Greg Abbott to Battle State Representative Gina Hinojosa for Fourth Term as Texas Governor
Primaries for seven statewide executive offices in Texas were held today, alongside several other influential state positions.
The Democratic and Republican primaries occurred today in Texas to select candidates for the November 2026 general election. This post covers the races for state office in the Lone State State. That includes contests for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, Land Commissioner, Agriculture Commissioner, Railroad Commissioner, the Board of Education, and the State Supreme Court. Separate posts will be covering the primaries for federal races, both chambers of the state legislature, and county contests.
In Texas, a candidate needs to achieve a 50%+1 majority in the primary to receive their party’s nomination. If that doesn’t happen, then the top two finishers will advance to a runoff scheduled for May 26, 2026.
The general election for all of these statewide executive offices will be held on November 3, 2026.
Governor:
State Representative Gina Hinojosa won the Democratic primary with 58.5% (1,285,337) against 2006 nominee Chris Bell with 9.8% (215,832), gun safety advocate Angela Villescaz with 6.9% (150,333), academic coordinator Patricia Abrego with 5.8% (128,194), entrepreneur Andrew White with 5.3% (116,898), rancher Bobby Cole with 5.1% (112,319), tax strategist Jose Navarro Balbuena with 3.0% (65,597), event manager Carlton Hart with 2.9% (63,106), and veteran Zach Vance with 2.7% (58,574). 2,196,190 votes counted.
Incumbent Greg Abbott won the Republican primary with 81.8% (1,759,903) against Army veteran Pete Chambers with 11.2% (240,342), State Board of Education member Evelyn Brooks with 2.0% (43,998), 2025 San Antonio mayoral candidate Arturo Espinosa with 1.2% (24,674), author Charles Andrew Crouch with 0.7% (15,389), contractor Kenneth Hyde with 0.7% (14,916), businessman Nathaniel Welch with 0.6% (12,027), businessman Mark Goloby with 0.5% (10,966), veteran Stephen Samuelson with 0.5% (10,842), project manager Ronnie Tullos with 0.5% (10,313), and literary researcher Bob Achgill with 0.4% (9,078). 2,152,448 votes counted.
Lieutenant Governor:
State Representative Vikki Goodwin and union representative Marcos Velez will advance in the Democratic primary with 48.0% (1,008,371) and 31.5% (661,349) against contracts manager Courtney Head with 20.5% (430,445). 2,100,165 votes counted.
Incumbent Dan Patrick won the Republican primary with 84.7% (1,779,379) against business consultant Timothy Mabry with 8.9% (186,024), educator Perla Muñoz Hopkins with 5.1% (107,794), and 2022 Austin city council candidate Esala Wueschner with 1.3% (27,089). 2,100,286 votes counted.
Attorney General:
State Senator Nathan Johnson and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski will advance in the Democratic primary with 48.1% (1,000,587) and 26.4% (549,666) against former federal prosecutor Tony Box with 25.5% (529,419). 2,079,672 votes counted.
State Senator Mayes Middleton and U.S. Representative Chip Roy will advance in the Republican primary with 39.1% (808,728) and 31.6% (653,384) against State Senator Joan Huffman with 15.1% (312,178) and former Justice Department official Aaron Reitz with 14.2% (293,174). 2,067,464 votes counted.
Comptroller of Public Accounts:
State Representative Sarah Eckhardt won the Democratic primary with 64.1% (1,312,768) against entrepreneur Savant Moore with 19.1% (390,553) and investment manager Michael Lange with 16.9% (345,189). 2,048,510 votes counted.
Former State Senator Don Huffines won the Republican primary with 57.4% (1,186,766) against appointed incumbent Kelly Hancock with 23.7% (489,750), Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick with 15.1% (311,507), and 2018 state house candidate Michael Berlanga with 3.9% (81,016). 2,069,039 votes counted.
Land Commissioner:
Bay City councilmember Benjamin Flores won the Democratic primary with 55.6% (1,121,810) against Marine veteran Jose Loya with 44.4% (897,243). 2,019,053 votes counted.
Incumbent Dawn Buckingham won the Republican primary unopposed.
Agriculture Commissioner:
Rancher Clayton Tucker won the Democratic primary unopposed.
Business owner Nathan Sheets won the Republican primary with 52.7% (1,041,863) against incumbent Sid Miller with 47.3% (936,666). 1,978,529 votes counted.
Railroad Commission (One Seat):
State Representative Jon Rosenthal won the Democratic primary unopposed.
Incumbent James Wright and Tarrant County party chair Bo French will advance in the Republican primary with 32.1% (619,432) and 31.7% (612,942) against business owner James Matlock with 19.3% (372,354), 2024 Democratic nominee Katherine Culbert with 9.2% (178,216), and 2024 Libertarian nominee Hawk Dunlap with 7.7% (148,700). 1,931,644 votes counted.
Board of Education (Eight Seats):
District 2:
Professor Thomas Garcia won the Democratic primary unopposed.
Businesswoman Victoria Hinojosa won the Republican primary with 59.2% (46,212) against former congressional staffer Carrie Moore with 27.1% (21,210) and incumbent LJ Francis with 13.7% (10,680). 78,102 votes counted.
District 5:
Businesswoman Allison Bush and 2022 Austin city council candidate Stephanie Bazan will advance in the Democratic primary with 35.6% (83,648) and 21.0% (49,407) against graduate research assistant Abigail Gray with 13.8% (32,394), educator Kevin Jackson with 13.7% (32,185), canvasser Neto Longoria with 10.7% (25,156), and business owner Victor Sampson with 5.3% (12,455). 235,245 votes counted.
Client advocate Mica Arellano won the Republican primary unopposed.
District 6:
2022 nominee Michelle Palmer won the Democratic primary unopposed.
Former Conroe ISD board member Tiffany Nelson won the Republican primary with 65.8% (77,433) against retiree Barbara Denson with 34.2% (40,274). 117,707 votes counted.
District 7:
Educator Tiffany Perkinz and retiree Debra Ambriose will advance in the Democratic primary with 31.3% (40,013) and 26.1% (33,376) against business manager Janell Burse with 17.5% (22,310), IT analyst Ben Estrada with 15.6% (19,875), and teacher Adam Khan with 9.5% (12,113). 127,687 votes counted.
Incumbent Julie Pickren won the Republican primary unopposed.
District 8:
Educational administrator Dana Van De Walker won the Democratic primary with 70.8% (70,000) against software engineer Shahzeb Meghani with 29.2% (28,897). 98,897 votes counted.
Incumbent Audrey Young won the Republican primary with 69.7% (72,510) against 2022 state senate candidate George Vachris with 30.3% (31,525). 104,035 votes counted.
District 9:
Business owner Ericka Ledford won the Democratic primary unopposed.
Minister Kason Huddleston won the Republican primary with 58.4% (97,567) against educator Rachel Hogue with 26.8% (44,736) and technology director Stephen Yearout with 14.8% (24,731). 167,034 votes counted.
District 13:
Incumbent Tiffany Clark won the Democratic primary with 72.7% (95,528) against assistant principal Kimberly Boswell with 27.3% (35,801). 131,329 votes counted.
Realtor April Williams Moore won the Republican primary unopposed.
District 14:
Teacher Amy Taylor won the Democratic primary unopposed.
Operations executive Mindy Bumgarner won the Republican primary unopposed.
Supreme Court (Four Seats):
Chief Justice:
3rd Court of Appeals judge Maggie Ellis won the Democratic primary with 76.8% (1,565,083) against attorney Cory Carlyle with 23.2% (472,006). 2,037,089 votes counted.
Incumbent Jimmy Blacklock won the Republican primary unopposed.
Place 2:
3rd Court of Appeals judge Chari Kelly won the Democratic primary unopposed.
Incumbent James Sullivan won the Republican primary unopposed.
Place 7:
11th District Court judge Kristen Hawkins won the Democratic primary with 75.6% (1,523,154) against attorney Gordon Goodman with 24.4% (490,746). 2,013,900 votes counted.
Incumbent Kyle Hawkins won the Republican primary unopposed.
Place 8:
3rd Court of Appeals judge Gisela Triana won the Democratic primary unopposed.
Incumbent Brett Busby won the Republican primary unopposed.