Texas held its 2026 general election on November 3, 2026, with voters deciding races for governor, U.S. Senate, Harris County offices, and a Houston ballot measure on policing. Major campaign issues included property taxes, schools, healthcare, affordability, border security, and data centers.
The sources don't state an effect on taxes. They do state these figures.
Campaign funds raised Jan. 1, 2025 through Oct. 14, 2026$140.3 million1Who pays or receives it: James Talarico
Campaign funds raised Jan. 1, 2025 through Oct. 14, 2026$21.6 million1Who pays or receives it: Ken Paxton
Who's involved
Greg AbbottRepublican governor candidate
Gina HinojosaDemocrat governor candidate
Pat DixonLibertarian governor candidate
Ken PaxtonRepublican U.S. Senate candidate
James TalaricoDemocrat U.S. Senate candidate
Ted BrownLibertarian U.S. Senate candidate
The facts
Paxton proposed federal tax deductions for medical expenses, first-home down payments, and health-related spending.1
Paxton proposed doubling the child tax credit, requiring congressional approval.1
Talarico called for banning corporate PACs and super PACs.1
Talarico called for prohibiting members of Congress from trading individual stocks.1
Talarico called for overturning Citizens United and ending partisan gerrymandering nationwide.1
Abbott proposed eliminating school district property taxes on homesteads with state replacement funding.1
Hinojosa proposed sending $1,500 to Texas households using Rainy Day Fund money.1
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Outside group ad Talarico supported putting parents in jail over decisions involving transgender children.1
Talarico campaign ad Paxton received nearly $500,000 in campaign contributions from data-center investors and operators.1
Where the sources disagree
Whether Talarico supported jailing parents over transgender decisions Outside-group ad claimed support [1]; KPRC 2's review of legislative hearing cited by ad found Talarico did not say parents should be arrested and did not discuss jailing parents for refusing gender-affirming surgery [1]
Campaign finance context for Paxton and data-center donations Talarico campaign ad linked Paxton to nearly $500,000 [1]; KPRC 2 review found figure included broader group of donors requiring additional context [1]
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
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.
On the eve of Texas elections, Democratic candidate Pooja Sethi challenged Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton to condemn remarks about Indian Americans made by Republican Bo French, the Railroad Commission nominee. Paxton had responded to earlier criticism without naming French, instead criticizing his Democratic opponent James Talarico.
Pooja Sethi, Democratic candidate for Texas House District 47; Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General and Republican US Senate nominee; Bo French, Republican nominee for Texas Railroad Commission and 2 more
James Talarico and Ken Paxton wrapped up their U.S. Senate campaigns on November 2, 2026, with Election Day scheduled for November 4. Key issues in the race include the economy, immigration, and Latino voter outreach.
James Talarico, U.S. Senate candidate; Ken Paxton, U.S. Senate candidate
A nationwide nonpartisan initiative called DJs at the Polls is bringing local DJs to more than 200 polling locations across the Houston area on Election Day, November 3, with music aimed at boosting voter turnout. Election Day weather in Eastern Texas is expected to include rain and thunderstorms.
Michael Sanni (DJ GQ Mike), Local DJ participating in DJs at the Polls; Anton Moore, Founder and co-director of DJs at the Polls; DJs at the Polls, Nationwide nonpartisan organization bringing DJs to polling locations
Five national voter outreach groups led by Latinos conducted outreach in the Rio Grande Valley on November 2, the day before the general election, focusing on getting eligible voters to the polls with emphasis on Latino voter turnout.
Janet Murguia, CEO of UnidosUS; Isabel Palomares, Member of La Union del Pueblo Entero; UnidosUS, National voter outreach group and 1 more
James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate from Texas, said in a podcast interview released Monday that he would work with President Donald Trump on healthcare, education, and housing if elected.
James Talarico, Texas Democratic Senate nominee; Donald Trump, President; Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, Republican Senate nominee and 1 more
Tejano music star Bobby Pulido is challenging incumbent Congresswoman Monica de la Cruz in Texas' 15th Congressional District midterm election. De la Cruz is seeking a third term. Analysts call the race a toss-up, with polls showing Pulido with a slight lead in some surveys.
Bobby Pulido, Tejano music star, Democratic candidate for Congress; Monica de la Cruz, Incumbent Congresswoman, Republican, seeking third term; President Trump, Policy focus of both candidates
The 2026 U.S. Senate race in Texas between Democratic candidate James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton has become the most expensive race for an elected office other than the presidency. Combined spending on advertising, including primaries and general election, has reached $573.2 million, with more than half funded by political action committees rather than direct candidate donations.
$nearly $12 billion for total spending on 2026 U.S. elections nationally
James Talarico, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate; Ken Paxton, Republican U.S. Senate candidate; Elon Musk, Billionaire donor to Republican-aligned PACs and 4 more
Voters in the Killeen-Fort Hood area and across Central Texas are preparing to cast ballots Tuesday, Nov. 3, in races spanning federal, statewide, county and local contests. Early voting concluded Oct. 30.
Ken Paxton, Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, Texas attorney general; James Talarico, Democratic challenger for U.S. Senate, state representative from Austin; John Carter, Republican incumbent U.S. Rep., seeking 13th term in Congressional District 31 and 3 more