Texas general election: November 3, 2026
Who is running for State Senator, District 22 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for State Senator, District 22 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Texas Senate District 22.
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 | David CookRepublican | Amy Martinez-SalasDemocrat |
|---|---|---|
| Safety net programs | No public position | Expand help for childcare, housing and paid family leaveQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| Healthcare | Private insurance with more competition and price transparency, keeping protections for pre-existing conditionsSaid · medium | No public position |
| Abortion | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestOfficial action · medium | No public position |
| Immigration | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadySaid · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence |
| AI data centers | Welcome them, but make them pay their full share of grid and water costsSaid · medium | Pause new approvals until the state finishes studying power and water impactsQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| School choice | Yes, universal school choice for every familyVoted · high | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| Curriculum and books | Parents, including the right to remove material they object toVoted · medium | No public position |
| Property taxes | Keep cutting them and cap how fast they can riseSaid · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence |
| Housing and growth | Let the market build what is needed, with local reviewSaid · medium | No public position |
| Policing and crime | Tougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailVoted · medium | No public position |
| Election rules | Strict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsVoted · medium | No public position |
| Gender care for minors | No, ban these treatments for minorsVoted · medium | No public position |
| Redistricting | State legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantageVoted · medium | No public position |
| Mandatory minimums | Add or lengthen them for serious crimes like fentanyl traffickingVoted · medium | No public position |
| Kids online | Ban social media accounts for minorsVoted · medium | No public position |
| School vaccines | Keep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsVoted · medium | No public position |
| Transgender athletes | No, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsVoted · medium | No public position |
| DEI programs | Ban DEI offices and required training at public institutionsVoted · medium | No public position |
| Religion in schools | Support laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsVoted · medium | No public position |
| China policy | Get tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesOfficial action · medium | No public position |
David Cook
RepublicanTexas State Representative, District 96
David Cook is a Republican who represents Texas House District 96 and is serving his third term, after serving as mayor of Mansfield from 2008 to 202135. He is the managing partner of the Harris Cook law firm and says he is a board-certified family-law attorney1. His stated top priorities for the Senate are property tax relief, cutting wasteful spending, securing the border and affordability1.
Where they stand 20 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familyhigh
AI data centersWelcome them, but make them pay their full share of grid and water costsmedium
Said · medium confidence- In September 2026 said data centers should report resource use, bring their own power, conserve water through closed-loop systems and not shift utility costs onto local ratepayers. (2026-09-23) source
- Said he committed in February 2026 to file legislation requiring data centers to address their energy and water demands, with public input and transparent permitting. (2026-09-23) source
- Voted no 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
Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can risemedium
Said · medium confidence- In September 2026 listed property tax relief among his top priorities. (2026-09-23) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 4 (2025), relating to an increase in the amount of the exemption of residence homesteads from school district ad valorem taxation; it was enacted. (2025) source
- Was listed as an author of HB 3972 (2023), relating to the limitation on increases in the appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem taxation. (2023) source
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 1280 (2021), the law banning abortion once Roe v. Wade was overturned, which allows exceptions only for a life-threatening condition or serious impairment of a major bodily function. (2021) source
- Voted yes on HB 1280 (2021); it passed the House 81 to 61. (2021-05-06) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 8 (2021), relating to abortion after detection of an unborn child's heartbeat; it was enacted. (2021) source
- Voted yes on HB 7 (2025, second called session), which set prohibitions on making and providing abortion-inducing drugs; it passed the House 82 to 48. (2025-08-28) 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 an author of HB 3448 (2023), relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools. (2023) source
- Was listed as an author of HB 1425 (2025), relating to a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text in public schools. (2025) source
Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tomedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 13 (2025), relating to school library materials, local school library advisory councils and parental rights regarding library catalogs; it passed the House 86 to 55, and he voted yes on the conference report, 81 to 48. (2025-05-28) 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
- Was listed as an author of HB 1658 (2023), relating to parental access to records regarding library materials checked out from public school libraries. (2023) source
DEI programsBan DEI offices and required training at public institutionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- 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
- Voted yes on SB 12 (2025), relating to parental rights in public education and a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion in K-12; it passed the House 88 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium
Said · medium confidence- In September 2026 listed securing the Texas border with Mexico among his top priorities. (2026-09-23) 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
- Was listed as an author of HB 82 (2023), relating to an interstate compact for border security, including building a border wall. (2023) source
Gender 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, gender reassignment, or gender dysphoria; it passed the House 87 to 56. (2023-05-15) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 14 (2023); it was enacted. (2023) source
Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 15 (2023), relating to requiring public institution of higher education students who compete in intercollegiate athletic competitions 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); it was enacted. (2023) source
- Voted yes on HB 25 (2021, third called session), relating to requiring public school students to compete in interscholastic athletic competitions based on biological sex; it passed the House 76 to 54. (2021-10-14) 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 the conditions of and procedures for setting bail; it passed the House 118 to 25. (2025-05-20) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 9 (2025); it was enacted. (2025) source
- Was listed as an author of HJR 115 (2025), a proposed constitutional amendment authorizing the denial of bail under some circumstances. (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
Mandatory minimumsAdd or lengthen them for serious crimes like fentanyl traffickingmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 6 (2023), relating to the designation of poisoning with a controlled substance included in Penalty Group 1-B for purposes of the death certificate and to the criminal penalties for certain controlled substance offenses; it passed the House 124 to 21. (2023-04-28) source
- Was listed as an author of HB 1760 (2025), relating to increasing the minimum term of imprisonment and changing the eligibility for community supervision. (2025) 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
Election rulesStrict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on the conference committee report for SB 1 (2021, second called session), relating to election integrity and security; the House adopted it 80 to 41. (2021-08-31) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 1 (2021, second called session), relating to election integrity and security. (2021) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 16 (2025), relating to requiring a person to submit proof of citizenship to register to vote. (2025) source
Kids onlineBan social media accounts for minorsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- 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
School vaccinesKeep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 1586 (2025), relating to an exemption from required immunizations for school enrollment; it passed the House 83 to 54. (2025-05-14) source
- Was listed as an author of HB 4587 (2025), relating to the provisional admission to an elementary or secondary school of students requesting certain immunization exemptions. (2025) source
China policyGet tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesmedium
Official action · medium confidenceHousing and growthLet the market build what is needed, with local reviewmedium
Said · medium confidence- In September 2026 said he supports policies that fast track homebuilding, such as cutting red tape and accelerating permit and inspection approvals. (2026-09-23) source
- 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
HealthcarePrivate insurance with more competition and price transparency, keeping protections for pre-existing conditionsmedium
Said · medium confidence- In September 2026 said he would fight for lower healthcare costs through price transparency, competition and patient choice. (2026-09-23) 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 offenses; it passed the House 88 to 40. (2021-04-30) source
- Voted no on HB 218 (2023), a similar bill on the criminal and licensing consequences of marihuana possession; it passed the House 87 to 59. (2023-04-27) source
- In September 2026 said he supports regulating hemp products with intoxicating levels of THC. (2026-09-23) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Guns, 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.
Amy Martinez-Salas
DemocratLegal assistant
Amy Martinez-Salas is the Democratic nominee for Texas Senate District 22. She is a legal assistant and first-time candidate who lists her education as Arlington High School (class of 2008) and the University of Texas at Arlington (2024)1. Her stated priorities include water infrastructure, healthcare access and public education2.
Where they stand 5 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidenceAI data centersPause new approvals until the state finishes studying power and water impactsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- In a February 2026 candidate questionnaire said she would implement a freeze on new data centers in high-risk water areas until transparent water-usage reporting and sustainable cooling technologies are required by law. (2026-02-16) source
Safety net programsExpand help for childcare, housing and paid family leavemedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- In a February 2026 candidate questionnaire said she would advocate for expanding Medicaid and capping out-of-pocket costs for medicines such as insulin. (2026-02-16) source
ImmigrationNo single answer fitsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- In a February 2026 candidate questionnaire said she supports border security that balances safety and order with humanity, addresses the root causes of migration, and gives law enforcement resources to fight trafficking and drug smuggling without infringing on civil rights. (2026-02-16) source
Property taxesNo single answer fitsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- In a February 2026 candidate questionnaire said property tax relief is essential for working families and seniors, but any relief must be balanced with fully funding public schools and local services. (2026-02-16) source
No public position found on: Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, 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, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.