2026 Texas General Election

2026 Texas General Runoff

Nonpartisan

My approach would be to simply inform the parents of communities what are the dangers of outbreaks and vaccine safety and encourage parents to talk with their pediatricians on what is the best course of action for their children (This what my wife and I did for our two children when they were younger.) Doctors are in communication with local health officials who are in turn in communication with the CDC.

Chris Royal - Scientist Network for Advancing Policy

Chris Royal and his wife have two children.

Candidate Chris Royal, representing the Libertarian Party, served in the U.S. Army from 1982 to 1990. Royal has worked in multiple fields, including teaching, law, real estate, computer programming and restaurant management. No detailed campaign platform has been publicly released.

District TX-34 primaries are underway - The Rider Newspaper

Chris Royal served in the U.S. Army from 1982 to 1990. He has worked in teaching, law, real estate, computer programming, and restaurant management.

Chris served in the U.S. Army from 1982 to 1990. He has worked in teaching, law, real estate, computer programming, and restaurant management.

33 Marc A. Veasey,* Democrat ............................................................................... Fort Worth
Patrick David Gillespie, Republican ................................................................. Fort Worth
Ken Ashby, Libertarian ...................................................................................... Dallas
34 Vicente Gonzalez,* Democrat ............................................................................ Brownsville
Mayra Flores,* Republican ................................................................................ McAllen
Chris Royal, Independent .................................................................................. Brownsville
35 Greg Casar, Democrat ........................................................................................ Austin

NOMINEES FOR THE OFFICES OF UNITED STATES SENATOR AND UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE IN THE ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS FROM OFFICIAL SOURCES FOR THE ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 8, 2022

Chris was an independent nominee for U.S. Representative for Texas's 34th District in 2022.

Even if we could take all the money that goes through cash registers in this country and apply it to the current federal deficit we couldn't pay it off. In other words, our federal government has a spending problem which neither party feels a need to correct. So, as far as our representative are concerned, they just kick the problem down the street.

But what if our government had a balanced budget like we have in Texas? In other words, what would the US economy be like if the US government had to balance the budget every year and didn't run out-of-control deficits? For one, we wouldn't have inflation. Second, the citizens would have a standard of living two or three times of what it is now.

Chris Royal for Congress - Unlocking Potential

Advocates requiring the federal government to balance its budget annually and avoid deficits.

- Advocates requiring the federal government to balance its budget annually and avoid deficits.

Economy

As of September 11, 2026, Chris Royal’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Plans to inform parents about outbreak risks and vaccine safety and encourage consultations with pediatricians.

- Plans to inform parents about outbreak risks and vaccine safety and encourage consultations with pediatricians.

Healthcare

Second, create state matching grant programs that encourage private-sector partnerships and match federal research awards won by Texas institutions.

Third, allocate dedicated state bonds or budget surpluses to modernize high-performance computing centers and aging campus labs, and specialized equipment. Fourth, maintain predictable, multi-year funding increases for major federal science agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. And finally, fully fund institutional overhead and indirect cost recovery rates for universities to ensure safe and compliant lab operations.

The following policies would protect the long-term stability of Texas’s research infrastructure. First, we need to increase funding for state programs like the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board initiatives to provide steady revenue for emerging research universities and the National Research University Fund (NRUF). Second, create state matching grant programs that encourage private-sector partnerships and match federal research awards won by Texas institutions.

Supports predictable, multiyear funding increases for the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation.

Advocates increasing funding for research programs at Texas universities and creating state matching grants for private-sector partnerships and federal research awards.

Proposes dedicating state bonds or budget surpluses to modernize university computing centers, laboratories, and specialized equipment.

Supports fully funding universities' overhead and indirect-cost recovery rates for laboratory operations.

- Supports predictable, multiyear funding increases for the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation.
- Advocates increasing funding for research programs at Texas universities and creating state matching grants for private-sector partnerships and federal research awards.
- Proposes dedicating state bonds or budget surpluses to modernize university computing centers, laboratories, and specialized equipment.
- Supports fully funding universities' overhead and indirect-cost recovery rates for laboratory operations.

Education

Currently, Texas uses replace and manage Aquifer Water Storage and Recovery (ASR). Systems pump excess surface water (like river water or treated drinking water) underground during wet times.

As for overarching policies, I think individuals and communities could look into using dehumidifiers as a start in creating off-grid water supplies. As for the agricultural economy, they should be at the head of the line when it comes to using aquifer resources.

The question is if we become the leading data center in the country and it uses up twice as much energy as is being used now, how do we know our citizens in the next big winter storm will be protected if these data centers gobble up our energy? The energy policy that I would support would first take care of the citizens of Texas in a severe winter storm. The data centers should come second.

If business needs these data centers they can come up with a good solution so that they don’t run out of energy during a bad Texas winter. The burden should be on the businesses that want these data centers, not the Texas government or the surrounding communities. And if the investment is worth it, the data center companies will make it work.

The burden should be on the businesses that want these data centers, not the Texas government or the surrounding communities. And if the investment is worth it, the data center companies will make it work. That’s what companies and investors are all about. Perhaps they should create a second grid that is separate from and dedicated only to the data centers.

The companies and investors can come up with the funds necessary to protect their precious investment.

Let’s take a look at how Lake Michigan was cleared up back in 1972. Lake Michigan was so polluted that you couldn’t even fish in it, yet today, you can. What did they do? They enacted the 1972 Clean Water Act and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the U.S. and Canada. Governments and groups upgraded sewage plants, banned harsh chemicals like DDT, limited phosphorus in fertilizers, and cleaned up industrial toxic waste sites.

I think we could use this as a good starting point to clean up our Texas waterways. It’s amazing how the environment will clean up itself when the major pollutants are removed.

Countries in the Middle East like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar produce a huge share of their drinking water by removing salt from ocean water using reverse osmosis and thermal distillation.

I think some creative use of the water in the Gulf could be pumped up to the communities and the aquifers in Texas. Obviously, this will not be cheap, but now might be the time to get started and get our best brains thinking about this issue.

Suggests communities and individuals use dehumidifiers to create off-grid water supplies.

Supports prioritizing Texas residents' electricity needs during severe winter storms over data centers.

Calls for data center businesses, rather than government or communities, to bear responsibility for their power needs, including through a separate grid.

Advocates using pollution-control measures modeled on the 1972 Clean Water Act to clean up Texas waterways.

Proposes exploring the use of Gulf water to supply Texas communities and replenish aquifers.

Supports prioritizing agricultural users for access to aquifer resources.

- Suggests communities and individuals use dehumidifiers to create off-grid water supplies.
- Supports prioritizing Texas residents' electricity needs during severe winter storms over data centers.
- Calls for data center businesses, rather than government or communities, to bear responsibility for their power needs, including through a separate grid.
- Advocates using pollution-control measures modeled on the 1972 Clean Water Act to clean up Texas waterways.
- Proposes exploring the use of Gulf water to supply Texas communities and replenish aquifers.
- Supports prioritizing agricultural users for access to aquifer resources.

Energy & the Environment

Voting & Elections

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Chris Royal

- Advocates increasing funding for research programs at Texas universities and creating state matching grants for private-sector partnerships and federal research awards.
- Proposes dedicating state bonds or budget surpluses to modernize university computing centers, laboratories, and specialized equipment.
- Supports fully funding universities' overhead and indirect-cost recovery rates for laboratory operations.

- Supports prioritizing Texas residents' electricity needs during severe winter storms over data centers.
- Calls for data center businesses, rather than government or communities, to bear responsibility for their power needs, including through a separate grid.
- Advocates using pollution-control measures modeled on the 1972 Clean Water Act to clean up Texas waterways.
- Proposes exploring the use of Gulf water to supply Texas communities and replenish aquifers.
- Supports prioritizing agricultural users for access to aquifer resources.

Instagram

LinkedIn

Bluesky

Alejandra Gracias

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

As of September 11, 2026, Eddie Espinoza’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Facebook

Eddie Espinoza

Eric Flores, a Republican Army veteran and lawyer from Mission, announced Monday he is running for Texas’ 34th Congressional District, targeting Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen in a swing seat carried by President Donald Trump last year.

GOP Army veteran announces challenge to Democrat Vicente Gonzalez in South Texas congressional district - The Texas Tribune

GOP Army veteran announces challenge to Democrat Vicente ...

Eric Flores is an Army veteran and lawyer.

- Aims to lower the cost of living.
- Wants to protect seniors' benefits.

As of July 22, 2026, Eric Flores’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- Seeks to defend water resources.
- Supports U.S. energy independence.

There, he prosecuted transnational human smuggling along the border — an issue he hopes to raise in the election. “I was prosecuting at a time when there were thousands and thousands of undocumented aliens coming into the U.S.,” Flores said in an interview. “They're here unlawfully, and [we were] just, quite frankly, letting them in. It's policies like that that I want to go to D.C. and change.”

But Flores is not as hardline as some members of his party. He said he wants to push for immigration policy that makes sense for a region that has struggled with labor shortages, especially as the Trump administration’s immigration raids targeting undocumented workers have ramped up. “Something that I'm going to be championing in D.C. is to ensure — especially [for] our farmers, for our boat manufacturers, for our steel mills that we have down here — that they have the workers that they need, having an efficient legal process for that,” he said.

Calls for changing policies he says allow undocumented immigrants to enter the U.S. unlawfully.

Calls for decreasing the amount of undocumented immigrants entering the U.S.

Advocates for an efficient legal immigration process to help South Texas employers obtain needed workers.

- Calls for decreasing the amount of undocumented immigrants entering the U.S.
- Advocates for an efficient legal immigration process to help South Texas employers obtain needed workers.
- Wants to advocate for veterans.

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Eric Flores

Eric Flores is from the Rio Grande Valley. He has a bachelor 27s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He and his wife, Victoria, have two children. 

Eric is an attorney. He previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the McAllen Criminal Division.

Eric previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of Texas.

A lifetime resident of South Texas, Congressman Gonzalez is married to Lorena Saenz Gonzalez, a former teacher and school administrator in Edinburg and McAllen. They reside in the Rio Grande Valley.

About | Representative Gonzalez

He worked his way through college at Embry Riddle University where many of his classmates were active duty military personnel. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Aviation in 1992 and later earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law (now Texas A&M School of Law) in 1996.

Congressman Gonzalez earned his GED in 1985 before attending Del Mar College where he received an Associate's degree in Banking and Finance in 1990.

Vicente Gonzalez is a lifetime resident of South Texas. He earned a GED, an associate's degree in banking and finance from Del Mar College, a bachelor's degree in business aviation, and a law degree from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. He is married to Lorena Saenz Gonzalez and resides in the Rio Grande Valley.

Representative Gonzalez |

Vicente Gonzalez is a lifetime resident of South Texas. He earned an associate's degree in banking and finance from Del Mar College, a bachelor's degree in business aviation, and a law degree from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. He is married to Lorena Saenz Gonzalez and resides in the Rio Grande Valley.

Vicente went on to found the Law Office of V. Gonzalez and Associates, P.C. in 1997. Since then, his primary focus in law has been fighting for victims who have been wronged by powerful corporations.

Meet Vicente – Vicente Gonzalez

Vicente founded the Law Office of V. Gonzalez and Associates, P.C.

Vicente GonzalezVicente Gonzalez is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Texas's 15th congressional district. He was first elected to Congress in 2016 and has been re-elected since then.

Vicente Gonzalez | The Texas Tribune

He was previously the representative for Texas’s 15th congressional district as a Democrat from 2017 to 2022.

Vicente Gonzalez, Representative for Texas's 34th Congressional District

Gonzalez is the representative for Texas’s 34th congressional district (view map) and is a Democrat. He has served since Jan. 3, 2023. Gonzalez is next up for reelection in 2026 and serves until Jan. 3, 2027. He is 58 years old.

Vicente Gonzalez currently serves as the U.S. Representative for Texas’s 34th Congressional District and has served since 2023. He was first elected to Congress in 2016 and has since been reelected. He previously represented Texas’s 15th Congressional District from 2017 to 2022.

US Rep. Vicente Gonzalez - Texas Tribune Directory

Rep. Vicente Gonzalez - GovTrack.us

Hard-working Americans are getting priced out of buying a home, starting a family and saving for retirement. Vicente voted to extend the child tax credit, deliver funding to lower energy and utility costs, reduce prescription drug prices and make it illegal for insurers to charge older people more. As a member of the House Financial Services Committee, he has introduced legislation to make homeownership more accessible and help graduates pay down student loan debt.

Accomplishments – Vicente Gonzalez

After over twenty years, NAFTA required updates to reflect the current needs and objectives of the millions of Americans whose jobs and businesses depend on the critical trilateral trade pact. On November 30, 2018, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) was signed by the partner countries as a successor to NAFTA. Congressman Gonzalez is committed to enforcing the USCMA and its critical components such as intellectual property rights, labor agreements, and free trade standards.

Border & Trade | Representative Gonzalez

Vicente has always fought for a strong South Texas economy. He’s worked across the aisle to protect our trade relationship with Mexico that supports 301,000 good-paying jobs along the border, and he led the fight to save 2,500 manufacturing jobs in Corpus Christi. Now he’s pushing for higher wages, affordable housing, and expanded paid family leave so working families can actually get ahead in the communities where they were raised.

Media – Vicente Gonzalez

Vicente knows our economy thrives when our workforce thrives, which is why he continues to support federal Pell Grant funding and expand eligibility for technical education and training programs

Voted to extend the child tax credit, fund efforts to lower energy and utility costs, reduce prescription drug prices, and prohibit insurers from charging older people more.

Introduced legislation to expand access to homeownership and help graduates repay student loan debt.

Committed to enforcing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement's intellectual-property, labor, and free-trade standards.

Advocates for higher wages, affordable housing, and expanded paid family leave.

Supports federal Pell Grant funding and expanded eligibility for technical education and training programs.

- Voted to extend the child tax credit, fund efforts to lower energy and utility costs, reduce prescription drug prices, and prohibit insurers from charging older people more.
- Introduced legislation to expand access to homeownership and help graduates repay student loan debt.
- Committed to enforcing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement's intellectual-property, labor, and free-trade standards.
- Advocates for higher wages, affordable housing, and expanded paid family leave.
- Supports federal Pell Grant funding and expanded eligibility for technical education and training programs.

Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) introduced the Say No to Warrantless Searches Act to codify Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. In South Texas, Minnesota, and other parts of the country, Federal law enforcement officers have disregarded the Constitution by forcibly entering homes with an administrative warrant or without a signed judicial warrant and arresting individuals, including American citizens.

Introduced the Say No to Warrantless Searches Act to codify Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.

- Introduced the Say No to Warrantless Searches Act to codify Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Women's Rights

Vicente is a staunch supporter of equal pay for equal pay for equal work, paid family leave, and assuring every woman retains the right to make her own healthcare decisions.

Healthcare

Since coming to Congress, Vicente has voted down extremist Republican efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Social Security. He has delivered millions for our community health centers, introduced legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs, and make it easier for South Texans to access the care that they need when they need it. In 2021, Vicente voted for historic legislation to cap the cost of insulin at $35 and bring down the cost of medicines.

Since day one, Vicente has fought to keep Social Security and Medicare strong by opposing tax giveaways to the ultra-wealthy and multinational corporations that threaten funding for programs seniors have paid into their entire lives. In 2024, he shepherded passage of the Social Security Fairness Act — now law — so retirees receive the full value of their retirement benefits. In 2025, he voted against the Big, Ugly Bill, which slashes hundreds of billions from Medicare and millions more from programs seniors rely on like Meals on Wheels.

Supports equal pay, paid family leave, and each woman's right to make her own healthcare decisions.

Voted against efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Social Security.

Voted for legislation to cap insulin costs at $35 and reduce medicine costs.

Delivered funding for community health centers and introduced legislation to lower prescription drug costs and expand access to care.

Opposes tax breaks for wealthy individuals and multinational corporations that he says threaten Social Security and Medicare funding.

- Supports equal pay, paid family leave, and each woman's right to make her own healthcare decisions.
- Voted against efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Social Security.
- Voted for legislation to cap insulin costs at $35 and reduce medicine costs.
- Delivered funding for community health centers and introduced legislation to lower prescription drug costs and expand access to care.
- Opposes tax breaks for wealthy individuals and multinational corporations that he says threaten Social Security and Medicare funding.

After dropping out of high school, Vicente ultimately went back to earn his GED and eventually a law degree thanks to the encouragement of his family. He knows the value of an education, which is why he has fought to protect and deliver consistent funding for Head Start, Title I, special education, career and technical education, and our colleges and universities. Vicente relied on Pell Grants and student loans to finance his education, knowing first hand that the high cost of tuition can put earning a secondary degree or certificate out of reach and leave South Texans with debilitating debt. He has introduced legislation to forgive up to $25,000 in student loan debt and voted to protect Pell Grants and extend them to cover vocational training.

Advocates for consistent funding for Head Start, Title I, special education, career and technical education, and colleges and universities.

Introduced legislation to forgive up to $25,000 in student loan debt and voted to protect and extend Pell Grants for vocational training.

- Advocates for consistent funding for Head Start, Title I, special education, career and technical education, and colleges and universities.
- Introduced legislation to forgive up to $25,000 in student loan debt and voted to protect and extend Pell Grants for vocational training.

Vicente is fighting to deliver economic opportunity for South Texans. He secured permits for LNG projects at the Port of Brownsville and delivered hundreds of millions to deepen the ship channel so our region continues to grow. He has delivered hundreds of millions more for roads, international bridges, drainage and ports across the region so South Texas remains attractive to employers of all sizes.

Secured permits for liquefied natural gas projects at the Port of Brownsville and funding to deepen the ship channel.

- Secured permits for liquefied natural gas projects at the Port of Brownsville and funding to deepen the ship channel.

As of July 22, 2026, Vicente Gonzalez’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Vicente believes immigrants play a key role in our economy and that the reckless deportations of workers in key industries, like farming, construction, and hospitality, has threatened our economy. That’s why he’s fighting to reform our immigration system once and for all: advocating for small businesses to sponsor undocumented immigrants who pass a background check and have never had legal troubles – so they can lawfully contribute to our communities – and continue to keep our border protected, while holding ICE accountable so that we can focus on deporting violent criminals instead of law abiding neighbors.

“Every nation has a right to enforce its immigration laws, but there is a clear line between enforcing the law and the inhumane tactics being used across South Texas and the country. I am for strong border security, obeying our immigration laws, and deporting criminals, but I do not agree with the hyperaggressive ICE raids that have left innocent people dead on our streets, including American citizens.

Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) urged President Donald J. Trump and his Administration to immediately release detained Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients who are in the process of renewing their status, including constituents of the 34th Congressional District of Texas, Mr. Juan Sebastian Chavez Velasco and Mr. Jahasiel Pena Enriquez.

The proud son of a Korean War veteran and Merchant Marine, Vicente has the utmost respect for our veterans, servicemembers and military families. He is working to prevent the deportation of honorably discharged veterans and expand healthcare options closer to home. He delivered federal funding to update local Veterans of Foreign Wars posts so veterans and community members have safe spaces to gather.

The proud son of a Korean War veteran and Merchant Marine, Vicente has the utmost respect for our veterans, servicemembers and military families. He is working to prevent the deportation of honorably discharged veterans and expand healthcare options closer to home. He delivered federal funding to update local Veterans of Foreign Wars posts so veterans and community members have safe spaces to gather. He voted to pass the PACT Act so veterans exposed to toxic chemicals during service receive the care they deserve.

Advocates allowing small businesses to sponsor undocumented immigrants who pass background checks, while protecting the border and prioritizing deportation of violent criminals.

Supports strong border security, enforcement of immigration laws, and deportation of criminals, while opposing what he calls "hyperaggressive" U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids.

Urged the Trump administration to immediately release detained Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients renewing their status.

Works to prevent the deportation of honorably discharged veterans and expand healthcare options closer to home.

Voted for the PACT Act, which provides care to veterans exposed to toxic chemicals during service.

- Advocates allowing small businesses to sponsor undocumented immigrants who pass background checks, while protecting the border and prioritizing deportation of violent criminals.
- Supports strong border security, enforcement of immigration laws, and deportation of criminals, while opposing what he calls "hyperaggressive" U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids.
- Urged the Trump administration to immediately release detained Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients renewing their status.
- Works to prevent the deportation of honorably discharged veterans and expand healthcare options closer to home.
- Voted for the PACT Act, which provides care to veterans exposed to toxic chemicals during service.

Vicente Gonzalez

Vicente is from the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. He attended Del Mar College, Embry Riddle University, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, and Harvard University School of Law for negotiation training. He has an associate's degree in banking and finance from Del Mar College, a bachelor's degree in business aviation from Embry Riddle University, and a Juris Doctor degree from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. He lives with his wife, Lorena Saenz Gonzalez, in the Rio Grande Valley.

Vicente is a U.S. Representative. He works at the United States House of Representatives, where he has represented Texas's 34th District for five terms. He previously worked at a large national law firm in Dallas, served as a congressional intern in Washington, D.C., and opened a law practice called V. Gonzalez & Associates in 1997.

Vicente Gonzalez is currently the U.S. representative for Texas's 34th Congressional District. He was first elected in 2016 and has served five terms.

- Your U.S. Representative represents the interests of your district in the U.S. House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Texas currently has 36 U.S. Representatives.
- U.S. Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills that become national law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain policy areas, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms. To hold this office, a candidate must be a legal resident of Texas for at least seven years before their election. U.S. Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.

Your representative and federal lawmaker in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Texas U.S. Representative, District 34

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