Election day is Nov. 3, while early voting runs from Oct. 19-30. The Mesquite updated its voter guide to cover seven major electoral races relevant to Texas A&M University-San Antonio. The guide highlights the top two candidates in each race, even when additional candidates are running. The general election will determine which candidates are elected to office.
Governor
Here is an overview of the top two candidates on the ballot for the Texas Governor:
Greg Abbott (Republican incumbent)
Greg Abbott is a native of Houston and the Republican governor of Texas, first elected in 2014 and serving since 2015. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree and earned a law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School.
Shortly after law school, Abbott was partially paralyzed in an accident involving a falling tree and has used a wheelchair since.
Before becoming governor, he served as the longest‑serving attorney general in Texas history, a justice on the Texas Supreme Court and a state district judge. As governor, Abbott has focused on conservative priorities aimed at strengthening the state’s economy, securing the southern border and promoting what he describes as Texas values.
Policy Stances:
- Advocates lower taxes, property tax reform and a business‑friendly environment to promote jobs and economic growth.
- Supports robust border security measures, including state‑led enforcement actions, increased funding for border operations and building barriers to counter illegal crossings and drug trafficking.
- Prioritizes defending Second Amendment rights and expanding “constitutional carry” policies for law‑abiding citizens.
- Backs restrictions on abortion and laws aimed at preventing distribution of abortion‑inducing drugs and limiting public support for abortion services.
- Promotes education initiatives that emphasize parental control, expanded classroom funding and workforce‑aligned training.
- Has supported public safety measures and legislative actions designed to strengthen law enforcement and address violent crime.
Gina Hinojosa (Democratic)
Gina Hinojosa grew up in the Rio Grande Valley and graduated from the University of Texas before earning a law degree from George Washington University. She began her career as a civil rights and union lawyer, advocating for families and workers, and won multiple cases on behalf of clients seeking better working conditions.
Hinojosa says her political career began when she rallied with other parents in her son’s school district to keep public schools open. She was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2019, where she has worked to reduce standardized testing and improve pay for teachers.
Policy Stances:
- Supports making healthcare more accessible for all Texans.
- Advocates lowering the cost of living by expanding opportunities for small businesses and the average worker.
- Seeks to provide every child a quality education by investing in school safety and teacher pay rather than prioritizing profits from private schooling.
- Has promoted environmental and climate‑related initiatives, including a climate plan and youth climate corps efforts.
Lieutenant Governor
Here is an overview of the top two candidates on the ballot for the Texas Lieutant Governor:
Dan Patrick (Republican)
Dan Patrick is the Republican incumbent running for re-election as Texas lieutenant governor. He was first elected to the office in 2014 and re-elected in 2018 and 2022. Before entering statewide office, Patrick served in the Texas Senate and worked in media for nearly 50 years as a television anchor, conservative talk show host and radio station owner.
Policy Stances:
- Supports reducing property taxes and business taxes.
- Advocates stricter border security and support for law enforcement.
- Supports expanding school choice and increasing parental involvement in education.
- Opposes abortion and supports restrictions on abortion access.
- Supports Second Amendment rights, including policies allowing eligible Texans to carry firearms.
- Advocates strengthening the Texas electrical grid by expanding reliable power sources.
Vikki Goodwin (Democratic)
Vikki Goodwin is the Democratic candidate for Texas lieutenant governor. Raised in Dallas, she graduated from the University of Texas and the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. She represents parts of Austin and the Lake Travis area in the Texas House of Representatives, where she is serving her fourth term. Goodwin’s professional background includes residential real estate.
Policy Stances:
- Supports adequately funding public schools and opposes school voucher programs that direct public money to private schools.
- Advocates improving access to clean drinking water and strengthening Texas’ water infrastructure.
- Supports making housing more affordable and addressing rising property taxes and insurance costs.
- Advocates expanding access to comprehensive, affordable health care.
- Supports a state-administered health insurance program intended to expand coverage for uninsured Texans.
- Calls for a more collaborative approach to state government that focuses on issues affecting Texans.
Attorney General
Here is an overview of the top two candidates on the ballot for the Texas Attorney General:
Nathan Johnson (Democratic)
Nathan Johnson is from Dallas. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Arizona and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Johnson practices law at Thompson Coburn LLP, where he specializes in trial litigation and dispute resolution. He was first elected in 2018 and has become a leading voice on health care policy, the electric grid, government transparency, criminal justice reform, and state infrastructure.
Policy Stances:
- Supports using the attorney general’s office to challenge MAGA-aligned policies he says undermine democracy and the economy.
- Advocates strong consumer protections to reduce costs for Texans.
- Emphasizes professionalism and effective public service within the attorney general’s office.
- Supports investigating and prosecuting political corruption regardless of party affiliation.
- Prioritizes public safety through cooperation with district attorneys.
- Supports a secure border while preserving state sovereignty.
Mayes Middleton (Republican)
Mayes Middleton is from Galveston. He earned a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin and has been licensed to practice law since 2008. He is president and CEO of Middleton Oil Company, an independent oil and gas company, and also operates ranching, cattle and farming businesses. Middleton served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2019 to 2022 before joining the Texas Senate in 2023, where he represents District 11. He is the Republican nominee for Texas attorney general.
Policy Stances:
- Supports stricter border enforcement, including legal action against sanctuary cities and enforcement of federal deportation orders.
- Supports enforcing Texas’ abortion laws and opposing policies related to gender identity in schools.
- Advocates strict enforcement of election laws, including Texas voter identification requirements.
- Supports tougher policies for violent crime and efforts to hold district attorneys accountable for their enforcement decisions.
- Supports enforcing open-records laws and investigating government waste, fraud and abuse.
- Advocates legal action against companies accused of deceptive business practices to protect consumers.
- Supports protecting Texas’ oil and gas industry and energy independence.
- Supports expanding protections for Second Amendment rights.
U.S Senate
Here is an overview of the top two candidates on the ballot for the U.S. Senate:
Ken Paxton (Republican)
Ken Paxton is a Texan native and the attorney general of Texas, a position he has held since 2015. He received his bachelor’s and graduate degrees from Baylor University and a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. He has worked as an attorney, management consultant, and in-house legal counsel for J.C. Penney Co. Paxton is also affiliated with the Allen Chamber of Commerce, Marketplace Ministries Board of Directors, McKinney Chamber of Commerce, McKinney Rotary, and Stonebriar Community Church. He resides in McKinney, Texas.
As attorney general, Paxton has led lawsuits challenging federal regulations and focused on consumer protection and state legal matters. He has also faced state and federal investigations related to his office, which have received national media attention.
Policy Stances:
- Supports President Trump’s legislative priorities, including tax cuts, border security, and reducing government overreach.
- Seeks to challenge the D.C. political establishment and fight for the American people.
- Advocates for strong national sovereignty and completion of the border wall.
- Upholds conservative principles, including gun rights, protecting the unborn, and opposing transgender participation in girls’ sports and “woke” classroom policies.
- Promotes an America First foreign policy that prioritizes U.S. interests and citizen safety.
- Favors fiscal conservatism, including cutting taxes and reducing government spending.
James Talarico (Democratic)
James Talarico is a Texas native from Round Rock who earned a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in education policy from Harvard University.
He applied his academic training as a middle school teacher at Rhodes Middle School in San Antonio before being elected to the Texas House of Representatives, taking office in 2018. In 2022, he began pursuing a master of divinity while continuing to serve as the representative for District 50.
Talarico has drawn national attention for widely shared social media videos in which he critiques the role of religion in politics. A survey by Texas Public Opinion Research indicates Talarico leads with White, Latino, and college-educated voters.
Policy Stances:
- Opposes private school vouchers.
- Supports raising the federal minimum wage to $15.
- Advocates expanding Medicare.
- Supports access to abortion in line with Democratic Party positions.
- Calls for increased scrutiny of political donations.
- Seeks greater accountability for state and federal law enforcement agencies.
- Supports immigration reform that creates improved pathways to citizenship.
Texas Senate District 19
Here is an overview of the top two candidates on the ballot for the Texas Senate in District 19:
Roland Gutierrez (Democratic incumbent)
Roland Gutierrez is from San Antonio, Texas. He earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Texas at San Antonio and a J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law. Gutierrez founded the Gutierrez Law Firm, where he practices immigration law, and began his political career on the San Antonio City Council. He then represented District 119 in the Texas House of Representatives from 2008 to 2021 and was elected to the Texas Senate in 2020, winning reelection in 2022.
Policy Stances:
- Advocated for stricter gun safety measures and investigated response failures during the Uvalde school shooting.
- Supports stronger public education, after-school programs, and helped establish the Mission Branch Library and Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
- Prioritizes expanding access to affordable health care and lowering costs for Texas families.
- Emphasizes veterans’ services and mental health resources, including treatment and resiliency initiatives.
Marcus Cardenas (Republican)
Marcus Cardenas was born and raised in San Antonio’s Southside. He attended South San High School and later Palo Alto College. After high school, he joined his family’s plumbing business to help support his loved ones and eventually founded Vertex Concrete, a concrete furniture business serving the district for more than a decade. In 2007, after his brother died in a motorcycle accident, Cardenas focused on supporting the family business instead of completing his college education.
Policy Stances:
- Advocates for investments in roads, bridges, water systems, and broadband to support thriving communities.
- Supports increased funding for schools, higher teacher pay, and policies that allow parents to have a meaningful role in education decisions.
- Opposes efforts to defund the police and favors strengthening penalties for violent crimes, emphasizing policies that protect residents while holding offenders accountable.
- Promotes policies that support small businesses, lower taxes and create high-paying career opportunities for families.
U.S. House District 23
Here is an overview of the top two candidates on the ballot for U.S. House representative in District 23:
Brandon Herrera (Republican)
Brandon Herrera was born in North Carolina and later moved to the San Antonio area. According to his campaign materials, he grew up in a working‑class family where hard work and self‑reliance were core values. He attended local schools before pursuing his interest in entrepreneurship and small business development.
Herrera is the founder and owner of Centurion Arms, a firearms manufacturing business based in Texas. He gained national recognition through his online presence and as a competitive shooter and firearms enthusiast, building a large audience by sharing content related to marksmanship, firearms education and small business ownership. His business experience and advocacy for Second Amendment rights are central themes of his public profile.
Before running for Congress, Herrera worked on initiatives to support gun rights, small business growth, and community outreach. He ran for the U.S. House in District 23 in 2022 and 2024, challenging then incumbent Tony Gonzales and has remained active in local Republican politics.
Policy Stances:
- Protect Second Amendment rights and oppose efforts to introduce restrictive gun control legislation.
- Support small business growth through lower taxes, reduced federal regulations, and pro‑business policies.
- Strengthen the U.S. economy by promoting energy independence, workforce development and trade policies that benefit American workers.
- Secure the U.S.–Mexico border with enhanced enforcement and resources for border security.
- Defend constitutional freedoms including free speech, religious liberty and limited government.
Katy Padilla Stout (Democratic)
Katy Padilla Stout is from San Antonio and graduated from Lee High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from South Texas College of Law Houston.
Her professional background includes work as an attorney and as an elementary school teacher in the Northside Independent School District, where she worked with students in special education and gifted programs. Since 2017, she has served on the Bexar County Child Welfare Board and on the board of a nonprofit providing therapeutic services to children affected by abuse, poverty and trauma.
Policy Stances:
- Supports lowering the cost of living, raising the minimum wage, requiring paid parental leave and reforming the tax code to benefit families.
- Advocate for universal prekindergarten.
- Opposes voter suppression and supports restoring the Voting Rights Act, expanding voter access, regulating voter roll purges and procedural changes, prosecuting voter discrimination and making Election Day a federal holiday.
- Supports what she describes as responsible gun ownership, including universal background checks, a ban on bump stocks, red flag laws and increased funding for mental health and crisis intervention.
Texas House District 118
Here is an overview of the top two candidates on the ballot for state representative in District 118:
Kristian Carranza (Democratic)
Kristian Carranza was born and raised on the South Side of San Antonio.
Her campaign website reports she was raised by a single mother and struggled financially, relying on Pell Grants to help fund her education.
She has said those experiences allow her to relate to Texans living paycheck to paycheck. Carranza attended Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi but left school to care for her mother.
A former political staffer, Carranza has worked on several Democratic campaigns, including efforts supporting the Affordable Care Act and campaigns for Julián Castro and Hillary Clinton. She also served as a regional director for the Democratic National Committee and as a national field director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Carranza previously ran for the Texas House District 118 in 2024 but lost to Republican incumbent John Lujan.
Policy Stances:
- Increasing school funding above the regional average and ensuring teachers receive a livable wage
- Expand access to health insurance.
- Oppose job-killing tariffs and support workforce development programs that prepare San Antonians for higher-paying jobs.
- Work with city and county leaders and neighborhood associations to ensure community concerns are heard and addressed.
- Protect public safety, constitutional rights and voting access.
- Support veterans by expanding mental health and suicide prevention services and increasing access to affordable housing and job training, amid federal cuts to VA services.
Jorge Borrego (Republican)
Jorge Borrego was born and raised in Texas and became the first in his family to earn a college degree. He has built a career in Texas policy and public service, including serving as K‑12 education policy director for the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Next Generation Texas initiative and working as a legislative director in the Texas House of Representatives.
His campaign website states that he is running to ensure families in South San Antonio have access to opportunity, strong schools, safe neighborhoods and a voice that understands their community.
He has also held roles in the nonprofit sector, including with the Down Syndrome Association of Brazos Valley, and works as a realtor. Borrego has experience in policy development, legislative strategy and community outreach.
Borrego earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Master of Public Administration from Texas A&M University’s Bush School of Government.
Policy Stances:
- Support for expanded educational opportunities, including high‑quality public schools, charter schools, skilled‑trade training and Education Savings Accounts so families have more choices.
- Efforts to improve affordability by lowering property taxes, reducing regulatory costs, and promoting pro‑growth policies to expand housing supply.
- Strengthening public safety by supporting law enforcement and tougher measures on repeat violent offenders.
- Advocating government accountability and efficiency, emphasizing transparent budgeting and directing tax dollars toward classrooms and core services.
- Appraisal and tax relief reform, including shifting tax burdens away from property owners and calling for local bond and spending reforms.
