Who is running for State Senator, District 28 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for State Senator, District 28 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Texas Senate District 28.
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 | Riley RodriquezDemocrat | Charles PerryRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Abortion | No public position | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestVoted · medium |
| Guns | No public position | Remove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightVoted · medium |
| Immigration | No public position | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadyVoted · medium |
| School choice | No public position | 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 |
| 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 |
| School vaccines | No public position | Keep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsVoted · 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 |
Riley Rodriquez
DemocratSmall business owner
Riley Rodriquez (Democrat) is one of two candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Texas Senate District 281. In a KTAB/KRBC profile and on his campaign site he says he was born in Abilene, grew up in the district, worked on ranches and in the oilfield, and now runs a small service business in Abilene while finishing a degree23. In the profile he said he is running partly over data centers coming to the region2.
Charles Perry
Republican · IncumbentTexas State Senator, District 28
Charles Perry (Republican) is the incumbent State Senator for Texas Senate District 282. His Senate biography says he is a Lubbock CPA, served in the Texas House from 2010 to 2014 and the Senate since 2014, chairs the Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs and is Vice-Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee2. He is one of two candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot for the seat1.
Where they stand 11 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- Voted yes on HB 1280 (2021), the law banning abortion if Roe v. Wade was overturned, with an exception only to save the life or a major bodily function of the mother; it passed the Senate 19 to 12. (2021-05-25) source
- Voted yes to concur in the House amendments to SB 8 (2021), the Texas Heartbeat Act, which bans most abortions after cardiac activity is detected and is enforced through private lawsuits; the vote was 18 to 12. (2021-05-13) 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
GunsRemove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 1927 (2021), which allows people 21 or older who may legally own a gun to carry it without a license; it passed the Senate 18 to 13. (2021-05-05) source
Election rulesStrict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 1 (2021), the election law overhaul that added mail ballot ID rules and limited some voting options; it passed the Senate 18 to 11. (2021-08-11) source
DEI programsBan DEI offices and required training at public institutionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on the SB 12 (2025) conference committee report, which sets parental rights rules in schools and bans DEI duties and instruction in K-12; it was adopted 20 to 11. (2025-05-31) source
School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familymedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 2 (2025), which created an education savings account program for private school costs; it passed the Senate 19 to 12. (2025-02-05) source
ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on the SB 8 (2025) conference committee report, which requires certain sheriffs to join the federal 287(g) immigration enforcement program; it was adopted 20 to 11. (2025-05-31) source
- Voted yes on SB 4 (2023), which made illegal entry into Texas a state crime; it passed the Senate 17 to 11. (2023-11-09) source
Religion in schoolsSupport laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- 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
- Voted yes to concur in the House amendment to SB 10 (2025), which requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms; the vote was 21 to 10. (2025-05-28) source
Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tomedium
Voted · medium confidence- 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
- 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
Gender care for minorsNo, ban these treatments for minorsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes to concur in the House amendments to SB 14 (2023), which bans puberty blockers, hormones and surgery for gender transition for minors; the vote was 19 to 12. (2023-05-17) 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
China policyGet tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesmedium
Voted · medium confidence- 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
Last reviewed 2026-10-10. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.