Texans Vote Tuesday in Five Tight Statewide Races

Texans cast ballots on Tuesday for five major statewide offices. Polling locations are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The races include a contest for the U.S. Senate, the governorship, the lieutenant governorship, the attorney general, and a seat on the Railroad Commission.

The U.S. Senate race pits Democrat James Talarico against Republican Ken Paxton. They are competing for the seat currently held by Sen. John Cornyn. Polls show the race as a close race. Texas last elected a Democrat to a statewide office in 1994. The state last elected a Democratic senator in 1988, when Lloyd Bentsen won reelection.

Gov. Greg Abbott seeks a fourth term against state Rep. Gina Hinojosa. Abbott has won previous reelection contests by double-digit margins. Hinojosa has served five terms in the Texas House of Representatives. Libertarian Pat Dixon, a former Lago Vista city council member, is also on the ballot. The governor signs or vetoes bills and appoints officials to state agencies.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick runs for a fourth term against state Rep. Vikki Goodwin. Patrick chairs the state Senate and controls the legislative agenda. Goodwin has represented southwest Austin and Travis County since 2018. Anthony Cristo and Kevin McCormick represent the Libertarian and Green parties, respectively.

State Sens. Mayes Middleton and Nathan Johnson compete for the attorney general post. They aim to replace Ken Paxton, who now runs for the U.S. Senate. The office defends state laws and interprets state statutes. Libertarian Tom Oxford, a lawyer in Jefferson County, is the third candidate on the ballot.

Bo French and Jon Rosenthal vie for a Railroad Commission seat. The body regulates oil and gas production, pipelines, and mining operations. French chairs the Tarrant County Republican Party and owns an oil business in Midland. Rosenthal is a state representative and an oil field mechanical engineer with two decades of experience. Karl Rove, a Republican strategist, said he would vote for Rosenthal. Libertarian Arthur DiBianca is also a candidate.