Texas general election: November 3, 2026
Who is running for Texas Lieutenant Governor in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Texas Lieutenant Governor on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for every Texas voter.
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 | Dan PatrickRepublican | Vikki GoodwinDemocrat | Anthony CristoLibertarian | Kevin McCormickGreen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safety net programs | No public position | Expand help for childcare, housing and paid family leaveSaid · medium | Cut them back; families, churches and charities should leadSaid · medium | No public position |
| Minimum wage | No public position | Raise it to around $15Questionnaire answer · medium | No public position | No public position |
| Business regulation | Cut red tape, but keep core safety and environmental rulesOfficial action · medium | No public position | No public position | No public position |
| Healthcare | No public position | Add a government plan anyone can buy into (a public option)Said · high | No public position | Government-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)Said · medium |
| Abortion | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestOfficial action · medium | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Said · low | No public position | No public position |
| Guns | Remove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightOfficial action · high | Add universal background checks and red-flag lawsQuestionnaire answer · high | No public position | No public position |
| Immigration | Deport everyone here illegally, as quickly as possibleOfficial action · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence | No single answer fits; see evidence | No public position |
| Energy and climate | No public position | A gradual shift to cleaner energy, driven by incentivesSaid · low | No public position | No public position |
| Texas power grid | Pay for more backup natural gas plantsOfficial action · medium | No public position | No public position | No public position |
| AI data centers | Welcome them, but make them pay their full share of grid and water costsOfficial action · medium | Pause new approvals until the state finishes studying power and water impactsSaid · medium | No public position | No public position |
| School choice | Yes, universal school choice for every familyOfficial action · medium | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsVoted · high | No public position | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsSaid · medium |
| Curriculum and books | Parents, including the right to remove material they object toOfficial action · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence | No public position | Teachers and librarians, as trained professionalsSaid · medium |
| Property taxes | Keep cutting them and cap how fast they can riseOfficial action · medium | Keep cutting them and cap how fast they can riseVoted · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence | No single answer fits; see evidence |
| Housing and growth | Allow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downOfficial action · medium | Allow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downVoted · medium | No public position | No public position |
| Policing and crime | Tougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailOfficial action · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence | No public position | No public position |
| Election rules | Strict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsOfficial action · medium | Easier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyoneSaid · low | No public position | Easier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyoneSaid · medium |
| Marijuana | Medical use onlyOfficial action · medium | Legalize and regulate it like alcoholSaid · medium | Legalize and regulate it like alcoholSaid · medium | Decriminalize small amounts (fines, not jail)Said · medium |
| Gender care for minors | No, ban these treatments for minorsOfficial action · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence | No public position | No public position |
| Redistricting | State legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantageOfficial action · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence | No public position | Legislatures draw maps under strict neutral rules that courts can enforceQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| Ranked-choice voting | No public position | Let cities and counties choose it for local racesSaid · medium | No public position | Yes, use it for state and federal races tooSaid · medium |
| Mandatory minimums | Add or lengthen them for serious crimes like fentanyl traffickingOfficial action · medium | No public position | No public position | No public position |
| Childcare and pre-K | No public position | Target free pre-K and subsidies to low-income and priority familiesOfficial action · medium | No public position | No public position |
| AI regulation | No public position | Let each state write its own targeted AI rulesVoted · medium | No public position | No public position |
| Transgender athletes | No, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsOfficial action · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence | No public position | No public position |
| DEI programs | Ban DEI offices and required training at public institutionsOfficial action · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence | No public position | No public position |
| Religion in schools | Support laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsOfficial action · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence | No public position | No public position |
| China policy | Get tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesOfficial action · medium | No public position | No public position | No public position |
Dan Patrick
Republican · IncumbentLieutenant Governor of Texas
Dan Patrick has been lieutenant governor of Texas since 2015 and presides over the Texas Senate2. He served in the Texas Senate from 2007 to 2015 and earlier founded a Houston talk radio station2. He is seeking a fourth term1.
Where they stand 20 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
GunsRemove most restrictions; bearing arms is a righthigh
Official action · high confidenceSchool choiceYes, universal school choice for every familymedium
MarijuanaMedical use onlymedium
Official action · medium confidence- At a June 24, 2025 news conference Patrick said, 'I will not sign a bill that legalizes marijuana in Texas,' and praised the expanded Texas Compassionate Use (medical) Program passed that session. (2025-06-24) source
- HB 46, which expanded the medical use of low-THC cannabis under the Compassionate-Use Program, passed the Legislature and was signed on June 20, 2025. (2025-06-20) source
- Patrick made SB 3, a ban on intoxicating hemp-derived THC products that left the Compassionate Use medical program unchanged, a major priority. (2025-03-19) source
- After the governor vetoed SB 3, Patrick said a ban is the only way to truly protect kids and noted that recreational marijuana is still illegal in Texas. (2025-09-12) source
Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can risemedium
Official action · medium confidence- Patrick prioritized SB 4 and SB 23 in 2025, raising the school homestead exemption to 140,000 dollars and to 200,000 dollars for seniors. (2025) source
- He has proposed raising the homestead exemption to 180,000 dollars and lowering the senior exemption age to 55, and pushed back on eliminating school property taxes outright, saying it could require doubling sales taxes. (2025-12-11) source
ImmigrationDeport everyone here illegally, as quickly as possiblemedium
Official action · medium confidence- Patrick named SB 8, 'Requiring Local Law Enforcement to Assist the Federal Government's Deportation Efforts,' a top 2025 priority. (2025) source
- At the 2023 signing of the border package including a state illegal entry crime, he said securing the southern border has been one of his biggest priorities. (2023-12-18) source
RedistrictingState legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantagemedium
Official action · medium confidence- The Senate under Patrick passed HB 4, a mid-decade congressional map adding five Republican-majority districts, and he said it will 'more accurately reflect our state.' (2025-08-23) source
Religion in schoolsSupport laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Patrick named SB 10, 'Placing the Ten Commandments in School,' and SB 11, 'Protecting the Freedom to Pray in School,' top 2025 priorities. (2025) source
- SB 10, requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms, was signed on June 20, 2025, along with SB 11. (2025-06-20) source
Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tomedium
Official action · medium confidenceDEI programsBan DEI offices and required training at public institutionsmedium
Gender care for minorsNo, ban these treatments for minorsmedium
Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium
Texas power gridPay for more backup natural gas plantsmedium
Official action · medium confidenceAI data centersWelcome them, but make them pay their full share of grid and water costsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Patrick named SB 6, 'Increasing Texas' Electric Grid Reliability,' a 2025 priority. (2025) source
- SB 6 became law and sets planning, interconnection and cost rules for certain very large electric loads, such as data centers. (2025-06-20) source
- In 2026 he directed senators to weigh data center growth against impacts on landowners and water and to study the cost of data center sales tax exemptions. (2026-03) source
Policing and crimeTougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailmedium
Official action · medium confidenceMandatory minimumsAdd or lengthen them for serious crimes like fentanyl traffickingmedium
Election rulesStrict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Patrick named SB 16, 'Stopping Non-Citizens from Voting,' a 2025 priority. (2025) source
- SB 16 would have required proof of citizenship to register to vote; it passed the Senate but did not pass the House. (2025-05-25) source
- His 2023 priorities included SB 2, restoring illegal voting to a felony. (2023-02-13) source
China policyGet tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesmedium
Housing and growthAllow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downmedium
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestmedium
Official action · medium confidenceBusiness regulationCut red tape, but keep core safety and environmental rulesmedium
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, 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, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate.
Vikki Goodwin
DemocratState Representative, Texas House District 47
Vikki Goodwin is a Democratic state representative from Austin, in the House since 2019, and the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor31. She is a real estate broker who runs a business with her husband and previously worked as a systems analyst for the Texas attorney general's office211. She holds business and public affairs degrees from the University of Texas2.
Where they stand 23 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolshigh
Voted · high confidence- Goodwin voted no on SB 2, which created the state education savings account program. (2025-04-17) source
- Goodwin voted yes on an amendment removing the education savings account article from HB 1. (2023-11-17) source
- Goodwin said her priority as lieutenant governor will be to end private school vouchers or any program that diverts public dollars to private schools. (2026) source
HealthcareAdd a government plan anyone can buy into (a public option)high
GunsAdd universal background checks and red-flag lawshigh
Questionnaire answer · high confidenceMinimum wageRaise it to around $15medium
AI data centersPause new approvals until the state finishes studying power and water impactsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Goodwin said Texas must pause new data center construction until the Legislature passes laws putting people's and animals' water and power use first, and she called for a special session on data centers. (2026) source
MarijuanaLegalize and regulate it like alcoholmedium
Said · medium confidence- Goodwin said Texas needs a sensible regulatory framework for THC rather than outright prohibition, with age limits and testing. (2026) source
- Her Texas Cares plan would be funded partly by a proposed state tax on legal cannabis sales. (2026) source
- She voted yes on HB 218 in 2023, a bill lowering the penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana. (2023-04-27) source
- News coverage of the House vote describes HB 218 as making possession of an ounce or less a fine-only Class C misdemeanor. (2023-04-26) source
Ranked-choice votingLet cities and counties choose it for local racesmedium
Said · medium confidence- Goodwin's campaign says she supports allowing ranked-choice voting, particularly in city and school board elections. (2026) source
Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can risemedium
Voted · medium confidence- Goodwin voted yes on SB 4, raising the school homestead exemption. (2025-05-21) source
- Goodwin says the Legislature raised homestead exemptions while capping local tax increases, and that the state should take on more of the cost of schools, health care and roads so Texans are not taxed out of their homes. (2026) source
Housing and growthAllow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downmedium
Childcare and pre-KTarget free pre-K and subsidies to low-income and priority familiesmedium
Safety net programsExpand help for childcare, housing and paid family leavemedium
AI regulationLet each state write its own targeted AI rulesmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Goodwin voted yes on HB 149, which regulates the use of artificial intelligence systems in Texas. (2025-04-23) source
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
Said · low confidence- Goodwin voted no on SB 8, the 2021 law banning most abortions after cardiac activity is detected. (2021-05-06) source
- Goodwin voted no on HB 1280, the 2021 law prohibiting abortion. (2021-05-06) source
- She filed HB 2251 to add exceptions to the abortion ban, including for health risks, severe fetal anomalies and rape or incest, and to repeal older abortion laws. (2025-03) source
- She said women should have the right to make their own personal, private health care decisions. (2026) source
- Her campaign calls for restoring full reproductive care, saying recent restrictions have led to serious complications for Texas women. (2026) source
Election rulesEasier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyonelow
Energy and climateA gradual shift to cleaner energy, driven by incentiveslow
Said · low confidence- Goodwin's campaign says she supports strategies to address extreme weather and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while balancing economic growth. (2026) source
Gender care for minorsNo single answer fitsmedium
Religion in schoolsNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Goodwin voted no on SB 10, requiring Ten Commandments displays in classrooms. (2025-05-25) source
- Goodwin voted no on SB 11, allowing a period of prayer and Bible reading in schools. (2025-05-23) source
- In a Ballotpedia survey Goodwin said she will ensure schools maintain religious freedom. (2026) source
- Her campaign's education page, under 'Protecting Separation of Church and State,' says tax dollars should not fund religious education. (2026) source
ImmigrationNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidenceRedistrictingNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Goodwin voted no on HB 4, the 2025 mid-decade congressional map. (2025-08-20) source
No public position found on: Business regulation, Texas power grid, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Paid leave, Student loans, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, China policy.
Anthony Cristo
LibertarianPrivate citizen
Anthony Cristo is a high school teacher from Cibolo and the Libertarian nominee for lieutenant governor13. He served in the Navy Reserve as a corpsman and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of the Incarnate Word2. He ran for Congress as a Libertarian in 2018 and 20202.
Where they stand 4 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
MarijuanaLegalize and regulate it like alcoholmedium
Safety net programsCut them back; families, churches and charities should leadmedium
Said · medium confidence- Cristo's campaign site says that as a Libertarian he opposes taxpayer-funded welfare. (2026) source
ImmigrationNo single answer fitsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidenceProperty taxesNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Cristo said he is skeptical of property tax relief plans that do not cut spending and that shifting the burden to sales taxes is not real relief. (2026) source
No public position found on: Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, AI data centers, School choice, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, 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.
Kevin McCormick
GreenPrivate citizen
Kevin McCormick is a retired teacher from Lindale and the Green Party nominee for lieutenant governor18. He holds a political science degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center, and taught math in San Antonio2.
Where they stand 8 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
HealthcareGovernment-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)medium
Said · medium confidence- McCormick's campaign site says he supports Medicare for All, funded by the federal government. (2026) source
Ranked-choice votingYes, use it for state and federal races toomedium
Said · medium confidence- McCormick proposes that all primary, general and special elections in Texas use ranked-choice voting. (2026-07-14) source
RedistrictingLegislatures draw maps under strict neutral rules that courts can enforcemedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- McCormick proposed amending the Texas Constitution to require districts that pass a mathematical test making them mostly rectangular, to prevent gerrymandering. (2026) source
Election rulesEasier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyonemedium
Said · medium confidence- McCormick proposes automatically registering to vote anyone who receives a state-issued ID, plus enough voting machines and polling places to prevent long lines. (2026-07-14) source
MarijuanaDecriminalize small amounts (fines, not jail)medium
Said · medium confidence- McCormick says the war on drugs has failed and that decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana reduces drug cartel revenue and possession arrests. (2026) source
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium
Said · medium confidence- McCormick says the voucher program created in 2025 will further impair public education and diverts public money to benefit the wealthy. (2026) source
Curriculum and booksTeachers and librarians, as trained professionalsmedium
Said · medium confidence- McCormick proposes that State Board of Education members be nominated by school boards and elected by teachers. (2026) source
Property taxesNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- McCormick proposes appraising property using rental value and household income instead of recent sales, which he says would reduce and stabilize property taxes. (2026) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, AI data centers, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Gender care for minors, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, 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 2026-10-19. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.