My name is Kimberly Ellison; friends and family call me Kimmie.  Thank you very much for visiting my campaign website.  I’m running, as a Democrat, to be the next representative for House District 49 to represent the greatest city in the greatest state - Austin, Texas.

 

In order to earn your vote, you’ll need to get to know me.  Here’s a little background:

 

I was born and raised in North Dallas, educated in Richardson ISD public schools.  My dad’s side of the family goes back several generations in Texas.  For those of you who were living here in the 1980s or before, you may remember The Ellison Photo shop on Congress Avenue.  That was my great uncle’s business.  Occasionally if you see photos of old Austin, you’ll see my family’s name on the bottom of the photo.  

 

I attended UT in the late 90s and graduated in 2000 with a degree in government.  Initially my plan was for law school, but I was offered a unique opportunity to work on a presidential campaign (up to now, the only political endeavor of my life!) and ultimately wound up working as an administrative assistant in the White House.  This was a special experience, but it did not fulfill my need to serve.  So I left DC, moved back to Texas, and embarked upon what has been the most fulfilling of careers - nursing.  

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I became a nurse twenty years ago and to this day I remain so very thankful I made that choice.  I worked as a nurse in South Austin for a few years and then joined the Peace Corps, where I served in Ghana, West Africa (another decision for which I am very thankful).  

 

After the Peace Corps, I moved to Chicago, IL and worked as a nurse at the University of Chicago Medical Center on the South side of Chicago.  I worked nights in the ICU while getting a doctorate at Rush University during the day.  In 2015 I earned my Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree and moved back home to Texas.

 

I now work as a nurse practitioner for non-profit healthcare where I see patients in clinic several days a week. I also serve as the clinical program director for the only clinic in town that provides care to women with breast cancer who don’t have access to private insurance.  This role is very dear to me as I have a personal history of breast cancer.  I love this heart wrenching, difficult, beautiful, rewarding job.  I love the teamwork that goes into this job.  But it’s not enough.  Without structural reform (healthcare, education, affordable housing, the list goes on…) Texans will never meet their full potential.  Quite frankly, the lives of some of our friends and neighbors are at stake.

 

So after much consideration and some serious soul searching, I’ve decided to run for office.  While my values align with the Democratic Party, I am far from a professional politician.  I very much prefer policy to politics.  But more than anything, I am a fed up citizen; a nurse demanding change.  So on November 3rd, 2025 I announced my candidacy for HD 49, as a Democrat, with a sincere drive in my heart to continue serving my community.