Texas general election: November 3, 2026
Who is running for State Senator, District 24 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for State Senator, District 24 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Texas Senate District 24.
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 Paz HerreraDemocrat | Pete FloresRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Abortion | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Said · low | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestVoted · medium |
| Guns | No public position | Keep current laws and enforce what is already on the booksVoted · medium |
| Immigration | No public position | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadyVoted · medium |
| Energy and climate | All of the above: oil, gas, nuclear and renewables, and let markets pickSaid · medium | No public position |
| Texas power grid | No public position | Pay for more backup natural gas plantsVoted · medium |
| School choice | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsSaid · medium | Yes, universal school choice for every familyVoted · medium |
| Curriculum and books | No public position | Parents, including the right to remove material they object toVoted · medium |
| Property taxes | Keep cutting them and cap how fast they can riseSaid · medium | Keep cutting them and cap how fast they can riseVoted · medium |
| Housing and growth | No public position | Allow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downVoted · low |
| Election rules | No public position | Strict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsVoted · medium |
| Marijuana | No public position | Medical use onlyOfficial 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 |
| School vaccines | No public position | Keep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsVoted · medium |
| Nuclear power | No public position | Back new reactors with public funds, tax credits, and streamlined approvalsVoted · 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 salesVoted · medium |
Joe Paz Herrera
DemocratPrivate citizen (food industry professional, by his own account)
Joe Paz Herrera is the Democratic nominee for Texas Senate District 241. He lives in Natalia in Medina County, has an MBA, and has worked for food manufacturers, by his own account3. He says he was the Democratic nominee for Texas House District 53 in 2020, 2022 and 20243.
Where they stand 6 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Said that, unlike the current senator, he does not support diverting funds from public schools into the Abbott-backed voucher program. (2026) source
Energy and climateAll of the above: oil, gas, nuclear and renewables, and let markets pickmedium
Said · medium confidence- Said the state should continue supporting oil and gas while increasing investment in solar, wind and other renewables, and that it is not an either-or conversation. (2026) source
Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can risemedium
Said · medium confidence- Said he will continue the fight for even lower property taxes. (2026) source
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
Said · low confidence- Said that although he is pro-life he will work to restore reproductive freedoms and that each woman has the right to make decisions about her healthcare. (2026) source
Minimum wageNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- Listed increasing the minimum wage among his affordability priorities. (2026) source
AI data centersNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- Said he will stand up for local families and protect homes, energy and water resources as data centers expand in rural Texas. (2026) source
Pete Flores
Republican · IncumbentState Senator, Texas Senate District 24
Pete Flores is the Republican incumbent state senator for Texas Senate District 242. His campaign site says he spent 27 years as a Texas Game Warden, retiring in 2012 as a colonel, and was first elected to the Senate in a 2018 special election and again in 20223. He faces Democrat Joe Paz Herrera on Nov. 3, 20261.
Where they stand 18 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestmedium
Voted · medium confidence- His campaign site says "I am Pro Life." (2026) source
- Voted yes 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 yes on HB 7 (2025, second called session), which bans making and providing abortion-inducing drugs and allows private lawsuits; it passed the Senate 17 to 8. (2025-09-03) source
- Was listed among the authors of SB 33 (2025), which bars local governments from funding travel or logistical support for abortions. (2025) source
GunsKeep current laws and enforce what is already on the booksmedium
Voted · medium confidence- His campaign site says he is a strong proponent of the people's right to bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment. (2026) source
- Voted yes to concur in the House amendment to SB 1362 (2025), which bars Texas from adopting or enforcing red flag laws; the motion prevailed 20 to 11. (2025-05-30) source
ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 4 (2023, fourth called session), which makes illegal entry from a foreign country a state crime; it passed the Senate 17 to 11. (2023-11-09) source
- Voted yes on SB 8 (2025), which requires certain sheriffs to join the federal 287(g) immigration enforcement program; it passed the Senate 20 to 11. (2025-04-01) source
- Was listed as a coauthor of SB 4 (2023, fourth called session), which makes illegal entry from a foreign country a state crime. (2023) source
Election rulesStrict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsmedium
School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familymedium
Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tomedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 900 (2023), which regulates library materials sold to or included in public school libraries; it passed the Senate 19 to 12. (2023-05-23) source
- Voted yes on SB 13 (2025), which sets school library advisory councils and parental rights over library materials; it passed the Senate 23 to 8. (2025-03-19) source
- Was listed among the authors of SB 13 (2025), which sets school library advisory councils and parental rights over library materials. (2025) source
DEI programsBan DEI offices and required training at public institutionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 17 (2023), which bans diversity, equity and inclusion offices and required training at public colleges; it passed the Senate 19 to 12. (2023-04-19) source
- Voted yes on SB 12 (2025), which sets parental rights rules in schools and bans DEI duties and instruction in K-12; it passed the Senate 20 to 11. (2025-03-19) source
Gender care for minorsNo, ban these treatments for minorsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 14 (2023), which bans puberty blockers, hormones and surgery for gender transition for minors; it passed the Senate 19 to 12. (2023-04-04) source
Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes to concur in the House amendment to SB 15 (2023), which requires college students to compete in sports based on biological sex; the motion prevailed 19 to 12. (2023-05-26) source
- Was listed among the authors of SB 15 (2023), which requires college students to compete in sports based on biological sex. (2023) source
Religion in schoolsSupport laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 10 (2025), which requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms; it passed the Senate 20 to 10. (2025-03-18) source
- Voted yes on SB 11 (2025), which lets school boards set a daily period for prayer and Bible reading; it passed the Senate 23 to 7. (2025-03-18) source
- Was listed among the authors of SB 10 (2025), which requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms. (2025) source
- Was listed among the authors of SB 11 (2025), which lets school boards set a daily period for prayer and Bible reading. (2025) source
China policyGet tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 147 (2023), an earlier bill restricting land purchases by certain foreign nationals and entities that did not pass the House; it passed the Senate 19 to 12. (2023-04-26) source
- Voted yes on SB 17 (2025), which restricts purchases of Texas real property by certain foreign governments, entities and people, including from China; it passed the Senate 24 to 7. (2025-03-19) source
- Was listed among the authors of SB 17 (2025), which restricts purchases of Texas real property by certain foreign governments, entities and people, including from China. (2025) 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 Senate 23 to 8. (2025-05-25) 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), the new congressional district map; it passed the Senate 18 to 11. (2025-08-22) source
Texas power gridPay for more backup natural gas plantsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 2627 (2023), which created state loans for new or upgraded dispatchable power plants; it passed the Senate 27 to 4. (2023-05-04) source
Nuclear powerBack new reactors with public funds, tax credits, and streamlined approvalsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 14 (2025), relating to support for the development of the nuclear energy industry; it passed the Senate 26 to 5. (2025-05-27) source
MarijuanaMedical use onlymedium
Official action · medium confidence- Was listed as a Senate cosponsor of HB 46 (2025), which expanded the state medical low-THC cannabis program. (2025) source
Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can risemedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 10 (2025, second called session), which lowered the voter-approval tax rate for certain local governments; it passed the Senate 18 to 12. (2025-08-19) 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
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.