Texas general election: November 3, 2026
Who is running for State Representative District 122 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for State Representative District 122 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Texas House District 122.
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 | Shelly NickelsDemocrat | Mark DorazioRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | Keep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenQuestionnaire answer · low | No public position |
| Abortion | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Questionnaire answer · low | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestVoted · low |
| Guns | No public position | Remove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightOfficial action · medium |
| Immigration | No public position | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadyVoted · medium |
| Texas power grid | No public position | Pay for more backup natural gas plantsVoted · medium |
| AI data centers | Welcome them, but make them pay their full share of grid and water costsQuestionnaire answer · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence |
| School choice | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsQuestionnaire answer · medium | Yes, universal school choice for every familyQuestionnaire answer · high |
| Curriculum and books | No public position | Parents, including the right to remove material they object toQuestionnaire answer · high |
| Property taxes | Keep cutting them and cap how fast they can riseQuestionnaire answer · low | Keep cutting them and cap how fast they can riseQuestionnaire answer · high |
| 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 ballotsOfficial action · 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 |
| Mandatory minimums | No public position | Add or lengthen them for serious crimes like fentanyl traffickingVoted · medium |
| Drug prices | Negotiate more drugs and extend the insulin and yearly cost caps to private insuranceQuestionnaire answer · medium | No public position |
| Childcare and pre-K | Offer free pre-K to every 4-year-old, and expand childcare aidQuestionnaire answer · medium | No public position |
| School vaccines | No public position | Keep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsVoted · low |
| 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 salesVoted · medium |
Shelly Nickels
DemocratInternal medicine physician and hospital medicine medical director
Shelly Nickels is a Democrat and an internal medicine physician who has served as a medical director for hospital medicine programs in San Antonio for 12 years1. She earned a master's in healthcare administration from Trinity University1. She faces Republican incumbent Mark Dorazio on Nov. 3, 20262.
Where they stand 7 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Drug pricesNegotiate more drugs and extend the insulin and yearly cost caps to private insurancemedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- In the San Antonio Report 2026 voter guide she said the state should use its purchasing power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices and reduce out-of-pocket costs. (2026) source
- Her campaign priorities page says to lower prescription drug costs by capping costs and negotiating through government health plans. (2026) source
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidenceChildcare and pre-KOffer free pre-K to every 4-year-old, and expand childcare aidmedium
AI data centersWelcome them, but make them pay their full share of grid and water costsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- In the San Antonio Report 2026 voter guide she said industrial users including data centers must contribute fairly to the infrastructure. (2026) source
- Her campaign priorities page says to hold data centers accountable for their impact on water, air, infrastructure and electricity demand. (2026) source
HealthcareKeep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenlow
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- In the San Antonio Report 2026 voter guide she said Texas should restore women's reproductive rights, reverse laws that have denied access to necessary medical care and protect access to IVF. (2026) source
- Her campaign priorities page says to protect reproductive rights and keep politicians out of private medical decisions between patients, families and doctors. (2026) source
Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can riselow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- In the San Antonio Report 2026 voter guide she said property tax relief should focus on primary residences, seniors, disabled Texans, veterans and working families, with the state using its revenue to permanently reduce school tax rates and replace lost local revenue. (2026) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, Curriculum and books, 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, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Mark Dorazio
Republican · IncumbentState Representative, Texas House District 122
Mark Dorazio is a Republican who has served in the Texas House since 2023, after winning a crowded 2022 primary to replace retiring Rep. Lyle Larson1. He and his wife own a construction company that works for power companies, and he chaired the Bexar County Republican Party from 2017 to 201812. He faces Democrat Shelly Nickels on Nov. 3, 20263.
Where they stand 21 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familyhigh
Questionnaire answer · high confidence- Voted no on the Raney amendment, which removed the education savings account (voucher) program from HB 1; the House adopted it 84 to 63. (2023-11-17) source
- Voted yes on SB 2, which created a state education savings account program that can pay for private school; the House passed it 86 to 61. (2025-04-17) source
- In the San Antonio Report 2026 voter guide he said parents must have the freedom to choose the best environment for their children and that education savings accounts need transparency and high standards without added administrative bloat. (2026) source
Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can risehigh
Questionnaire answer · high confidence- Voted yes on SB 10 in the 2025 second special session, which lowered the voter-approval tax rate limit for certain local governments; it passed the House 78 to 52 but did not become law. (2025-08-25) source
- In the San Antonio Report 2026 voter guide he said he supports two-thirds voter approval for property tax increases, citizen-led tax rate rollbacks, reappraisal every five years and using the state surplus to pay down school district bond debt. (2026) source
Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tohigh
Questionnaire answer · high confidence- Voted yes on HB 900, which regulated library materials sold to or kept in public school libraries; it passed the House 95 to 52. (2023-04-20) source
- Voted yes on SB 13, which set up local school library advisory councils and parental rights over school library materials; it passed the House 86 to 55. (2025-05-28) source
- Voted yes on the final version of SB 13 (2025), which set up local school library advisory councils and gave parents more say over school library materials; the House approved it 81 to 48. (2025-05-31) source
- In the San Antonio Report 2026 voter guide he listed parental rights as a priority, saying parents are the primary educators of their children and he will keep fighting for parental empowerment in public education. (2026) source
Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 15, which requires college athletes at public universities to compete based on biological sex; it passed the House 95 to 50. (2023-05-18) source
Gender care for minorsNo, ban these treatments for minorsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 14, which banned gender transition procedures and treatments for minors; the House passed it 87 to 56. (2023-05-15) source
DEI programsBan DEI offices and required training at public institutionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 17, which banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices and related practices at public colleges; it passed the House 83 to 62. (2023-05-22) source
- Voted yes on SB 12, which set parental rights rules and prohibited diversity, equity and inclusion duties in K-12 public schools; it passed the House 88 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
Religion in schoolsSupport laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 11, which allows schools to set a period for prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious texts; it passed the House 88 to 48. (2025-05-23) source
- Voted yes on SB 10, which requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms; it passed the House 82 to 46. (2025-05-25) source
China policyGet tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 17, which restricts purchases of Texas real property by certain foreign governments, entities and people, including from China; it passed the House 86 to 59. (2025-05-09) source
ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 4, which made illegal entry into Texas a state crime and allowed state judges to order people to leave the country; it passed the House 83 to 61. (2023-11-14) source
- Voted yes on SB 8, which requires certain sheriffs to enter agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration law; it passed the House 86 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
- In the San Antonio Report 2026 voter guide he said Texas is working with the federal government to maintain a secure border and that the state should continue and enhance its support. (2026) source
Texas power gridPay for more backup natural gas plantsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 2627, which created state loans for new or upgraded dispatchable power plants; it passed the House 118 to 23. (2023-05-23) source
Mandatory minimumsAdd or lengthen them for serious crimes like fentanyl traffickingmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 6, which created new offenses and increased criminal penalties for certain fentanyl-related offenses; it passed the House 124 to 21. (2023-04-28) source
RedistrictingState legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantagemedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 4, the 2025 mid-decade redrawing of Texas congressional districts; it passed the House 88 to 52. (2025-08-20) source
Policing and crimeTougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 9, which tightened bail procedures and regulated charitable bail groups; it passed the House 118 to 25. (2025-05-20) source
GunsRemove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Authored HB 4663 (2023), relating to the age at which a person is eligible for a license to carry a handgun; as introduced it lowers the eligibility age from 21 to 18. (2023-03) source
Election rulesStrict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Authored HB 4989 (2025), relating to election integrity and security of ballot boxes, including by preventing fraud in the conduct of elections in this state. (2025-04) source
- Authored HB 4228 (2025), relating to prohibiting an officer or employee of a political subdivision from distributing certain voter registration application forms. (2025-03) source
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes on HB 7, which set prohibitions on making and providing abortion-inducing drugs and allows private lawsuits; it passed the House 82 to 48. (2025-08-28) source
School vaccinesKeep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes on HB 1586, which made the school vaccine exemption affidavit form easier to obtain; it passed the House 83 to 54. (2025-05-14) source
AI data centersNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 6, which set rules for how very large electricity users such as data centers connect to the grid and share related costs; it passed the House 103 to 25. (2025-05-27) source
MarijuanaNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on HB 218 (2023), which reduced criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana; it passed the House 87 to 59 but not the Senate. (2023-04-27) source
- Voted yes on HB 46 (2025), which expanded the state's medical low-THC cannabis program; it passed the House 122 to 21. (2025-05-13) source
- Voted yes on SB 3, which would have banned most consumable hemp-derived THC products; it passed the House 87 to 54 and was later vetoed by the governor. (2025-05-22) source
Kids onlineNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on the final version of HB 18 (2023), which requires digital services to verify users' ages, give parents tools and limit harmful content for minors; the House approved it 120 to 21. (2023-05-28) source
- Voted yes on HB 186, which would have prohibited minors from using social media platforms; it passed the House 116 to 25 but did not become law. (2025-04-30) source
Housing and growthNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 15 (2025), which bars certain large cities from requiring large minimum lot sizes for new homes; it passed the House 86 to 43. (2025-05-28) source
- Voted no on the final version of SB 15 (2025), which bars certain large cities from requiring large minimum lot sizes for new homes; the House approved it 78 to 57. (2025-06-01) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Energy and climate, 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.