A side-by-side look at candidate records, public positions, and the policies most likely to affect Texas families.
2026 General Election
Family Values Voter Guide
A side-by-side look at the major-party candidates, their public records and the policies most likely to affect Texas families.
Election Day: November 3, 2026 • Research updated August 11, 2026
Statewide Offices
Governor
Statewide
RepublicanA
Greg Abbott
95/100 • High confidence
Running for: Governor of Texas Election: November 3, 2026
Greg Abbott is seeking a fourth term as governor after first taking office in 2015. He previously served as Texas attorney general, a Texas Supreme Court justice and a Harris County state district judge. His campaign emphasizes job creation, infrastructure, border security, lower taxes, public safety and protection of constitutional rights. Education savings accounts, parental rights, restrictions on abortion and protections for children have also been central to his record.
Why this grade: Strong alignment across life, education and religious-liberty categories. The grade stops short of A+ because family well-being also includes stewardship, institutional trust and effective delivery—not policy promises alone.
Running for: Governor of Texas Election: November 3, 2026
Gina Hinojosa has represented Austin-based House District 49 since 2017 and previously served four years as an Austin ISD trustee. Before elected office, she worked as a civil-rights attorney representing workers and labor organizations. Her campaign focuses on strengthening public schools, expanding access to health care, improving affordability and helping families and children thrive. Her legislative positions on abortion, school vouchers and sex-based policy differ substantially from the standards used in this guide.
Why this grade: Credit for family-economic priorities is outweighed by a 0% 2025 Texas Values Action score and sustained disagreement on the rubric’s core social-policy categories.
Running for: Lieutenant Governor of Texas Election: November 3, 2026
Dan Patrick has served as lieutenant governor since 2015 and previously represented Senate District 7. Before entering statewide politics, he built a career in television and radio broadcasting and owned small businesses. He campaigns on lower property and business taxes, a stronger electric grid, border security, law enforcement and education quality. He has also used the lieutenant governor’s agenda-setting power to advance pro-life legislation, religious-liberty measures, parental rights and protections for women and children.
Why this grade: His policy record aligns almost completely with the rubric, particularly on life, conscience rights and parental authority.
Running for: Lieutenant Governor of Texas Election: November 3, 2026
Vikki Goodwin has represented Travis County in the Texas House since 2019. She is a real-estate broker and small-business owner who previously worked as a systems analyst for the Texas Attorney General’s Office, and she holds degrees in business and public affairs. Her priorities include increased public-school funding, affordable housing, water infrastructure, comprehensive health care and gun-safety measures. Her voting record on abortion, sexuality and parental-rights legislation sharply diverges from this guide’s standards.
Why this grade: A 0% 2025 Texas Values Action score shows consistent opposition on the issues most heavily weighted here.
Running for: Attorney General of Texas Election: November 3, 2026
Mayes Middleton is a state senator who previously served in the Texas House and chaired the Texas Freedom Caucus. Outside the Legislature, he is an attorney and the president of Middleton Oil Company. His campaign calls for stronger border enforcement, action against human trafficking, protection of children, fairness in girls’ and women’s sports, election integrity and tighter oversight of government waste. His legislative record also includes pro-life policy, parental rights and religious-liberty measures.
Why this grade: He earned 100% from both Texas Values Action and Texas Alliance for Life in the most recent legislative scorecards reviewed.
Running for: Attorney General of Texas Election: November 3, 2026
Nathan Johnson is a Dallas attorney who has represented Senate District 16 since 2019. His legal career has included business and commercial litigation, giving him experience with complex disputes outside the Legislature. He presents himself as a pragmatic candidate focused on rooting out corruption, protecting consumers, lowering costs and improving community safety. He also emphasizes health care, schools and infrastructure, although his legislative record remains in substantial tension with this guide’s core social-policy standards.
Why this grade: His recent ratings—5% from Texas Values Action and 43% from Texas Alliance for Life—show limited alignment on the highest-weighted categories.
Running for: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Election: November 3, 2026
Don Huffines became Texas comptroller by appointment in August 2026 and is seeking a full term. He previously served in the Texas Senate and built a long career in real-estate development as a co-founder of Huffines Communities; he also founded a public-policy organization focused on limited government. His campaign calls for broad performance audits, elimination of waste and fraud, lower property taxes and tighter control of state spending. He also supports school choice, low taxes and conservative social policy.
Why this grade: Strong philosophical alignment on family autonomy and fiscal stewardship, with a modest deduction because the office has little direct authority over most social issues.
Running for: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Election: November 3, 2026
Sarah Eckhardt is a state senator and former Travis County judge and county commissioner. Earlier in her career, she worked as an assistant Travis County attorney and developed experience with budgets, emergency response, health care, transportation and workforce development. She is campaigning to lower costs, expose waste and no-bid contracting, improve financial transparency and restore trust in state government. Her legislative record includes support for family services but conflicts with this rubric on life and parental-rights questions.
Why this grade: Her 5% Texas Values Action and 48% Texas Alliance for Life ratings outweigh points for public-service and family-support priorities.
Running for: Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office Election: November 3, 2026
Dawn Buckingham is seeking a second term as land commissioner after previously serving in the Texas Senate and on the Lake Travis ISD school board. She is a physician and eye surgeon by profession. Her priorities include disaster recovery, coastal protection, veterans’ services, energy development, management of state lands and the Permanent School Fund, border security and preservation of the Alamo. She also has a documented pro-life legislative record.
Why this grade: Strong alignment on life and family stability, paired with relevant executive experience. The office itself has limited authority over education and social policy.
Running for: Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office Election: November 3, 2026
Benjamin Flores is a cybersecurity and compliance professional with roughly three decades of experience and a former Bay City council member. He and his family also built a small farm business raising heritage-breed pigs, and his background includes community disaster-response work. His campaign focuses on increasing revenue for public schools, improving veterans’ services, protecting the coast and making land management more transparent. He also supports expanding renewable-energy opportunities on state land while continuing responsible management of public resources.
Why this grade: His background is relevant to stewardship and family security, but the public record reviewed provides too little evidence on the guide’s core life, liberty and parental-rights standards for a stronger grade.
Running for: Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Election: November 3, 2026
Nate Sheets is a U.S. Naval Reserve veteran and entrepreneur who founded Nature Nate’s Honey after earlier work in advertising and a global Christian ministry. He has also owned ranching interests and led faith-based nonprofit work. His campaign emphasizes Texas-first trade, stronger margins for farmers and ranchers, cleaner food, secure agricultural labor and new rural processing and manufacturing jobs. He publicly identifies as pro-life and pro-family and describes faith, family and food freedom as guiding principles.
Why this grade: Clear alignment across social and family-stability categories, though his lack of a legislative voting record keeps confidence below the highest level.
Running for: Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Election: November 3, 2026
Clayton Tucker helps manage his family’s ranch, serves as secretary of the Texas Farmers Union and works on international trade policy. He is also a founding board member of a community-garden organization and previously ran for the Texas Senate. His campaign focuses on family farms, healthy soil, water security, rural development and stronger local food systems. He also calls for confronting agricultural monopolies and corporate middlemen to improve prices for both producers and consumers.
Why this grade: His agriculture platform has meaningful family benefits, but the reviewed public material offers limited detail on life, religious liberty and parental rights.
Running for: Texas Railroad Commissioner Election: November 3, 2026
Bo French is a former chair of the Tarrant County Republican Party and a longtime Republican activist who has not previously held state regulatory office. His campaign stresses American energy production, opposition to environmental mandates and a faster, more streamlined permitting process. He has also proposed eliminating DEI-related spending and requiring more competitive bidding at the Railroad Commission. His public conduct and rhetoric remain relevant to this guide’s integrity and religious-liberty standards.
Why this grade: Policy alignment earns substantial credit, but divisive public rhetoric—criticized even by senior Republican leaders—requires a significant accountability deduction.
Running for: Texas Railroad Commissioner Election: November 3, 2026
Jon Rosenthal has represented House District 135 since 2019 and spent about 25 years in the oil and gas industry as an engineer, project manager and team leader. That technical background gives him direct experience with the industry the Railroad Commission regulates. He campaigns on reliable energy, lower utility costs, clean air and water, safe operations and stronger ethics and accountability at the agency. His legislative social-policy record, however, conflicts with this guide’s standards.
Why this grade: Relevant technical experience earns credit, but his 0% 2025 Texas Values Action score shows sustained disagreement on the rubric’s core family-policy categories.
Running for: Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court Election: November 3, 2026
Jimmy Blacklock became chief justice in January 2025 after serving on the Texas Supreme Court since 2018. Earlier, he was Governor Greg Abbott’s general counsel, spent six years in the Texas Attorney General’s Office and practiced civil litigation and appeals in the private sector. His government legal work included constitutional cases involving federalism, religious liberty and right-to-life questions. His judicial approach emphasizes constitutional text, the rule of law and deciding cases according to law rather than promised political outcomes.
Why this grade: His record reflects a restrained, text-focused judicial philosophy and substantial experience in cases touching life and religious liberty. The grade evaluates judicial approach—not promised outcomes.
Running for: Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court Election: November 3, 2026
Maggie Ellis has served on the Texas Third Court of Appeals since 2025. She previously worked as a public-school teacher, juvenile prosecutor and administrative law judge and is board certified in juvenile law as well as certified in child-welfare law. Her campaign emphasizes removing partisan politics from the judiciary, equal treatment, expanded access to justice and improvements to indigent defense. Her professional record is substantial, but her campaign provides less evidence on the constitutional questions weighted most heavily in this guide.
Why this grade: A neutral starting grade reflects limited evidence. Judicial candidates should not be scored as legislators, and no candidate should be presumed to rule a certain way solely from party affiliation.
Running for: United States Senate from Texas Election: November 3, 2026
Ken Paxton has served as Texas attorney general since 2015 and previously served in both the Texas Senate and Texas House. He is an attorney whose statewide record includes litigation against the federal government and defense of Texas laws on abortion, religious liberty and conservative family policy. His Senate campaign emphasizes border enforcement, domestic energy, lower taxes and costs, conservative social policy and limits on federal power. He has also proposed tax measures intended to make homeownership and raising a family more affordable.
Why this grade: His policy alignment would merit an A-range score. Significant, well-documented concerns about public accountability and messy divorce reduce the overall grade under the rubric’s integrity category.
Running for: United States Senate from Texas Election: November 3, 2026
James Talarico has served in the Texas House since 2019 and previously taught middle-school language arts in San Antonio. He holds a master’s degree in education policy and is a Presbyterian seminarian who speaks frequently about faith in public life. His campaign centers anti-corruption efforts, affordability, public-school investment, health care, worker protections, rural services and oversight of technology companies. His platform also supports abortion rights, same-sex marriage and expanded LGBTQ protections.
Why this grade: Economic-family proposals earn some credit, but his 0% Texas Values Action score and explicit positions conflict with nearly every core social-policy measure in this rubric.
Running for: U.S. House of Representatives, Texas District 22 Election: November 3, 2026
Trever Nehls is a retired U.S. Army colonel, former Fort Bend County Precinct 4 constable and former police officer. His career has centered on military service, law enforcement and local public safety rather than legislative office. His campaign priorities include border enforcement, lower household costs, parental choice, protection of children, domestic energy, support for law enforcement and major mobility and flood-control projects. Because he has not served in Congress, his profile is based primarily on experience and campaign commitments rather than federal votes.
Why this grade: Clear public alignment across the rubric, with a confidence deduction because the case rests primarily on campaign commitments rather than federal votes.
Running for: U.S. House of Representatives, Texas District 22 Election: November 3, 2026
Marquette Greene-Scott is a military veteran, civil attorney and mayor pro tem of Iowa Colony, where she serves on the city council. Her legal work has included commercial litigation, family law and personal-injury matters. She campaigns on job creation, small-business growth, infrastructure, public safety, health-care access and protection of civil and voting rights. Her abortion position is more limited than that of many Democratic candidates but still supports legal access, and her public record provides less detail on parental rights and religious liberty.
Why this grade: Her service and family-support priorities earn credit; disagreement on life policy and limited evidence on parental and religious-liberty questions keep the grade in the mixed range.
Running for: Texas State Board of Education, District 7 Election: November 3, 2026
Julie Pickren has represented District 7 on the State Board of Education since 2023 and previously served six years as an Alvin ISD trustee. She is a business owner, homeschool parent and former member of several education advisory and Christian-school boards. Her priorities include school choice, parental authority, curriculum transparency, age-appropriate materials and strong academic standards. She also advocates careful stewardship of the Permanent School Fund and a prominent role for families in education decisions.
Why this grade: The office directly controls education standards, and her actions consistently align with the guide’s highest-weighted parental-rights and child-protection categories.
Running for: Texas State Board of Education, District 7 Election: November 3, 2026
Tiffany Perkinz is a longtime educator and mother of six with experience in public schools, a Catholic school and higher education. She has taught English, worked in study-abroad administration at Lamar University and owns a tutoring and independent-teaching business. Her campaign emphasizes stronger academic standards, honest and broad-based history instruction, support for teachers and meaningful parent engagement. She identifies as Christian while arguing that faith instruction should remain separate from public-school curriculum.
Why this grade: Her family background and support for parent engagement earn meaningful credit. Differences over religion in public education and a shorter policy record keep the rating below the B range.
Running for: Texas State Board of Education, District 8 Election: November 3, 2026
Audrey Young has served on the State Board of Education since 2021 and chairs its Committee on Instruction. Her more than three decades in public education include work as a speech therapist, reading specialist, school administrator, student-support director and Apple Springs ISD trustee. Her record emphasizes literacy, curriculum standards, services for students with dyslexia and gifted students, local control and transparent board governance. She also stresses parent involvement, academic fundamentals and age-appropriate instructional materials.
Why this grade: Her record strongly aligns with parental authority and child protection, supported by education experience directly relevant to the office.
Running for: Texas State Board of Education, District 8 Election: November 3, 2026
Dana Van De Walker has nearly 20 years of education experience in Illinois, South Korea and Texas. She has worked as a teacher, university program coordinator and community-college administrator and holds a doctorate in higher-education administration. Her campaign emphasizes student success and belonging, support for public schools, evidence-based curriculum and more affordable higher education. She also strongly supports church-state separation and gives less priority to the parental-control framework used in this guide.
Why this grade: Relevant education experience and concern for student welfare earn credit; a different approach to religious expression and parental authority produces a mixed rating.
Running for: U.S. House of Representatives, Texas District 38 Election: November 3, 2026
Jon Bonck is a mortgage-industry executive and business manager with a degree in biochemistry. Outside politics, he has served as a church deacon and supported Christian education, pregnancy-help and religious-liberty organizations. His campaign emphasizes border security, lower taxes and spending, reduced regulation, gun rights and policies intended to make homeownership more attainable. He explicitly campaigns as pro-life and pro-family and identifies religious liberty as a central priority.
Why this grade: His stated positions align almost completely with the rubric. Confidence is medium because he has not yet compiled a congressional voting record.
Running for: U.S. House of Representatives, Texas District 38 Election: November 3, 2026
Melissa McDonough is a Harris County real-estate broker, small-business owner and community organizer with nearly three decades in the housing industry. She has also spent years as a volunteer advocate on consumer protection, housing affordability, health-care costs and veterans’ services and was the district’s Democratic nominee in 2024. Her campaign emphasizes health-care access, economic support, gun-violence prevention, border management and stronger congressional oversight. Those priorities coexist with abortion and social-policy positions that conflict with this rubric.
Why this grade: Credit for health and household-economy priorities is outweighed by disagreement on life, parental authority and sex-based protections.
Running for: Texas House of Representatives, District 26 Election: November 3, 2026
Matt Morgan has represented House District 26 since January 2025. Before entering the Legislature, he worked as an entrepreneur and insurance adjuster and earned a business degree from Sam Houston State University. In the House, he serves on the Insurance and Land & Resource Management committees. His priorities and voting record emphasize property-tax relief, limited government, parental rights, child protection, religious liberty, school choice and pro-life policy.
Why this grade: His 94% 2025 Texas Values Action score provides a direct, recent measure of high alignment.
Running for: Texas House of Representatives, District 26 Election: November 3, 2026
Elizabeth “Eliz” Markowitz is a public-health educator and professor with experience in health-policy research and higher education. A Katy ISD graduate, she previously ran for the Texas House in a 2020 special election. Her campaign emphasizes stronger public schools, higher teacher pay, expanded rural hospitals, school mental-health services, telehealth, maternal health and lower prescription costs. She also supports property-tax relief, workforce training and broadband expansion, opposes school vouchers and supports abortion rights.
Why this grade: Her family-service priorities earn some credit, but her positions on abortion and parental choice substantially conflict with the most heavily weighted categories.
Running for: Texas House of Representatives, District 27 Election: November 3, 2026
Max Alalibo is a Fort Bend business owner with professional experience in logistics, public relations and human relations. He leads T. Max Solutions and studied sociology, anthropology and logistics before seeking office. His campaign presents a five-part plan centered on public safety, small-business growth, infrastructure, education transparency and choice, and broader economic opportunity for families. He has no legislative voting record and has published less detail on life, parental rights and religious-liberty issues than many candidates in this guide.
Why this grade: His family-security focus earns credit, but the rating remains provisional until voters have clearer, documented positions on life, parents and religious liberty.
Running for: Texas House of Representatives, District 27 Election: November 3, 2026
Ron Reynolds has represented House District 27 since 2011 and was the first Black state representative from Fort Bend County since Reconstruction. His earlier professional work included legal practice, service as a municipal judge and teaching at Texas Southern University; he has also held business-development roles. In the Legislature, he has led the Texas Legislative Black Caucus and helped form the HBCU Legislative Caucus. His priorities include public education, health care, economic opportunity, voting rights and criminal-justice reform, while his voting record consistently opposes this guide’s core social-policy standards.
Why this grade: A 0% 2025 Texas Values Action score indicates sustained disagreement across life, parental-rights and child-protection votes.
Running for: Texas House of Representatives, District 28 Election: November 3, 2026
Gary Gates has represented House District 28 since 2020 and chairs the House Committee on Land & Resource Management while also serving on Energy Resources. Outside politics, he built a career in real estate and property management and is the father of 13 children, including 11 who were adopted. His priorities include property-tax restraint, housing and land policy, infrastructure, public safety and limited government. His recent voting record also strongly supports parental rights, religious liberty, pro-life policy and protections for children.
Why this grade: His 92% 2025 Texas Values Action rating shows broad, documented alignment, with a small deduction for missed or contrary votes within the scorecard.
Running for: Texas House of Representatives, District 28 Election: November 3, 2026
Sandy Ibáñez is a fifth-generation Tejana, lifelong Fort Bend County resident, teacher, real-estate professional and community advocate. Her background combines classroom experience with work helping families navigate housing and neighborhood concerns. Her campaign emphasizes stronger public-school funding, affordability, practical community services, government transparency and accountable representation. She has published less detail on abortion, religious liberty and parental authority, so this profile remains provisional.
Why this grade: Relevant family and education experience earns credit, but the material reviewed does not provide enough specific evidence on life, conscience rights or parental authority for a firm rating.
Running for: Texas House of Representatives, District 85 Election: November 3, 2026
Dennis “Goose” Geesaman is a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, fighter pilot and Air Force Academy graduate with more than 20 years of military service. He later served five terms on the Flatonia City Council and then as the city’s mayor. His campaign emphasizes conservative government, public safety, fiscal discipline, property-tax relief and stronger accountability in Austin. He also supports parental rights and traditional family policy, although he has not yet compiled a legislative voting record.
Why this grade: His service record and stated principles align with family security and stewardship, but the absence of a legislative record makes the grade provisional.
Running for: Texas House of Representatives, District 85 Election: November 3, 2026
Lawrence Brandyburg is a U.S. Army veteran and longtime educator whose professional life has centered on service and education. He is running as a first-time legislative candidate rather than an incumbent with a voting record. His platform emphasizes quality schools, access to health care, lower living and energy costs, economic growth, community safety and sustainable development. He also stresses equity and inclusion, while offering less detail on the life, parental-authority and religious-liberty questions used in this guide.
Why this grade: Service and family-support priorities earn credit. The reviewed platform supplies limited evidence on the guide’s life, parental-authority and religious-liberty measures.
Running for: Texas House of Representatives, District 132 Election: November 3, 2026
Mike Schofield is an attorney who represented District 132 from 2015 to 2019 and returned to the House in 2021. Before legislative office, he spent 11 years as an adviser to Governor Rick Perry. His record includes drafting the constitutional amendment that prohibited a state individual income tax. He campaigns on property-tax relief, public safety, border enforcement and conservative government and has a long record supporting pro-life policy, parental rights, religious liberty and child-protection legislation.
Why this grade: His record is broadly aligned, though his 80% 2025 Texas Values Action score shows enough contrary or missed votes to keep the grade below A+.
Running for: Texas House of Representatives, District 132 Election: November 3, 2026
Sara McGee is a longtime Katy-area resident, former school librarian and community advocate who raised two children as a single mother. Her private-sector experience includes managing a hospital radiology department. Her campaign focuses on public-school funding, health-care access, housing and affordability, community services and property-tax relief. She also supports reproductive rights, repeal of Texas abortion restrictions and legal abortion through viability.
Why this grade: Her family-service priorities earn some credit, but her stated abortion position conflicts directly with the rubric’s most heavily weighted life category.
Running for: Texas Senate, District 18 Election: November 3, 2026
Lois Kolkhorst has represented Senate District 18 since 2014 after serving seven terms in the Texas House. Before elected office, she was president and CEO of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and has remained connected to a family petroleum business. As chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, she works extensively on health care, rural services and family policy. Her broader priorities include water, transportation, public safety and agriculture, and she has a long record supporting pro-life policy, parental rights, religious liberty and protections for women and children.
Why this grade: Recent ratings of 95% from Texas Values Action and 100% from Texas Alliance for Life show exceptionally strong, documented alignment.
Running for: Texas Senate, District 18 Election: November 3, 2026
Erica Gillum is a former mayor of Hempstead and a businesswoman with more than two decades of work in real estate, coaching and investment. Her private-sector career has focused on helping families and small businesses build stability and economic opportunity. Her campaign priorities include stronger public schools, water and rural infrastructure, health-care access, jobs, small-business growth and lower household costs. She has published less detail on life, parental rights, religious liberty and sex-based policy, so the grade remains provisional.
Why this grade: Her priorities could strengthen family stability, but her published platform provides little evidence on life, parental-rights, religious-liberty and sex-based policy.
Running for: Fort Bend County Judge Election: November 3, 2026
Daniel Wong is the Republican nominee for Fort Bend County Judge and became interim county judge in 2026 after KP George was suspended from office. He is a former Sugar Land City Council member and a longtime Fort Bend County resident. Outside politics, Wong built an engineering firm that grew to 13 offices and more than 400 employees and has taught engineering as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston. His campaign focuses on restoring trust, improving county management, infrastructure and flood protection, fiscal responsibility, economic development, public safety and public integrity.
Why this grade: Strong alignment on household security, stewardship and community institutions. The county judge has little authority over abortion or school curriculum, so those issues are not heavily scored here.
Running for: Fort Bend County Judge Election: November 3, 2026
Dexter McCoy has served as Fort Bend County commissioner for Precinct 4 since 2023. Before elected office, he worked in education and public policy, served in the Fort Bend County Judge’s Office and participated in national and statewide political campaigns. His county work has included broadband expansion, drainage and mobility planning, parks, workforce initiatives and paid parental leave for county employees. His campaign for county judge emphasizes modernizing county government, infrastructure investment, accountable budgeting, inclusive economic growth and county services that help families thrive.
Why this grade: Concrete family-support policies and community service earn substantial credit, with deductions for a less clearly documented record on conscience and parental-authority questions.
Running for: Fort Bend County Commissioner, Precinct 2 Election: November 3, 2026
Tony Aranda is a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer and aviator who served for 22 years, including overseas assignments and deployments. He holds a political-science degree with a minor in biblical studies and remains active as a church deacon, security-team member and ministry volunteer. His campaign emphasizes transparent government, responsible use of tax dollars, public safety, reliable county services, infrastructure planning and collaboration across party lines. He presents servant leadership, accountability and long-term family stability as the foundations of his approach.
Why this grade: His platform fits the office and aligns with family security. The grade remains provisional because his public record is primarily campaign-based.
Running for: Fort Bend County Commissioner, Precinct 2 Election: November 3, 2026
Grady Prestage has served as Precinct 2 commissioner since 1991 and was the first Black member of the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court since Reconstruction. Over more than three decades, he has helped guide the county through rapid population and economic growth. His record emphasizes roads, tollways, drainage, water systems, parks, community centers and constituent services. He is seeking another term on a platform of experienced oversight, continued infrastructure investment and steady management as development expands.
Why this grade: A sustained record on practical family needs earns credit. The available record is less specific on the guide’s liberty and accountability measures.
Running for: Fort Bend County Commissioner, Precinct 4 Election: November 3, 2026
Ken Mathews has worked in law enforcement, emergency-dispatch technology, corporate management and small business. His career included developing public-safety software later acquired by IBM, leading international operations and founding Texas companies in technology, surveillance and security. His campaign focuses on traffic and growth planning, public safety, government waste, ethics, transparency and easier public access to county officials. He also calls for property-tax restraint and for commissioner votes to reflect the stated priorities of Precinct 4 residents.
Why this grade: The platform is well matched to county authority and family stability, but the lack of an officeholding record makes the rating provisional.
Running for: Fort Bend County Commissioner, Precinct 4 Election: November 3, 2026
April Jones is a small-business owner and longtime Mission Glen community leader with roughly three decades of neighborhood involvement. She has served on the North Mission Glen MUD board, led her homeowners association and held precinct and treasurer roles in the Fort Bend County Democratic Party. Her campaign prioritizes public safety, traffic and infrastructure, workforce development, small-business growth, public and mental health, and environmentally responsible development. She also emphasizes transparency and independence from wealthy developers and other special interests.
Why this grade: Strong office-relevant priorities earn credit. Limited evidence on implementation, accountability and conscience protections keeps the grade provisional.
Running for: Fort Bend County District Attorney Election: November 3, 2026
Shawn McDonald is a board-certified criminal-law attorney with more than 25 years in Texas courtrooms. He began as a felony prosecutor, later served in the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, built a criminal-defense practice and became a Sugar Land municipal judge; he has also taught criminal law and trial advocacy. His campaign emphasizes aggressive prosecution of violent crime and trafficking, close cooperation with law enforcement, stronger communication with victims and equal application of the law. He also stresses ethics, constitutional rights and accountable management of the office.
Why this grade: Clear focus on safety, victims and prosecutorial integrity aligns strongly with the office-adjusted rubric. Confidence is medium because the evidence is principally campaign-based.
Running for: Fort Bend County District Attorney Election: November 3, 2026
Brian Middleton has served as Fort Bend County district attorney since 2019. Before leading the office, he worked as a state and county prosecutor, briefing attorney and private litigator; he later completed a police academy and became a licensed peace officer while serving as DA. His record includes violent-crime and human-trafficking enforcement, youth mentorship, expanded prosecutor training, elimination of a case backlog and new federal grant funding. His reelection campaign emphasizes public safety, victim protection, transparency, public integrity and continued professionalization of the office.
Why this grade: A concrete public-safety and victim-protection record earns a strong grade. The small difference reflects this guide’s preference for clearer commitments on conscience protections and uniform enforcement.
Running for: Harris County Judge Election: November 3, 2026
Orlando Sanchez is a former Harris County treasurer and Houston City Council member who also served in the U.S. Air Force and Texas Air National Guard. Born in Cuba and raised in Houston, he has combined business, civic and public-service work for decades. His campaign emphasizes lower property-tax rates, public safety, emergency management, flood control, infrastructure and tighter oversight of county spending. He argues that his city and county experience would help restore accountability and focus Commissioners Court on core services.
Why this grade: His priorities align strongly with household safety and stewardship within county authority. The public evidence is less detailed on service delivery and measurable outcomes.
Running for: Harris County Judge Election: November 3, 2026
Letitia Plummer is a dentist, health-care small-business owner and former at-large Houston City Council member. As a mother and former council member, she has built her public profile around health, neighborhood services and economic opportunity. Her county-judge campaign emphasizes emergency preparedness, flood mitigation, safer neighborhoods, affordable living, health-care access and support for working families and small businesses. She also calls for more equitable infrastructure investment and stronger oversight of county finances and disaster response.
Why this grade: Strong family-service priorities earn credit, while differences over the scope of county government and limited detail on conscience protections lower the grade.
Running for: Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 4 Election: November 3, 2026
Steve Radack began his public career with the Houston Police Department, rose to sergeant and later served as Harris County Precinct 5 constable. He then spent 32 years as Precinct 3 commissioner and served on the board overseeing the Texas County and District Retirement System. His campaign stresses public safety, roads, drainage, parks, disciplined budgeting and restoration of the county’s traditionally strong financial management. He presents his long record in law enforcement and county administration as preparation to oversee a large and fast-growing precinct.
Why this grade: Extensive office-relevant experience and a conservative stewardship record align strongly with family safety and accountability. As solid as they come.
Running for: Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 4 Election: November 3, 2026
Lesley Briones has served as Precinct 4 commissioner since 2023 and previously worked as a public-school teacher, attorney, foundation executive and Harris County civil-court judge. Her county record emphasizes flood mitigation, disaster readiness, parks, infrastructure, workforce development, domestic-violence services and maternal accommodations. She has also supported reproductive-health funding and LGBTQ-focused county policy that conflicts with parts of this rubric.
Why this grade: Support for victims instead of law enforcement and LGBQ issues harms her score as well as disagreement on sex-based policy and religious-conscience concerns produces a low confidence rating.
Running for: Governor of Texas (Re-election) Election: November 3, 2026
Greg Abbott has served as Governor of Texas since 2015 and previously served as Texas Attorney General and a Justice on the Texas Supreme Court. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and earned a law degree from Vanderbilt University. Before elected office, Abbott built his career as a lawyer and judge. In 1984, a falling tree left him permanently paralyzed while jogging, an event that became a defining part of his personal story. During his tenure as governor, he has focused heavily on border security, economic development, school choice, and energy production. Abbott won the Republican primary and will face Democrat Gina Hinojosa in November.
Dan Patrick
Running for: Lieutenant Governor of Texas (Re-election) Election: November 3, 2026
Dan Patrick has served as Lieutenant Governor since 2015 and is one of the most powerful officials in Texas government. Before politics, he spent decades in radio and television broadcasting. Patrick owned Houston-area radio stations and hosted a popular conservative talk radio show. He also worked as a sportscaster and media executive. He served in the Texas Senate before becoming lieutenant governor. His legislative priorities have included school choice, property tax relief, border security, and conservative social issues.
Mayes Middleton
Running for: Attorney General of Texas Election: November 3, 2026
Mayes Middleton
Running for: Attorney General of Texas (Republican Nominee) Election: November 3, 2026
Mayes Middleton is currently a Texas State Senator representing District 11, covering portions of Galveston, Brazoria, and Harris Counties, and is the Republican nominee for Texas Attorney General after defeating Congressman Chip Roy in the 2026 GOP runoff. Before entering politics, Middleton built his career in the private sector as President of the family-owned Middleton Oil Company and has also been involved in ranching, cattle, farming, and other energy-related businesses throughout Texas. He earned a degree in Finance and a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas at Austin, and is a licensed attorney, although most of his professional career has been spent running businesses rather than practicing law full-time. He first served in the Texas House from 2019 to 2023, where he chaired the conservative Texas Freedom Caucus, before being elected to the Texas Senate. In the Legislature, Middleton developed a reputation as one of the chamber’s most conservative members, championing border security, election integrity, parental rights, protection of women’s sports, religious liberty, and limitations on government spending. His Attorney General campaign has focused on supporting President Trump’s agenda, combating illegal immigration, defending Texas against federal overreach, protecting children and families, and aggressively pursuing lawsuits to advance conservative legal priorities.
Kelly Hancock
Running for: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Election: November 3, 2026
Kelly Hancock served in the Texas Senate representing Tarrant County before becoming the Republican nominee for Comptroller. Prior to his legislative career, he built a successful business career in real estate, property management, and entrepreneurship. Hancock earned a reputation in the Legislature as a fiscal conservative focused on tax policy, government efficiency, and business growth. He served on several influential Senate committees dealing with finance, business, and economic development. Outside politics, much of his professional experience involved managing and investing in commercial and residential properties. Supporters view his private-sector background as particularly relevant for overseeing Texas’s finances and revenue collections.
Dawn Buckingham
Running for: Commissioner of the General Land Office (Re-election) Election: November 3, 2026
Dawn Buckingham currently serves as Texas Land Commissioner after previously representing Central Texas in the Texas Senate. Before entering politics, she practiced medicine as a board-certified ophthalmologist and surgeon. Buckingham earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch and built a successful medical practice. Her experience as a physician gave her firsthand exposure to healthcare, business management, and patient advocacy. In statewide office, she oversees management of state lands, veterans programs, and the Texas coastline. She is known for emphasizing border security, energy development, veterans’ issues, and conservative land-use policies.
Sid Miller
Running for: Texas Agriculture Commissioner (Re-election) Election: November 3, 2026
Sid Miller has served as Texas Agriculture Commissioner since 2015 and previously served in the Texas House of Representatives. Before politics, he spent decades as a rancher, farmer, rodeo competitor, and agricultural businessman. Miller’s family has deep roots in Texas agriculture, and he has operated cattle and farming operations throughout his career. His firsthand experience in agriculture has shaped his policy priorities involving ranchers, farmers, water resources, and rural communities. He is a strong advocate for agricultural education and Texas-produced products. Miller remains one of the most recognizable figures in Texas agricultural politics.
Christi Craddick
Running for: Railroad Commissioner (Re-election) Election: November 3, 2026
Christi Craddick has served on the Texas Railroad Commission since 2012. Despite its name, the Railroad Commission primarily regulates the Texas oil and gas industry rather than railroads. Before holding office, Craddick built a career as an attorney specializing in energy, environmental, and regulatory matters. She earned her law degree from the University of Texas and worked extensively with businesses operating in Texas’s energy sector. Her background gave her significant experience with energy regulation and property rights issues. Craddick is widely viewed as one of the state’s most experienced energy regulators and has consistently supported domestic energy production.
Jimmy Blacklock
Running for: Texas Supreme Court Justice, Place 2 (Re-election) Election: November 3, 2026
Jimmy Blacklock serves on the Texas Supreme Court after being appointed by Governor Greg Abbott. Before joining the Court, he served as Abbott’s General Counsel and was one of the governor’s top legal advisors. Blacklock graduated from Yale University and earned his law degree from Yale Law School. He clerked for federal judges and practiced appellate law before entering state government. His legal career has focused heavily on constitutional law, appellate litigation, and government legal matters. Blacklock is generally regarded as a strong constitutional conservative and textualist jurist.
John Devine
Running for: Texas Supreme Court Justice, Place 4 (Re-election) Election: November 3, 2026
John Devine has served on the Texas Supreme Court since 2013. Before becoming a justice, he served as a state district judge in Harris County. Devine’s professional background includes both legal practice and entrepreneurship. Prior to entering law, he owned and operated businesses and developed firsthand experience in the private sector. After earning his law degree, he practiced civil litigation and business law. His supporters often point to both his business and legal experience as providing practical perspective on judicial decisions.
David Schenck
Running for: Presiding Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Election: November 3, 2026
David Schenck serves as a judge on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Texas’s highest court for criminal cases. Prior to joining the court, he served on the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas. Before becoming a judge, Schenck practiced law for many years in both private practice and appellate litigation. His legal work focused on complex civil and constitutional matters. He earned degrees from the University of Texas and developed a reputation for detailed legal analysis. Schenck is widely respected in conservative legal circles for his emphasis on judicial restraint and adherence to statutory text.
Gina Parker
Running for: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 7 Election: November 3, 2026
Gina Parker is a Texas judge and attorney with extensive experience in criminal law and judicial administration. Before seeking statewide judicial office, she spent many years working within the Texas court system. Her professional career has included handling criminal cases, legal administration, and judicial decision-making. Parker’s background gives her direct experience with the practical operation of Texas criminal courts. Supporters often highlight her courtroom experience and commitment to public safety. Her campaign has emphasized constitutional rights, law enforcement support, and consistent application of Texas law.
Ken Paxton
Running for: United States Senate Election: November 3, 2026
Ken Paxton currently serves as Texas Attorney General and won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate after defeating John Cornyn in the Republican runoff. Before entering politics, he worked as an attorney, management consultant, and corporate counsel. Paxton holds degrees in psychology, business, and law. He served in both the Texas House and Texas Senate before becoming Attorney General in 2015. Nationally, he became known for legal challenges involving immigration, federal regulations, and constitutional issues. He will face Democrat James Talarico in the general election.
Trever Nehls
Running for: U.S. Representative, Texas District 22 Election: November 3, 2026
Trever Nehls is a longtime Fort Bend County law enforcement official and the brother of Congressman Troy Nehls. Before running for Congress, he served as Fort Bend County Constable for Precinct 4. His career has focused primarily on public safety, law enforcement leadership, and community policing. Nehls managed large law enforcement operations and worked closely with local governments throughout Fort Bend County. Outside politics, his professional experience has been centered almost entirely in law enforcement and public administration. His campaign emphasizes border security, public safety, support for law enforcement, and conservative fiscal policies.
Joan Huffman
Current Office: Texas Senate District 17 Next Election: November 2028
Joan Huffman has represented Senate District 17 since 2008, covering portions of Fort Bend and Harris Counties. Before politics, she spent more than two decades as a prosecutor in Harris County. She handled felony and criminal prosecutions and developed expertise in criminal justice issues. Huffman earned a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. She currently serves as one of the most influential budget writers in the Texas Senate. Her legislative work often focuses on public safety, criminal justice, elections, and state budgeting.
Lois Kolkhorst
Current Office: Texas Senate District 18 Next Election: November 2028
Lois Kolkhorst represents Senate District 18, which includes portions of Fort Bend County and much of southeast Texas. Prior to joining the Senate, she served more than a decade in the Texas House. Outside politics, Kolkhorst comes from a farming and ranching background. She and her family have been involved in agriculture and small business operations for decades. Her experience in agriculture has shaped many of her legislative priorities. She is widely known for work involving agriculture, transportation, water resources, and rural economic development.
Matt Morgan
Running for: Texas House District 26 (Re-election) Election: November 3, 2026
Matt Morgan represents House District 26 in Fort Bend County. Before entering elected office, Morgan worked extensively in technology and business operations. He developed experience in private-sector management, business development, and technology-related industries. Morgan has also been active in civic and community organizations throughout Fort Bend County. His business background informs his focus on economic growth, government efficiency, and workforce development. Since entering the Legislature, he has emphasized public safety, infrastructure, and conservative fiscal policy.
Gary Gates
Running for: Texas House District 28 (Re-election) Election: November 3, 2026
Gary Gates represents House District 28, covering much of Fort Bend County. Before entering politics, Gates built a successful career in real estate development, construction, and investment. He founded and operated multiple businesses focused on residential and commercial properties. His business background makes him one of the more entrepreneur-focused legislators in Austin. Gates frequently advocates for lower taxes, business growth, and infrastructure improvements. His private-sector experience is often central to his legislative approach.
Stan Kitzman
Running for: Texas House District 85 (Re-election) Election: November 3, 2026
Stan Kitzman represents House District 85, covering portions of Fort Bend, Waller, and surrounding counties. Prior to the Texas House, he served many years as a Waller County Commissioner. Outside politics, Kitzman owned and operated businesses involved in construction and infrastructure-related work. His experience gave him firsthand knowledge of transportation, drainage, utilities, and local development. He is often focused on practical issues affecting fast-growing suburban and rural communities. Kitzman is generally viewed as a conservative legislator with strong local-government experience.
Mike Schofield
Running for: Texas House District 132 (Re-election) Election: November 3, 2026
Mike Schofield represents House District 132, which covers much of the Katy area. Before serving in the Legislature, he practiced law and worked extensively in public policy. He held senior advisory roles in Texas state government and served in Governor Rick Perry’s administration. Schofield’s professional experience centers on legal affairs, government relations, and public policy. He is known as a strong constitutional conservative and frequently focuses on education, taxes, and government accountability. His legal and policy background has made him influential on complex legislative issues..
Don Huffines
Running for: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Election: November 3, 2026
Don Huffines is the Republican nominee for Texas Comptroller after winning the 2026 GOP primary. He previously served in the Texas Senate representing District 16 in Dallas County from 2015 to 2019. Outside politics, Huffines is a longtime real estate developer and co-owner of Huffines Communities, which he founded with his twin brother. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a finance degree. His campaign emphasizes cutting waste, auditing government, property tax relief, and using the comptroller’s office to push conservative fiscal reforms. He will face Democrat Sarah Eckhardt in the November general election.
Nathan “Nate” Sheets
Running for: Texas Agriculture Commissioner Election: November 3, 2026
Nate Sheets is the Republican nominee for Texas Agriculture Commissioner after defeating incumbent Sid Miller in the 2026 Republican primary. Outside politics, Sheets is a beekeeper, small business owner, founder of Nature Nate’s Honey, and U.S. Naval Reserve veteran. His campaign has focused on agriculture, food quality, school nutrition, independent farmers, and the “Make America Healthy Again” movement. He has argued that food policy, health, farming, and national security are connected issues. Sheets was endorsed by Governor Greg Abbott in the Republican primary. He will face Democrat Clayton Tucker in the general election.
Bo French
Running for: Texas Railroad Commissioner Election: November 3, 2026
Bo French is the Republican nominee for Texas Railroad Commissioner after defeating incumbent Jim Wright in the 2026 GOP runoff. He is the former chairman of the Tarrant County Republican Party. The Railroad Commission regulates Texas oil and gas, pipeline safety, and related energy issues. French’s campaign was strongly aligned with grassroots conservative and culture-war messaging. His win was considered a major upset over an incumbent supported by many Republican leaders and large energy companies. He will face Democrat Jon Rosenthal in the November general election.
Julie Pickren
Running for: State Board of Education District 7 Election: November 3, 2026
Julie Pickren is the Republican State Board of Education member for District 7, first taking office in 2023. She is from the Houston/Pearland area and has a background in education, school governance, and small business. Before joining the SBOE, she served as an Alvin ISD trustee from 2015 to 2021. Her background also includes board service with Christian education organizations and involvement in conservative education policy. Pickren has emphasized parental rights, conservative curriculum standards, school accountability, and Texas values in education. She is running for re-election to continue representing District 7.
Audrey Young
Running for: State Board of Education District 8 Election: November 3, 2026
Dr. Audrey Young is the Republican State Board of Education member for District 8 and first took office in 2021. Outside politics, she has more than three decades of experience in Texas public education. She has worked as Director of Student Support Services for Nacogdoches ISD and holds bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University. Young previously served on the Apple Springs ISD Board of Trustees and on the TASB Legislative Advisory Council. On the SBOE, she has chaired the Committee on Instruction and worked on curriculum, dyslexia, gifted education, and student support issues. She is running for re-election in 2026.
Jon Bonck
Running for: U.S. Representative, Texas District 38 Election: November 3, 2026
Jon Bonck is the Republican nominee for Texas Congressional District 38, the seat currently associated with the Katy/west Harris County area. The seat opened after Wesley Hunt chose not to seek re-election and instead ran for U.S. Senate. Bonck was endorsed by Donald Trump and Ted Cruz and finished first in the March Republican primary before winning the May runoff. Outside politics, he has been described as a mortgage banker. His campaign is aligned with conservative Republican priorities including border security, economic growth, energy policy, and support for President Trump’s agenda. He is favored in the strongly Republican district heading into the November general election.
Max Alalibo
Running for: Texas House District 27 Election: November 3, 2026
Max Alalibo is the Republican nominee for Texas House District 27 in Fort Bend County. Public election records list him as running against Democratic incumbent Ron Reynolds in the November 2026 general election. His full name is listed in some voter-guide records as Ibifrisolam Max-Alalibo. Publicly available biographical information is limited compared with other candidates on this list. He previously appeared as a Republican candidate for the same district in 2024. His campaign will likely focus on giving Republicans a conservative alternative in a Democratic-held Fort Bend district.
Dennis “Goose” Geesaman
Running for: Texas House District 85 Election: November 3, 2026
Dennis “Goose” Geesaman is the Republican nominee for Texas House District 85 after defeating incumbent Stan Kitzman in the 2026 Republican primary. He is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel from Flatonia. Before running for the Texas House, he also served in local government, including as a former councilman and mayor of Flatonia. His campaign appealed to grassroots conservatives and focused on replacing establishment Republican leadership. Geesaman’s primary victory was one of the notable conservative challenger wins of the 2026 Texas House cycle. He will appear on the November general election ballot for HD-85.
Daniel Wong
Running for: Fort Bend County Judge Election: November 3, 2026
Daniel Wong is the Republican nominee for Fort Bend County Judge and also became interim Fort Bend County Judge in 2026 after KP George was suspended from office. He is a former Sugar Land City Council member and longtime Fort Bend County resident. Outside politics, Wong built an engineering firm that grew to 13 offices and more than 400 employees. He has also been described as an adjunct engineering professor at the University of Houston. Wong’s campaign has focused on restoring trust, improving county management, infrastructure, fiscal responsibility, and public integrity. He will face the Democratic nominee in the November general election.
Antonio “Tony” Aranda
Running for: Fort Bend County Commissioner Precinct 2 Election: November 3, 2026
Antonio “Tony” Aranda is the Republican candidate for Fort Bend County Commissioner Precinct 2. Public campaign and party materials list him as part of the Fort Bend GOP’s 2026 county candidate slate. His campaign branding emphasizes conservative county government and making Fort Bend County “great again.” Publicly available biographical details are limited compared with higher-profile statewide candidates. The Precinct 2 commissioner role is important because it affects county roads, drainage, infrastructure, budgeting, public safety coordination, and local services. Aranda is running as the conservative alternative in a precinct currently represented by Democrat Grady Prestage.
Ken Mathews
Running for: Fort Bend County Commissioner Precinct 4 Election: November 3, 2026
Ken Mathews is the Republican candidate for Fort Bend County Commissioner Precinct 4. He advanced through a competitive 2026 Republican contest that included a May runoff. His campaign emphasizes conservative county government, efficient contracts, responsible spending, and making county government more responsive to residents. Outside politics, available public descriptions point to a varied business background. The Precinct 4 commissioner seat is significant for Fort Bend residents because it influences infrastructure, mobility, drainage, county spending, and growth management. Mathews is running to bring more conservative oversight to Commissioners Court.
Shawn McDonald
Running for: Fort Bend County District Attorney Election: November 3, 2026
Shawn McDonald is the Republican candidate for Fort Bend County District Attorney. Outside politics, he has more than 25 years of experience in Texas courtrooms. He began his legal career as a felony prosecutor in Henderson County and later joined the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office in 2004. He opened a criminal defense practice in Sugar Land in 2006 and is board-certified in criminal law. McDonald has also served as a Sugar Land municipal judge and on the board of Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers. His campaign emphasizes public safety, victim advocacy, law enforcement support, integrity, and experienced prosecution.
Orlando Sanchez
Running for: Harris County Judge Election: November 3, 2026
Orlando Sanchez is the Republican nominee for Harris County Judge in 2026. He is a longtime Harris County political figure who previously served as Harris County Treasurer and Houston City Council member. Outside elected office, Sanchez has experience in military service, real estate, and banking. His campaign emphasizes fiscal conservatism, public safety, infrastructure, tax stability, and restoring competence to Harris County government. The Harris County Judge role oversees major county functions, including emergency management, budgets, infrastructure, and Commissioners Court leadership. Sanchez will face Democrat Letitia Plummer in the November general election.
Steve Radack
Running for: Harris County Commissioner Precinct 4 Election: November 3, 2026
Steve Radack is the Republican candidate for Harris County Commissioner Precinct 4. He previously served more than 30 years as a Harris County commissioner, making him one of the most experienced local-government candidates in the region. Before becoming commissioner, Radack served in law enforcement with the Houston Police Department and later as Harris County Constable for Precinct 5. His campaign emphasizes fiscal conservatism, infrastructure, public safety, and controlling county spending. He is running against Democratic incumbent Lesley Briones, who flipped the seat in 2022. Radack’s pitch is based on experience, county-government knowledge, and restoring Republican fiscal discipline to Harris County Commissioners Court.
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