Andrew Trakas
Andrew Trakas (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Texas. He declared candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled on March 3, 2026.[source]
Trakas completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Contents
Biography
Andrew Trakas was born in Riverside, California. He earned a high school diploma from Future High School. His career experience includes working as a chief executive officer for Freedom 75, a firefighter, and in the private security sector.[1]
2026 battleground election
Ballotpedia identified the March 3 Republican primary as a battleground election. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, found here.
Incumbent John Cornyn (R), Wesley Hunt (R), Ken Paxton (R), and 10 other candidates are running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Texas on March 3, 2026. The filing deadline is December 8, 2025. As of November 2025, Cornyn, Hunt, and Paxton led in polling, fundraising, endorsements, and media attention.
The Texas Tribune's Gabby Birenbaum described the primary as "expensive and brutal. Cornyn, a 23-year veteran of the Senate, has been in hot water with the Republican base over his efforts to pass a bipartisan gun safety bill in 2022 and past comments casting doubt on Trump’s political durability."[2] Roll Call's Nathan L. Gonzales said the race is"an example of how data can be presented to paint whatever picture you want to see...Trump remains a wild card. His support is often the difference maker in Republican primaries, but he hasn’t made a decision in this race."[3]
If no candidate receives more than 50% of the primary vote, then the top two finishers will advance to a runoff on May 26, 2026. Writing after Hunt joined the race in October 2025, the Associated Press' Thomas Beaumont said that "Hunt’s entry into the race raises the potential of a runoff for the GOP nomination."[4]
Cornyn was first elected to the Senate in 2002. He earlier served as state attorney general and on the Texas Supreme Court. Cornyn said he had delivered for Texas while in office and was running for re-election "so President Trump and I can pick-up where we left off."[5] The Texas Tribune's Owen Dahlkamp described Cornyn's strategy as "going all in on emphasizing his support for Trump — something he has been previously wary to do — to court the MAGA base that will be key to winning."[6] Cornyn's campaign website says he has a "more than 99.2% voting record with President Trump — higher than Ted Cruz."[7] Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R) and the National Border Patrol Council endorsed Cornyn.
Hunt has represented the 38th Congressional District since 2022. He is an eight-year veteran of the U.S. Army and a former loan officer. The Texas Tribune's Gabby Birenbaum described Hunt's strategy as "pressing the case that he would carry stronger appeal than Cornyn among the MAGA-dominated primary base, while bringing none of Paxton’s political baggage to the general election."[2] Hunt says he is running because "nothing is more worth fighting for than our great country and our Texas values."[8] U.S. Rep. Eli Crane (R) endorsed Hunt.
Paxton has served as Texas Attorney General since 2015. He was also a member of the Texas House for ten years and of the Texas Senate for two. The Texas Tribune's Jasper Scherer described Paxton's run as "the latest flashpoint in a power struggle between the Texas GOP’s hardline, socially conservative wing — which views Paxton as a standard-bearer — and the Cornyn-aligned, business-minded Republican old guard."[9] Paxton's campaign website says that both "President Trump and Ken Paxton have been targeted in politically motivated witch hunts because there’s nothing that scares the establishment more than courageous conservatives who never back down from standing up for the American people."[10] U.S. Reps. Lance Gooden (R) and Troy Nehls (R) endorsed Paxton.
Also running in the primary are Andrew Alvarez (R), Virgil Bierschwale (R), Alexander Duncan (R), Ronald Evans (R), Matthew Elliot Kelley (R), Gulrez Khan (R), Rennie Mann (R), Tony Schmoker (R), Andrew Trakas (R), and Leo Wyatt (R).
As of November 2025, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, Inside Elections with Nathan Gonzales, and Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball each rated the general election Likely Republican. In the 2024 election, incumbent Ted Cruz (R) defeated Colin Allred (D) 53%–45%. In 2020, Cornyn defeated M.J. Hegar (D) 54%–44%.
Elections
2026
See also: United States Senate election in Texas, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.
General election for U.S. Senate Texas
Joshua Cain, Camencia Ford, Jade Simmons, and Hans Truelson are running in the general election for U.S. Senate Texas on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Joshua Cain (Independent) | ||
| Camencia Ford (Independent) | ||
 | Jade Simmons (Independent) | |
 | Hans Truelson (Independent) |
| |
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | |
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | |
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Texas
Colin Allred, Emily Morgul, Michael Swanson, and James Talarico are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Texas on March 3, 2026.
| |
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | |
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | |
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Terry Virts (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Texas
The following candidates are running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Texas on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | John Cornyn | |
 | Andrew Alvarez | |
 | Virgil Bierschwale | |
 | Alexander Duncan | |
 | Ronald Evans | |
 | Wesley Hunt | |
| Matthew Elliot Kelley | ||
 | Gulrez Khan | |
 | Rennie Mann | |
 | Ken Paxton | |
 | Tony Schmoker | |
 | Andrew Trakas | |
| Leo Wyatt |
| |
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | |
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | |
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Keith Allen (R)
- Barrett McNabb (R)
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
Polls are conducted with a variety of methodologies and have margins of error or credibility intervals.[11] The Pew Research Center wrote, "A margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level means that if we fielded the same survey 100 times, we would expect the result to be within 3 percentage points of the true population value 95 of those times."[12] For tips on reading polls from FiveThirtyEight, click here. For tips from Pew, click here.
Below we provide results for polls from a wide variety of sources, including media outlets, social media, campaigns, and aggregation websites, when available. We only report polls for which we can find a margin of error or credibility interval.
| Poll | Dates | Cornyn | Hunt | Paxton | Other | Undecided | Sample size | Margin of error | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs/Texas Southern University (Cornyn vs. Hunt) NoteHypothetical matchup between Cornyn and Hunt. | – | 50 | 34 | -- | -- | 16 | 576 RV | ± 4.1% | N/A |
University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs/Texas Southern University (Cornyn vs. Hunt vs. Paxton) NoteHypothetical matchup between Cornyn, Hunt, and Paxton. | – | 33 | 22 | 34 | -- | 11 | 576 RV | ± 4.1% | N/A |
University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs/Texas Southern University (Cornyn vs. Paxton) NoteTwo-way race between Cornyn and Paxton. | – | 44 | -- | 43 | -- | 13 | 576 RV | ± 4.1% | N/A |
University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs/Texas Southern University (Hunt vs. Paxton) NoteHypothetical matchup between Hunt and Paxton. | – | -- | 35 | 50 | -- | 15 | 576 RV | ± 4.1% | N/A |
Emerson College NoteTwo-way race between Cornyn and Paxton. | – | 30 | -- | 29 | 5 | 37 | 491 RV | ± 4.4% | N/A |
Texas Southern University (Cornyn vs. Hunt) NoteHypothetical matchup between Cornyn and Hunt. | – | 42 | 36 | -- | -- | -- | 1,500 LV | ± 2.5% | N/A |
Texas Southern University (Cornyn vs. Hunt vs. Paxton) NoteHypothetical matchup between Cornyn, Hunt, and Paxton. | – | 30 | 22 | 35 | -- | 13 | 1,500 LV | ± 2.5% | N/A |
Texas Southern University (Cornyn vs. Jackson) NoteHypothetical matchup between Cornyn and Ronny Jackson (R). "Other" indicates support for Jackson. | – | 43 | -- | -- | 35 | 22 | 1,500 LV | ± 2.5% | N/A |
Texas Southern University (Cornyn vs. Jackson vs. Paxton) NoteHypothetical matchup between Cornyn, Ronny Jackson (R), and Paxton. "Other" indicates support for Jackson. | – | 33 | -- | 38 | 15 | 14 | 1,500 LV | ± 2.5% | N/A |
Texas Southern University (Cornyn vs. Paxton) NoteTwo-way race between Cornyn and Paxton. | – | 39 | -- | 44 | -- | 17 | 1,500 LV | ± 2.5% | N/A |
Texas Southern University (Hunt vs. Paxton) NoteHypothetical matchup between Hunt and Paxton. | – | -- | 36 | 43 | -- | 21 | 1,500 LV | ± 2.5% | N/A |
Texas Southern University (Jackson vs. Paxton) NoteHypothetical matchup between Paxton and Ronny Jackson (R). "Other" indicates support for Jackson. | – | -- | -- | 44 | 33 | 23 | 1,500 LV | ± 2.5% | N/A |
Texas Southern University NoteHypothetical three-way race between Cornyn, Hunt, and Paxton. | – | 27 | 15 | 34 | -- | 24 | 510 LV | ± 4.3% | N/A |
Texas Southern University (Cornyn vs. Hunt) NoteHypothetical two-way race between Cornyn and Hunt. | – | 39 | 31 | -- | -- | 30 | 510 LV | ± 4.3% | N/A |
Texas Southern University (Cornyn vs. Paxton) NoteTwo-way race between Cornyn and Paxton. | – | 34 | -- | 43 | -- | 23 | 510 LV | ± 4.3% | N/A |
Texas Southern University (Hunt vs. Paxton) NoteHypothetical two-way race between Hunt and Paxton. | – | -- | 25 | 45 | -- | 30 | 510 LV | ± 4.3% | N/A |
Quantus Insights NoteTwo-way race between Cornyn and Paxton. | – | 39 | -- | 52 | -- | 9 | 600 RV | ± 4.4% | N/A |
| Note: LV is likely voters, RV is registered voters, and EV is eligible voters. |
Election campaign finance
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Cornyn | Republican Party | $8,957,115 | $3,576,091 | $6,014,485 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Andrew Alvarez | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Virgil Bierschwale | Republican Party | $9,780 | $2,383 | $7,398 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Alexander Duncan | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Ronald Evans | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Wesley Hunt | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Matthew Elliot Kelley | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Gulrez Khan | Republican Party | $3,100 | $3,647 | $-547 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Rennie Mann | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Ken Paxton | Republican Party | $4,204,850 | $1,022,073 | $3,182,777 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Tony Schmoker | Republican Party | $2,500 | $3,107 | $-607 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Andrew Trakas | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Leo Wyatt | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
|
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
Satellite spending
- See also: Satellite spending
Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[13][14]
If available, satellite spending reports by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and OpenSecrets.org are linked below. FEC links include totals from monthly, quarterly, and semi-annual reports. OpenSecrets.org compiles data from those reports as well as 24- and 48-hour reports from the FEC.[15]
Details about satellite spending of significant amounts and/or reported by media are included below those links. The amounts listed may not represent the total satellite spending in the election. To notify us of additional satellite spending, email us.
| By candidate | By election |
|---|---|
As of October 20, 2025, Matthew Elliot Kelley (R) had not filed as a candidate with the Federal Election Commission.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Andrew Trakas completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Trakas' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
- 1. Economy, Taxes & Cost of Living
My Fix:
“I’ll work to put more money back in Texans’ pockets and I will cut federal red tape, lowering taxes for working families, and protecting Texas industries from overregulation." - 2. Border Security & Immigration My Fix: “As Senator, I’ll push for a Texas-first border security plan, no illegal immigrants in our cities, towns or neighborhood's."
- 3. Energy & Grid Reliability My Fix: “I’ll fight to protect Texas energy independence by investing in modernizing the grid, supporting both traditional energy and smart infrastructure, and ensuring Texans never freeze or sweat in the dark again."
Strong leadership and courage are essential to make tough decisions, defend what’s right, and resist the temptation to follow the easy or politically convenient path. An effective elected official should be a good listener, staying connected to the communities they represent and understanding the real issues people face every day.
They must craft, support, and vote on legislation that strengthens communities, boosts the economy, ensures public safety, and preserves the values that make our state and nation strong. It’s their duty to oversee government actions, hold agencies accountable, and make sure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and transparently.
I hope my work inspires trust in public service, showing that leadership is about dedication to others, not personal gain. Whether through defending our citizens, supporting veterans, creating economic opportunities, or empowering communities, I want my legacy to reflect a life spent uniting people, solving real problems, and leaving a stronger, safer, and more prosperous nation for future generations.
That role taught me discipline, attention to detail, calm under pressure, and an absolute commitment to the safety of others. After that I served as a firefighter, joined the Texas State Military, worked as a financial director in the private sector, and eventually founded Freedom 75 a business that brings together community members, law enforcement, and veterans. Those experiences shaped my leadership, operational experience, and my drive to serve my community.
It’s a book that reinforces my belief that whether in government, business, or community service, strong teams and shared purpose are essential to achieving meaningful results. It inspires me to lead with clarity, humility, and a focus on empowering others to succeed.
Captain America represents the idea that true strength comes from character, not power, and that resonates with how I strive to lead: with honor, loyalty, and a relentless dedication to doing what’s right for the people I serve.
It required me to rebuild my identity outside of uniform, learn new skills, and find meaningful ways to continue serving my community. That journey led me to firefighting, leadership roles in the private sector, and ultimately founding Freedom 75. While the transition wasn’t easy, it shaped my resilience, deepened my empathy for others facing change, and strengthened my commitment to serve in new ways.
Second, economic growth and opportunity we need to ensure a thriving economy that supports small businesses, creates jobs, and allows working families to prosper without excessive regulation or burdens. Inflation, energy independence, and supply chain stability will be key priorities.
Third, the strength of our democratic institutions we must safeguard the rule of law, maintain election integrity, and ensure government accountability. Polarization and political division threaten our ability to govern effectively.
Fourth, education and workforce development preparing the next generation with the skills, knowledge, and values necessary to compete in a global economy is essential.
By encouraging regular turnover, term limits ensure elected officials stay connected to the real world, not the political bubble. At the same time, it’s important to maintain enough time for effective leadership and experience to make a difference. Overall, term limits strengthen democracy by promoting accountability, limiting career politicians, and ensuring government remains truly by and for the people.
The Senate plays a critical role as a deliberative body, where legislation is carefully examined, debated, and refined. Its longer terms allow senators to take a broader, long-term view rather than focusing only on short-term political pressures.
However, real world experience outside of politics is equally important. Leaders who have served their communities, run businesses, or worked on the front lines bring fresh perspectives and practical solutions. What matters most is integrity, leadership, and a genuine commitment to serve the people. A balance of experience and real world perspective often leads to the strongest, most effective representation.
That said, the filibuster can also be misused to stall progress or block important legislation indefinitely, which can frustrate the legislative process. Overall, I believe the filibuster serves an important purpose when used responsibly it encourages deliberation, balance, and stability in lawmaking. Any changes to it should be carefully considered to preserve the Senate’s role as a deliberative body, not just a partisan battlefield.
1. Qualifications and experience. The nominee should have a strong legal background, demonstrated expertise, and a record of competence in handling complex legal issues.
2. Integrity and ethics. A judge must uphold the highest ethical standards, demonstrate honesty, and avoid conflicts of interest.
3. Commitment to the Constitution. They should interpret the law faithfully, respecting the Constitution and the separation of powers rather than legislating from the bench.
4. Judicial temperament. Fairness, impartiality, and the ability to consider differing viewpoints are critical.
I would prioritize professionalism and integrity, treating colleagues with courtesy even during disagreement, and working to foster an environment where debate is constructive rather than divisive. At the same time, I would stand firmly on my principles and the interests of my constituents, ensuring that collaboration never comes at the cost of core values.
That said, compromise should never come at the expense of core principles or the rights of the people. It works best when it is guided by integrity, respect, and a genuine desire to solve problems rather than score political points. In a diverse nation like ours, the ability to collaborate while standing firm on key values is essential to achieving results that last.
The Senate should use these powers to oversight of federal agencies, examine potential abuses of power, and evaluate the implementation of laws, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and that the government operates efficiently and ethically. When done properly, investigations strengthen public trust, reinforce the rule of law, and maintain the checks and balances that are fundamental to our democracy.
First, the nominee must be highly qualified, with the experience, knowledge, and leadership skills necessary to manage their department effectively. Second, they must demonstrate honesty, accountability, and ethical behavior, with a record that shows they can be trusted to serve the American people not political or special interests.
Hearing his story reinforced why I do what I do to create opportunities, support those who serve, and build communities where no one feels forgotten. It reminded me that behind every policy and decision are real people whose lives are directly affected and that service isn’t just about titles or positions, it’s about making a tangible difference in people’s lives.
What makes this accomplishment meaningful isn’t just the business itself it’s the positive impact it has on people’s lives, giving veterans purpose, supporting public safety, and creating opportunities for personal growth. It’s a tangible way I’ve been able to serve and make a difference beyond my years in uniform.
This includes establishing clear standards and regulations to prevent misuse, protect privacy, and ensure transparency, without unnecessarily stifling technological advancement. The government should also invest in research and workforce development to maintain American leadership in AI and prepare citizens for the evolving job market.
Key components would include:
1. Secure and transparent voting systems. Mandate the use of verifiable paper ballots, secure electronic systems with audits, and standardized cybersecurity protocols to protect against interference.
2. Accessible elections for all eligible voters. Expand options for early voting, absentee ballots, and accessible polling places while maintaining robust identity verification to prevent fraud.
3. Clear and uniform election standards. Encourage consistency across states for voter registration, ballot handling, and reporting results to ensure public trust and reduce confusion.
4. Enhanced election security funding. Provide federal support to states for election infrastructure, cybersecurity, and training for election officials.
5. Transparency and oversight. Strengthen reporting requirements and oversight mechanisms to ensure accountability in election administration.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 9, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Texas Tribune, "GOP Rep. Wesley Hunt announces run for U.S. Senate, joining Cornyn, Paxton in primary," October 6, 2025
- ↑ Roll Call, "Why Cornyn is still at risk of losing in Texas," October 20, 2025
- ↑ Associated Press, "Rep. Wesley Hunt is running for US Senate in Texas, defying GOP leaders to take on Cornyn and Paxton," October 6, 2025
- ↑ CBS News, "Senator Cornyn kicks off re-election campaign early as Ken Paxton weighs primary challenge," March 30, 2025
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Sen. John Cornyn looks to overcome Paxton primary challenge by embracing Trump," June 30, 2025
- ↑ John Cornyn campaign website, "The Trump-Cornyn Record," accessed October 22, 2025
- ↑ Wesley Hunt campaign website, "Meet Wesley Hunt," accessed October 22, 2025
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Texas AG Ken Paxton officially joins U.S. Senate race challenging John Cornyn," April 8, 2025
- ↑ Ken Paxton campaign website, "The Fight at Hand," accessed October 22, 2025
- ↑ For more information on the difference between margins of error and credibility intervals, see explanations from the American Association for Public Opinion Research and Ipsos.
- ↑ Pew Research Center, "5 key things to know about the margin of error in election polls," September 8, 2016
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑ Amee LaTour, Email correspondence with the Center for Responsive Politics, August 5, 2022
