2026 Texas & Bexar County Voter Guide

The central contrast is unusually sharp. Paxton runs as an explicitly Trump-aligned conservative emphasizing deportations, border enforcement, oil and gas, deregulation, abortion restrictions, gun rights and cuts to taxes and spending. Talarico’s current campaign emphasizes affordability, higher taxes on wealthy individuals and large corporations, organized labor, expanded government health coverage, abortion rights, gun regulation and voting-law changes while moderating some earlier rhetoric on capitalism, policing and gender policy. Brown supplies a markedly libertarian alternative based on smaller government, gun rights, privacy and opposition to foreign wars. ^{35,16,36,17,20,18,19,37}

Talarico’s policy record deserves additional detail. His current economic platform calls for higher taxes on billionaires and capital gains, a higher corporate rate, a tax on corporate stock buybacks, a $15 federal minimum wage, expansion of the child and earned-income tax credits and removal of the Social Security taxable-earnings cap above $400,000. He also supports a public health-insurance option/Medicare buy-in, stronger drug-price controls and preservation or expansion of ACA/Medicaid coverage. ^16,17

On immigration, he supports border security but would concentrate deportation resources on criminals, gang members and traffickers; create or broaden legal status for long-term residents, DREAMers and some spouses; increase immigration judges; and expand employer and temporary-worker pathways. ³⁶ On guns, he favors universal background checks, safe-storage requirements around children and a higher purchasing age for certain semi-automatic rifles; his Texas record includes opposition to permitless carry. ^19,12 On elections, he backs federal voting-rights legislation and independent redistricting and previously opposed Texas’ SB 1 election overhaul. ^20,13

That combination is why a one-line description such as “moderate Democrat” would materially understate his actual record.

Issue-by-issue quick reference

The write-in Senate candidates remain Unknown on most policy cells because a one-page guide should not create false precision where reliable source material is absent.

Past record/statements: he described capitalism alongside white supremacy and climate change as an oppressive system in 2020; spoke of replacing a deeply broken policing system; made the 2021 “God is nonbinary” remark; opposed permitless carry; opposed the 2021 Texas election law; opposed the 2023 restrictions on gender-transition interventions for minors; and opposed the 2025 ESA/private-school-choice law. ^{8,9,10,12,13,14,15}

Current 2026 position: he says some earlier remarks were regrettable or “cringey,” calls himself a capitalist, rejects the claim that he supported defunding police, opposes gender-reassignment surgery for minors and nevertheless retains a distinctly progressive economic, abortion, gun, labor and voting-policy platform. ^{11,22,21,16,85,18,19}

Abbott’s current argument is essentially continuity: aggressive border enforcement, property-tax reduction, private-school choice, gun rights, Texas’ abortion restrictions and an energy policy emphasizing oil, gas and dispatchable generation. His campaign cites the franchise-tax reductions, large 2023 property-tax package, public-safety laws, constitutional carry, abortion laws and election legislation as core achievements. ⁴⁶

Hinojosa is running on public schools and household costs, while attempting to broaden her appeal beyond the progressive wing with which she has long been associated. Her campaign calls for ending the ESA/voucher program, ending or reducing standardized testing and state school takeovers, higher teacher pay, a $1,500 one-time payment to Texas households from state savings, ending selected corporate subsidies and contracts to finance property-tax relief, restoring abortion rights and slowing data-center development until new protections are enacted. ^{47,48,49,24,50}

Hinojosa’s ideological history remains relevant to the comparison rather than disappearing behind the current “populist” framing. The Texas Tribune notes that Rice University political scientist Mark Jones repeatedly placed her among the most liberal House members and that she served in leadership of the Texas Legislative Progressive Caucus. In September 2026 she publicly rejected the “progressive” label but explicitly said her values had not changed. ^24,25

Issue-by-issue quick reference

Because the lieutenant governor controls the Texas Senate’s agenda to an unusual degree, this race presents a particularly consequential policy contrast. Patrick is the incumbent and has spent more than a decade shaping the chamber’s conservative agenda; Goodwin offers an almost mirror-image program on vouchers, abortion, health coverage, guns and environmental regulation. ²⁶

Goodwin’s position on guns is more specific than “supports gun control.” Her campaign says she recognizes lawful gun ownership for hunting, sport and self-defense but supports stronger background checks, training requirements and tools to investigate straw purchases. ⁶¹

Issue-by-issue quick reference

FEC records identify TX-23 as an open seat, not a race against an incumbent, and confirm both Stout and Herrera as active candidates. ^6,7 Texas records establish Mendoza as the qualified independent. ³³

A useful nuance on Herrera is that his border position is not simply “build a wall everywhere.” His campaign calls for more Border Patrol capacity, technology, enforcement and changes to asylum/Remain in Mexico policy while saying Big Bend terrain makes a physical barrier inappropriate in some areas. ⁷⁰

Issue-by-issue quick reference

No Texas State Senate line appears in the source candidate list. Official Bexar County certification shows three State Senate contests in different portions of the county:

Those names come from the official Bexar certification. ¹ Because the source list itself does not identify which district applies, the State Senate section is intentionally a status/caution card rather than a candidate comparison. That is preferable to publishing the wrong candidates to a voter.

The official House roster confirms Marc LaHood represents District 121, and the opening journal of the 89th Legislature lists him as the member from the district. ^74,75 The certified 2026 ballot pits him against Democrat Zack Dunn. ¹

LaHood’s voucher vote is particularly useful because it converts a generic campaign statement about “parental choice” into a concrete legislative fact: on April 17, 2025, he was among the 86 House members voting to pass SB 2, while Talarico, Hinojosa and Goodwin were among the opponents. ¹⁵

Issue-by-issue quick reference

For a very fast voter-facing ideological read, the documented records cluster approximately as follows: not as a mathematical score, but as a descriptive summary of the evidence:

That table should not replace the issue chart because libertarian candidates do not fit cleanly on a single left-right line: Brown, Dixon and Cristo are generally to Republicans’ right on reducing government but can be to their left on marijuana, surveillance, foreign intervention or government regulation of personal conduct. ^37,26

Attorney General : Mayes Middleton, Republican. Middleton is a Republican state senator and attorney. His campaign stresses aggressive border and immigration litigation, abortion restrictions, election-law enforcement, challenges to federal regulation, action against local prosecutors he considers unwilling to enforce state law, and restrictions involving gender policy and school sports. ^102,144 His record makes him the candidate most likely to continue Paxton’s model of an attorney general who regularly sues the federal government and intervenes aggressively in national policy disputes.

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Agriculture Commissioner : Clayton Tucker, Democrat. Tucker is a Lampasas rancher and former water researcher. ⁹⁰ His campaign emphasizes family farms, lowering grocery costs, stronger scrutiny of large agricultural corporations, chemical and PFAS exposure, medical marijuana, water and opposition to very large data centers consuming agricultural land and water. ^147,148 His endorsements include several Democratic members of Congress and progressive organizations. ¹⁴⁷

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Comptroller : Donald “Don” Huffines, Republican incumbent by appointment. Abbott appointed Huffines comptroller in 2026 after Huffines won the Republican nomination. He is a former state senator and real-estate businessman. ^154,90 His agenda emphasizes lower taxes, smaller government, aggressive spending audits and long-term elimination of school property taxes, with replacement revenue coming from state sources or consumption taxes. ^155,156,157 He has also promoted performance reviews of school spending. ¹⁵⁸

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Land Commissioner : Dawn Buckingham, Republican incumbent. Buckingham is an eye surgeon, former state senator and current land commissioner. ⁹⁰ She favors maximizing oil, gas and other energy revenue from state land, border-related support, veterans’ programs and management of the Permanent School Fund. She has also promoted natural gas, nuclear, geothermal and other generation. ^162,163,164 Her management of the Alamo redevelopment and disputes with local leaders are among the main controversies surrounding her first term. ^90,165

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Railroad Commission : Jon Rosenthal, Democrat. Rosenthal is an engineer, oil-and-gas industry veteran and state representative. His campaign supports continued Texas energy production but places greater emphasis than French on well plugging, methane and pollution enforcement, gas-utility oversight, property-owner protections, grid reliability and properly funding regulators. ¹⁰⁷

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Texas Supreme Court, Chief Justice : Jimmy Blacklock, Republican incumbent. Blacklock has served on the Supreme Court since 2018 and became chief justice by appointment in January 2025. He previously served as Abbott’s general counsel and in the Attorney General’s Office. ^173,174 He comes from the conservative legal movement and emphasizes textual fidelity and judicial restraint. His government background gives him extensive experience defending state policy.

Maggie Ellis, Democrat. Ellis serves on the Third Court of Appeals and previously worked as a teacher, administrative-law judge, prosecutor and trial lawyer. ¹⁷⁵ The contrast is primarily institutional: Blacklock brings long Supreme Court and Republican executive-branch experience; Ellis brings trial, juvenile and intermediate-appellate experience and argues for a less politically predictable court. ^175,176

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Texas Supreme Court Place 2 : James P. Sullivan, Republican incumbent. Abbott appointed Sullivan in 2025. He previously served as the governor’s general counsel, assistant solicitor general and private appellate litigator. ^177,178 He openly presents himself as a conservative jurist; current profiles quote his promise of “bold, relentless, conservative judging.” ¹⁷⁹

Chari Kelly, Democrat. Kelly is a Third Court of Appeals justice, Army veteran and former JAG officer, prosecutor and assistant attorney general. She reports more than 800 appellate opinions and more than 35 jury trials. Her stated philosophy stresses “fairness, independence, respect for the Constitution, fidelity to the law.” ¹⁸⁰ That is one of the clearest experience contrasts on the court ballot: Kelly has substantially more prior judicial experience; Sullivan has more high-level executive/appellate advocacy experience. ¹⁸⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Texas Supreme Court Place 7 : Kyle Hawkins, Republican incumbent. Appointed in October 2025, Hawkins previously served as Texas solicitor general, counselor to the U.S. solicitor general, a Supreme Court clerk and private appellate lawyer; he has argued repeatedly before the U.S. Supreme Court. ¹⁸¹ His major donors include business/legal groups such as Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC. ¹⁷⁶

Kristen Hawkins, Democrat. No relation is implied by the shared surname. Kristen Hawkins has served as a Harris County civil district judge since 2016 and previously practiced civil litigation. ^182,183 The choice is an appellate/federal-law specialist versus a long-serving trial judge.

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Texas Supreme Court Place 8 : Brett Busby, Republican incumbent. Busby has served on the Supreme Court since 2019 and previously sat on the Fourteenth Court of Appeals. He is board certified in civil appellate law and previously clerked at the U.S. Supreme Court. ¹⁸⁴

Gisela Triana, Democrat. Triana has served on the Third Court of Appeals since 2019 after more than two decades on Texas trial benches, including the 200th District Court, county court, municipal court and justice-of-the-peace bench. She also previously worked as a prosecutor and in the Texas Secretary of State’s Election Division. ^185,186 Triana has criticized what she sees as an overly result-oriented Republican Supreme Court; Busby emphasizes conservative legal principles and the rule of law. ^176,186

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Court of Criminal Appeals Place 3 : Thomas Smith, Republican. Smith is a special assistant attorney general for criminal justice and previously worked for then-Sen. Ken Paxton and in private practice. His campaign emphasizes conservative jurisprudence. ^187,90

Okey Anyiam, Democrat. Anyiam has practiced criminal defense for nearly three decades. He says the court needs to move appeals more quickly and explain rulings more clearly; his stated philosophy is to uphold rather than legislate around the law. ^188,90

Mark Ash, Libertarian. Ash is a criminal-defense attorney and South Texas College of Law graduate. ⁹⁰ Public material offers less detail than for Smith and Anyiam; his professional record is defense-oriented and his candidacy offers the Libertarian alternative.

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Court of Criminal Appeals Place 4 : Kevin Patrick Yeary, Republican incumbent. Yeary has served on the CCA since 2014 and previously worked in private criminal defense and as an appellate prosecutor in Dallas, Harris and Bexar counties. ^189,90 His endorsements include Abbott and conservative organizations. ¹⁹⁰

Audra Riley, Democrat. Riley is a Dallas criminal district judge and has served on that bench since 2024. ^190,90 Yeary has much more appellate tenure; Riley brings current trial-court experience.

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Court of Criminal Appeals Place 9 : John Messinger, Republican. Messinger has worked in the Office of State Prosecuting Attorney since 2010 and has extensive criminal-appellate briefing experience. ^191,90

Holly Taylor, Democrat. Taylor is board certified in criminal appellate law and has worked as a prosecutor, CCA staff/rules attorney and in conviction-integrity and public-integrity matters. ^191,192 This is one of the strongest experience-on-experience judicial contests: both have deep criminal appellate backgrounds, but Messinger’s career is principally state appellate prosecution while Taylor has a broader mixture of prosecution, post-conviction and court staff work. ¹⁹¹

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Fifteenth Court of Appeals : Chief Justice Scott Brister, Republican incumbent, versus Jerry Zimmerer, Democrat. The Fifteenth Court is a specialized statewide appellate court that hears significant cases involving state government and the business court. ⁹⁰ Brister is a former Texas Supreme Court justice and appellate/district judge; Zimmerer is a former Fourteenth Court of Appeals justice with extensive private-sector legal experience. ^193,90 Brister offers deeper high-court experience; Zimmerer offers a mix of appellate judicial and corporate practice.

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Fifteenth Court Place 2 : Scott Field, Republican incumbent, versus Thomas “Tom” Baker, Democrat. Field previously served as a district judge and on the Third Court of Appeals. Baker is a Navy veteran and former appellate justice with decades of legal experience. ^90,194

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Fifteenth Court Place 3 : April Farris, Republican incumbent, versus Marc Meyer, Democrat. Farris is a former First Court of Appeals justice and assistant Texas solicitor general with an appellate-heavy résumé. Meyer is an attorney, retired Houston firefighter and registered nurse. ^90,195 The experience edge in appellate specialization is Farris’s; Meyer offers a less conventional professional background.

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Fourth Court of Appeals Chief Justice : Antonia Arteaga, Democrat, versus Bert Richardson, Republican. Arteaga is an experienced Bexar County civil district judge. Richardson has served on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, previously worked as a prosecutor and district judge, and emphasizes fidelity to the Constitution and enacted law rather than judicial policymaking. ^196,197,90 Richardson brings statewide appellate/criminal experience; Arteaga brings long San Antonio trial-court experience.

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Bexar Central Appraisal District Place 1 : Diana Arevalo versus Susan Bayne, both nonpartisan. Arevalo is a former Texas House member and nonprofit executive who has argued that the property-tax protest system can disadvantage taxpayers without specialized knowledge and favors greater transparency and taxpayer assistance. Bayne is a retired psychotherapist and civic activist associated with Infuse SA. ^198,199 Arevalo has the clearer property-tax-policy résumé; Bayne brings a civic-activist perspective.

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

BCAD Place 2 : Erika Hizel, incumbent, versus Leticia Anguiano. Hizel is a real-estate investor and nonprofit leader who has worked with small landlords; Anguiano is the challenger. Public reporting provides considerably more policy detail for Hizel than Anguiano. ²⁰⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

BCAD Place 3 : Jon Melendez. Melendez is a Marine veteran and conservative organizer. He is unopposed on the source list. Public candidate material is thin enough that This guide does not assign detailed appraisal-policy positions beyond his public background. ²⁰⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Bexar County Clerk : Lucy Adame-Clark, Democrat incumbent. Adame-Clark has served as county clerk since 2018 after a career in county government. Her administrative record emphasizes records modernization, electronic services, remote/satellite access and customer-service technology. ^90,201,202 She is unopposed in the source list.

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Bexar County District Clerk : Christine Castillo, Democrat. Castillo spent 33 years in the District Clerk’s Office, including management responsibilities in records and finance. Her themes are modernization, staff training and customer service. ^90,203 She is unopposed.

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Bexar County District Attorney : Luz Elena Chapa, Democrat. Chapa is a former Fourth Court of Appeals justice and visiting judge with more than two decades in law. Her DA platform calls for fully staffing the office, improving relations with law enforcement, reducing the family-violence backlog, focusing on victims and making alternatives to prosecution on a case-by-case basis rather than through sweeping ideological rules. ^109,90

Ashley Foster, Republican. Foster spent more than a decade as a felony prosecutor and has handled serious violent and white-collar cases. She proposes a first-100-day office audit, priority prosecution of violent and repeat offenders, written charging standards, expanded prosecutor training and a victim-centered approach. ^110,90

Jason Wolff, Independent. Wolff has been an assistant district attorney, county-court-at-law judge and criminal-defense lawyer; published profiles credit him with extensive jury-trial experience. He stresses police support, accountability, training and transparency. ^90,204,205

Quick reference : DA: Chapa offers appellate/judicial experience plus reform of office operations; Foster is the clearest law-and-order candidate and emphasizes written prosecutorial standards; Wolff has the broadest “all three sides of the courtroom” résumé: prosecutor, judge and defense lawyer. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Bexar County Judge : Ron Nirenberg, Democrat. Nirenberg served as San Antonio mayor from 2017 to 2025. ⁹⁰ His county agenda emphasizes public safety and justice-system coordination, regional infrastructure, emergency readiness, economic development, workforce and health services, housing and eliminating duplicated government functions. ^111,206

Patrick Von Dohlen, Republican. Von Dohlen is a conservative activist and head of the San Antonio Family Association PAC. ⁹⁰ His campaign emphasizes fiscal discipline, property-tax relief, an audit and reforms addressing the county jail, mental-health capacity, protection of property rights and the Edwards Aquifer, and concentrating county spending on core functions. ^112,207

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Bexar County MUD 1 Board : Matthew Abrahamsen, Theodore Duano, Andrew Macias, Alberto Rodriguez and Alejandro Silva. All five are nonpartisan candidates for five at-large seats in the special election on the source list. The research found no sufficiently detailed, attributable platform for these individuals to distinguish them honestly. For this office, the substantive questions are water/sewer reliability, rates, infrastructure capital spending, district debt and development agreements; assigning views without candidate statements would be speculation.

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Edwards Aquifer Authority District 1 : Joey Groff versus Carol G. Patterson. Patterson is the incumbent and has a long record of involvement in regional water policy, including work connected with predecessor institutions. ²⁰⁸ The research did not find an equivalently detailed 2026 policy platform for Groff. ²⁰⁹ The key office-specific issues are pumping permits, drought restrictions, spring flows, endangered-species obligations and balancing municipal/agricultural demand.

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Helen Petry Stowe (D, incumbent) vs. Bob Behrens (R)

Stowe is a former teacher/prosecutor and has held this bench since 2018; Behrens previously served as judge of CCL 15. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Melissa Saenz (D, incumbent)

Former prosecutor of more than a decade; elected to the bench in 2022. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

David J. Rodriguez (D, incumbent)

Longest-tenured candidate in this group; judge of CCL 3 since 2003. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Alfredo Ximenez (D, incumbent) vs. Jason R. Garrahan (R)

Garrahan formerly held this same bench before losing to Ximenez in 2018, making this a direct incumbent/former-incumbent rematch. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Andrea Arevalos (D, incumbent)

Unopposed on attached list; no major policy contest to compare.

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Erica Dominguez (D, incumbent)

Air Force veteran; oversees a veterans treatment program. ²¹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Melanie Lira (D, incumbent)

Former immigration attorney, elected judge in 2022. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Victoria Cruz (D) vs. Celeste Brown (R)

Cruz practices criminal defense/family law and previously handled children’s immigration cases; Brown previously presided over this very court from 2015-18. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Jessica Gonzalez (D) vs. Daphne Previti Austin (R)

Gonzalez is a trial lawyer and former prosecutor; Austin is a former district judge and prosecutor now in private practice. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Cesar Garcia (D, incumbent)

Private-practice lawyer before election to the bench in 2022. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Erica Peña (D, incumbent)

Elected in 2022; oversees a specialized court for defendants dealing with drug/alcohol addiction. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Lauren Zamora (D) vs. Deborah Dietzmann (R)

Zamora works in the DA’s Conviction Integrity Unit; Dietzmann is a public defender with more than 25 years of practice: an unusually clean prosecutor/post-conviction versus defense comparison. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Alicia Perez (D)

Criminal-defense lawyer and co-founder of SA Stands; unopposed. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Audrey Martinez (D)

Prosecutor in Karnes and Atascosa counties; licensed since 2018; unopposed. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Melissa Vara (D, incumbent)

Elected in 2018 following private practice; unopposed. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Mary Lou Alvarez (D, incumbent)

The Secretary of State certifies Mary Lou Alvarez as the Democratic candidate for the 45th District Court. Official certification, page 81. No additional verified issue platform is provided in the research.

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Michael De Leon (D)

Unopposed on the attached list; public issue material is limited.

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Monique Diaz (D, incumbent)

The Secretary of State certifies Monique Diaz as the Democratic candidate for the 150th District Court. Official certification, page 81. No additional verified issue platform is provided in the research.

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Kristina Escalona (D, incumbent)

Incumbent; associated with the felony veterans treatment court. ²¹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Stephanie Franco (D)

Bexar prosecutor with serious trial experience. ²¹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Marisa Flores (D, incumbent)

Incumbent civil district judge. ²¹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Christine Hortick/Vasquez-Hortick (D, incumbent) vs. Benjamin Robertson (R)

Hortick is the elected Democratic incumbent; Robertson is an Abbott-appointed judge with an energy-law background. Current reporting uses the name Christine Vasquez-Hortick. ²¹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Anastacia “Ana” Ochoa Nelson (D)

Prosecutor in the Bexar DA’s Family Violence Division; unopposed. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Christine Del Prado (D, incumbent)

Former chief of the DA’s Public Integrity and Cyber Crime division; elected in 2022. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Nadine Nieto (D, incumbent)

Roughly two decades of civil practice before election to this court in 2022. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Cynthia Marie Chapa (D, incumbent)

St. Mary’s law graduate; about 15 years in practice before election in 2018. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Rose Sosa (D, incumbent)

Former Bexar prosecutor; elected in 2022. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Jennifer Peña (D, incumbent)

Former prosecutor in Cameron and Bexar counties; judge since 2018. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Raymond A. Villareal (D)

Juvenile/criminal lawyer, novelist and former assistant attorney general. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Joel Perez (D, incumbent)

More than 30 years of legal practice before election in 2022. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 Place 1 : Julie Bray Patterson, Republican incumbent. She is the only candidate on the source list. The research found no current contested policy debate substantial enough to justify a conventional issue profile.

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Probate Court No. 1 : Oscar Kazen, Democrat incumbent. Kazen is a Marine Corps veteran and has served as Probate Court No. 1 judge since 2018. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Probate Court No. 2 : Veronica Vasquez, Democrat incumbent. Vasquez previously worked at Catholic Charities and has served on the probate bench since 2018. ⁹⁰

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

San Antonio Proposition A : Pre-K 4 SA sales-tax renewal. This is not a candidate race. The measure would continue the existing dedicated sales-tax funding for Pre-K 4 SA rather than create a wholly new program. City materials describe it as renewal of the current one-eighth-cent sales-and-use tax and say the program has served tens of thousands of children since its earlier authorization. ^211,212 The policy choice is essentially whether the benefits attributed to the city pre-K program justify continuing a dedicated sales tax for another long period, versus returning that fraction of the sales-tax base for other public or private uses.

Endorsements and controversies: Only findings supported in the research are included above. An omitted endorsement or controversy is not a claim that none exists.

Numbered links identify sources retained from the research reports. Campaign websites describe current positions; official records establish votes and ballot status; reporting supplies context. Allegations are distinct from adjudicated findings. The 45th and 150th District Court numbers were rechecked against the Secretary of State certification before publication.

1. 2026 Ballot Certification
2. https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/forms/2026-write-In-ballot-cert.pdf
3. TALARICO, JAMES – Candidate overview | FEC
4. PAXTON, WARREN KENNETH JR. – Candidate overview | FEC
5. BROWN, THEODORE E. JR. – Candidate overview | FEC
6. STOUT, KATY PADILLA – Candidate overview | FEC
7. HERRERA, BRANDON – Candidate overview | FEC
8. CNN.com – Transcripts
9. CNN.com – Transcripts
10. James Talarico responds to GOP attacks over past remark that God is "nonbinary" – CBS News
11. James Talarico and the Art of the Walk-Back
12. Friday, April 16, 2021 — 27th Day
13. Tuesday, August 31, 2021 — 6th Day
14. Friday, May 12, 2023 — 62nd Day
15. Thursday, April 17, 2025 — 46th Day
16. Taxes & Cost of Living – Talarico for Texas
17. Health Care – Talarico for Texas
18. Labor & Business – Talarico for Texas
19. Public Safety & Justice – Talarico for Texas
20. Corruption & Democracy – Talarico for Texas
21. Texas ad distorts James Talarico’s vote on gender-affirming care for children – PolitiFact
22. Paxton, Talarico face tough questions in Fort Worth about issues that have emerged in Texas Senate race – CBS Texas
23. In 2026 election, James Talarico moderates on some issues
24. Texas governor 2026: What to know about Greg Abbott and Gina Hinojosa
25. Gina Hinojosa seeks to expand the Democratic tent
26. Texas Lt. governor race: What to know about Dan Patrick and Vikki Goodwin
27. Ken Paxton Impeachment Archives – The Texas Tribune
28. Inside Ken Paxton's jet-setting lifestyle: California wineries, European hot spots and ski resorts
29. Brandon Herrera gains momentum against Tony Gonzales
30. Tony Gonzales heads into Election Day politically imperiled
31. Trump sends cease-and-desist letter to Brandon Herrera
32. Brandon Herrera gets Trump nod for 23rd Congressional District
33. Independent Candidate Filings
34. MENDOZA, BEN – Candidate overview | FEC
35. Ken Paxton for U.S. Senate
36. Immigration & Border Security – Talarico for Texas
37. Want less spending, more guns and no war? Forget Paxton. Vote Libertarian! | Opinion
38. Human Rights Campaign PAC Endorses James Talarico for U.S. Senate
39. End Citizens United Endorses James Talarico for U.S. Senate in Texas
40. Paxton's defense attorney endorses Talarico for Senate
41. Paxton whistleblower endorses Talarico in Texas Senate race
42. Trump endorses Ken Paxton in Senate GOP runoff
43. Trump’s PAC spending $10 million for Paxton in Texas
44. Elon Musk super PAC starts spending to boost Ken Paxton in Texas
45. Independent Candidate Filings
46. Issues – Greg Abbott
47. Priorities | Gina Hinojosa for Texas Governor
48. Save Texas Public Schools | Gina Hinojosa for Texas Governor
49. On Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Gina Hinojosa Shares Her Story and Commitment to Restore Reproductive Freedom | Gina Hinojosa for Texas Governor
50. Gina Hinojosa wants to eliminate homeowners' property taxes. But how?
51. A look at Texas gubernatorial candidates’ education priorities
52. Exclusive: Texas public schools could lose $227M from voucher exodus, estimate shows
53. Gina Hinojosa* | Teach the Vote
54. Endorsements | Texas Organizing Project
55. U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego Endorses Gina Hinojosa for Governor of Texas | Gina Hinojosa for Texas Governor
56. Top candidates in the 2026 Texas governor's race primary
57. Platform
58. https://patdixon.org/
59. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Releases 2026 Interim Charges to the Texas Senate – Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick
60. Dan Patrick touts tax plan, defends education agenda during Midland stop
61. More Issues — Rep. Vikki Goodwin
62. Vikki Goodwin platform & website | Texas Lieutenant Governor
63. News — Rep. Vikki Goodwin
64. Top candidates in the 2026 Texas lieutenant governor's race
65. Kevin McCormick for Texas Lieutenant Governor
66. Anthony "Tony" Douglas Cristo – Libertarian Party
67. Katy Padilla Stout for Congress
68. Issues | Katy Padilla Stout for Congress
69. Endorsements | Katy Padilla Stout for Congress
70. On The Issues — Brandon Herrera for Congress
71. Brandon's Record — Brandon Herrera for Congress
72. Endorsements — Brandon Herrera for Congress
73. Ben Mendoza | 2026 candidate for Texas' 23rd Congressional District – San Antonio Report
74. Official Home Page of the Texas House of Representatives Website for Rep. LaHood, Marc.
75. Tuesday, January 14, 2025 — 1st Day
76. Marc LaHood for State Representative – House District 121
77. 89(R) History for SB 2 | Texas Legislature Online
78. Texas House GOP races more subdued, center on tort battle
79. Zack Dunn our choice to represent Texas House District 121
80. Zack Dunn – Zack Dunn
81. Zack Dunn | 2026 candidate for Texas House District 121 – San Antonio Report
82. Targeted Races – Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee
83. Texas – RSLC
84. Energy & Environment – Talarico for Texas
85. Freedom, Family & Faith – Talarico for Texas
86. NEW AD: “Law Enforcement” – Hinojosa Fights For Law Enforcement, Stronger Borders, And Safer Communities | Gina Hinojosa for Texas Governor
87. STATEMENT: Hinojosa on Greg Abbott Grandstanding on Public Safety  | Gina Hinojosa for Texas Governor
88. Current Elections Information List
89. 2026 Ballot Certification
90. 2026 Voter Guide: Who's running in the midterm elections?
91. Issues – Talarico for Texas
92. Ken Paxton for U.S. Senate
93. Ted Brown – Libertarian for U.S. Senator from Texas
94. About Texas Governor Greg Abbott – Greg Abbott
95. Issues – Greg Abbott
96. Texas governor 2026: What to know about Greg Abbott and Gina Hinojosa
97. https://patdixon.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
98. About Dan Patrick Lieutenant Governor
99. Rep. Vikki Goodwin
100. Kevin McCormick for Texas Lieutenant Governor
101. Texas lieutenant governor: Who is running and what to know
102. Mayes Middleton for Texas Attorney General – Conservative Republican
103. Priorities – Nathan Johnson for Texas
104. Nathan Johnson for Texas Attorney General
105. What to know about the 2026 Texas attorney general race
106. Issues | Bo French For Texas Railroad Commissioner
107. Priorities | Jon Rosenthal for Texas
108. Texas Railroad Commission 2026: What it does and who’s running in the race
109. Judge Luz Elena Chapa for DA
110. Ashley Foster platform & website | Bexar District Attorney
111. Ron Nirenberg | 2026 candidate for Bexar County Judge – San Antonio Report
112. Patrick Von Dohlen for Bexar County Judge | 2026
113. Tuesday, August 31, 2021 — 6th Day
114. Thursday, May 6, 2021 — 41st Day
115. https://journals.house.texas.gov/hjrnl/89r/pdf/89RDAY46FINAL.PDF
116. Friday, May 12, 2023 — 62nd Day
117. James Talarico responds to GOP attacks over past remark that God is "nonbinary" – CBS News
118. James Talarico and the Art of the Walk-Back
119. Wednesday, April 16, 2025 — 45th Day
120. Friday, April 16, 2021 — 27th Day
121. Thursday, May 6, 2021 — 41st Day
122. Texas House of Representatives
123. Help – Texas House of Representatives
124. Inside Ken Paxton's jet-setting lifestyle: California wineries, European hot spots and ski resorts
125. Texas US Senate candidate Paxton said Trump hurt Republicans, New York Times says
126. Ted Brown – Libertarian for U.S. Senator from Texas
127. Want less spending, more guns and no war? Forget Paxton. Vote Libertarian! | Opinion
128. Independent Candidate Filings
129. Issues | Katy Padilla Stout for Congress
130. Katy Padilla Stout for Congress
131. On The Issues — Brandon Herrera for Congress
132. Democrats see chance to flip 23rd District with Gonzales out
133. Padilla Stout brings experience, perspective to Texas Congressional District 23
134. About Gov. Abbott | Office of the Texas Governor | Greg Abbott
135. Gina Hinojosa for Texas Governor | Official Campaign Website
136. Gina Hinojosa wants to eliminate homeowners' property taxes. But how?
137. Platform
138. Home – Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor
139. Dan Patrick touts tax plan, defends education agenda during Midland stop
140. Texas Lt. governor race: What to know about Dan Patrick and Vikki Goodwin
141. About
142. Issues-2026
143. Anthony Cristo for Lt. Governor – TX
144. Campaign Updates & News | Mayes Middleton For Texas Attorney General
145. Johnson Calls for Comprehensive AI Audit in First 30-Days If Elected Texas Attorney General – Nathan Johnson for Texas
146. Exclusive: Texas AG candidate unveils "AI audit" plan
147. Top candidates in the 2026 Texas agriculture commissioner primary
148. Clayton Tucker Statement on Nate Sheets’ Data Center Plan
149. Nate Sheets on the Issues – Nate Sheets for AG Commissioner
150. For Commissioner of Agriculture: Nate Sheets | Endorsement
151. Texas ag commissioner candidates trade ineligibility jabs
152. Austin R. Kelly – Libertarian Party
153. Austin R. Kelly for TX Ag Commissioner – Issues/Solutions
154. Don Huffines – Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
155. Texas Comptroller Don Huffines Puts Taxpayers First with Reforms Built on Fairness, Transparency and Respect
156. Don Huffines Texas Comptroller
157. Who is running for Texas Comptroller in 2026? | Vote the Person
158. Texas Comptroller Don Huffines to Launch Performance Review of School Districts' Spending
159. Why I'm Running — Sarah Eckhardt
160. Issues — Sarah Eckhardt
161. Candidates – Libertarian Party of Texas
162. 2026 Texas land commissioner race: What you need to know
163. Dr. Dawn Buckingham
164. Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham Unveils “The Texas Engine” to Power America’s Future | Texas General Land Office
165. Democrat Ben Flores is best choice for Texas land commissioner
166. Vote Neill Snider
167. Issues | Bo French For Texas Railroad Commissioner
168. Anti-immigrant post fuels donations to Texas GOP candidate's opponent
169. Texas Statewide Offices on Your 2026 Ballot
170. Official Home Page of the Texas House of Representatives Website for Rep. LaHood, Marc.
171. Texas House of Representatives
172. Zack Dunn our choice to represent Texas House District 121
173. TJB | SC | About the Court | Justices | Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock
174. Jimmy Blacklock | 2026 candidate for Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice – San Antonio Report
175. Maggie Ellis | 2026 candidate for Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice – San Antonio Report
176. A look at the candidates in the 2026 Texas Supreme Court race
177. Texas Courts | Justice James P. Sullivan
178. James P. Sullivan | 2026 candidate for Texas Supreme Court Place 2 – San Antonio Report
179. Texas Supreme Court 2026 election: Who is running and what to know
180. 2026 Supreme Court Place 2 | Texas Judges
181. TJB | SC | About the Court | Justices | Justice Kyle D. Hawkins
182. Kristen Hawkins | 2026 candidate for Texas Supreme Court Place 7 – San Antonio Report
183. Supreme Court, Place 7 | Texas Judges
184. TJB | SC | About the Court | Justices | Justice Brett Busby
185. TJB | 3rd COA | About The Court | Justices | Justice Gisela D. Triana
186. Supreme Court Place 8 | Texas Judges
187. About | Thomas Smith for Judge – Texas Court of Criminal Appeals – Place 3.
188. Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3 | Texas Judges
189. TJB | CCA | About the Court | Judges | Judge Kevin Yeary
190. 2026 Court of Criminal Appeals Place 4 | Texas Judges
191. Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9 | Texas Judges
192. Candidates in the 2026 Texas Court of Criminal Appeals primaries
193. 2026 Texas 15th Court of Appeals election guide
194. 15th Court of Appeals, Place 2 | Texas Judges
195. 2026 15th Court of Appeals, Place 3 | Texas Judges
196. Antonia Arteaga | 2026 candidate for Fourth Court of Appeals – San Antonio Report
197. Bert Richardson | 2026 candidate for Fourth Court of Appeals – San Antonio Report
198. Diana Arévalo | 2026 candidate for the Bexar Central Appraisal District – San Antonio Report
199. Susan Meryl Bayne | 2026 candidate for the Bexar Central Appraisal District – San Antonio Report
200. Voter Guide: Here's who is running for the BCAD board in 2026
201. Lucy Adame-Clark | 2026 candidate for Bexar County Clerk – San Antonio Report
202. Bexar County 2026 Candidates & Sample Ballot | Texas
203. Christine 'Chris' Castillo | 2026 candidate for Bexar County District Clerk – San Antonio Report
204. 78256 Sample Ballot: Bexar County, TX 2026 | The Ballot Brief
205. This local election could change how Bexar County handles crime
206. My Platform | Ron Nirenberg for Bexar County Judge
207. Issues | Patrick Von Dohlen for Bexar County Judge
208. Board of Directors – – Edwards Aquifer Authority
209. Joey Groff — Candidate for Edwards Aquifer Authority Board – District 1 | GoodParty.org
210. 2026 Voter Guide: Who's running in the midterm elections?
211. District 2 Councilmember Celebrates Pre-K 4 SA Ballot Measure – City of San Antonio
212. Local Ballot Measures — Bexar County 2026