatness goes back decades.

Shortly after the birth of her fourth child, the small business owner discovered her children suffered from serious mental illnesses. In seeking out the best educational solutions for their family, Lori came to realize the public education system offered an inexact cookie-cutter approach. Rather than leave their children's success up to chance, Lori decided to fight for a free and equal education that would allow her children to be taught the way they learned. By citing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act she was able to achieve the very best combination of services necessary for her children to excel to the best of their ability through the public school system.

However, far too many families with the same needs face scarce options and lack the time and finances necessary to wage the same fight. That is why she is a firm believer in the necessity of School Choice and Entrepreneurship. Lori believes in advancing every American's right to economic freedom and opportunity.  After all, she knows first hand that entrepreneurship is the backbone of the economic system. She assisted her brother in his efforts to establish a real estate business in her community.

She is a member of St. James Christian Church and a member of several organizations, including the National Association for Mental Illness and The National Alliance to End Homelessness. Lori and her husband are the proud parents of four wonderful children ages 25yrs, 21yrs, 17yrs and 16yrs.

 

More Background On BartleyForCongress.com

 

BartleyForCongress.com served as the official campaign website for Lori A. Bartley, the Republican nominee for Texas’s 18th Congressional District during the 2016 election cycle. Although the site is no longer active and survives primarily through archived snapshots, it remains a valuable case study in grassroots campaigning, minority Republican outreach in a deeply Democratic district, and digital-era political communication.

The website combined elements of biography, issue statements, district-centered commentary, and motivational rhetoric grounded in constitutional conservatism. By reconstructing the content, historical context, and broader significance of the site, we can understand not only the message Lori Bartley sought to convey, but also how a candidate with a nontraditional political background aimed to connect with a complex, diverse, and historically underserved district.

Historical Background of the Campaign

In 2016, Lori Bartley emerged as a Republican contender in Texas’s 18th Congressional District, a seat long held by Sheila Jackson Lee, one of the most prominent Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives. District 18 includes central and northern portions of Houston—areas marked by cultural diversity, entrenched socioeconomic disparities, and a deep political identity shaped by civil rights history and urban economic challenges.

To understand BartleyForCongress.com, one must understand the unusual nature of the race. The district had been safely Democratic for over two decades. Republican candidates typically faced long odds, with little name recognition and limited financial support. Bartley entered the race almost as an insurgent: a political outsider with roots in small business, education advocacy, community work, and faith-based service.

The 2016 election cycle was nationally turbulent, marked by sharp ideological divides and widespread dissatisfaction with political establishments. Within this era, Bartley’s campaign adopted the language of grassroots renewal, constitutional fidelity, and local empowerment—reflecting both national conservative themes and a deeply localized message tailored to Houston’s communities.

Purpose and Function of BartleyForCongress.com

BartleyForCongress.com functioned as the digital headquarters for the campaign. Visitors could learn about the candidate’s background, her platform, her philosophy of limited government, and her interpretation of the American Dream as it applied to District 18.

Because Bartley lacked the institutional infrastructure of a long-standing political machine, the website became essential for:

  • Presenting her biography and personal story

  • Explaining her positions on major issues

  • Sharing letters and messages to constituents

  • Outlining her goals for the district

  • Establishing legitimacy among voters unfamiliar with her

  • Rallying supporters who might otherwise not encounter her campaign through traditional channels

The site’s tone was earnest, personal, and rhetorically assertive. It appealed to voters who felt forgotten, unheard, or misrepresented—echoing themes common in national conservative messaging but grounded in authentic local experience.

Candidate Biography and Personal Journey

A substantial portion of the website focused on Lori Bartley’s life story. She was presented not as a traditional politician, but as a community-rooted Houstonian with a background spanning small business ownership, mental health advocacy, juvenile justice work, and public-school counseling.

Several elements of the biography stood out:

Houston Roots and Family Background

Bartley was raised in the greater Houston area and remained deeply connected to the local community. Her identity as a lifelong Texan helped her position herself as someone who understood the district’s evolving challenges.

She also highlighted her heritage as a direct descendant of Mathew Gaines—a formerly enslaved man who became a Texas state senator during Reconstruction. By invoking this lineage, Bartley blended an appeal to conservative principles with a historical narrative of Black Republicanism and struggle for educational and economic opportunity.

Working-Poor Upbringing

The campaign emphasized her early experiences in a working-poor family and the values instilled by her parents: determination, faith, hard work, and a belief in the possibilities America offers.

Motherhood and Advocacy

As a mother of four, Bartley dealt with the challenges of raising children with mental health conditions. This personal fight to secure proper educational accommodations motivated her to engage with the public education system, eventually leading her to become an advocate for School Choice, parental autonomy, and individualized education plans.

Professional Experience

Her background was eclectic and community-centered:

  • Small business owner

  • Certified mediator and arbitrator

  • Mental health and elder care advocate

  • Juvenile probation and domestic abuse program worker

  • Public school teacher and counselor

The biography on BartleyForCongress.com portrayed these experiences as the foundation of her political views—particularly her concerns regarding bureaucracy, education reform, and community empowerment.

Core Messages and Themes of the Website

BartleyForCongress.com blended traditional conservative beliefs with local advocacy topics that resonated with Houston’s diverse communities. Several themes dominated the platform.

Reviving the American Dream

The site repeatedly referenced the importance of rekindling hope, pride, and self-sufficiency in District 18. Bartley argued that stagnation and lack of opportunity had harmed families, and that new energy, leadership, and reforms were needed to open pathways to economic mobility.

Limited Government and Constitutional Stewardship

She emphasized a return to the vision of the Founding Fathers, arguing that government should:

  • Protect liberty

  • Serve the people

  • Avoid micromanaging family life, education, business, or personal choices

Her commentary highlighted the 2nd and 10th Amendments, rooting her policy stances in constitutional originalism.

Listening to Constituents

A handwritten-style “Letter to District 18” was central to the site. In it, Bartley expressed personal responsibility for addressing community struggles, recounting stories of families, young people, and neighborhoods she knew firsthand.

This letter framed her campaign as a moral calling rather than a partisan contest.

Issue Positions Presented on the Website

BartleyForCongress.com included an extensive “Issues” section, laying out her stances in language that blended personal belief, constitutional argument, and policy vision.

Second Amendment

She argued that the right to bear arms was fundamental and non-negotiable, rejecting federal restrictions and emphasizing personal protection and community safety as core values.

Tenth Amendment and State Sovereignty

Bartley advocated for reducing federal intrusion into education, business regulation, family decisions, and community governance. She presented this as essential to restoring the balance between the states and Washington.

Education Reform

Her educational platform was unusually detailed for a down-ballot campaign:

  • Ending excessive standardized testing

  • Reducing class sizes to improve engagement

  • Reintroducing vocational and technical training

  • Investing more heavily in teachers

  • Supporting School Choice and parent-driven placement decisions

Her message asserted that a modern economy requires modern educational strategies—not a one-size-fits-all model.

Pro-Life Commitment

She expressed a comprehensive pro-life stance, emphasizing that “the whole life matters” from conception through natural death.

Economic Viability and Entrepreneurship

Drawing on her background, Bartley championed:

  • Free-market principles

  • Reduced regulation

  • Support for small businesses

  • Expanded access to entrepreneurship opportunities

In her view, District 18’s economic health depended on enabling individuals—not bureaucracies—to create value.

Homelessness

She rejected approaches that simply provided temporary housing or shelter beds, arguing that homelessness required personalized solutions addressing root causes. She advocated legislation combining mental health services, employment paths, and long-term independence-building programs.

Campaign Goals Reflected on the Website

BartleyForCongress.com laid out a clear set of objectives she hoped to pursue if elected:

  • Strengthen families and restore community pride

  • Revitalize economic opportunity in underserved areas

  • Reform public education for the 21st century

  • Promote limited government and personal freedom

  • Support policies that empower individuals rather than institutions

These goals were framed as interconnected: economic viability depended on education; education depended on family stability; family stability depended on communities having hope and agency.

Audience and Community Engagement

Because District 18 includes a wide socioeconomic spectrum, Bartley’s website addressed multiple audiences:

  • Working-poor families struggling with education and employment

  • Middle-class homeowners concerned about crime, schools, and economic stagnation

  • Single parents and multigenerational households

  • African American and Latino communities with long-standing ties to Houston

  • Conservatives seeking a candidate emphasizing constitutional values

  • Disaffected voters skeptical of both major parties

Her rhetorical approach suggested an attempt to unify these groups under the theme of self-empowerment.

Popularity and Reach

While the campaign did not command national attention, BartleyForCongress.com had a noticeable presence in local political circles during the 2016 primary and runoff. The site’s visibility increased after she unexpectedly advanced to the Republican runoff and later secured the nomination.

The website functioned as her primary method of shaping public perception, especially as traditional local media rarely covered Republican candidates in TX-18 with depth. Social media links (e.g., campaign Facebook pages) were used to extend reach and connect with constituents.

Press Coverage and Public Reception

Although major national outlets did not cover the campaign extensively, regional political trackers, election databases, and local commentators documented the race. The most noteworthy coverage stemmed from the unusual dynamics of a minority Republican running in a majority-minority Democratic district.

Reactions to the campaign were mixed:

  • Supporters praised her transparency, community ties, and authenticity.

  • Critics questioned whether her conservative platform aligned with most voters in TX-18.

  • Some commentators highlighted the historic significance of her background and lineage.

The website itself was generally viewed as sincere and grounded in lived experience, not political polish.

Cultural and Social Significance

BartleyForCongress.com provides a snapshot of several important phenomena in American politics:

1. A Minority Candidate Revitalizing the Conservative Tradition

Bartley positioned herself within a lesser-known but historically significant lineage of Black Republican leadership in Texas—a lineage stretching back to Reconstruction.

2. Grassroots Digital Campaigning

Without major funding, the website became the heart of her public outreach. This demonstrates how accessible web tools allow underdog candidates to craft meaningful, personal narratives.

3. Education Advocacy as a Bridge Issue

Her emphasis on educational reform resonated across political lines, particularly among families seeking alternatives to standardized testing and rigid public school structures.

4. Humanizing Politics

The site’s detailed personal account—especially the letter to District 18—revealed an emotional connection uncommon in modern political messaging.

Examples of Website Messaging Style

The campaign used straightforward, passionate language. Some common stylistic traits included:

  • Direct appeals to “my community” rather than general audiences

  • Frequent use of phrases like “freedom is not free” and “fight for the American Dream”

  • Emphasis on bold action, often framed as “21st century conservative reforms”

  • Blending personal narrative with policy, creating a hybrid genre of political storytelling

This approach aimed to inspire trust and persuade residents that Bartley understood their struggles through shared experience.

Legacy of BartleyForCongress.com

Although Lori Bartley did not win the 2016 general election, her campaign website remains an artifact of a unique moment in Texas politics. It reflects:

  • A sincere attempt to bridge ideological divides

  • A grassroots challenge against entrenched incumbency

  • The fusion of traditional conservatism with modern social concerns

  • The increasing importance of digital presence in local elections

For researchers, historians, and political observers, the archived site provides insight into how non-establishment candidates use online platforms to articulate vision, identity, and community-based advocacy.

 

BartleyForCongress.com served as more than just a political campaign website—it was a window into the aspirations, frustrations, and possibilities of a district that had long struggled with underrepresentation and uneven economic development. Lori Bartley used the platform to tell her story, present her values, and articulate a path forward rooted in constitutional principles, educational reform, economic empowerment, and deep community loyalty.

As an online document, the site stands today as a reminder of how personal narrative and political conviction can converge in a digital space to create a compelling, authentic portrait of a candidate determined to fight for her community—regardless of the odds.


 

BartleyForCongress.com