2026 Texas Senate election
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16 of the 31 seats in the Texas Senate 16 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Texas |
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 Government |
Elections to the Texas Senate will be held concurrently to the 2026 Texas House of Representatives elections on November 3, 2026.[1]
Retirements
[edit]- District 3: Robert Nichols is retiring[2]
- District 4: Brandon Creighton resigned early to serve as Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System[3]
- District 11: Mayes Middleton is retiring to run for Attorney General[4]
- District 22: Brian Birdwell is retiring[5]
Special elections
[edit]As of July 2025, one special election is scheduled to fill an unexpired term.
2025 District 9 special election
[edit]Kelly Hancock resigned to become chief clerk of the Texas Comptroller's office in June 2025. A special election to serve the remainder of the term took place on November 4th, 2025.[6] Democratic candidate Taylor Rehmet received the most votes at 47.6%. He was followed by Republicans Leigh Wambsganss, 36%, and John Huffman, 16%.[7] In Texas special elections require a candidate to receive a majority to win and so Rehmet and Wambsganss will head to a runoff election.
Declared Candidates
[edit]- John Huffman (Republican), former mayor of Southlake[8]
- Taylor Rehmet (Democratic), union leader[6]
- Leigh Wambsganss (Republican), chief communications officer of Patriot Mobile[6]
- Armin Mizani (Republican), mayor of Keller (withdrawn, running for Texas House district 98)[9][10]
Endorsements
[edit]2026 District 4 special election
[edit]Brandon Creighton resigned to serve as Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System.[3] A special election is scheduled for May 2, 2026.[19]
Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Brett Ligon, Montgomery County District Attorney[19]
Summary of results by district
[edit]† - Incumbent not seeking re-election
| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Bryan Hughes | Rep | ||||
| 2nd | Bob Hall | Rep | ||||
| 3rd | Robert Nichols† | Rep | ||||
| 4th | Vacant | N/A | ||||
| 5th | Charles Schwertner | Rep | ||||
| 9th | Vacant | N/A | ||||
| 11th | Mayes Middleton† | Rep | ||||
| 13th | Borris Miles | Dem | ||||
| 18th | Lois Kolkhorst | Rep | ||||
| 19th | Roland Gutierrez | Dem | ||||
| 21st | Judith Zaffirini | Dem | ||||
| 22nd | Brian Birdwell† | Rep | ||||
| 24th | Pete Flores | Rep | ||||
| 26th | Jose Menendez | Dem | ||||
| 28th | Charles Perry | Rep | ||||
| 31st | Kevin Sparks | Rep |
Detailed results
[edit]|
District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 9 • District 11 • District 13 • District 18 • District 19 • District 21 • District 22 • District 24 • District 26 • District 28 • District 31 |
District 1
[edit]Incumbent Republican Bryan Hughes has yet to announce re-election plans.[20]
District 2
[edit]Incumbent Republican Bob Hall is running for re-election.[21]
Republican primary
[edit]Declared
[edit]District 3
[edit]Incumbent Republican Robert Nichols is retiring.[23]
Republican primary
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Trent Ashby, state representative from the 9th district (2013-present)[24]
- Rhonda Ward, State Republican Executive Committee member[25]
District 4
[edit]Incumbent will be determined by the May 2, 2026 special election.
District 5
[edit]Incumbent Republican Charles Schwertner is running for re-election.[26]
District 9
[edit]The incumbent will be determined in the November 4th, 2025 special election.
District 11
[edit]Incumbent Republican Mayes Middleton is retiring to run for Attorney General.[4]
Republican primary
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Dennis Paul, state representative from the 129th district (2015-present)[27]
Endorsements
[edit]- Statewide officials
- Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor (2015-present) [27]
District 13
[edit]Incumbent Democrat Borris Miles has yet to announce re-election plans.
District 18
[edit]Incumbent Republican Lois Kolkhorst has yet to announce re-election plans.
District 19
[edit]Incumbent Democrat Roland Gutierrez is running for re-election.
District 21
[edit]Incumbent Democrat Judith Zaffirini is running for re-election.
District 22
[edit]Incumbent Republican Brian Birdwell is retiring.[5]
Republican primary
[edit]Declared
[edit]- David Cook, state representative from the 96th district (2021–present)[5]
- Jon Gimble, McLennan County District Clerk (2015-present)
District 24
[edit]Incumbent Republican Pete Flores is running for re-election
Republican primary
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Pete Flores, incumbent Senator
Democratic primary
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Joe Herrera, 2024 Democratic nominee for Texas House District 53
District 26
[edit]Incumbent Democrat José Menéndez is running for re-election.
District 28
[edit]Incumbent Republican Charles Perry is running for re-election.
District 31
[edit]Incumbent Republican Kevin Sparks is running for re-election.
Notes
[edit]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Texas State Senate elections, 2026". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ Awtrey, Jeff (June 24, 2025). "Sen. Nichols announces he won't seek reelection; Ashby vying for position". KLTV. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ a b "Texas Tech University System Regents Name Senator Brandon Creighton as Sole Finalist for Chancellor". Texas Tech University System. September 4, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ a b Scherer, Jasper (May 15, 2025). "Sen. Mayes Middleton announces bid for Texas attorney general". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b c Serrano, Alejandro (June 30, 2025). "GOP state Sen. Brian Birdwell says he won't seek reelection". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- ^ a b c Kumar, Atirikta (June 27, 2025). "Gov. Greg Abbott sets Nov. 4 special election for open state Senate seat". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
- ^ Guo, Kayla (November 6, 2025). "Democrats see promise for 2026 in Texas Senate near upset". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
- ^ Shaw, Drew (November 4, 2025). "Tarrant voters weigh 2 Republicans, 1 Democrat for Texas Senate election". KERA News. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
- ^ Royster, Rachel (July 8, 2025). "North Texas mayor joins race for Fort Worth-area state Senate District 9". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ "Keller Mayor Armin Mizani pivots from Texas Senate to Texas House District campaign". wfaa.com. July 23, 2025. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
- ^ https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/eye-on-politics-texas-senate-district-9-special-election
- ^ https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/eye-on-politics-texas-senate-district-9-special-election
- ^ https://www.sierraclub.org/texas/greater-fort-worth/endorsements
- ^ https://texasaflcio.org/news/texas-afl-cio-cope-endorses-union-member-taylor-rehmet-sd-9-special-election
- ^ https://www.texasaft.org/government/elections/texas-aft-cope-endorses-taylor-rehmet-in-special-election-for-texas-state-senate/
- ^ https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/eye-on-politics-texas-senate-district-9-special-election/
- ^ https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/eye-on-politics-texas-senate-district-9-special-election/
- ^ https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/eye-on-politics-texas-senate-district-9-special-election/
- ^ a b Serrano, Alejandro (October 16, 2025). "Abbott sets May special election for open Texas Senate seat". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
- ^ Richardson, Michael (May 7, 2025). "Sen. Bryan Hughes to make decision on run for Texas Attorney General after legislative session ends". KLTV. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ "Hall announces re-election bid for State Senator". Wills Point Chronicle. July 1, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ "Eddington For Texas | Texas Senate Candidates". Jason For Texas Sena. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ "Senator Robert Nichols won't seek another term". Palestineherald.com. June 24, 2025. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- ^ TrentAshby.com (June 24, 2025). "Ashby announces candidacy for Texas Senate". The Lufkin Daily News. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ Reports, From Staff (June 3, 2025). "Rhonda Ward to run for Texas Senate". The Daily Sentinel. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ Item, Special to The (June 10, 2025). "Dr. Charles Schwertner Announces for Re-Election to Texas Senate District 5". Itemonline.com. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ a b Scherer, Jasper (May 8, 2025). "State Rep. Dennis Paul announces bid for Texas Senate with backing from Dan Patrick". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved May 30, 2025.