State Senator, Texas Senate District 26

José Menéndez is a San Antonio Democrat who has represented Texas Senate District 26 since winning a 2015 special election¹. He previously served in the Texas House and on the San Antonio City Council¹². He faces Green Party candidate Julián Villarreal on Nov. 3, 2026³.

Where they stand 21 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• GunsAll of that, plus ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazinesmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Voted no on HB 1927 (2021), which allows adults to carry a handgun without a license; it passed the Senate 18 to 13. (2021-05-05) source
  • Authored SB 195 (2025), relating to a required waiting period for certain firearm transfers. (2025-02) source
  • Authored SB 910 (2023), relating to a thirty day waiting period before a person younger than 21 may purchase a firearm. (2023-03) source
  • Was a joint author of SB 1274 (2023), relating to regulating certain firearm transfers, possession of certain firearms, and protective orders prohibiting possession of a firearm. (2023-03) source
  • Text of SB 1274 (2023) as introduced, the Robb Elementary Firearm Safety Act, makes it an offense to possess or transfer certain assault weapons. (2023-03) source
  • Was a joint author of SB 1658 (2025), the same firearm transfer, assault weapon and protective order bill. (2025-03) source
  • Voted no on the House amendment to SB 1362 (2025), which bars Texas from adopting or enforcing red flag laws; the Senate concurred 20 to 11. (2025-05-30) source
• RedistrictingIndependent commissions draw maps, with a national ban on partisan gerrymanderingmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Authored SJR 28 (2021) and SB 410 (2021), relating to a Texas Redistricting Commission to redistrict the Legislature and Congress. (2021-03) source
  • Authored SB 45 and SJR 12 (2021, third called session), relating to the Texas Redistricting Commission. (2021-09) source
  • Voted no on SB 6 (2021), the 2021 congressional map; it passed the Senate 18 to 13. (2021-10-08) source
  • Authored SB 115 and SJR 16 (2023), relating to the Texas Redistricting Commission. (2023-02) source
  • Authored SB 180 and SJR 11 (2025), relating to the Texas Redistricting Commission. (2025-02) source
  • Voted no on HB 4 (2025, second called session), which redrew Texas U.S. House districts; it passed the Senate 18 to 11. (2025-08-22) source
• Texas power gridPay for more backup natural gas plantsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on SB 6 (2023), which set up a Texas Energy Insurance Program to support backup power plants; it passed the Senate 22 to 9. (2023-04-05) source
  • Voted yes on SB 2627 (2023), which created state loans for dispatchable power plants; it passed the Senate 27 to 4. (2023-05-04) source
• School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium

  Questionnaire answer · medium confidence

  • In his 2014 ATPE candidate survey he said vouchers and tuition tax credits undermine the public education system and that Texas must properly fund public schools instead of supporting private or religious schools. (2014) source
  • Voted no on SB 8 (2023), an earlier education savings account bill; it passed the Senate 18 to 13. (2023-04-06) source
  • Voted no on SB 2 (2025), which created a state education savings account program that can pay for private school; it passed the Senate 19 to 12. (2025-02-05) source
• DEI programsExpand them to close gaps between groupsmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Authored SB 2194 (2023), relating to promoting racial equity in the hiring and promotion of faculty members; as introduced it requires each public college to develop a five-year plan to increase racial diversity among faculty. (2023-03) source
  • Voted no on SB 17 (2023), which bars DEI offices at public colleges; it passed the Senate 19 to 12. (2023-04-19) source
  • Voted no on SB 12 (2025), which bars DEI duties in public K-12 schools; the Senate adopted the final version 20 to 11. (2025-05-31) source
• Election rulesEasier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyonemedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Authored SB 95 (2021), relating to early voting by mail by any qualified voter. (2021-03) source
  • Authored SB 98 (2021), relating to automatic voter registration when a driver's license or identification card is issued or changed. (2021-03) source
  • Authored SB 120 (2023), relating to early voting by mail by any qualified voter. (2023-02) source
  • Authored SB 145 (2025), relating to early voting by mail by any qualified voter. (2025-02) source
  • Voted no on SB 16 (2025), which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote; it passed the Senate 20 to 11. (2025-04-01) source
• Nuclear powerBack new reactors with public funds, tax credits, and streamlined approvalsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on HB 14 (2025), which created the Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office and a fund with grant programs to support new nuclear development; it passed the Senate 26 to 5. (2025-05-27) source
• Childcare and pre-KTarget free pre-K and subsidies to low-income and priority familiesmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Authored SB 175 (2025), relating to providing free prekindergarten for certain children. (2025-02) source
• Housing and growthAllow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downlow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 840 (2025), which limits city rules that block mixed-use and multifamily housing in commercial areas; it passed the Senate 23 to 7. (2025-03-24) source
• HealthcareKeep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenlow

  Official action · low confidence

  • Was a joint author of SB 125 (2023), relating to the expansion of eligibility for Medicaid under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. (2023-02) source
  • Was a joint author of SB 255 (2025), relating to the expansion of eligibility for Medicaid under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. (2025-02) source
• AbortionNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on the final version of SB 8 (2021), the Texas Heartbeat Act; the Senate concurred 18 to 12. (2021-05-13) source
  • Voted no on HB 1280 (2021), the law banning abortion if Roe v. Wade was overturned; it passed the Senate 19 to 12. (2021-05-25) source
  • Authored SB 44 (2021, third called session), relating to sexual assault and incest exceptions to the prohibition on abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat. (2021-09) source
  • Authored SB 1682 (2025), relating to exceptions to and the repeal of certain laws prohibiting abortion; as introduced it adds exceptions for rape, incest, non-viable pregnancies and future infertility. (2025-03) source
  • Voted no on SB 33 (2025), which bars local governments from funding travel or logistical support for abortions; it passed the Senate 22 to 9. (2025-04-16) source
  • Voted no on HB 7 (2025, second called session), which restricts the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs; it passed the Senate 17 to 8. (2025-09-03) source
• Transgender athletesNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on HB 25 (2021, third called session), which requires K-12 athletes to compete based on sex assigned at birth; it passed the Senate 19 to 12. (2021-10-15) source
  • Voted no on the final version of SB 15 (2023), which requires college athletes to compete based on biological sex; the Senate concurred 19 to 12. (2023-05-26) source
• China policyNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on SB 147 (2023), an earlier land purchase restriction bill; it passed the Senate 19 to 12. (2023-04-26) source
  • Voted no on SB 17 (2025), which restricts Texas land purchases by people and entities from certain countries including China; it passed the Senate 24 to 7. (2025-03-19) source
• Gender care for minorsNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on the final version of SB 14 (2023), which bans gender transition procedures and treatments for minors; the Senate approved it 19 to 12. (2023-05-17) source
• Curriculum and booksNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on HB 900 (2023), which regulates library materials sold to or kept in public school libraries; it passed the Senate 19 to 12. (2023-05-23) source
  • Voted no on SB 13 (2025), which creates local school library advisory councils and expands parental rights over school library materials; it passed the Senate 23 to 8. (2025-03-19) source
• ImmigrationNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on SB 4 (2023, fourth called session), which made illegal entry into Texas a state crime; it passed the Senate 17 to 11. (2023-11-09) source
  • Voted no on SB 8 (2025), which requires certain sheriffs to seek agreements with ICE; the Senate adopted the final version 20 to 11. (2025-05-31) source
• Religion in schoolsNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on SB 11 (2025), which lets school boards set a period for prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious texts; it passed the Senate 23 to 7. (2025-03-18) source
  • Voted no on SB 10 (2025), which requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms; the Senate approved the final version 21 to 10. (2025-05-28) source
• Energy and climateNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on SB 388 (2025), which set goals for new generation to come from dispatchable sources such as natural gas; it passed the Senate 18 to 13. (2025-03-19) source
  • Voted yes on SB 819 (2025), which added permit rules and fees for renewable energy generation facilities; it passed the Senate 25 to 6. (2025-04-15) source
• School vaccinesNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on the final version of HB 1586 (2025), which requires the state to post the school vaccine exemption affidavit form online; it passed the Senate 23 to 8. (2025-05-25) source
• MarijuanaNo single answer fitsmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Authored SB 90 (2021) and SB 2040 (2021), relating to authorizing the possession, use, cultivation, distribution and sale of medical cannabis for medical use by qualified patients. (2021-03) source
  • Authored SB 121 (2023), relating to authorizing medical cannabis for qualified patients. (2023-02) source
  • Authored SB 170 (2025) and SB 734 (2025), relating to authorizing medical cannabis for qualified patients. (2025-02) source
  • Was a joint author of SB 54 (2025, first called session), relating to the regulation, possession, use and taxation of cannabis and cannabis products, including expunction of records relating to certain decriminalized conduct. (2025-07) source
  • Was a joint author of SB 31 (2025, second called session), the same cannabis regulation and taxation bill with expunction of records relating to certain decriminalized conduct. (2025-08) source
  • Voted no on the final version of SB 3 (2025), which would have banned most consumable hemp products containing THC; the Senate approved it 25 to 6 and the governor later vetoed it. (2025-05-25) source
• Property taxesNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on SB 10 (2025, second called session), which lowered the voter-approval tax rate limit for certain local taxing units; it passed the Senate 18 to 12. (2025-08-19) source

No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, AI data centers, Policing and crime, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, E-Verify mandate.