Statewide Races
These races appear on every Texas voter's primary ballot. You will see only the candidates from the party primary you choose to vote in. Candidates are organized by party: Democrats on the left, Republicans on the right.
Governor
The governor serves as the chief executive of Texas, overseeing state agencies, signing or vetoing legislation, and commanding the Texas National Guard. Term: 4 years.
Democratic Primary (4 candidates)
Gina Hinojosa
State Representative from Austin and attorney originally from Brownsville. Hinojosa leads the Democratic primary field with 37% in polling. She has served in the Texas House representing District 49.
Key Positions
- •Public education funding
- •Medicaid expansion
- •Reproductive rights
- •Property tax reform
Chris Bell
Attorney and former journalist who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and on Houston's city council. Previously ran for governor in 2006.
Key Positions
- •Ethics reform
- •Healthcare access
- •Public education investment
Bobby Cole
East Texas farmer and retired firefighter running on a populist platform.
Key Positions
- •Rural economic development
- •First responder support
- •Agricultural policy
Patricia Abrego
Instructional technology administrator at Texas A&M International University, overseeing web-based and classroom instruction programs. Running in the 2026 Democratic gubernatorial primary.
Key Positions
- •Reproductive rights and maternal healthcare access
- •Public education funding and access
- •Reform of Texas abortion laws to protect maternal safety
Republican Primary (1 candidate)
Greg Abbott
Three-term incumbent governor and former Texas Attorney General. Abbott has served as governor since 2015 and entered the 2026 race with a $106 million campaign war chest.
Key Positions
- •Border security and Operation Lone Star
- •Property tax relief
- •School choice and education savings accounts
- •Economic development and business-friendly regulation
Lieutenant Governor
The lieutenant governor presides over the Texas Senate, controls the flow of legislation, and appoints Senate committee members. Widely considered the most powerful office in Texas state government. Term: 4 years.
Democratic Primary (3 candidates)
Vikki Goodwin
Democratic candidate running in the lieutenant governor primary. Former Texas state representative.
Key Positions
- •Public education
- •Healthcare access
- •Voting rights
Courtney Head
San Antonio-based attorney and Contracts & Privacy Manager for a software company. First-time candidate running in the Democratic lieutenant governor primary.
Key Positions
- •Medicaid expansion
- •High-speed rail infrastructure
- •Environmental protections
- •Repeal of school voucher program
Marcos Velez
Assistant District Director of the United Steelworkers union, representing more than 200,000 workers across Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Raised in Houston; worked in the oil industry before rising to union leadership.
Key Positions
- •Lower cost of living for working families
- •Higher wages and worker rights
- •Strengthen public education
- •Workforce development and training programs
Republican Primary (2 candidates)
Dan Patrick
Three-term incumbent Lieutenant Governor seeking a fourth term. Previously served as a Texas state senator and was a conservative talk radio host in Houston.
Key Positions
- •Property tax reduction
- •Border security
- •School choice
- •Second Amendment rights
Perla Hopkins
U.S. Air Force veteran and conservative grassroots activist. Author of a children's book on patriotism. Challenging incumbent Dan Patrick in the Republican primary.
Key Positions
- •Elimination of property taxes (EPT Pledge)
- •Excellence in public education — STEM, reading, and civics
- •Increased teacher salaries
Attorney General
The attorney general is the state's chief legal officer, representing Texas in court, issuing legal opinions, and enforcing consumer protection and other state laws. This is an open seat — incumbent Ken Paxton is running for U.S. Senate. Term: 4 years.
Democratic Primary (3 candidates)
Nathan Johnson
State senator from Dallas with a background in commercial litigation and regulatory law. Leads the Democratic AG primary with 25% in polling.
Key Positions
- •Consumer protection
- •Civil rights enforcement
- •Government transparency
- •Environmental regulation
Joe Jaworski
Attorney and former Galveston mayor. Grandson of Watergate special prosecutor Leon Jaworski. Polling at 22% in the Democratic primary.
Key Positions
- •Ethics and anti-corruption
- •Voting rights
- •Environmental protection
Tony Box
Attorney, former FBI special agent, and U.S. Army veteran. Background in federal investigative work and criminal defense.
Key Positions
- •Public safety
- •Veterans affairs
- •Federal law enforcement cooperation
Republican Primary (4 candidates)
Chip Roy
U.S. Representative for Texas' 21st Congressional District. Former chief of staff to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and former First Assistant Attorney General of Texas. Leads GOP AG polling at 33%.
Key Positions
- •Constitutional enforcement
- •Border security litigation
- •Federal government pushback
- •Government accountability
Mayes Middleton
Texas state senator. Business owner and rancher from the Houston area. Polling at 23% in the Republican primary.
Key Positions
- •Property rights
- •Government spending reduction
- •Election integrity
Joan Huffman
Texas state senator and former criminal court judge from the Houston area. Polling at 13% in the Republican primary.
Key Positions
- •Criminal justice
- •Judicial reform
- •Public safety
Aaron Reitz
Former Deputy Attorney General for Legal Strategy under Ken Paxton (2020–2023), then chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, and later head of DOJ's Office of Legal Policy (2024–2025). Paxton's chosen successor. Polling at 7%.
Key Positions
- •Continuation and expansion of Paxton-era legal strategy
- •Immigration enforcement including mass deportation support
- •Crackdown on crime in urban areas
U.S. Senate
U.S. Senators represent Texas in the federal Senate, voting on legislation, confirming federal judges and cabinet members, and ratifying treaties. Term: 6 years.
Democratic Primary (3 candidates)
Jasmine Crockett
U.S. Representative from Dallas. Attorney and former Texas state representative. Leads the Democratic primary polling and has significant national media presence.
Key Positions
- •Voting rights
- •Criminal justice reform
- •Healthcare access
- •Economic equity
James Talarico
Texas state representative and former public school teacher from Austin. Has focused his campaign on education and economic issues.
Key Positions
- •Public education funding
- •Teacher pay raises
- •Healthcare expansion
- •Campaign finance reform
Ahmad Hassan
Egyptian-born immigrant who came to the U.S. in 1984. Holds a law degree and works as a businessman and real estate and mortgage broker. Running in the Democratic primary with approximately 2% polling support.
Key Positions
- •Lower healthcare costs and expand access
- •Support small businesses and job creation
- •Clean energy investment (wind and solar)
- •Federal disaster relief and FEMA support
Republican Primary (3 candidates)
John Cornyn
Four-term incumbent U.S. Senator seeking a fifth term. Previously served as Texas Attorney General and on the Texas Supreme Court. Cornyn is polling at 31% in the Republican primary.
Key Positions
- •National security
- •Border security
- •Judicial appointments
- •Bipartisan dealmaking
Ken Paxton
Former Texas Attorney General challenging Cornyn from the right. Paxton leads Republican primary polling at 38%. He was acquitted in a 2023 impeachment trial by the Texas Senate.
Key Positions
- •Border wall completion
- •Election integrity measures
- •Anti-federal government overreach
- •Conservative social policies
Wesley Hunt
U.S. Representative from Houston. West Point graduate and Army combat veteran (Apache helicopter pilot). Polling at 17% in the Republican primary.
Key Positions
- •Veterans affairs
- •Military readiness
- •Economic growth
- •Energy independence
Other Statewide Offices
Comptroller of Public Accounts
The comptroller manages state finances, collects taxes, and provides economic forecasts that determine the state budget. Term: 4 years.
Democratic Primary (0 candidates)
No Democratic candidates filed for this race.
Republican Primary (1 candidate)
Glenn Hegar
Incumbent Texas Comptroller since 2015. Former state senator and state representative.
Key Positions
- •Fiscal responsibility
- •Tax administration
- •Economic forecasting
Land Commissioner
The land commissioner manages state-owned land, oversees the Alamo, manages veterans' land programs, and coordinates coastal protection. Term: 4 years.
Democratic Primary (0 candidates)
No Democratic candidates filed for this race.
Republican Primary (1 candidate)
Dawn Buckingham
Incumbent Texas Land Commissioner. Former state senator and ophthalmologist.
Key Positions
- •Veterans land programs
- •Coastal protection
- •State land management
Agriculture Commissioner
The agriculture commissioner oversees the Texas Department of Agriculture, regulating pesticides, weights and measures, and administering rural economic development programs. Term: 4 years.
Democratic Primary (1 candidate)
Clayton Tucker
Democratic candidate for Agriculture Commissioner. Young farmer and rural advocate from Central Texas.
Key Positions
- •Small farm support
- •Rural healthcare
- •Sustainable agriculture
Republican Primary (1 candidate)
Sid Miller
Incumbent Agriculture Commissioner since 2015. Former Texas state representative and rodeo champion.
Key Positions
- •Agricultural industry support
- •Rural broadband
- •Water rights
Note: This page covers the major statewide races. Your ballot may include additional races such as Railroad Commissioner, State Board of Education, and judicial positions. Check your personalized sample ballot on the Bexar County Elections website for the complete list of races on your ballot.