Texas general election: November 3, 2026
Who is running for U.S. Senate (Texas) in 2026?
Here are the candidates for U.S. Senate (Texas) 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 | Ken PaxtonRepublican | James TalaricoDemocrat | Ted BrownLibertarian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income taxes | No single answer fits; see evidence | Raise taxes on the highest earners and corporations to pay for programsSaid · medium | Cut taxes across the board, including for top earners and corporationsSaid · medium |
| National debt | No single answer fits; see evidence | A mix of spending cuts and tax increasesSaid · low | Cut spending sharply, including popular programs, to balance the budgetSaid · medium |
| Social Security | No public position | Raise the payroll tax cap so high earners pay more; no benefit cutsSaid · medium | No public position |
| Safety net programs | No public position | Expand help for childcare, housing and paid family leaveSaid · medium | No public position |
| Minimum wage | No public position | Raise it to around $15Said · high | No public position |
| Business regulation | No public position | Stronger rules on big corporations, banks and tech companiesSaid · medium | Cut regulations broadly and let the market sort it outSaid · medium |
| Healthcare | No public position | Add a government plan anyone can buy into (a public option)Said · medium | Mostly private market; roll back the government's roleSaid · medium |
| Abortion | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestSaid · low | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Said · medium | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Questionnaire answer · low |
| Guns | Keep current laws and enforce what is already on the booksOfficial action · low | Add universal background checks and red-flag lawsSaid · medium | Remove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightSaid · medium |
| Immigration | Deport everyone here illegally, as quickly as possibleSaid · low | Tighter border security plus a path to legal status for long-time residentsSaid · medium | Much more open immigration with less enforcementSaid · medium |
| Trade and tariffs | No public position | Free trade with strong labor and environmental standardsSaid · medium | Free trade with minimal tariffs across the boardSaid · medium |
| Foreign policy | Pull back from foreign conflicts and aid (often called America First)Said · low | Stay closely engaged with allies and alliances like NATOSaid · medium | Pull back from foreign conflicts and aid (often called America First)Said · medium |
| Energy and climate | Maximize oil and gas; climate rules hurt the economyOfficial action · medium | A gradual shift to cleaner energy, driven by incentivesSaid · low | No public position |
| Politicians trading stocks | No public position | No, ban it for members and their spousesSaid · medium | No public position |
| Marijuana | No single answer fits; see evidence | Legalize it and clear past convictionsSaid · high | Legalize it and clear past convictionsSaid · medium |
| Redistricting | State legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantageOfficial action · high | Independent commissions draw maps, with a national ban on partisan gerrymanderingSaid · high | No public position |
| Term limits | No public position | Yes, but longer limits that still allow long service, such as 12 years per chamberSaid · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence |
| Campaign finance | No public position | Overturn Citizens United by amendment and add public financing of campaignsSaid · medium | No public position |
| Supreme Court reform | No public position | Add 18-year term limits and an enforceable ethics code, keeping nine seatsSaid · medium | No public position |
| Death penalty | No single answer fits; see evidence | No public position | Abolish it and use life without parole insteadSaid · medium |
| Qualified immunity | No public position | No public position | No, end it for police so officers or departments can be sued for rights violationsSaid · medium |
| Mandatory minimums | No public position | No public position | Repeal them and let judges set each sentenceSaid · medium |
| Drug prices | No public position | Negotiate more drugs and extend the insulin and yearly cost caps to private insuranceSaid · medium | No public position |
| Childcare and pre-K | No public position | Guarantee low-cost childcare for all families plus universal pre-KSaid · medium | No public position |
| Paid leave | No public position | Create a national paid family and medical leave program plus paid sick daysSaid · medium | No public position |
| Kids online | Require app stores and platforms to verify age and get parental consentOfficial action · medium | Also require safe-by-default design and a legal duty of careSaid · medium | No public position |
| Birthright citizenship | No, end it for children of parents here illegally or temporarilySaid · medium | No public position | No public position |
| E-Verify mandate | No public position | No public position | No, and scale back worksite raids in favor of legal work visasSaid · medium |
| Transgender athletes | No, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsOfficial action · medium | Let each state, school or sports body decideSaid · medium | No public position |
| DEI programs | Ban DEI offices and required training at public institutionsOfficial action · medium | Keep them and let each school or agency decideVoted · medium | No public position |
| Religion in schools | Support laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsOfficial action · medium | None from the school: no required displays, prayer periods or Bible lessonsVoted · medium | No public position |
| Aid to Israel | No public position | Keep it, but with conditions on how weapons are used and aid to GazaSaid · medium | End itSaid · medium |
| Aid to Ukraine | Stop sending aid and stay out of itSaid · low | No single answer fits; see evidence | Stop sending aid and stay out of itSaid · medium |
Ken Paxton
RepublicanTexas Attorney General
Ken Paxton has been Texas Attorney General since 2015, after serving in the Texas House from 2003 to 2013 and the Texas Senate from 2013 to 2015324. He won the 2026 Republican Senate nomination by defeating incumbent John Cornyn in a May 26 runoff2. He was impeached by the Texas House in May 2023 and acquitted by the Texas Senate in September 20232324.
Where they stand 16 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
RedistrictingState legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantagehigh
Official action · high confidence- Asked the U.S. Supreme Court to let Texas use its 2025 mid-decade congressional map. (2025-11-21) source
- Said Texas engaged in partisan redistricting solely to secure more Republican seats in Congress. (2025-11-21) source
- Won a Supreme Court ruling allowing the 2025 map to be used for the 2026 elections. (2026-04-27) source
Birthright citizenshipNo, end it for children of parents here illegally or temporarilymedium
Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium
Religion in schoolsSupport laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Sued Round Rock and Leander school districts for refusing to display donated Ten Commandments posters as required by Texas SB 10. (2025-11-18) source
Kids onlineRequire app stores and platforms to verify age and get parental consentmedium
Energy and climateMaximize oil and gas; climate rules hurt the economymedium
DEI programsBan DEI offices and required training at public institutionsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Issued a legal opinion declaring DEI frameworks in more than 100 state laws unconstitutional, including DEI programs in schools and state and local government. (2026-01-19) source
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow
GunsKeep current laws and enforce what is already on the bookslow
Official action · low confidence- Sued, with Gun Owners of America, to block an ATF rule treating pistols with stabilizing braces as short-barreled rifles. (2023-02-09) source
- Led a multistate lawsuit against an ATF rule expanding who must be licensed to sell firearms privately. (2024-05-01) source
- Campaign platform promises to protect gun rights and criticizes Republicans and Democrats who have attacked Second Amendment rights. (2026) source
ImmigrationDeport everyone here illegally, as quickly as possiblelow
Aid to UkraineStop sending aid and stay out of itlow
Said · low confidence- Criticized Sen. John Cornyn for voting for the Senate's Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan aid package, posting that Cornyn would defend other countries' borders but not America's. (2024-02-13) source
- Campaign platform criticizes sending billions to foreign countries and protecting the borders of other nations. (2026) source
Foreign policyPull back from foreign conflicts and aid (often called America First)low
Said · low confidence- Campaign platform backs an America First foreign policy of peace through strength and criticizes sending billions to foreign countries. (2026) source
MarijuanaNo single answer fitsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Sued Austin, San Marcos, Killeen, Elgin and Denton over policies telling police not to enforce marijuana possession laws. (2024-01-31) source
Death penaltyNo single answer fitsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Disputed calls to spare Robert Roberson, whose execution had been delayed, and released the child's autopsy report, saying it showed the conviction was not based on shaken baby syndrome. (2024-10-23) source
Income taxesNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Campaign platform says he will fight to cut taxes and champion President Trump's legislative priorities, including cutting taxes. (2026) source
National debtNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Campaign platform says he will stop the wasteful spending that led to more than $36 trillion in debt. (2026) source
No public position found on: Social Security, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Trade and tariffs, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Aid to Israel, China policy.
James Talarico
DemocratTexas State Representative, District 50
James Talarico is a former middle school teacher in San Antonio who has served in the Texas House since 2018, first representing District 52 and later District 50223. He holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and Harvard and has studied at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary23. He won the Democratic Senate nomination outright in the March 3, 2026 primary2.
Where they stand 28 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
RedistrictingIndependent commissions draw maps, with a national ban on partisan gerrymanderinghigh
Said · high confidence- Platform calls for banning partisan gerrymandering nationwide and establishing independent redistricting commissions. (2026) source
- Was one of the House Democrats who left Texas in August 2025 to deny a quorum during mid-decade congressional redistricting; the attorney general asked the Texas Supreme Court to declare his seat vacant. (2025-08) source
Income taxesRaise taxes on the highest earners and corporations to pay for programsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Platform calls for higher taxes on billionaires' income and capital gains, a higher corporate tax rate, and a higher tax on stock buybacks, so taxes can be cut for working families and small businesses. (2026) source
Social SecurityRaise the payroll tax cap so high earners pay more; no benefit cutsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Platform pledges to fight cuts to Social Security and Medicare and to apply the Social Security tax to earnings above $400,000 a year. (2026) source
Safety net programsExpand help for childcare, housing and paid family leavemedium
Business regulationStronger rules on big corporations, banks and tech companiesmedium
Said · medium confidence- Platform calls for stopping corporate landlords from manipulating rents, barring Wall Street from buying up housing, and more oversight of mergers, while repealing outdated red tape on home building. (2026) source
HealthcareAdd a government plan anyone can buy into (a public option)medium
Said · medium confidence- Platform calls for letting every American of any age join Medicare as an option that competes with private insurance, and restoring the enhanced ACA tax credits. (2026) source
Drug pricesNegotiate more drugs and extend the insulin and yearly cost caps to private insurancemedium
Said · medium confidence- Platform calls for more Medicare negotiating power, caps on out-of-pocket costs for lifesaving drugs, generic drug incentives and regulation of pharmacy benefit managers. (2026) source
- His campaign says that as a state legislator he helped cap insulin copays at $25 a month and allow Texas to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada. (2026) source
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)medium
GunsAdd universal background checks and red-flag lawsmedium
Said · medium confidenceImmigrationTighter border security plus a path to legal status for long-time residentsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Platform calls for securing the border, making it easier to come here legally, prioritizing deportation of criminals, gang members and human traffickers, a path to citizenship for immigrants here longest and for Dreamers and spouses, and temporary work permits for recent arrivals. (2026) source
Trade and tariffsFree trade with strong labor and environmental standardsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Platform calls for repealing the Trump administration's broad tariffs and approving trade deals with protections against foreign competitors exploiting weak labor laws. (2026) source
Foreign policyStay closely engaged with allies and alliances like NATOmedium
Said · medium confidence- Platform calls for deeper cooperation with NATO, the EU and other allies and restoring funding for diplomacy and international development. (2026) source
Aid to IsraelKeep it, but with conditions on how weapons are used and aid to Gazamedium
Said · medium confidence- Platform calls for stopping offensive weapons sales to the Netanyahu government while supporting defensive systems like Iron Dome, with agreements that U.S. funds will not be used to harm civilians. (2026) source
Politicians trading stocksNo, ban it for members and their spousesmedium
Said · medium confidence- Platform calls for banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks. (2026) source
Term limitsYes, but longer limits that still allow long service, such as 12 years per chambermedium
Said · medium confidence- Platform calls for term limits of six two-year terms in the House and two six-year terms in the Senate, 12 years in each chamber. (2026) source
Campaign financeOverturn Citizens United by amendment and add public financing of campaignsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Platform calls for reversing the impact of Citizens United, including banning super PACs and corporate PACs. (2026) source
Supreme Court reformAdd 18-year term limits and an enforceable ethics code, keeping nine seatsmedium
Childcare and pre-KGuarantee low-cost childcare for all families plus universal pre-Kmedium
Paid leaveCreate a national paid family and medical leave program plus paid sick daysmedium
Said · medium confidence- Platform calls for paid family leave legislation so workers can bond with a new child or care for a seriously ill family member. (2026) source
Kids onlineAlso require safe-by-default design and a legal duty of caremedium
Said · medium confidence- Platform calls for giving parents more control over children's social media, prohibiting platforms from targeting minors with algorithms, and reining in platforms' broad legal immunity. (2026) source
Religion in schoolsNone from the school: no required displays, prayer periods or Bible lessonsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on SB 10, requiring Ten Commandments displays in Texas classrooms. (2025-05-25) source
- Voted no on SB 11, allowing school boards to adopt daily prayer and Bible reading periods. (2025-05-23) source
- Platform pledges to reject policies that force religion into neutral public spaces like schools. (2026) source
DEI programsKeep them and let each school or agency decidemedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted no on SB 17, the 2023 Texas law banning DEI offices at public universities. (2023-05-22) source
Transgender athletesLet each state, school or sports body decidemedium
Said · medium confidence- Voted no on HB 25, requiring Texas public school athletes to compete based on biological sex. (2021-10-14) source
- Said he will oppose trans athletes playing in girls' sports if it risks safety or fairness, and that he supported amendments in the Legislature to let local communities make these decisions. (2026-09-09) source
Energy and climateA gradual shift to cleaner energy, driven by incentiveslow
Said · low confidence- Platform calls for reinstating federal tax credits and loans that accelerate renewable energy, while adding oil, gas, wind, solar, geothermal and hydrogen jobs. (2026) source
- His campaign says he authored legislation as a state representative to create a Texas Climate Action Act. (2026) source
- His August 2026 economic plan called for investing in renewable energy and partnering with the oil and gas industry in an all-of-the-above energy approach. (2026-08-05) source
National debtA mix of spending cuts and tax increaseslow
Said · low confidence- His August 2026 economic plan called for cutting the national deficit by closing billionaire tax loopholes, cracking down on tax cheats and ending wars in the Middle East. (2026-08-05) source
Aid to UkraineNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Platform supports measures that let the U.S., Ukraine and European partners negotiate from strength and hold Russia accountable. (2026) source
Said vs. did
- Transgender athletes: Said: On September 9, 2026 he said he will oppose trans athletes playing in girls' sports if it risks safety or fairness21. Did: On October 14, 2021 he voted against HB 25, which requires Texas public school students to compete in sports based on biological sex17; he has said he voted no because the bill was overly broad and amendments to narrow it, including leaving decisions to local school boards, were rejected21.
No public position found on: Judges, Electoral College, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Student loans, AI regulation, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, China policy.
Ted Brown
LibertarianPrivate citizen
Ted Brown is a retired insurance adjuster from the Austin area and longtime Libertarian Party activist34. He was the party's 2024 U.S. Senate nominee and won the 2026 nomination at the Libertarian state convention32.
Where they stand 17 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Income taxesCut taxes across the board, including for top earners and corporationsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Said he wants to repeal the federal income tax, abolish the IRS and never vote to raise taxes. (2024) source
National debtCut spending sharply, including popular programs, to balance the budgetmedium
Said · medium confidence- Said stopping deficit spending requires massive cuts in every federal program and department. (2024) source
HealthcareMostly private market; roll back the government's rolemedium
Said · medium confidence- Called for a separation of health care and state, including repeal of Medicare, Medicaid and health care regulations. (2024) source
Business regulationCut regulations broadly and let the market sort it outmedium
Said · medium confidence- Said he believes in a free market where people trade without government regulations and controls. (2024) source
GunsRemove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightmedium
Said · medium confidence- Said he will work to repeal existing gun control laws and opposes red-flag laws. (2024) source
ImmigrationMuch more open immigration with less enforcementmedium
Said · medium confidence- Called for an Ellis Island-style system, no more border wall, ending deportations except for violent criminals, and immediate citizenship for Dreamers. (2024) source
E-Verify mandateNo, and scale back worksite raids in favor of legal work visasmedium
Said · medium confidence- Listed E-Verify requirements to find work as an infringement on Americans' liberty and privacy. (2024) source
Trade and tariffsFree trade with minimal tariffs across the boardmedium
Said · medium confidence- Said he believes in free trade, that tariffs are taxes on consumers, and that the Trump trade wars must end. (2024) source
Foreign policyPull back from foreign conflicts and aid (often called America First)medium
Aid to IsraelEnd itmedium
Said · medium confidence- Said he will work to end all foreign aid payments, military and humanitarian. (2024) source
Aid to UkraineStop sending aid and stay out of itmedium
Said · medium confidence- Said he will work to end all foreign aid payments and warned against sleepwalking into war with Russia or China. (2024) source
MarijuanaLegalize it and clear past convictionsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Called for removing marijuana from the controlled substances list, repealing marijuana laws, and releasing and expunging records of nonviolent drug offenders. (2024) source
Death penaltyAbolish it and use life without parole insteadmedium
Said · medium confidence- Said premeditated murderers should face life in prison without possibility of parole rather than execution, citing the risk of executing innocent people. (2024) source
Mandatory minimumsRepeal them and let judges set each sentencemedium
Said · medium confidence- Said he opposes mandatory minimum sentences and supports letting jurors set sentences. (2024) source
Qualified immunityNo, end it for police so officers or departments can be sued for rights violationsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Called for ending qualified immunity for police officers and other officials who violate people's rights. (2024) source
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- In a 2022 state House race survey, said government should not interfere with doctors and patients deciding on medical care, including termination of pregnancy. (2022) source
Term limitsNo single answer fitsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Said he believes in limiting senators to two six-year terms. (2024) source
No public position found on: Social Security, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Energy and climate, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Redistricting, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, 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.