What to know about candidates for statewide offices in Texas as early voting begins
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and his Democratic opponent Beto O’Rourke are focusing on Tarrant County in their campaigns’ final weeks.
The county has long been considered the last urban red county in Texas but has gone for Democrats in recent years. The candidates are reaching out to the swing voters as polls open Monday for early voting. Election Day is Nov. 8.
“We have put special emphasis in Tarrant County and the collar counties around Dallas,” said Dave Carney, Abbott’s chief strategist and consultant during a call with reporters.
O’Rourke put it this way, in an interview with the Star-Telegram’s editorial board: Tarrant County is going to determine where the state goes.
“Maybe it’s because of it’s special status, but there is no group of voters more fired up that I’ve met than the voters here,” O’Rourke said. “I think they recognize that they’re playing a role much larger than the one that they play just for the county.”
Abbott’s campaign said it is employing the same strategies in Tarrant County as elsewhere in the state but doing more of it — more days designated for block walking, for instance. O’Rourke’s campaign has made a number of stops in the area, including one at UT Arlington where students were registered to vote and signed up for door knocking. O’Rourke said they’ll likely be back before Election Day.
And both candidates are confident they can win the bellwether county.
O’Rourke pointed to his 2018 win in Tarrant County when he ran against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. O’Rourke lost statewide, but won in Tarrant County. He and Cruz were separated by less than a percentage point in the county.
“I really do think that base, plus this volunteer effort, plus the time we’re personally spending here is going to equal the victory in Tarrant County and a larger one than we had in 2018,” O’Rourke said.
Carney acknowledged it will be a battle, but a battle he believes Abbott will win.
“Every indication is that we will win Tarrant County and hold that county for the R side,” Carney said.
For months, the election has been contentious as the two candidates try and sell themselves over their opponent. Abbott, who is running for his third term, has focused on linking O’Rourke to President Joe Biden as he touts the state’s economy and his border security and policing policies. O’Rourke has concentrated on the state’s restrictive policies on abortion access, the power grid’s failure and gun laws under Abbott’s tenure.
Both candidates have come out with TV advertisements and proven themselves formidable fundraisers, bringing in roughly $25 million between July 1 and Sept. 29. But polling has consistently had Abbott ahead. Recent polls have had the candidates separated by single digits, but a poll released Friday by the Texas Politics Project at UT-Austin had Abbott up, 54-43.
Also on the ballot are Libertarian Mark Tippetts and Green Party candidate Delilah Barrios.
Lieutenant governor
The race for lieutenant governor is between Republican Incumbent Dan Patrick and Democrat Mike Collier, who in the final stretch of the campaign has been garnering the support of several members of the GOP. Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley has endorsed Collier over Patrick, citing Patrick’s property tax policies and a contentious relationship with local governments.
Patrick has served as lieutenant governor since 2015. As president of the Texas Senate he’s an influential figure for what bills do or do not make it to Abbott’s desk.
While Patrick’s been in office, the state has passed permitless carry, an election bill, an anti-CRT bill and an abortion law that effectively bans abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. He’s been traveling across the state by bus as part of his election campaign trying to reach rural voters.
“This is going to be a turnout election,” Patrick told KTVT Channel 11 during a September stop in Bowie . “There really aren’t that many undecided people at the end of the day, there will be a few, but it’s a Republican turnout and Democratic turnout. ... I want people to recognize how important they are.”
Collier, a certified public accountant and energy consultant, said the top issues in the race are property taxes, school funding and the power grid. Collier first challenged Patrick in 2018 and lost by about 5 percentage points.
“Dan Patrick has abandoned the principles that make Texas the best place to live and work and, instead, has enacted a strategy designed to exploit the people of Texas in service of his own political ambition,” Collier said in his candidate questionnaire submitted to the Star-Telegram. Patrick did not respond to the form.
Patrick reported raising $2.3 million during the campaign finance period that covers July 1-Sept. 29, with $16.8 million on hand. Collier reported $1.4 million in contributions and about $923 on hand.
The new Texas Politics project poll had Patrick leading Collier by 15 percentage points.
Also on the ballot is Libertarian Shanna Steele.
Attorney general
Embattled Republican Incumbent Ken Paxton is running against Democrat Rochelle Garza, a civil rights attorney who has zoned in on Paxton’s legal troubles. The AG serves as the state’s attorney and oversees the collection of court-ordered child support and the Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund.
Paxton, first elected as AG in 2014, has been facing felony securities fraud charges since 2015. He has not gone to trial. Additionally, he’s under investigation by the FBI in connection with claims that he abused his position to help a donor.
Paxton, a top ally of former president Donald Donald Trump who’s regularly at odds with the Biden administration, received national attention when he unsuccessfully challenged the results of the 2020 election in four battleground states — a challenge that has him under the scrutiny of the Texas Bar.
Paxton’s campaign website touts the Hurricane Harvey response, “preserving the constitution,” border security and “protecting the sanctity of life,” among other issues.
For Garza, top issues include abortion rights, protecting Texans from price gouging by energy companies and bringing transparency to the office. Garza went up against Paxton and the Trump administration when she represented a pregnant 17-year-old immigrant who was denied access to an abortion while in detention.
“As Texas Attorney General, I will be a strong defender of all Texans, holding wrongdoers accountable while promoting justice for everyone — not just the privileged few,” Garza said.
Paxton reported $2.1 million in contributions and $4.9 million on hand for the July 1-Sept. 29 period. Garza reported raising $1.6 million and $1.5 million on hand.
The Texas Politics Poll released Friday put Paxton ahead by 14 percentage points.
Also on the ballot is Libertarian Mark Ash.
Comptroller
Think of the Texas comptroller as the state’s accountant, serving as tax collector, revenue estimator, treasurer and purchasing manager. Vying for the role is Republican Incumbent Glenn Hegar and Democrat Janet Dudding.
Hegar has served as Texas Comptroller since 2015. He previously served in the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate, where he authored the abortion bill that then state Sen. Wendy Davis filibustered for more than 11 hours.
In a candidate questionnaire to the Star-Telegram, Hegar said top issues include the economy, access to high-speed internet and property tax relief. Hegar said he has real world experience leading the state through challenging times, like the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I believe I am the best candidate to ensure our economy remains healthy and Texans have the opportunity for continued success.
In addition to the state needing a watchdog, Dudding in her questionnaire response said top issues include broadband access and reviewing property tax appraisals and abatement “to evaluate, disclose and cure corporate tax giveaways in the current system.” Dudding cited her experience as a certified public accountant as distinguishing her from her opponent, saying Hegar “has only been a politician.”
“The Comptroller should answer to the people, not special interests,” Dudding said. “Holding government accountable to the people of Texas will be my top priority.”
Hegar recently reported about $324,000 in contributions and $8.5 million on hand. Dudding reported raising about $91,000 with $50,000 on hand.
The Texas Politics Poll released Friday has Dudding trailing Hegar by 12 percentage points.
Also on the ballot is Libertarian V. Alonzo Echevarria-Garza.
Land commissioner
Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office is the only open statewide seat after Republican Incumbent George P. Bush opted to not seek reelection and instead run for attorney general. He lost to Paxton in a May runoff.
Texas Sen. Dawn Buckingham, a Republican, and conservationist Jay Kleberg, a Democrat, are running for the office, whose oversight includes the Alamo, veterans benefits, Texas’ coast and the Permanent School Fund.
Buckingham, a surgeon, represents Senate District 24 in Central Texas, a seat she has held since 2017. Her committee memberships include the Administration, Finance and Health & Human Services committees. Buckingham said top issues in the election are the economy, public safety education funding and serving veterans.
“I am committed to protecting the Texas we know and love for future generations,” Buckingham said. ”A large part of that for me is protecting our energy independence and doing everything we can to make our communities more safe through border security.”
For Kleberg, who previously served as associate director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and has ties to King Ranch, top issues include veteran services, disaster recovery and funding K-12 public education by taking an “expansive energy approach, using oil and gas as well as renewables and carbon storage” for long term revenue.
“We cannot afford to elect another Land Commissioner lacking the experience necessary to do this job and to make decisions for Texans based on generational terms — not on election cycles or political aspirations,” Kleberg said in his questionnaire.
Buckingham reported raising about $565 thousand between July 1-Sept. 29 period, with about $600,000 on hand. Kleberg reported roughly $878,000 in contributions and $862,000 on hand.
Buckingham is ahead of Kleberg by 11 percentage point in The Texas Politics Project’s new poll.
Also on the ballot is Green Party candidate Alfred Molison, Jr.
Agriculture commissioner
The duties of the Texas agriculture commissioner include overseeing agriculture production, consumer protections and administering the national school lunch program. Republican Incumbent Sid Miller is seeking reelection against Democrat Susan Hays, an attorney.
Miller has served as Texas agriculture commissioner since 2015. Miller did not return a candidate questionnaire, but on his campaign website he said he supports permitless carry, opposes abortion, advocates for property tax reform and opposes churches closing during the pandemic. He supports medical marijuana, calls for strengthening of the supply chain and wants country of origin labels on all imported foods.
In a candidate questionnaire, Hays pointed to “corruption and scandal” around Miller as a top issue in the race. While in office, he’s been scrutinized for flying to Oklahoma at taxpayer expense and for travel to Mississippi for a rodeo. Miller’s consultant has also been indicted in connection with a hemp licensing scheme. The Department of Agriculture oversees the state’s industrial hemp program, including licensure.
Hays also pointed to rural health care and economic development and legal marijuana as top issues.
Miller reported raising $48,000 between July 1-Sept. 29 and about $169,000 on hand. Hays reported nearly $112,000 in contributions and $85,000 on hand.
Friday’s Texas Politics Poll has Miller ahead of Hays by 12 percentage points.
Railroad commissioner
Despite what its name may suggest, the Texas Railroad Commission oversees the state’s oil and gas industry.
Running for one of three commissioner seats are Republican Incumbent Wayne Christian and Democrat Luke Warford. The state agency does not oversee the Texas power grid but is closely linked to Texas’ energy generation. Christian, who was first elected to the seat in Nov. 16, served on the commission during the February 2021 winter storm.
His top issues include fighting federal overreach, modernizing the agency and working with “operators to identify regulatory issues and red tape to cut to create new jobs and economic growth for our state.”
For Warford, top issues include securing the grid with clear weatherization standards and ensuring Texans has well-paying energy jobs and reliable, affordable energy. He also wants to limit flaring exemptions, cap orphan wells and identify and prevent methane leaks.
Christian reported about $125,00 in contributions between July 1 and Sept. 29 and $181,000 on hand. Warford reported raising $379,000 and $318,000 on hand.
Also on the ballot are Libertarian Jaime Andrez Diez and Green Party candidate Hunter Wayne Crow.
