Texas education board member threatens to sue colleagues over posts calling her “Marxist”

June 30, 2026 - 12:45

A Democratic member of the Texas State Board of Education is threatening legal action against her Republican colleagues, accusing them of harassing her through social media posts that label her a "Marxist." The dispute erupted during the state's ongoing and heated debate over how American history and civics are taught in public schools.

The board member, who has not yet filed a formal lawsuit, claims that the online attacks crossed a line from political disagreement into targeted harassment. She argues that the repeated use of the term "Marxist" is not only false but is intended to intimidate her and undermine her work on the board. Her legal counsel has sent a letter to the board and the individual members, demanding that the posts be taken down and that the colleagues cease what they describe as a "bullying campaign."

In response, the Republican members named in the letter deny any wrongdoing. They maintain that their social media activity is protected political speech and that calling someone a "Marxist" is a valid critique of policy positions, not an act of harassment. One GOP member stated that the board should be focused on curriculum standards, not on internal personal disputes.

The threat of a lawsuit adds a new layer of tension to the Texas board, which has become a national battleground over education policy. The board is currently revising its social studies standards, with fierce arguments over how to present topics like slavery, the civil rights movement, and the nation's founding principles. The outcome of this legal threat could set a precedent for how board members communicate about each other in the digital age.