Governor Race 📅 November 3, 2026

2026 Texas Governor Race

Governor Greg Abbott seeks an unprecedented third term in Texas, facing challengers from his right and left.

Candidates (3)
Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott Republican IncumbentAge 68

Greg Abbott has served as Texas Governor since 2015 after a decade as Attorney General. He is known for Operation Lone Star, his border security initiative, aggressive opposition to federal mandates, and a pro-business environment that has attracted major corporate relocations to Texas.

Border securityLow taxesSecond AmendmentSchool choice
Beto O'Rourke
Beto O'Rourke Democrat Age 53

Beto O'Rourke is a former U.S. Representative from El Paso who came within 3 points of defeating Ted Cruz in 2018 — the closest Senate race in Texas in decades. He ran for President in 2020 before pivoting to the 2022 gubernatorial race, which he lost by 11 points.

Gun safety legislationHealthcare expansionClimate changeVoting rights
Mark Tippetts
Mark Tippetts Libertarian Age 66

Mark Tippetts is a Libertarian Party candidate from Texas and a licensed professional engineer. He advocates for significantly reducing the size of Texas state government, eliminating property taxes, and protecting individual liberties from both political parties.

Eliminate property taxSchool privatizationEnd the drug warConstitutional governance
Dropped Out
Ken Paxton (Republican)Julián Castro (Democrat)
Historical Results
Year Winner Margin Runner-up
2022 Greg AbbottRepublican +10.9% Beto O'RourkeDemocrat

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