2026 Texas General Election

2026 Texas General Runoff

Nonpartisan

Gina Hinosojosa graduated from the University of Texas and received her law degree from George Washington University. She is a wife and mother.

Gina is a civil rights and union lawyer. She previously served as a trustee for the Austin Independent School District (AISD) Board, where she was appointed Board President in 2015.

Texas AFT :Texas AFT endorses Gina Hinojosa for Texas Governor ...

Before taking elected office, Gina worked as a civil rights and union lawyer. 

Gina is currently a Texas state representative. She was first elected in 2018 and is currently serving her fourth term.

State Rep. Gina Hinojosa vows to 'fight back,' enters 2026 ...

Gina is currently a Texas state representative. She was first elected in 2018 and is currently serving her fourth term. She previously served as a trustee for the Austin Independent School District (AISD) Board.

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Wants to combat corporate greed to make life more affordable for working families in Texas.

Wants to "take on corporate greed that is making life increasingly unaffordable for working families."

Opposes incentivizing private equity and corporate giants, advocating for opportunities for small businesses and working Texans to thrive.

Opposes "incentivizing private equity and corporate giants."

Said, "The only reason Texans struggle is because our governor works for corporate interests and not the people of Texas."

Wants to lower property taxes so renters can afford to buy homes.

Supports cutting taxes for small businesses.

- Wants to "take on corporate greed that is making life increasingly unaffordable for working families."
- Opposes "incentivizing private equity and corporate giants."
- Said, "The only reason Texans struggle is because our governor works for corporate interests and not the people of Texas."
- Wants to lower property taxes so renters can afford to buy homes.
- Supports cutting taxes for small businesses.

Economy

Opposes private prisons, saying their profit motive puts money ahead of rehabilitation and increases repeat incarceration.

- Opposes private prisons, saying their profit motive puts money ahead of rehabilitation and increases repeat incarceration.

Public Safety

Believes big insurance and drug companies prioritize profits over patients and supports reigning in profiteers to make healthcare more affordable and effective for Texans.

Believes big insurance and drug companies are making healthcare more expensive and opposes private equity buying doctors' offices, anesthesia, and X-ray machines to "charge you more money for less care."

- Believes big insurance and drug companies are making healthcare more expensive and opposes private equity buying doctors' offices, anesthesia, and X-ray machines to "charge you more money for less care."
- Supports access to abortion.

Healthcare

Opposes private school vouchers and emphasizes the need to invest in public schools, focusing on school safety and teacher pay.

Opposes school voucher programs that allow qualifying students to use taxpayer money to attend private school.

Proposes zero-based budgeting for education funding to prioritize Texans' needs and potentially uncover additional resources.

Proposes zero-based budgeting in education, meaning every expense must be justified each year instead of carried over from past budgets.

Supports investing in "school safety and teacher pay, not corporate profits."

- Opposes school voucher programs that allow qualifying students to use taxpayer money to attend private school.
- Proposes zero-based budgeting in education, meaning every expense must be justified each year instead of carried over from past budgets.
- Supports investing in "school safety and teacher pay, not corporate profits."

Education

Opposes selling state land for data centers, arguing they strain utilities, raise rates, and threaten water access.

- Opposes selling state land for data centers, arguing they strain utilities, raise rates, and threaten water access.

Energy & the Environment

Opposed partisan gerrymandering of Texas' congressional districts.

- Opposed partisan gerrymandering of Texas' congressional districts.

Voting & Elections

Opposes Governor Abbott sending the Texas National Guard to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota and Texas.

- Opposes Governor Abbott sending the Texas National Guard to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota and Texas.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

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Gina Hinojosa

Alejandra Gracias

Buket Urgen

Greg is from Wichita Falls, Texas. He attended the University of Texas at Austin. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a juris doctor degree from Vanderbilt University. He lives with his wife, Cecilia, and their daughter, Audrey.

Governor Abbott Issues Proclamation Allowing For Postponement Of ...

Greg Abbott is from Wichita Falls, Texas. He has a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from Vanderbilt University. He has a wife and daughter.

Before taking public office, Greg worked as an attorney at Butler and Binion for eight years.

Greg is the current governor of Texas. He was first elected in 2014 and is currently serving his third term. Previously, he served as Texas's attorney general between 2002 and 2015, as a Texas Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas between 1996 and 2001, and as a judge on Texas's 129th District Court between 1993 and 1995.

For Candidate Greg Abbott on Issue economy: Supports reducing property taxes, including proposals to abolish school property taxes, require two-thirds voter approval for property tax increases, and lower the appraisal cap from 10% to 3%.

Supports reducing property taxes, including proposals to abolish school property taxes, requiring two-thirds voter approval for property tax increases, and lowering the appraisal cap from 10% to 3%.

Supports growing the Texas economy by raising the business personal property tax exemption and establishing the Texas DOGE.

Believes in "growing the Texas economy" by raising the business personal property tax exemption and establishing the Texas Department of Government Efficiency.

Supported banning all state income taxes in Texas.

Supports funding veteran's organizations that provide services such as clinical counseling, employment support, financial assistance, housing, and legal services.

- Supports reducing property taxes, including proposals to abolish school property taxes, requiring two-thirds voter approval for property tax increases, and lowering the appraisal cap from 10% to 3%.
- Believes in "growing the Texas economy" by raising the business personal property tax exemption and establishing the Texas Department of Government Efficiency.
- Supported banning all state income taxes in Texas.
- Supports funding veteran's organizations that provide services such as clinical counseling, employment support, financial assistance, housing, and legal services.

Supports law enforcement and has signed a law that defunds cities that defund their police.

Says he is a "staunch supporter" of law enforcement.

Banned the use of funds by nonprofits to bail out individuals accused of crimes and cities from defunding the police.

Signed the Damon Allen Act, which prohibits bail for individuals charged with violent crimes and requires bail to be granted or denied within 48 hours of arrest.

- Says he is a "staunch supporter" of law enforcement.
- Opposes firearm regulations.
- Banned the use of funds by nonprofits to bail out individuals accused of crimes and cities from defunding the police.
- Signed the Damon Allen Act, which prohibits bail for individuals charged with violent crimes and requires bail to be granted or denied within 48 hours of arrest.

For Candidate Greg Abbott on Issue healthcare:  
Supports increasing healthcare services and access for all Texans while protecting the lives of the unborn.

Believes there are only "two sexes, male and female."

Banned schools from serving foods with certain additives in free or reduced lunch programs and prohibited using SNAP benefits to buy sweetened drinks and candy.

Signed legislation and created programs to support rural healthcare, including the Rural Health Stabilization and Innovation Act for planning and funding, the Rural Ambulance Service Grant Program to improve emergency response and care, and the Rural Hospital Maternal Care Grant to fund labor and delivery services.

Authorized a drug trial to study ibogaine, supporting research to help veterans and others with opioid use disorder, depression, and PTSD.

- Opposes access to abortion.
- Believes there are only "two sexes, male and female."
- Banned schools from serving foods with certain additives in free or reduced lunch programs and prohibited using SNAP benefits to buy sweetened drinks and candy.
- Signed legislation and created programs to support rural healthcare, including the Rural Health Stabilization and Innovation Act for planning and funding, the Rural Ambulance Service Grant Program to improve emergency response and care, and the Rural Hospital Maternal Care Grant to fund labor and delivery services.
- Authorized a drug trial to study ibogaine, supporting research to help veterans and others with opioid use disorder, depression, and PTSD.

Supports school voucher programs that allow qualifying families to use tax dollars to send their kids to private schools. 

Banned Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives in higher education.

Launched the School Safety Action Plan to improve emergency preparedness, expand mental health resources and training, and prioritize student well-being.

Supports banning instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in K–12 schools and requiring parental consent for sex education.

Prohibited public universities from raising undergraduate tuition and fees for two years and established “Free College Application Week” each October to reduce costs for students and families.

- Supports school voucher programs that allow qualifying families to use tax dollars to send their kids to private schools. 
- Banned Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives in higher education.
- Launched the School Safety Action Plan to improve emergency preparedness, expand mental health resources and training, and prioritize student well-being.
- Supports banning instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in K–12 schools and requiring parental consent for sex education.
- Prohibited public universities from raising undergraduate tuition and fees for two years and established “Free College Application Week” each October to reduce costs for students and families.

Supports investing in "new, innovative" water projects, tapping into new water supplies, and repairing existing pipelines.

Created the Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office to support advancements in nuclear energy.

- Supports investing in "new, innovative" water projects, tapping into new water supplies, and repairing existing pipelines.
- Created the Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office to support advancements in nuclear energy.

Claims Texas's new congressional maps ensure "Texans have the ability to elect the candidate of their choice."

As governor, increased the penalty for voter fraud from misdemeanor ro a second-degree felony.

- Claims Texas's new congressional maps ensure "Texans have the ability to elect the candidate of their choice."
- As governor, increased the penalty for voter fraud from misdemeanor ro a second-degree felony.

Supports securing the southern border through measures such as busing migrants to sanctuary cities, building a border wall, declaring drug cartels as terrorist organizations, and implementing border security initiatives to combat drug trafficking.

Supports "securing the southern border" by busing migrants to sanctuary cities, building a border wall, and declaring drug cartels as terrorist organizations.

Demands all state agencies and universities freeze new H-1B visa petitions & review existing H-1B programs to "combat fraud & ensure American jobs are going to American workers."

As governor, directed state agencies and counties to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, including assisting with the arrest and deportation of undocumented immigrants.

- Supports "securing the southern border" by busing migrants to sanctuary cities, building a border wall, and declaring drug cartels as terrorist organizations.
- Demands all state agencies and universities freeze new H-1B visa petitions & review existing H-1B programs to "combat fraud & ensure American jobs are going to American workers."
- As governor, directed state agencies and counties to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, including assisting with the arrest and deportation of undocumented immigrants.

Greg Abbott

Born Feb 3, 1964 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; oldest of five children. Attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Major in an engineering program for the pulp and paper industry. Worked for Honeywell, Inc. in Phoenix, Arizona for ten years.

In Lago Vista I have led the volunteer effort to develop hiking trails in the Balcones Canyonlands Wildlife Refuge. I am the president of the Central Texas TrailTamers. The TrailTamers is a volunteer organization that builds and maintains hiking trails throughout Texas and in many other states. I have led the development of trails at Doe Skin Ranch and Warbler Vista since its inception in 2001.

Past President. St Mary of the Lake Men’s Club. Men of St Mary’s church who volunteer to help the church and the community.

Pat Dixon attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he majored in an engineering program for the pulp and paper industry. He is president of the Central Texas TrailTamers, a volunteer organization that builds and maintains hiking trails. He is a past president of the St Mary of the Lake Men’s Club, whose members volunteer to help the church and community.

Who is Pat Dixon? Business owner/President, DPAS Inc. Consultant to industrial manufacturers and vendors.

Pat Dixon is the business owner and president of DPAS Inc. and a consultant to industrial manufacturers and vendors. He previously worked for Honeywell, Inc. in Phoenix, Arizona, for ten years.

Pat is the business owner and president of DPAS Inc. and a consultant to industrial manufacturers and vendors. He previously worked for Honeywell, Inc. in Phoenix, Arizona, for ten years.

City Council, Place #1. Elected to office in May 2005, served 2 terms ending in 2010.

I was twice elected to city council in Lago Vista, Texas (2005 – 2010). An archive of my activities can be found at http://patdixon.org/lv_council.html. I was a candidate for Texas Senate district 14 in 2020. My campaign web page is http://logic14.org/.

Government

Pat was elected to City Council, Place #1, in May 2005 and served two terms ending in 2010. Pat was a candidate for Texas Senate District 14 in 2020.

This is not sustainable. Free market sustainability means growth pays for itself. It requires those who impact demand for resources to pay for them. It welcomes growth and rewards those that cover all of their costs and succeed.

Free Market Sustainability

We should not be paying to bring AI Data Centers to Texas. This is happening. These data centers have been given substantial tax incentives to build in Texas. Texas is projected to forgo roughly $3.2 billion in sales-tax revenue over the next two years because of tax exemptions for qualifying data centers, many of which are being built to support the rapidly growing demand for AI.

AI Data Centers

I do not oppose an AI data center that pays for their impact or provides their own resources. We cannot bulldoze existing facilities. If we try to stop a project that already went through the regulatory process, got the green light, and broke ground there will be lawsuits that will defend the data centers.

The governor of Texas can be a leader on a responsible budget. Last year it was $321 billion. If I am elected governor, I will work on identifying spending cuts first, which will lead to lower taxes. I will also respect local control and the ability for political subdivisions of the state to implement reasonable and responsible tax policy.

Property Tax

As a Libertarian, I support many other spending cuts. It is important spending cuts are targeted cuts in the scope of government instead of sloppy and lazy across the board cuts. When spending is reduced, the one lever state government can use is to lower the state retail tax. This approach provides a persistent and sustainable savings without the stench of electoral bribery. Reducing the retail tax rate returns money to Texas taxpayers by taking less of it to start with.

How to Return Taxes

Advocates for growth that pays for the resources it uses.

Opposes tax incentives for artificial intelligence data centers, while accepting projects that pay for their impacts or provide their own resources.

Plans to identify targeted spending cuts before lowering taxes and supports reducing the state retail tax after spending is reduced.

- Advocates for growth that pays for the resources it uses.
- Opposes tax incentives for artificial intelligence data centers, while accepting projects that pay for their impacts or provide their own resources.
- Plans to identify targeted spending cuts before lowering taxes and supports reducing the state retail tax after spending is reduced.

I admit that I am not a gun policy expert. I know people who are. As governor of Texas, I would recognize that the governor is not king and cannot impose policy on the Legislature. The Legislature writes the laws, and the governor’s responsibility is to lead, advocate, sign or veto legislation, and faithfully execute the laws that are passed. As a Libertarian, I will be open minded while defending the rights of law-abiding Texans to defend themselves, hunt, compete, collect, and enjoy other peaceful uses of firearms while supporting policies that hold criminals accountable and protect innocent people.

Guns

Regarding “red flag” laws, a primary concern is due process. Can I take your gun away just because you scare me? Under what circumstances should the government temporarily restrict a constitutional right before a crime has been committed, and what level of evidence should be required?

When law enforcement responded, there was no clear command structure. Nobody really knew who the officer in command was. This meant the response was delayed and uncoordinated. Is it possible some lives could have been saved with a better response? Multiple investigations concluded that the delayed and poorly coordinated law enforcement response likely cost lives. Clear command structures and active-shooter training should never be optional.

A camera does not become government property just because it points at the street. Private citizens should be free to operate security cameras on their property, including cameras that incidentally capture public areas. Government access to those recordings should require the same constitutional justification that would apply to other privately held evidence. You can look at the data your collected, but if government wants the data they can get a warrant.

Flock Cameras

Data should be available for a serious crime when police have a murder suspect’s license plate number and want to know where the vehicle was last night, but if police want to search a statewide network to find anywhere the vehicle has been in the last 6 months a warrant should be required based on probable cause for searches designed to reconstruct a person’s movement over time. Government should not be able to conduct a retrospective search capable of reconstructing an individual’s movements over an extended period without a warrant based on probable cause. Any query of camera data should specify the cause for the inquiry. In no case should this data be for sale.

I want to specifically call out the sale of data. Without consent, it should be illegal for your private data to be purchased. Also, government should not circumvent warrant requirements by purchasing from private companies’ data that it could not constitutionally obtain through direct surveillance.

The governor of Texas cannot pardon. That authority lies with the board of Pardons and Paroles. I realize this board has previously denied commutation. The governor can request the board reconsider the case and issue a pardon. Greg Abbott won’t. I will.

Exonerate Robert Roberson

Supports law-abiding Texans' rights to possess and use firearms while supporting policies that hold criminals accountable and protect innocent people.

Prioritizes due process in considering "red flag" firearm laws.

Calls for mandatory clear command structures and active-shooter training for law enforcement.

Supports requiring constitutional justification, including warrants, for government access to privately held security-camera recordings.

Opposes retrospective searches that reconstruct a person's movements without a probable-cause warrant.

Supports banning purchases of private data without consent and prohibiting government circumvention of warrant requirements through purchased data.

Pledges to request that the Board of Pardons and Paroles reconsider Robert Roberson's case and issue a pardon.

- Supports law-abiding Texans' rights to possess and use firearms while supporting policies that hold criminals accountable and protect innocent people.
- Prioritizes due process in considering "red flag" firearm laws.
- Calls for mandatory clear command structures and active-shooter training for law enforcement.
- Supports requiring constitutional justification, including warrants, for government access to privately held security-camera recordings.
- Opposes retrospective searches that reconstruct a person's movements without a probable-cause warrant.
- Supports banning purchases of private data without consent and prohibiting government circumvention of warrant requirements through purchased data.
- Pledges to request that the Board of Pardons and Paroles reconsider Robert Roberson's case and issue a pardon.

Dan Patrick tried to outlaw the hemp business in the recent legislative session. Senate Bill 3 would have effectively eliminated Texas’s existing market for intoxicating hemp-derived THC products. I applaud Greg Abbot for vetoing it. He correctly recognized that government should respect the liberty of adults and the property rights of businesses that relied on Texas law. But I believe Texas should go further: adults should be free to make their own choices, provided they don’t harm others.

The War on Hemp

Responding to a crisis is one of the most important duties of the governor. I can say as a Libertarian that last thing I would consider is to deprive people of their liberty and livelihood.

COVID

Supports adults' freedom to use hemp-derived tetrahydrocannabinol products provided they do not harm others.

Plans to avoid depriving people of liberty and livelihood when responding to a crisis.

- Supports adults' freedom to use hemp-derived tetrahydrocannabinol products provided they do not harm others.
- Plans to avoid depriving people of liberty and livelihood when responding to a crisis.

I support parents being empowered to choose what is best for their kids. That is hard to do when they have no choice.

School Choice

That is why I think parents instead of politicians should hold schools accountable for teaching their kids, which removes politically motivated testing mandates and frees teachers to use their skills.

Parent and Teacher Empowerment. I support teachers being empowered to use their talents to motivate learning. That is hard to do when they are mandated to teach to standardized tests and conform to regimented regimes.

Ideally, I would like a statewide scholarship. Every child would be given the same amount of money to follow them to any school. This would resolve the Robin Hood (Chapter 41) disputes and remove politically motivated testing mandates.

Supports parent choice in education and parent-led school accountability instead of politically motivated testing mandates.

Supports giving teachers more authority over instruction rather than requiring them to teach to standardized tests.

Proposes a statewide scholarship that gives every child the same funding to use at any school.

- Supports parent choice in education and parent-led school accountability instead of politically motivated testing mandates.
- Supports giving teachers more authority over instruction rather than requiring them to teach to standardized tests.
- Proposes a statewide scholarship that gives every child the same funding to use at any school.

Where new lines are unavoidable, routing them parallel to existing rights-of-way is worth serious consideration, as it more closely limits environmental fragmentation. But it should be said plainly: this does not reduce the private property being taken. A parallel route still requires acquiring a full new easement alongside the old one.

765 kV Transmission

Furthermore, the costs of these transmission lines are ultimately recovered through regulated transmission charges paid by electricity customers. ERCOT’s own estimate puts the cost at $33 billion before financing and maintenance, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation estimates that the roughly $33 billion capital program could result in nearly $100 billion in lifetime ratepayer costs when financing, taxes, maintenance and other regulated costs are included. Texans deserve transparency about who is driving this demand, who benefits from the infrastructure, who bears the financial risk, and how much private property must be taken to build it.

I firmly believe in free market sustainability, which means paying for your impact. While tolls do this, a fuel tax also is supposed to work that way. However, it does not work if the fuel tax is siphoned off to pay for things that have nothing to do with roads.

Texas Transportation

Supports considering routes alongside existing rights-of-way for unavoidable transmission lines to limit environmental fragmentation.

Calls for transparency about proposed transmission infrastructure's beneficiaries, financial risks, and private-property acquisitions.

Believes fuel-tax revenue should fund roads rather than unrelated purposes.

- Supports considering routes alongside existing rights-of-way for unavoidable transmission lines to limit environmental fragmentation.
- Calls for transparency about proposed transmission infrastructure's beneficiaries, financial risks, and private-property acquisitions.
- Believes fuel-tax revenue should fund roads rather than unrelated purposes.

Allowing cities to improve their voting systems is a good start, and I support it. As governor of Texas, I would support the ability for cities to use better voting systems. My favorite system is Approval Voting, which would use the same mechanism we currently use except you can vote for any candidate you approve of.

Approval Voting

Our experience in the Libertarian Party shows that you get a winner on the first ballot who has the support of more than the majority of voters. The Center for Election Science is a good resource for case studies on Approval Voting, such as St. Louis’s 2001 adoption of Approval Voting. I also support Ranked Choice, but there are several different Ranked Choice systems. In either case, candidates are politically rewarded for finding common ground.

If I were governor of Texas, and the president of the United States asked me to interrupt a special session intended to address emergency flood response to instead redraw 5-year-old legislative districts favorable to the president, my answer would no.

Non-Partisan Redistricting

Political parties should not override the will of the voters. We need non-partisan redistricting.

Supports allowing cities to adopt approval voting, which lets voters select any candidate they approve of.

Supports ranked-choice voting, while noting that several ranked-choice systems exist.

Opposes interrupting an emergency flood-response special session to redraw legislative districts favorable to the president.

- Supports allowing cities to adopt approval voting, which lets voters select any candidate they approve of.
- Supports ranked-choice voting, while noting that several ranked-choice systems exist.
- Opposes interrupting an emergency flood-response special session to redraw legislative districts favorable to the president.
- Supports nonpartisan redistricting.

The governor of Texas does not make federal border policy. Texas does not have immigration enforcement for Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, or Mexico. The federal government has enforcement responsibility, and Texas can be cooperative in that enforcement. Being the state with the largest border, it is an issue that has high impact and the governor’s office needs to be involved.

The Border

As governor, it would be my duty to be part of an effective immigration policy. I would refuse to do so if that meant harming the life, liberty, and property of Texans.

Trump has dramatically reduced border crossings, but the ends don’t justify the means. Praising Trump for these results while killing and harassing people is like being happy if crime was eliminated by putting everyone in prison.

Says the federal government has primary immigration-enforcement responsibility and Texas should cooperate in enforcement.

Plans to participate in immigration policy but refuses policies that harm Texans' life, liberty, or property.

Said reduced border crossings do not justify "killing and harassing people."

- Says the federal government has primary immigration-enforcement responsibility and Texas should cooperate in enforcement.
- Plans to participate in immigration policy but refuses policies that harm Texans' life, liberty, or property.
- Said reduced border crossings do not justify "killing and harassing people."

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Pat Dixon

- Opposes tax incentives for artificial intelligence data centers, while accepting projects that pay for their impacts or provide their own resources.
- Plans to identify targeted spending cuts before lowering taxes and supports reducing the state retail tax after spending is reduced.

- Plans to avoid depriving people of liberty and livelihood when responding to a crisis.

- Supports giving teachers more authority over instruction rather than requiring them to teach to standardized tests.
- Proposes a statewide scholarship that gives every child the same funding to use at any school.

- Calls for transparency about proposed transmission infrastructure's beneficiaries, financial risks, and private-property acquisitions.
- Believes fuel-tax revenue should fund roads rather than unrelated purposes.

- Said reduced border crossings do not justify "killing and harassing people."

Mauricio Mendez

- The governor leads Texas’ executive branch and oversees enforcement of state laws and policies.
- They appoint agency leaders, boards, and commissions, shaping how state government operates.
- They can sign bills into law, veto bills, or allow them to become law without action, and exercise a line-item veto on spending bills.
- They serve a four-year term, elected by popular (plurality) vote, and there are no term limits.
- As of 2025, the governor’s annual salary is about $153,750.
- The governor commands the state’s military forces (Texas Military Forces) when not federalized.
- The governor may grant pardons, reprieves, and commutations with the recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

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