Texas elementary school principals indicted on electioneering charges

A grand jury indicted a husband and wife, both of whom are public school principals in North Texas, after they allegedly used their school emails to persuade staffers to vote for certain candidates in the Republican primary last month.

The couple, both of whom are principals in the Denton Independent School District, are accused of violating state law and may face up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine if convicted, The Texas Tribune reported Sunday.

Lindsay Luján, who is the district's special programs director and principal of Alexander Elementary School, is accused of sending an email to school employees in February encouraging them to support Republicans who oppose school voucher programs, which would give money to families to pay for private schooling. 

Borman Elementary School Principal Jesus Luján sent a similar email to his staffers that same month.

The email stated: "Vote for candidates who support public education and school funding in the Republican primaries, no matter what your party affiliation is, Republican or Democrat."

Federal Election Commission records indicate that Jesus Lujan donated at least $100 to Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue in 2018, and he does not appear to have donated to Republican causes.

Political donation records were not immediately available for Lindsay Luján.

The charges against the couple come after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the school district for alleged staff electioneering in emails.

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