OTHER STATEWIDE RACES

US SENATOR

A U.S. Senator is an elected federal official who represents an entire state in the United States Senate, which is part of the federal government in Washington, D.C.. Each state has two U.S. Senators, regardless of population, and senators serve six-year terms helping create laws and make decisions that affect the entire country.

The U.S. Senate has 100 members total, with Texas currently represented by two U.S. Senators. 

This is a FEDERAL position and should not be confused with a Texas State Senator, who works on Texas state laws and issues as part of the Texas state government in Austin.

In 2026, 35 of the 100 Senate seats are up for election, including one of Texas’ two seats.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- JAMES TALARICO

REPUBLICAN PARTY -- KEN PAXTON

GOVERNOR

The Governor of Texas is the elected leader of the Texas state government and serves as the state’s highest executive official. 

The governor serves a four-year term and is responsible for signing or vetoing Texas laws, calling special legislative sessions, appointing leaders to state agencies and boards, responding to emergencies and disasters, and helping guide the direction of Texas government. 

DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- GINA HINOJOSA

REPUBLICAN PARTY -- GREG ABBOTT 

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

The Lieutenant Governor of Texas is an elected statewide official and serves as one of the most powerful leaders in the Texas state government. The lieutenant governor serves a four-year term and is responsible for leading the Texas Senate, deciding which bills are debated in the Senate, assigning senators to committees, and helping guide the direction of Texas laws and policies. The lieutenant governor also serves as acting governor if the governor is out of state, unable to serve, or leaves office. 

DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- VIKKI GOODWIN

REPUBLICAN PARTY -- DAN PATRICK

ATTORNEY GENERAL

The Attorney General of Texas is an elected statewide official who serves as the chief lawyer for the Texas state government. The attorney general serves a four-year term and is responsible for representing Texas in legal cases, defending state laws in court, providing legal advice to state agencies, enforcing certain consumer protection laws, and handling major legal issues involving the state government. The attorney general also works on issues involving crime, public safety, child support enforcement, and lawsuits involving Texas.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- NATHAN JOHNSON

REPUBLICAN PARTY -- MAYES MIDDLETON

COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts is an elected statewide official responsible for managing the state’s finances and collecting state tax revenue. The comptroller serves a four-year term and is responsible for tracking how much money Texas collects and spends, managing state accounting and financial records, collecting taxes and fees, estimating the state budget, and helping oversee the financial operations of Texas government. The comptroller also provides financial and economic information used by state leaders to make budget and spending decisions. 

DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- SARAH ECKHARDT

REPUBLICAN PARTY -- DON HUFFINES 

LAND COMMISSIONER

The Texas Land Commissioner is an elected statewide official who oversees public state land and manages programs connected to land, veterans, and natural resources in Texas. The land commissioner serves a four-year term and leads the Texas General Land Office, which is responsible for managing state-owned land, protecting the Texas coastline, overseeing oil and gas leases on public land, helping fund public education through land revenue, and operating veterans’ programs and state veterans homes. 

DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- BENJAMIN FLORES

REPUBLICAN PARTY -- DAWN BUCKINGHAM

AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER

The Texas Agriculture Commissioner is an elected statewide official who oversees the Texas agriculture industry and leads the Texas Department of Agriculture. The agriculture commissioner serves a four-year term and is responsible for supporting Texas farmers and ranchers, regulating certain agricultural products and businesses, overseeing school nutrition programs, promoting Texas-grown products, and helping protect the state’s food supply and agricultural economy. 

DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- CLAYTON TUCKER

REPUBLICAN PARTY -- NATE SHEETS

RAILROAD COMMISSIONER

The Texas Railroad Commissioner is an elected statewide official who serves on the Railroad Commission of Texas, a three-member commission that regulates the Texas oil and gas industry. Despite the name, the commission no longer regulates railroads. Railroad commissioners serve six-year terms and are responsible for overseeing oil and gas drilling, pipeline safety, natural gas utilities, and environmental rules related to energy production in Texas. One of the three commission seats is up for election every two years. 

DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- JON ROSENTHAL

REPUBLICAN PARTY -- BO FRENCH 

TEXAS SUPREME COURT

The Supreme Court of Texas is the highest court in Texas for civil and juvenile cases and is part of the Texas state judicial system. The court is made up of one chief justice and eight justices who are elected statewide to six-year terms. The Texas Supreme Court reviews major civil cases, interprets Texas laws and the Texas Constitution, and makes decisions that affect courts across the state. 

In 2026, the Chief Justice seat and Justice Place 2, Place 7, and Place 8 will all be up for election. 

CHIEF JUSTICE

DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- MAGGIE ELLIS

REPUBLICAN PARTY -- JIMMY BLACKLOCK 

JUSTICE, PLACE 2

DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- CHARI KELLY

REPUBLICAN PARTY -- JAMES P. SULLIVAN

JUSTICE, PLACE 7

DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- KRISTEN HAWKINS

REPUBLICAN PARTY -- KYLE HAWKINS

JUSTICE, PLACE 8

DEMOCRATIC PARTY --GISELA D.  TRIANA

REPUBLICAN PARTY -- BRETT BUSBY

TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest criminal court in Texas and is part of the Texas state judicial system. The court is made up of one presiding judge and eight judges who are elected statewide to six-year terms. The Court of Criminal Appeals reviews major criminal cases, interprets Texas criminal laws, and makes final decisions on criminal appeals, including death penalty cases. 

In 2026, Judge Place 3, Place 4, and Place 9 will be up for election. 

JUDGE, PLACE 3

DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- OKEY ANYIAM

REPUBLICAN PARTY -- THOMAS SMITH

JUDGE, PLACE 4

DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- AUDRA RILEY

REPUBLICAN PARTY -- KEVIN PATRICK YEARY 

JUDGE, PLACE 9

DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- HOLLY TAYLOR

REPUBLICAN PARTY -- JOHN MESSINGER

TEXAS 15TH COURT OF APPEALS

The Fifteenth Court of Appeals is a statewide appellate court in the Texas state judicial system that hears certain major civil cases involving the State of Texas, state agencies, constitutional challenges, and some large business disputes. Unlike most Texas courts of appeals, which are elected by regional districts, the Fifteenth Court of Appeals is elected statewide because its jurisdiction covers all counties in Texas and handles cases with statewide impact. The court was created by the Texas Legislature in 2023 and is made up of one chief justice and two justices who serve six-year terms. 

In 2026, the Chief Justice seat and Justice Place 2 and Place 3 will all be up for election. 

CHIEF JUSTICE

DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- JERRY ZIMMERER

REPUBLICAN PARTY -- SCOTT BRISTER

JUSTICE, PLACE 2

DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- TOM BAKER

REPUBLICAN PARTY -- SCOTT K. FIELD 

JUSTICE, PLACE 3

DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- MARC M.  MEYER

REPUBLICAN PARTY -- APRIL FARRIS