Texas general election: November 3, 2026
Who is running for State Representative District 106 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for State Representative District 106 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Texas House District 106.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Joe MayesDemocrat | Jared PattersonRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Abortion | No public position | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestSaid · low |
| Guns | No public position | Remove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightOfficial action · high |
| Immigration | No public position | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadySaid · medium |
| School choice | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsQuestionnaire answer · medium | Yes, universal school choice for every familyVoted · medium |
| Curriculum and books | Keep access broad; removals should be rareSaid · low | Parents, including the right to remove material they object toOfficial action · medium |
| Property taxes | No public position | Keep cutting them and cap how fast they can riseSaid · medium |
| Policing and crime | No public position | Tougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailVoted · medium |
| Election rules | No public position | Strict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsVoted · medium |
| Gender care for minors | No public position | No, ban these treatments for minorsVoted · medium |
| Redistricting | No public position | State legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantageVoted · medium |
| Kids online | No public position | Ban social media accounts for minorsOfficial action · medium |
| School vaccines | No public position | Keep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsOfficial action · medium |
| Transgender athletes | No public position | No, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsVoted · medium |
| DEI programs | No public position | Ban DEI offices and required training at public institutionsVoted · medium |
| Religion in schools | No public position | Support laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsVoted · medium |
| China policy | No public position | Get tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesOfficial action · medium |
Joe Mayes
DemocratRetired writer, small business owner and Air Force veteran
Joe Mayes is a Democrat and 20-year U.S. Air Force veteran who is a small business owner, former cybersecurity executive and freelance writer2. He is running for Texas House District 106 on public school funding, affordability and protecting individual freedoms3.
Where they stand 2 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium
Curriculum and booksKeep access broad; removals should be rarelow
Said · low confidence- His campaign site says parents and individuals, not the state, should determine the books they read, and that he will defend freedoms against state or local communities that seek to impose their beliefs on all members of a community. (2026) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, AI data centers, Property taxes, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Jared Patterson
Republican · IncumbentTexas State Representative, District 106
Jared Patterson is a Republican who represents Texas House District 106 in north central and eastern Denton County and was first elected in 2018, taking office in January 20195518. He is a Texas A&M graduate who served on the Sachse City Council from 2009 to 20135556. He chairs the Local and Consent Calendars Committee, and his campaign lists life, the Second Amendment, border security, election integrity and property tax relief among his priorities189.
Where they stand 20 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
GunsRemove most restrictions; bearing arms is a righthigh
Official action · high confidence- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 1927 (2021), relating to the carrying of a firearm by a person 21 or older who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing one. (2021) source
- Voted yes on HB 1927 (2021), relating to the carrying of a firearm by a person 21 or older who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing one; it passed the House 87 to 58. (2021-04-16) source
- Voted yes on the final version of HB 1927 (2021), relating to the carrying of a firearm by a person 21 or older who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing one; the House adopted the conference committee report 82 to 62. (2021-05-23) source
- His official biography says he played a key role in passing Constitutional Carry in 2021. (2026) source
School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familymedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 2 (2025), relating to the establishment of an education savings account program; it passed the House 86 to 61. (2025-04-17) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 2 (2025), relating to the establishment of an education savings account program. (2025) source
- Voted no on the Raney amendment (Amendment No. 2) to HB 1 (2023, fourth called session), a bill that included the establishment of an education savings account program, which would strike Article 6 of the bill; the House adopted it 84 to 63. (2023-11-17) source
Religion in schoolsSupport laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 10 (2025), relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms; it passed the House 82 to 46. (2025-05-25) source
- Voted yes on SB 11 (2025), relating to a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text in public schools; it passed the House 88 to 48. (2025-05-23) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 10 (2025), relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. (2025) source
- His campaign site lists upholding the Constitution and protecting religious freedom among his priorities. (2026) source
DEI programsBan DEI offices and required training at public institutionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 12 (2025), relating to parental rights in public education, including requirements and prohibitions regarding instruction and diversity, equity, and inclusion duties; it passed the House 88 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
- Voted yes on SB 17 (2023), relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at public institutions of higher education; it passed the House 83 to 62. (2023-05-22) source
China policyGet tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Was listed as the House sponsor of SB 17 (2025), relating to the purchase or acquisition of real property by certain aliens or foreign entities. (2025) source
- Voted yes on SB 17 (2025), relating to the purchase or acquisition of real property by certain aliens or foreign entities; it passed the House 86 to 59. (2025-05-09) source
Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tomedium
Official action · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 13 (2025), relating to school library materials, local school library advisory councils and parental rights regarding library catalogs and access; it passed the House 86 to 55. (2025-05-28) source
- Was listed as the House author of HB 900 (2023), relating to the regulation of library materials sold to or included in public school libraries. (2023) source
- Voted yes on HB 900 (2023), relating to the regulation of library materials sold to or included in public school libraries; it passed the House 95 to 52. (2023-04-20) source
- His official biography says he passed HB 900, known as the READER Act, which protects Texas schoolchildren from explicit material. (2026) source
RedistrictingState legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantagemedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 4 (2025, second called session), relating to the composition of the districts for the election of members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas; it passed the House 88 to 52. (2025-08-20) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 4 (2025, second called session), relating to the composition of the districts for the election of members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas. (2025) source
Kids onlineBan social media accounts for minorsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Was listed as the House author of HB 186 (2025), relating to prohibiting use of social media platforms by children. (2025) source
- Voted yes on HB 186 (2025), relating to prohibiting use of social media platforms by children; it passed the House 116 to 25. (2025-04-30) source
- Was listed as the House sponsor of SB 2420 (2025), relating to the regulation of platforms for the sale and distribution of software applications. (2025) source
Policing and crimeTougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 9 (2025), relating to the confinement or release of defendants before trial or sentencing, including regulating charitable bail organizations and bail procedures; it passed the House 118 to 25. (2025-05-20) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 9 (2025), relating to the confinement or release of defendants before trial or sentencing, including regulating charitable bail organizations, and the conditions of and procedures for setting bail and reviewing bail decisions. (2025) source
- Voted yes on HB 1900 (2021), relating to municipalities that adopt budgets that defund municipal police departments; it passed the House 90 to 49. (2021-05-07) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 1900 (2021), relating to municipalities that adopt budgets that defund municipal police departments. (2021) source
School vaccinesKeep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsmedium
Official action · medium confidenceImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site lists prioritizing border security and curtailing illegal immigration. (2026) source
- Voted yes on SB 4 (2023, fourth called session), relating to prohibitions on illegal entry into or illegal presence in this state by a person who is an alien; it passed the House 83 to 61. (2023-11-14) source
- Voted yes on SB 8 (2025), relating to agreements between sheriffs and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration law; it passed the House 86 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
Election rulesStrict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on the final version of SB 1 (2021, second called session), relating to election integrity and security; the House adopted the conference committee report 80 to 41. (2021-08-31) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 16 (2025), which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote; it did not reach a House floor vote. (2025) source
- His campaign site lists advocating for robust election integrity measures. (2026) source
Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can risemedium
Said · medium confidenceGender care for minorsNo, ban these treatments for minorsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 14 (2023), relating to prohibitions on the provision to certain children of procedures and treatments for gender transitioning; it passed the House 87 to 56. (2023-05-15) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 14 (2023), relating to prohibitions on the provision to certain children of procedures and treatments for gender transitioning. (2023) source
Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 25 (2021, third called session), relating to requiring public school students to compete in interscholastic athletics based on biological sex; it passed the House 76 to 54. (2021-10-14) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 25 (2021, third called session), relating to requiring public school students to compete in interscholastic athletics based on biological sex. (2021) source
- Voted yes on SB 15 (2023), relating to requiring public institution of higher education students who compete in intercollegiate athletics to compete based on biological sex; it passed the House 95 to 50. (2023-05-18) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 15 (2023), relating to requiring public institution of higher education students who compete in intercollegiate athletics to compete based on biological sex. (2023) source
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow
Said · low confidence- His campaign site lists valuing and protecting every life from conception to natural end. (2026) source
- Voted yes on SB 8 (2021), relating to abortion, including abortions after detection of an unborn child's heartbeat; it passed the House 83 to 64. (2021-05-06) source
- Voted yes on HB 1280 (2021), relating to prohibition of abortion; it passed the House 81 to 61. (2021-05-06) source
- Voted yes on HB 7 (2025, second called session), relating to prohibitions on the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs; it passed the House 82 to 48. (2025-08-28) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 7 (2025, second called session), relating to prohibitions on the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs. (2025) source
AI data centersNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 6 (2025), relating to the planning for, interconnection and operation of, and costs related to providing service for certain electrical loads; it passed the House 103 to 25. (2025-05-27) source
MarijuanaNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 441 (2021), relating to the criminal and licensing consequences of certain marihuana possession and drug paraphernalia possession offenses; it passed the House 88 to 40. (2021-04-30) source
- Voted no on HB 218 (2023), relating to the criminal and licensing consequences of certain offenses relating to the possession of marihuana and certain THC compounds; it passed the House 87 to 59. (2023-04-27) source
- Voted yes on HB 46 (2025), relating to the medical use of low-THC cannabis and the administration of the Texas Compassionate-Use Program; it passed the House 122 to 21. (2025-05-13) source
- Voted yes on SB 3 (2025), relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products; it passed the House 87 to 54. (2025-05-22) source
Housing and growthNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on SB 15 (2025), relating to size and density requirements for residential lots in certain municipalities; it passed the House 86 to 43. (2025-05-28) source
Mandatory minimumsNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 6 (2023), relating to the designation of fentanyl poisoning or fentanyl toxicity for purposes of the death certificate and to criminal penalties for certain controlled substance offenses; it passed the House 124 to 21. (2023-04-28) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.