2026 Midterms State GuideTexas
Hold on to your bluebonnets and mums.
- PrimaryStatewideMar. 3This date has passed.
- Election DayGeneralNov. 3
Updated
Hi! It’s me, Shadrach. Apparently, I’m your civic guide today. If you’ve been complaining about how things are going (and I’ve heard you, the walls are thin), this guide will help you feel informed and able to vote in this year’s midterms. Now, hold on to your bluebonnets and mums, and let’s get into it.
Texas at a glance
Texas votes on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, for governor, U.S. Senate and all 38 U.S. House seats.
- Election Day
- Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026
- Voter registration
- Oct. 5: Voter registration deadline
- Early voting
- Oct. 19 to Oct. 30: Early voting (in person)
- Governor
- 7 candidates
- U.S. Senate
- 7 candidates
- U.S. House
- 38 seats
- Statewide ballot measures
- None
Your to-do list
0 of 3 doneImportant dates
- Mar. 3Primary This date has passed.
- Oct. 5Voter registration deadline
- Oct. 19 to Oct. 30Early voting (in person)
- Oct. 23Deadline for applications for by-mail ballots to be received (not just postmarked)
- Nov. 3Election Day. Deadline for mail-in ballots without postmarks is 7 p.m.
- Nov. 4Deadline for mail-in ballots postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day
What’s at stake
Pocketbook pain is front and center in Texas. In an August 2026 UT/Texas Politics Project poll, 29% of voters named inflation or the economy as the state's most important problem. About two-thirds said they're 'very concerned' about grocery prices (67%) and health care costs (64%). That frustration hangs over the open Senate race, which the Cook Political Report rates a toss-up and which could help decide control of the chamber.
Who’s on your ballot
Tap a race to see the candidates.
Texas is choosing a governor
See whose priorities line up with yours
Here are the top priorities each candidate lists, in their own words. Pick the 3 that matter most to you. Names stay hidden until you see your results.
0 of 3 picked
Greg AbbottRepublicanincumbent
Top priorities- Implementing and maintaining border security initiatives.
- Maintaining Texas’s top ranking for business, including Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, and tech exports.
- Various quality-of-life initiatives, such as property tax relief and school choice/parental rights in education.
- Top priorities
Gina HinojosaDemocrat- Providing opportunities for small businesses and working Texans, disincentivizing private equity and large corporations.
- Investing in school safety and teacher pay, neighborhood schools.
- Reining in the insurance and private healthcare spaces.
- Top priorities
Pat DixonLibertarian- Request the Board of Pardons and Paroles pardon Robert Roberson.
- Cultivate free market sustainability.
- Support the ability for cities to use better voting systems.
- Edward GilesIndependent
Write-in
- Jinghpaw MajoishingraIndependent
Write-in
- Mike MillerIndependent
Write-in
Jenn Mack RaphoonIndependentWrite-in
- Get to know ’em
James TalaricoDemocrat - Get to know ’em
Ken PaxtonRepublican - Get to know ’em
Ted BrownLibertarian - Avery AyersIndependent
Write-in
- Bradford HallIndependent
Write-in
- Zul MohamedIndependent
Write-in
- Jade SimmonsIndependent
Write-in
All U.S. House of Representatives seats are up for election every two years. Find your district here.
This year, Texas is debuting some
new bootsdistrict boundaries, making it one of nine states to feature a new Congressional map in 2026.- Shadrach’s big picture
Texas has 38 House seats. Under the new map, Republicans are expected to hold 28 of 38 districts (up from 25 under the old map).
- Open seats
14 (Six retirements, two running for Senate [Crockett D-30, Hunt R-38], one running for AG [Roy R-21], three running in different districts after redistricting [Green D-9, Johnson D-32, Casar D-35], one primary loss [Crenshaw R-2], and one resignation [Gonzales R-23].)
- The redistricting effect
Several Dem incumbents were drawn into unfriendly or occupied districts. Al Green and Christian Menefee were forced into a primary against each other (Menefee won by a landslide, 69% to 31%). Julie Johnson moved from TX-32 to TX-33 (and lost her runoff). Greg Casar moved from TX-35 to TX-37. The districts they vacated became open, Republican-favored seats.
- Competitive districts
TX-34 is the only district considered a competitive toss-up this cycle. TX-28 leans Democratic (but isn’t as safe as other districts). TX-23 is likely (but not safely) Republican, and TX-15 leans (but isn’t safely) Republican.
Also on the ballot
Other races Texas voters will decide.
- Lieutenant Governor
- Attorney General
- Agriculture Commissioner
- Comptroller
- Land Commissioner
- Railroad Commissioner
- State Board of Education (9 seats)
- State Senate
- State House
- Special state legislative
- State Supreme Court
- Intermediate appellate courts
- School boards
- Municipal government
- Recalls
- Local ballot measures
Whose job is it?
Ten things government does. Tap the office that does each one.
Whose job is it to…
1 of 10
Declare a state of emergency after a hurricane or flood?
Pass it on
Know someone voting in Texas?
Send them the guide. It takes one tap, and it saves them an evening of arguing in a group chat.
From the newsroom
How TPO has covered Texas this cycle. Tap one to read it here.
The Lone Star State is putting Senator John Cornyn (R) out to pasture. Texas AG Ken Paxton beat the four-term incumbent in the state’s Republican run-off Tuesday, a week after clinching President Trump’s endorsement. The ousting sets up a closely-watched midterm against Democrat James Talarico, with polls predicting a competitive race in a state that hasn’t elected a Democratic senator since 1988.
One story from that day’s newsletter.
Read the full day’s newsThe latest round of America’s redistricting battle came Monday. The Supreme Court cleared Texas’s redrawn congressional map—projected to give the Lone Star State up to five more red House seats—ending a multi-year legal fight. Hours later, Gov. DeSantis (R-FL) unveiled a proposed Florida map that could net the GOP four more seats; Florida’s legislature opens a special session Tuesday to consider.
One story from that day’s newsletter.
Read the full day’s news
A prayer for Texas
King of kings and Lord of lords, You are sovereign over the Lone Star State. In the midst of national attention, steady Texans with Your steadfast care. Anchor voters in wisdom, seeking the righteousness of Your Kingdom and the flourishing of their communities.
Keep candidates from performance, posturing, and contempt, and help them campaign with integrity. May whoever wins steward the weight of this office well, leading with dignity and discernment.
For those who will be disappointed by the result, comfort them in their grief and make Yourself known to them in their fear of tomorrow. And for those who will be pleased, turn their hearts toward love of neighbor, humble service, and gracious speech.
Open doors for conversations about the good news that Your sovereignty is not suspended on election night, and Your good purposes aren’t undone by any election cycle.
Amen.