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Calculated prayer times · ISNA method · local iqamah may differIndependent · Houston, Texas · Founded 2026
Texas general election · November 3, 2026
Who says a serious Voter Guide can't be a little fun?
18 statewide races
Every statewide candidate, what they’ve actually said and done, and their record under scrutiny. We don’t endorse candidates or use a cute little scorecard. We bring the data, the receipts and give you the tools to make an informed decision for the best candidate, Inshallah. Your selections stay on your device only, or you can print them out and bring them into the booth.
Dates: Texas Secretary of State. Candidates: 2026 General Election statewide sample ballot.
Methods & authorship
This voting guide uses public filings, candidate and office statements, voting records, court opinions, campaign materials, credible reporting and public records. It does not endorse, score or recommend candidates. Sometimes you just gotta allow folks to make fools of themselves. Research and writing by publisher Omar Afra.
Read methods, limitations & corrections →0 of 18 statewide races selected
Race 1 of 18 · 3 candidates
Votes on federal law, treaties, military aid, federal judges and cabinet nominees.
Republican
Ken Paxton is the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate. As attorney general, Paxton sued CAIR, seeking to stop its operations in Texas.
Democrat
James Talarico is the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate. Talarico said the U.S. should stop offensive weapons sales to the Netanyahu government while continuing defensive systems.
Libertarian
Ted Brown is the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate. Brown calls for ending foreign aid and U.S. military intervention abroad.
Race 2 of 18 · 3 candidates
Signs or vetoes state law, appoints agency heads and many judges, commands the Texas Military Department and directs state emergency powers.
Republican
Greg Abbott is the Republican candidate for Governor. Abbott used a Texas proclamation to designate CAIR, a U.S. Muslim civil-rights and advocacy organization, as a foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organization.
Democrat
Gina Hinojosa is the Democratic candidate for Governor. Hinojosa told the Texas Democratic Convention that Muslim Texans are Texans.
Libertarian
Pat Dixon is the Libertarian candidate for Governor. Dixon says his platform is the Libertarian Party platform rather than a candidate-specific list of promises.
Race 3 of 18 · 4 candidates
Presides over the Texas Senate, controls which bills reach the floor and sits on the Legislative Budget Board.
Republican
Dan Patrick is the Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Patrick directed the Texas Senate to study “preventing Sharia law in Texas.”
Democrat
Vikki Goodwin is the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Goodwin campaigns for public-school funding and against public money for religious schools.
Libertarian
Anthony Cristo is the Libertarian candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Cristo’s campaign describes him as a Cibolo high-school English and debate teacher and a military veteran.
Green
Kevin McCormick is the Green candidate for Lieutenant Governor. McCormick lists bus service, farm cooperatives and election reform as his top legislative priorities.
Race 4 of 18 · 3 candidates
Represents the state in court, issues legal opinions, enforces consumer and civil law and collects child support.
Republican
Mayes Middleton is the Republican candidate for Attorney General. Middleton's campaign says he would use the attorney general's office to target what it calls Sharia-law enforcement and “extremist influence.”
Democrat
Nathan Johnson is the Democratic candidate for Attorney General. Johnson says he would use the attorney general's office to defend individual rights, constitutional order and the rule of law.
Libertarian
Tom Oxford is the Libertarian candidate for Attorney General. Personal-injury and civil-rights attorney who owns Oxford Law PLLC near Beaumont.
Race 5 of 18 · 4 candidates
Collects state taxes, certifies the budget, manages state funds and administers state procurement and investment restrictions.
Republican
Don Huffines is the Republican candidate for Comptroller of Public Accounts. As acting comptroller, Huffines requested an additional $1 billion in base funding for the Texas school-voucher program.
Democrat
Sarah Eckhardt is the Democratic candidate for Comptroller of Public Accounts. Eckhardt says the comptroller should conduct recurring reviews of whether state programs are achieving public goals.
Libertarian
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza is the Libertarian candidate for Comptroller of Public Accounts. Hearne city manager and former municipal chief financial officer.
Green
Shehla Faizi is the Green candidate for Comptroller of Public Accounts. Faizi's campaign describes her as a Muslim American of Pakistani background.
Race 6 of 18 · 3 candidates
Manages state public lands and mineral rights, the Permanent School Fund's land, the Alamo and coastal disaster recovery.
Republican
Dawn Buckingham is the Republican candidate for Commissioner of the General Land Office. Incumbent commissioner seeking another term leading the General Land Office.
Democrat
Benjamin Flores is the Democratic candidate for Commissioner of the General Land Office. Flores says he would use state lands and energy revenue to support public schools, expand veterans services and strengthen storm recovery.
Libertarian
Neill Snider is the Libertarian candidate for Commissioner of the General Land Office. Mechanical contractor whose family operates a small cattle farm.
Race 7 of 18 · 3 candidates
Regulates agriculture, weights and measures and pesticides, and runs school nutrition programs.
Republican
Nate Sheets is the Republican candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture. Sheets campaigns on cleaner food and stronger farms.
Democrat
Clayton Tucker is the Democratic candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture. Tucker campaigns on food and farming affordability, water and rural economic development.
Libertarian
Austin R. Kelly is the Libertarian candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture. Kelly says he would cut regulatory barriers for family farms and reduce subsidies.
Race 8 of 18 · 3 candidates
Regulates oil, gas, pipelines, mining and related safety in Texas.
Republican
Bo French is the Republican candidate for Railroad Commissioner. French said the problem was “actually Islam” and made Muslim-country restrictions part of his oil-regulator campaign.
Democrat
Jon Rosenthal is the Democratic candidate for Railroad Commissioner. Candidate for the state oil-and-gas regulatory office.
Libertarian
Arthur DiBianca is the Libertarian candidate for Railroad Commissioner. DiBianca supports free-market energy development without subsidies or mandates for any energy source.
Race 9 of 18 · 2 candidates
Leads the state's highest court for civil and juvenile cases and oversees the judicial branch.
Republican
Jimmy Blacklock is the Republican candidate for Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Texas. Chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court.
Democrat
Maggie Ellis is the Democratic candidate for Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Texas. Justice on the 3rd Court of Appeals, Place 2.
Race 10 of 18 · 2 candidates
Decides civil and juvenile appeals on the state's highest civil court.
Republican
James P. Sullivan is the Republican candidate for Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2 (Unexpired Term). Texas Supreme Court justice, Place 2.
Democrat
Chari Kelly is the Democratic candidate for Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2 (Unexpired Term). Justice on the 3rd Court of Appeals, Place 3.
Race 11 of 18 · 2 candidates
Decides civil and juvenile appeals on the state's highest civil court.
Republican
Kyle Hawkins is the Republican candidate for Justice, Supreme Court, Place 7. Texas Supreme Court justice, Place 7.
Democrat
Kristen Hawkins is the Democratic candidate for Justice, Supreme Court, Place 7. Judge of the 11th District Court since 2016.
Race 12 of 18 · 2 candidates
Decides civil and juvenile appeals on the state's highest civil court.
Republican
Brett Busby is the Republican candidate for Justice, Supreme Court, Place 8. Texas Supreme Court justice since 2019.
Democrat
Gisela D. Triana is the Democratic candidate for Justice, Supreme Court, Place 8. Justice on the 3rd Court of Appeals, Place 6.
Race 13 of 18 · 3 candidates
Decides criminal appeals, including every death-penalty case, on the state's highest criminal court.
Republican
Thomas Smith is the Republican candidate for Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3. Special assistant attorney general working in criminal justice.
Democrat
Okey Anyiam is the Democratic candidate for Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3. Criminal-defense attorney licensed in Texas since 1997.
Libertarian
Mark Ash is the Libertarian candidate for Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3. Criminal-defense lawyer licensed in Texas since 1992.
Race 14 of 18 · 2 candidates
Decides criminal appeals, including every death-penalty case, on the state's highest criminal court.
Republican
Kevin Patrick Yeary is the Republican candidate for Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4. Judge on the Court of Criminal Appeals since 2014.
Democrat
Audra Riley is the Democratic candidate for Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4. Judge of Criminal District Court No. 3.
Race 15 of 18 · 2 candidates
Decides criminal appeals, including every death-penalty case, on the state's highest criminal court.
Republican
John Messinger is the Republican candidate for Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9. Attorney with the Office of the State Prosecuting Attorney since 2011.
Democrat
Holly Taylor is the Democratic candidate for Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9. Director of the Travis County district attorney's Public Integrity and Complex Crimes Division.
Race 16 of 18 · 2 candidates
Leads the statewide appeals court that hears cases involving the state, its agencies and officials.
Republican
Scott Brister is the Republican candidate for Chief Justice, 15th Court of Appeals. Chief justice of the 15th Court of Appeals.
Democrat
Jerry Zimmerer is the Democratic candidate for Chief Justice, 15th Court of Appeals. Attorney and former justice on the 14th Court of Appeals.
Race 17 of 18 · 2 candidates
Hears appeals involving the state, its agencies and officials.
Republican
Scott K. Field is the Republican candidate for Justice, 15th Court of Appeals, Place 2. Justice on the 15th Court of Appeals.
Democrat
Tom Baker is the Democratic candidate for Justice, 15th Court of Appeals, Place 2. Practicing attorney and former 3rd Court of Appeals justice.
Race 18 of 18 · 2 candidates
Hears appeals involving the state, its agencies and officials.
Republican
April Farris is the Republican candidate for Justice, 15th Court of Appeals, Place 3. Justice on the 15th Court of Appeals, Place 3.
Democrat
Marc M. Meyer is the Democratic candidate for Justice, 15th Court of Appeals, Place 3. Democratic candidate for 15th Court of Appeals, Place 3.
