Key Takeaways:
- A Democrat is running in every state and federal race on the Texas ballot next year, marking the first time in modern state history that either party has fielded a full slate of candidates.
- The Texas Democratic Party and other top Democratic groups recruited 104 candidates to fill every congressional, state House, and state Senate seat up for election in 2026.
- The effort aims to maximize Democratic turnout and engagement in areas that top-of-the-ticket candidates may not be able to reach, potentially creating an upstream effect to boost statewide Democrats.
- The push to run a candidate for every seat comes as Texas Democrats look to capitalize on turnout and backlash to the Trump administration.
- The party has not won statewide office since 1994 and has left an average of 50 state and federal seats uncontested each cycle.
Introduction to the Texas Democratic Party’s Recruitment Efforts
The Texas Democratic Party has made history by fielding a full slate of candidates for every state and federal race on the ballot next year. This achievement is the result of a recruitment campaign run by a network of the state’s top Democratic groups and politicians, including Texas Majority PAC, the Texas Democratic Party, former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, and former state Sen. Wendy Davis. The effort has resulted in 104 candidates running for every congressional, state House, and state Senate seat up for election in 2026, as well as every statewide judicial and State Board of Education race.
The Strategy Behind the Recruitment Effort
The push to run a candidate for every seat, no matter how red-leaning, is a strategic move by Texas Democrats to capitalize on turnout and backlash to the Trump administration. The theory is that running candidates everywhere will not only maximize the party’s chances of flipping down-ballot seats but also increase Democratic turnout and engagement in areas that top-of-the-ticket candidates may not be able to reach. This could potentially create an upstream effect to boost statewide Democrats. As Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder said, "No Republican gets a free ride in Texas. If you are a Republican and you want to hold public office in this state, you’re going to have to fight us for it."
The Current State of Texas Politics
Texas is a deeply red state, with Republicans currently holding 25 of the 38 congressional districts, 88 out of 150 Texas House seats, and an 18-to-11 majority in the state Senate. All statewide offices, including both U.S. Senate seats, are held by Republicans. Democrats have not won statewide office since 1994 and have left an average of 50 state and federal seats uncontested each cycle. However, the party is hoping to change this trend by running candidates in every seat and increasing turnout and engagement in areas that have traditionally been difficult for Democrats to reach.
The Importance of Running Candidates in Rural Areas
One of the key strategies for turning Texas blue is maximizing Democratic turnout in the state’s liberal metropolitan areas. However, the level of turnout required to flip the state is extremely high, and it is unlikely that Democrats can achieve this through urban and suburban areas alone. This is why running candidates in rural areas is crucial. As Texas Majority PAC Director Katherine Fischer said, "When you don’t have Democrats running, you don’t have Democrats showing up in communities telling people what we stand for. The Republicans have an opportunity to brand us and tell people what we stand for instead of it coming out of our mouths." By running candidates in rural areas, Democrats can increase their visibility and reach voters who may not have considered voting for a Democrat before.
The Recruitment Process
The recruitment process was a massive effort that involved sending 2.3 million text messages, making 105,631 calls, and interviewing 1,385 candidates in target districts. The final crop of candidates is made up of "everyday Texans," with a third working in education, 20% having worked in oil fields, chemical refineries, factories, and other similar "hard labor" jobs, 15% being military veterans, and 10% being members of unions. The overwhelming majority, 90%, are first-time candidates for public office. As Fischer said, "We were very focused on recruiting normal people, people who have some sort of compelling story to tell about how Republican leadership in Texas has failed them personally."
Meet the Candidates
Some of the candidates who have been recruited by Texas Majority PAC and the Texas Democratic Party include Diana Loya, an educator from the Panhandle who is challenging state Rep. Caroline Fairly, R-Amarillo, for her dark-red Texas House seat. Loya, who has never run for office before, was inspired to run after researching the district’s representation in Austin and deciding that she couldn’t "just sit by." Another candidate is Zack Dunn, a family violence prosecutor in the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, who is running for office for the first time in House District 121. Dunn said, "People are fired up. They want meaningful change. They want, I think, a pragmatic, thoughtful leader that can go into Austin and say, I’m here for you."
The Road Ahead
Texas Majority PAC has committed to supporting its recruits through the campaign season, assigning a dedicated staff member to each candidate and helping with fundraising, media, and policy plans, in addition to legal and compliance services. The party is hoping that its efforts will pay off and that Democrats will be able to make gains in the state. As O’Rourke said, "Just the fact that you are stepping up, putting your name on the ballot and running for office is an act of service and patriotism, and it’s going to do great things for everyone on the ticket." With a full slate of candidates and a strong recruitment effort, Texas Democrats are poised to make a significant impact in the upcoming election.