Texas · 2026 Midterms

What's on your Texas ballot

A clear, nonpartisan rundown of the candidates and races Texas voters will decide in the 2026 midterms, with where each candidate stands and how competitive the race is.

Open the interactive guide → Updated July 2026

U.S. Senate, Texas

Paxton vs TalaricoToo close to call

Open seat after Sen. John Cornyn lost the GOP runoff. Now rated a toss-up: NYT/Siena (June 19-27) has it tied 47-47, the most competitive Texas Senate race in decades.

Ken Paxton Republican

Texas Attorney General since 2015

55%est. chance of winning · Cook/RCP: Toss-up; NYT/Siena (June): tied 47-47
  • ImmigrationFinish the border wall, support deporting people in the country illegally, back Trump administration enforcement
  • EconomyCut taxes, reduce federal regulation
  • GunsOpposes new gun restrictions, frames them as Second Amendment infringements
  • GovernmentRun as an anti-establishment conservative, end what he calls the weaponization of government
  • Foreign policyChampion President Trump's America First agenda in the Senate
versus
James Talarico Democrat

Texas state representative from Austin, former public school teacher

45%est. chance of winning · NYT/Siena (June): tied 47-47; UT/Texas Politics (June): Paxton +1
  • EconomyLower costs and tackle the affordability crisis, economic populism focused on working people
  • EducationOppose private-school voucher programs, invest in public schools
  • GovernmentRun against political corruption and big-money donor influence
  • ImmigrationSecure the border while supporting a pathway to citizenship and border-community development
  • HealthcareLower healthcare and prescription costs

Governor

Abbott vs HinojosaProjected winner

Incumbent seeking a fourth term. Cook Political Report: Likely/Solid Republican.

Greg Abbott Republican

Governor of Texas since 2015, former state attorney general

82%est. chance of winning · Cook: Likely R; UT/Texas Politics (June): Abbott +7
  • EducationExpanded school choice and education savings accounts for private-school tuition
  • ImmigrationAggressive state-level border enforcement, support for federal deportation efforts
  • EconomyLow-tax, low-regulation business climate, property tax cuts
  • GunsExpanded gun rights, opposes new restrictions
  • AbortionSigned and defends Texas's near-total abortion ban
versus
Gina Hinojosa Democrat

Texas state representative from Austin

18%est. chance of winning · Cook: Likely/Solid R
  • EducationOppose vouchers, increase public school funding and teacher pay
  • HealthcareExpand Medicaid in Texas, lower healthcare costs
  • EconomyFocus on cost of living and working families
  • AbortionSupports restoring abortion access, opposes the current ban
  • ImmigrationCritic of Abbott's border spending, supports comprehensive federal reform

Attorney General

Middleton vs JohnsonCompetitive

Open seat; AG Ken Paxton is running for U.S. Senate. Republicans have held every Texas statewide office since 1994.

Mayes Middleton Republican

Texas state senator

68%est. chance of winning · R-leaning statewide
  • GovernmentAggressive conservative legal agenda, challenge federal policies
  • ImmigrationSupport state border enforcement
  • EconomyDeregulation, property-rights focus
versus
Nathan Johnson Democrat

Texas state senator from Dallas

32%est. chance of winning · R-leaning statewide
  • GovernmentEmphasizes legislative experience and rule-of-law focus
  • HealthcareSupported expanding healthcare access
  • EconomyConsumer protection

Lieutenant Governor

Patrick vs GoodwinCompetitive

Incumbent seeking a fourth term. The Texas lieutenant governor presides over the state Senate and controls its agenda.

Dan Patrick Republican

Lieutenant Governor of Texas since 2015

68%est. chance of winning · Early polls: Patrick +mid-single digits
  • GovernmentControls the Texas Senate agenda; staunch conservative
  • EducationExpanded school choice
  • ImmigrationStrict border enforcement
  • AbortionStrongly anti-abortion
versus
Vikki Goodwin Democrat

Texas state representative from Austin

32%est. chance of winning · R-leaning statewide
  • EducationPublic-schools advocate, opposes vouchers
  • EconomyFocus on affordability
  • GovernmentRun on accountability

Comptroller of Public Accounts

Huffines vs EckhardtProjected winner

Open seat. The comptroller is the state's chief financial officer.

Don Huffines Republican

Former Texas state senator and businessman

82%est. chance of winning · R-leaning statewide
  • EconomyCut state spending, fiscal conservatism
  • GovernmentLimited-government approach
versus
Sarah Eckhardt Democrat

State Senator and former Travis County Judge

18%est. chance of winning · Texas Tribune; R-leaning state
  • EconomyPublic-school funding advocate; opposed the private-school voucher program
  • GovernmentState senator and former Travis County Judge focused on accountability

This page is a research starting point, not an endorsement. Ballot Awareness is not affiliated with any candidate, party, or government body. Candidate and primary results are verified against Ballotpedia, the NBC News 2026 election results, and the Associated Press. Win estimates are editorial assessments based on public race ratings (such as the Cook Political Report) and polling, not predictions. Always verify with your official Texas election information before voting.

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