State Senate Candidates
If you want to learn more about them check these out! Know before you go!
What Counties they represent and their District number
Links to their Website, Facebook, Donations, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube
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About the Texas State Senate
The Texas State Legislature consists of an upper chamber which is the Senate the lower chamber the Texas House of Representatives, which together form the legislative branch of the Texas State government. It works alongside the governor of Texas to create laws and establish a state budget. It’s Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Senate include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.
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Members of the Texas State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. One-half of the Senate membership is elected every two years in even-numbered years, with the exception that all 31 Senate seats are up for election for the first legislature following the decennial census in order to reflect the newly redrawn districts. After the initial election, the Senate is divided by lot into two classes, with one class having a re-election after two years and the other having a re-election after four years. Texas legislators assume office at the beginning of the legislative session (January).
Qualifications
A U.S. Citizen, 26 years old before the general election, A five-year resident of Texas before the general election, A district resident for 1 year prior to the general election
Salaries
7,200 a year, $221 per day, set by the ethics commission
Pension
Average pension is $17,526 per year. It can go up to $125,000 depending on years of service.
Current Members
https://senate.texas.gov/members.php
Source:https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_State_Senate
Texas Senate Members by District
District 1 up for re-election 2026
Jurisdiction: Bowie, Camp, Cass, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Harrison, Hopkins, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Red River, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Upshur, and Wood
District 2 up for re-election 2026
Jurisdiction: Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Kaufman, Navarro, Rockwall, Van Zandt
District 3 up for re-election 2026
Jurisdiction: Anderson, Angelina, Cherokee, Hardin, Henderson, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler
District 4 up for re-election 2026
Jurisdiction: Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jefferson, and Montgomery
District 5 up for re-election 2026
Jurisdiction: Bastrop, Brazos, Freestone, Leon, Limestone, Madison, Milam, Robertson, San Jacinto, Walker, and Williamson
District 6 Carol Alvarado (IN) Winner 2024!
Consultant, BA degree in Political Science from the University of Houston, Master of Business Administration. In 2008, she was elected to the Texas House of Representatives and served 5 terms representing District 145. She served as Chair of the Urban Affairs Committee and Co-Chair of the Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations. Carol’s primary legislative focus has been on economic development, public health and public education. She has championed legislation aimed at strengthening our state’s workforce, regulating the use of e-cigarettes for children, and criminal justice reform. Carol is an advocate for women’s health and reproductive rights and has passed legislation to assist victims of sexual abuse. As a member of the Houston City Council from 2002-2008, Carol led the effort to make restaurants smoke free, stopped the shipping of more hazardous chemicals through our neighborhoods, and had air quality monitors installed in neighborhoods near chemical plants.
Source: https://senate.texas.gov/member.php?d=6
Jurisdiction: Harris
District 6
Jurisdiction: Harris
District 7​
Jurisdiction: Harris, Montgomery
District 8 ​up for re-election 2026
Jurisdiction: Collin, Hunt, Rains
District 9 ​up for re-election 2026
Jurisdiction: Tarrant
District 10 ​up for re-election 2024
Jurisdiction: Brown, Callahan, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Shackelford, Stephens, Tarrant
District 11 ​up for re-election 2026
Jurisdiction: Brazoria, Harris, and Galveston
District 12 ​up for re-election 2026
Jurisdiction: Dallas, Denton, Tarrant, and Wise
District 13 ​up for re-election 2026
Jurisdiction: Ft. Bend and Harris
District 14 Sarah Eckhardt (IN) Unopposed!​Winner 2024!up for re-election 2026 Attorney, B.F.A. from New York University, LBJ School Master of Public Affairs, going on to receive her J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. Previously served two terms as Travis County Judge, where she represented 1.3 million county residents. Senator Eckhardt worked for eight years as an Assistant Travis County Attorney. She also served for eight years as a prosecutor with the Travis County District Attorney's Office. Sarah has a long list of pubic service organizations she is serving on.
Jurisdiction: Travis
District 15 Molly Cook Winner 2024!!Emergency room nurse with a Masters in Public Health, and a community organizer. I’ve been at the bedside taking care of patients, organizing for better transportation infrastructure, co-leading the Yes on Prop B Fair for Houston Campaign, meeting with neighbors across our district, and traveling to the Capitol to fight for our shared Democratic values. In Austin, I worked within the party and across the aisle with legislators, their staff, and countless organizations to lobby for and even write legislation. At home, I created shared resources and presented throughout the district to help SD 15 residents access the Texas Legislature. I helped neighbors get to and from the Capitol, navigate the process, and–for some–give their first ever public comments.
Source: https://www.mollyfortexas.com/about-molly-cook
Jurisdiction: Harris
District 15 ​
Jurisdiction: Harris
District 16 Nathan Johnson (IN) Unopposed! Winner 2024!!Attorney, Johnson graduated magna cum laude with a degree in physics from the University of Arizona, and earned his law degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He practices law in the Trial Practice Group at the law firm of Thompson & Knight. He has also composed music for the classical concert stage and scored the hit television series Dragon Ball Z.
Jurisdiction: Dallas
District 17 ​up for re-election 2024
Jurisdiction: Brazoria, Colorado, Ft. Bend, Harris, Jackson, Matagoda, Waller, and Wharton
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District 20 Juan Hinojosa (IN) ​Unopposed! Winner 20204!!up for re-election 2026 Attorney, House of Representatives 1981-1990, Senator 2002-present. B-U of Texas Pan American, J.D. from Georgetown University. In High School he was the football team's quarterback, and after graduation he volunteered to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam. After service he earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Texas-Pan American, where he graduated with honors, and a law degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. After returning to South Texas, Hinojosa served as staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Nueces County and later as an Assistant Attorney General for the Texas Attorney General. Since 1980, Hinojosa has operated a private practice in Hidalgo County representing clients in both civil and criminal matters.
Jurisdiction: Brooks, Hidalgo, Jim Wells, and Nueces
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District 21 Judith Zaffirini (IN) ​up for re-election 2026 Zaffirini has Bachelor's, Master's and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. She also studied at Laredo Community College and the University of Houston. She is the first Hispanic woman elected to the Texas Senate, the second highest-ranking senator, and the highest-ranking woman and Hispanic senator. She has worked as a teacher in higher education for over 13 years. She has been honored by the South Texas Press Association for her work in journalism. She owns her own business, Zaffirini Communications. Zaffirini has been recognized for her near perfect attendance in session. She served as vice-chair of the Texas Democratic Party from 1984-1986, prior to making a (successful) run for the Democratic Party nomination for state Senate in 1986. Her legendary work ethic is reflected in her 100 percent voting record, having cast 67,923 consecutive votes, and her perfect attendance in the Texas Senate since 1987, except for breaking quorum deliberately to prevent an untimely re-redistricting that the U.S. Supreme Court (2006) ruled violated the Voting Rights Act and disenfranchised voters in SD 21. She has sponsored and passed 1,262 bills and 38 substantive resolutions. Showing her bipartisan effectiveness, in the 2021 Republican-dominated Texas Legislature she passed 106 bills, passing more bills than any other legislator for the fourth consecutive legislative session. What's more, she has passed more bills than any other legislator in the history of the State of Texas.
Jurisdiction: Bexar, Caldwell, Dimmit, Duval, Guadalupe, Hays, Jim Hogg, Karnes, La Salle, Live Oak, McMullen, Starr, Travis, Webb, Wilson, and Zapata
District 22 ​up for re-election 2026
Jurisdiction: Bosque, Comanche, Eastland, Ellis, Erath, Falls, Hamilton, Hill, Hood, McLennan, Somerville, and Tarrant
District 23 Royce West (IN) Unopposed! Unopposed! Winner 20204!! ​up for re-election 2026 Attorney,University of Texas at Arlington, B.A., M.A.; University of Houston, J.D.Senator West has been named by Texas Monthly as one of the 25 most powerful people in Texas politics, been selected for the magazine's biennial “Ten Best Legislators in Texas” list, and has twice been named as an “Honorable Mention.” Senator West has also received mention on the Associated Press' “Movers and Shakers” list, as well as the Texas Insider's "Best Legislators" list. Senator West served on the World Travel & Tourism Council Dallas Host Committee for the 2016 Global Summit. Senator West has been appointed to serve on the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth, and Families.
Source: https://senate.texas.gov/member.php?d=23 Jurisdiction:: Dallas, Tarrant
District 24 up for re-election in 2026
Jurisdiction:: Atascosa, Bandera, Bell, Burnet, Coryell, Gillespie, Kerr, Kimble, Lampasas, Llano, Medina, Sutton, and Williamson
District 25 up for re-election 2026
Jurisdiction: Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, and Travis
District 26 Jose Menendez (IN) up for re-election 2026 BA-SMU, Commerical Marketing Exec., VP of Stewart Title Guaranty, Director Mulitcultureal Market. Prior to the Senate he represented the 124th District in the Texas House of Representatives between 2000 and 2015. During his term in office, Menéndez passed over 200 bills that benefited children, seniors, veterans, and San Antonio families. One of the bills, David's Law, empowers students, parents, schools, and law enforcement to combat and prevent cyberbullying. Senator Menéndez is also a strong advocate for job growth, community and business development. Along with his successful legislation, Senator Menéndez has secured millions of dollars for advancements in education, healthcare, parks, and additional funding developments, including $17 million for the Alamo Colleges.
Jurisdiction:: Bexar
District 27
Jurisdiction: Bee, Cameron, Hildalgo, Kenedy, Kleberg, and Nueces
District 28 up for re-election 2026
Jurisdiction: Baylor, Childress, Coleman, Collingsworth, Concho, Cottle, Crosby, Dickens, Donley, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hale, Hardeman, Haskell, Hockley, Jones, Kent, King, Knox, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Mills, Motley, Nolan, Runnels, San Saba, Stonewall, Taylor,Terry, Throckmorton, Tom Green, Wheeler, Wichita, and Wilbarger
District 29 Cesar Blanco (IN) Unopposed! Winner 20204!!up for re-election 2026 Navy Veteran, B-UT El Paso, Worked for Congress members before being elected to District 29. In the Texas House, César has delivered as a strong champion for El Paso by leading initiatives to improve access to healthcare, strengthen our workforce, local economy, and border communities while also improving the quality of life and increasing economic opportunities for all Texans. He has also led efforts to expand mental health resources for veterans, rein in rising prescription drug prices, increase oversight over border security, and deliver historic public school funding.For his record of fighting for veterans’ education opportunities and border communities, Texas Monthly named him one of the best legislators in Texas.
Jurisdiction: Brewster, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Peco, Presidio, Reeves
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District 30
Jurisdiction: Archer, Clay, Collin, Cooke, Denton, Grayson, Jack, Montague, Parker, Wichita, and Young
District 31 up for re-election 2026
Jurisdiction:: Andrews, Armstrong, Bailey, Borden, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Cochran, Coke, Crane, Dallam, Dawson, Deaf Smith, Ector, Gaines, Glasscock, Hall, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Howard, Hutchinson, Irion, Lipscomb, Loving, Martin, Midland, Mitchell, Moore, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Reagan, Roberts, Schleicher, Scurry, Sherman, Sterling, Swisher, U-ton, Ward, Winkler, and Yoakum