Three Republican members of Texas State Board of Education decided not to seek reelection in the November 2026 election. Republican candidates vying to replace them appear to embrace Christian conservative politics with significant special-interest funding for their campaigns.
Where
Statewide
When
Oct. 22, 2026
Sources
One outlet
Taxes and money
None stated in sources.
Coming up
Thursday, November 5, 2026. November 2026 election for State Board of Education seats (Statewide)1
Who's involved
Will HickmanHouston Republican board member
Brandon HallBoard member
Evelyn BrooksFrisco Republican board member since 2023
Rocío Fierro-PérezPolitical director of Texas Freedom Network
Texas Freedom NetworkProgressive watchdog organization over State Board of Education
The facts
State Board of Education finalized rewrite of social studies lessons in summer 2026.1
Board approved requiring public school students learn about Prophet Muhammad's military campaigns, slavery, and female captives.1
Hickman proposed removing word 'brutal' from social studies characterization; 8-4 majority rejected proposal.1
Board has 11-4 Republican supermajority; Republicans hold all but four seats.1
Three Republican board members decided not to seek reelection before November election.1
Board has 5.5 million Texas public school students served by its decisions.1
Hickman took office on State Board of Education in 2021.1
Brooks has served on board since 2023 and campaigned for governor in March primary.1
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Rocío Fierro-Pérez Board will probably be the most divisive it has ever been.1
Will Hickman Board is more divided now than when he took office in 2021.1
Will Hickman Politics generally does not belong on the board and distracts from its work.1
Evelyn Brooks Some members focus more on fulfilling desires of donors and political groups than decisions for children.1
Evelyn Brooks Board needs more balanced representation to ensure members put kids first.1
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
Phillip Marcus Bates, a 65-year-old McKinney man who drove a bus for Melissa Independent School District, was arrested and charged with possession of child sexual abuse material, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and sexual performance by a child. He was fired from his position.
$$100,000 for bond (possession of child pornography charge)
Phillip Marcus Bates, school bus driver for Melissa ISD, charged with multiple sex crimes; McKinney Police Department, arrested Bates; Chris Fontana, Melissa ISD Police Chief and 1 more
The University Interscholastic League Legislative Council approved a proposal to allow live television broadcasts of regular-season Friday night football games if both schools agree. The change requires approval from Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath before taking effect.
University Interscholastic League Legislative Council, approved the proposal; Mike Morath, Texas Education Commissioner, must approve the rule change; Texas High School Coaches Association, spearheaded the proposal and 2 more
Texas began distributing $1 billion in public funding this summer that eligible families can use toward private education expenses, including classical Christian schools. The voucher program is part of a broader conservative push to create new religious schools and convert existing ones.
$$1 billion for school voucher program funding
Keith Castello, Classical Christian school administrator launching schools under Kyrie Christian Academy brand; David Goodwin, Association of Classical Christian Schools president; Doug Wilson, Founder of Association of Classical Christian Schools and 4 more
Vasant Bhatt, a 21-year-old political science student at University of Houston, announced on October 23 that his position with Campus Reform, a conservative media outlet, had been terminated. Bhatt had previously announced he voted for Democrat James Talarico over Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race and spoke out against anti-Indian bigotry.
Vasant Bhatt, 21-year-old political science student at University of Houston; correspondent for Campus Reform; Campus Reform, conservative media outlet
No. 13 Alabama defeated Texas A&M 31-20 in a college football game on Saturday. Alabama scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to overcome a three-point deficit and win the game.
No. 13 Alabama, football team; Texas A&M, football team; Keelon Russell, Alabama quarterback and 3 more
President Donald J. Trump is scheduled to visit Lubbock, Texas on October 27, 2026. The Lubbock County Republican Party released a statement welcoming the visit and asking attendees to plan ahead and follow security procedures.
President Donald J. Trump, visitor; Ken Adams, Lubbock County Republican Party chairman
A 14-year-old pedestrian struck by a Dayton ISD school bus driver in a hit-and-run crash on Oct. 16 died on Oct. 24. The bus driver left the scene without stopping to help. The driver was arrested and initially charged with collision causing serious bodily injury.
Brantley Conner, 14-year-old pedestrian struck by school bus; Ricky Eugene Cherry, Dayton ISD bus driver; Andrew Conner, Father of Brantley Conner and 1 more
Democratic candidates James Talarico in Texas and Adam Hamilton in Kansas are running in midterm elections while emphasizing their religious backgrounds and faith commitments. Talarico is a Presbyterian seminary student and Hamilton is a United Methodist pastor. The sources characterize their approach as attempting to appeal to religious voters in conservative states.
James Talarico, Democratic candidate running for office in Texas midterms; Adam Hamilton, Democratic candidate running for office in Kansas midterms; Sarah Trone Garriott, Lutheran minister running for Iowa House and 1 more