Texas Executive Department Candidates
The Executive Department of the State shall consist of a Governor, who shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the State, a Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller of Public Accounts, Commissioner of the General Land Office, and Attorney General. Additional State Level Offices of Railroad Commissioner and Agricultural Commissioner will also be on this page as well as State Board of Education.
Key: (l) = Incumbent. This person currently holds that position.
=Position held by a Republican.
Note to the Voter: Remember that you are the HR person choosing who is best qualified to be in Leadership for the State of Texas. Check out the Candidate's educational background, their work history, and Community Service. If it is an Incumbent (in office now and trying to get reelected) check their voting record. Very important. Did they vote the way they promised they would on their platform? Did they vote with their party or against it? Which candidate is best qualified over all and lines up with your beliefs? That is who you should vote for.
About the Texas Governor
The Governor of Texas is the chief executive of the state of Texas and is elected by the citizens every four years. The governor has the power to: sign and veto bills passed by the state legislature, serve as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces, convene special sessions of the legislature, grant reprieves and pardons, and fill vacant positions via appointment. Additionally, the governor is responsible for delivering the "State of the State" address and an annual state budget report and budget recommendation.The Governor's powers, term of office, qualifications, and installation are established by Article 4 of the Texas Constitution.
Qualifications
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At least thirty years of age
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A citizen of the United States
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Shall have resided in this State at least five years immediately preceding his election
Salary $153,750
For more information about the job responsibilities of the Lt. Governor see Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Texas
Texas Governor:
Gina Hinojosa for Texas Governor up for election 2026.
Gina Hinojosa is a native Texan, born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley. A proud product of Brownsville public schools, Gina graduated from the University of Texas and received her law degree from George Washington University. Gina began her career as an advocate for families and workers as a civil rights and union lawyer. She represented hard working Texans fighting to make sure they were treated fairly, got the wages and benefits they earned, and helping them support their families. Gina has a long history of holding corrupt politicians accountable. In 2005, she was part of the legal team that sued House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on money laundering charges, and has been a constant corruption watchdog in the Legislature. Gina never planned on running for office. But when her son’s elementary school was threatened for closure by state budget cuts, Gina rallied other parents, ran for Austin ISD School Board—and won. She kept her son’s school open, along with every other public school in the district. Her fellow trustees appointed her Board President in 2015. But neighborhood schools kept closing across the state because Republican leaders kept diverting Texas tax dollars away from schools, so Gina ran for a seat in the Texas House of Representatives—and won. In 2019, she fought for and helped win an investment of more than $11 billion in Texas public schools. Inspired by her experience with her own kids, she led on legislation that would reduce standardized testing and provide pay raises for every Texas teacher. A fierce champion of working Texans, Gina has been fighting back against billionaires and corporate interests in the legislature for a decade, pushing the state to invest in neighborhood schools, expand health care access, and lower costs for Texans. Gina knows healthcare is vitally important to every Texan, which is why she was the House sponsor of a law that ensured almost $1 billion dollars in federal funds to pay for indigent health care in Travis County. In addition to this work, Gina passed the most significant corporate reform legislation in a decade, creating a new kind of corporation in Texas, a public benefit corporation—using corporate power to achieve public good. She also passed legislation on public safety and benefits for our servicemembers.
Source:https://ginafortexas.com/about/
Jurisdiction: Statewide
About the Texas Lieutenant Governor
Texas Lieutenant Governor is the second-highest executive office in the government of Texas. The office of the lieutenant governor is part of both the executive and legislative branches. According to the Texas Constitution the lieutenant governor is also the President of the Texas State Senate. The lieutenant governor becomes governor if the elected governor resigns or dies while in office. Texas elects lieutenant governors in the midterm elections, that is, even years that are not presidential election years.Though a member of the executive branch, the lieutenant governor's only executive duty is to assume the governorship in the event the office becomes vacant or the governor temporarily leaves the state. As President of the Texas State Senate, the lieutenant governor has the authority to decide all parliamentary questions and to use discretion in following senate procedural rules. The lieutenant governor has the power to set up standing or special committees and appoint committee chairpersons and individual members. The lieutenant governor also determines the order in which bills are considered by the state senate. As the president of senate, the lieutenant governor may cast tie-breaking votes. The Constitution also names the lieutenant governor to the five-member Legislative Redistricting Board, which apportions the state into senatorial and representative districts in the event the full legislature is unable to do so.
Qualifications:
Has to be at least 30 years old, Resident of Texas for at least five years, and a United States citizen
Salary $7,200 Source: https://ballotpedia.org/Lieutenant_Governor_of_Texas; https://www.nlga.us/wp-content/uploads/TEXAS2.1.pdf
Texas Lt.Governor:
Rep. Vikki Goodwin for Texas Lt. Governor
Real Estate Broker, University of Texas with a BBA—and the LBJ School of Public Affairs with a master’s degree, Real Estate broker, Systems Analyst for Office of the Attorney General of Texas. A long-time resident of Shady Hollow, Vikki has been very active in her community, serving on HOA Boards, civic club boards, ABOR committees, on an AISD task force and more. Her volunteer work gave her insight into the need for various services in the community and strengthened her determination to help those who slip through the cracks, so often as a result of medical issues, student loans, or low paying jobs. Through her professional and philanthropic endeavors, Vikki knows which issues matter most to the residents of District 47 and was inspired to become an advocate for her community.
Source: https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=47
Jurisdiction: State of Texas
Run off May 2, 2026
Marcos Isaias Velez for Lt. Governor
Education
Profession career experience includes working as an area operator in Texas refineries. He has been a member of United Steelworkers
Marcos Vélez is a blue collar Texas worker and labor leader who has spent his entire adult life fighting for ordinary people. He believes that every worker deserves dignity and opportunity should not only belong to the wealthy. Service is central to Marcos. He has spent years volunteering in nonprofit initiatives and community efforts that support families in need. Whether organizing disaster relief, assisting workers in crisis, spreading holiday cheer to the less fortunate, or building training programs for youth and underrepresented workers, he has always believed that leadership starts with showing up and working tirelessly for the people you serve.
Source: https://velezfortexas.com/
Jurisdiction: Statewide
Run off May 2, 2026
About the Texas Attorney General
The Attorney General of Texas is the chief lawyer and legal officer for the state of Texas. According to the Texas Constitution, the attorney general defends the laws and the constitution of the state of Texas, represents the state in litigation, and approves public bond issues.The attorney general is elected to serve for a four-year term. There is no term limit for this office. As the state’s top law enforcement officer, the Attorney General leads more than 4,000 employees in 38 divisions and 117 offices around Texas. That includes nearly 750 attorneys, who handle more than 30,000 cases annually – enforcing child support orders, protecting Texans against consumer fraud, enforcing open government laws, providing legal advice to state officials, and representing the state of Texas in court, among other things.
Qualifications:
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at least 18 years of age
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a citizen of the United States
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a resident of Texas for at least 12 months
Source: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/about-office; https://ballotpedia.org/Attorney_General_of_Texas
Attorney General:
Attorney General Joe Jaworski
Joe, a third-generation Texas attorney, practicing in the profession that his grandfather Leon and father Joseph famously pursued, graduated from the University of Texas School of Law along with his wife Rebecca in 1991. Joe then clerked for respected maritime and civil rights jurist United States Court of Appeals Judge John R. Brown. Following a successful three-decades strong trial law practice in Gulf Coast state and federal courts, Joe is now a highly sought after national and international mediator. Joe served as the 55th mayor of Galveston, Texas. Mayor Joe, widely regarded as the city’s most responsive and accessible mayor in its nearly two-century history, led Galveston’s transformative recovery from epic natural disaster.
Source: https://www.jaworskifortexas.com
Jurisdiction: Statewide
Run off May 2, 2026
Nathan Johnson Incumbent currently a Texas Senator for District 16 running for Texas Attorney General
Education: Johnson graduated magna cum laude with a degree in physics from the University of Arizona, and earned his law degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
Profession He practices law in the Trial Practice Group at the law firm of Thompson & Knight. He has also composed music for the classical concert stage and scored the hit television series Dragon Ball Z.
First elected in 2018 with bipartisan support, he has become a leading voice in healthcare, the electrical grid, government transparency, criminal justice, and state infrastructure. Johnson knows that policymakers must meet the changing demands of Texas’s rapid growth and profound economic, social, and technological advances. This means developing new infrastructure – both physical (e.g., the electrical grid) and social (e.g., health), and making government more responsive and effective. And so Johnson has played a central role in strengthening the Texas grid; his work in healthcare resulted in hundreds of thousands of newly insured Texans; his work on economic policy promoted opportunity in overlooked regions and made it more difficult to abuse tax incentives; and he has made state agencies more accountable while helping them better meet the needs of the public.
Source: https://senate.texas.gov/member.php?d=16
Jurisdiction: Statewide
Run off May 2, 2026
About the Comptroller of Public Accounts
The Comptroller of the State of Texas is an elected executive position in the Texas state government. The comptroller is the chief financial officer of the state government, responsible for maintaining the state’s finances. The comptroller also acts as the tax collector, the chief accountant, the chief revenue estimator, and chief treasurer for the state.
The primary responsibility is to manage the State accounts, invest on behalf of the State, guarantee the correct administration and continuity of the public pensions. Report to the Legislature and the people of Texas the budget, income, expenditures, forecast and act as Texas Chief Financial Officer, among others responsibilities. The Comptroller makes and influences decisions that impact all stages of Texan lives.
Source: https://ballotpedia.org/Angel_Vega
Qualifications:
There are no specific qualifications for this position.
Source: Ballotpedia https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_Comptroller_of_Public_Accounts
Comptroller of Public Accounts:
Sarah Eckhardt Incumbent as a Texas Senator for Comptroller of Public Accounts Currently Texas Senator for District 14. Attorney, B.F.A. from New York University, LBJ School Master of Public Affairs, going on to receive her J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. Previously served two terms as Travis County Judge, where she represented 1.3 million county residents. Senator Eckhardt worked for eight years as an Assistant Travis County Attorney. She also served for eight years as a prosecutor with the Travis County District Attorney's Office. Sarah has a long list of pubic service organizations she is serving on.
Jurisdiction: Statewide
About the Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is one of six state officials named by the Texas Constitution to form the Executive Department of the State. The Secretary is not elected but is appointed by the Governor, with confirmation by the Senate, and serves at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary serves as Chief Election Officer for Texas, assisting county election officials and ensuring the uniform application and interpretation of election laws throughout Texas. The Office of the Secretary of State also provides a repository for official and business and commercial records required to be filed with the Office. The Secretary publishes government rules and regulations and commissions notaries public. The Secretary also serves as keeper of the state seal and attestor to the Governor's signature on official documents. In addition, the Secretary serves as senior advisor and liaison to the Governor for Texas Border and Mexican Affairs, and serves as Chief International Protocol Officer for Texas.
Qualifications:
There are no specific qualifications for this office.
Additional State Level Offices
About the Railroad Commissioner
The Texas Railroad Commission is a state executive agency in the Texas state government. Despite its name, the commission does not regulate railroads, but instead regulates the oil and gas business in Texas. Historically, the railroad commission has been a very powerful office. OPEC, the Middle Eastern oil cartel, was originally modeled in part on the commission. According to the Texas Tribune, the agency has also been a launching pad to higher office. One of the three seats on the Commission is up for election in 2022.
Qualifications:
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a qualified voter under the constitution and laws; and
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at least 25 years of age.
Source: Ballotpedia-https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_Railroad_Commission
Railroad Commissioner:
Jon Rosenthal for Railroad Commissioner
Education He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in 1991. He received additional education from the University of Houston in 2016.
Profession Mechanical Engineer. He is currently a member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 135. He assumed office on January 8, 2019. His current term ends on January 12, 2027.
2023-2024
Rosenthal was assigned to the following committees:
2021-2022
Rosenthal was assigned to the following committees:
2019-2020
Rosenthal was assigned to the following committees:
About the Commissioner of the General Land Office
The Texas Land Commissioner is a state executive position in the Texas state government. The land commissioner serves as the elected head of the Texas General Land Office (GLO). The GLO's mission statement is: "The Texas General Land Office serves the schoolchildren, veterans, and all people of Texas by preserving their history, protecting their environment, expanding economic opportunity, and maximizing state revenue through innovative administration and prudent stewardship of state lands and resources.
The General Land Office is established in Article 14 of the Texas Constitution.
Article 14, Section 1:
There shall be one General Land Office in the State, which shall be at the seat of government, where all land titles which have emanated or may hereafter emanate from the State shall be registered, except those titles the registration of which may be prohibited by this Constitution. It shall be the duty of the Legislature at the earliest practicable time to make the Land Office self sustaining, and from time to time the Legislature may establish such subordinate offices as may be deemed necessary.
things.
Qualifications:
There are no specific qualifications for this position.
Source: Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_Land_Commissioner
Land Commissioner:
Benjamin Flores for Land Commissioner
Education studied geography at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Mexico City
Profession career experience includes working in cybersecurity and starting a family business raising pigs. Flores has served on the Bay City City Council, the Bay City Development Corporation, and the Houston‑Galveston Area Council. Benjamin Flores came to the US in 1996 for Mexico City. He has washed cars, fried chicken at KFC, and repaired hotel computers at a Marriott in California before getting deep into computer networking. This led to my 30‑year career in cybersecurity and compliance – where there can be absolutely no nonsense – protecting banks, fintech firms and county government from fraud and systemic errors. He started a ten-acre family business raising heritage-breed pigs. Wrestling with the red tape common to small producers pushed me toward public service. Wanting to see that our local laws were fair and transparent, He ran for and was elected to Bay City’s city council. He currently serves on our city council, on the Bay City Development Corporation and represent Bay City on the Houston‑Galveston Area Council. Drawing on my CERT training, he promote emergency preparedness in Bay City and elsewhere. "I believe that living by my mother’s no nonsense rule made me the husband, father, rancher, friend and elected official that I am today. And I promise you this: There will be no nonsense in the General Land Office when I am the Land Commissioner."
Source: https://www.letsgowithben.com/
Jurisdiction: Statewide
Agriculture Commissioner Clayton Tucker
Clayton Tucker is a 5th-generation Texan. From the moment he could wear his own pair of boots, his grandfather put him to work at his family’s ranch, the RX Ranch, in Lampasas. Clayton grew up bailing hay, mending fences, and running cattle on weekends and summers, while attending school in Georgetown during the weekdays, as his mother worked at the Texas Railroad Commission.Initially staying close to the family ranch, Clayton Tucker went to Southwestern University to study International Politics with a minor in Mandarin, where he became a member of Kappa Sigma. Clayton worked as a water researcher for the National Science Foundation, studied at the National Chengchi University in Taipei, and became a teacher. After returning to the USA, Clayton Tucker moved back to Lampasas to work on the family ranch, RX Ranch and started the small business, Grassroots Nation. Clayton also authored a science fiction book called Mandated Happiness (1984 with AI & social media) and became involved in various campaigns. After working on several campaigns, Clayton started leading a political organization founded by former Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower. With Commissioner Hightower, Clayton lobbied the Texas government to provide healthcare for all Texans. In 2020, Clayton ran for the Texas State Senate District 24 to fight for everyday working Texans. After his campaign, he worked to empower hard-working Texans all across the state. He's a founding board member of the community garden group Killeen Creators, co-founder of the Texas Grassroots Alliance, a member of the State Democratic Executive Committee and founder of the Texas Progressive Caucus, which returned the Texas Democrats to its New Deal roots, & is Secretary of the Texas Farmers Union. As with 80% of farmers, Clayton has an off-farm income where he is a fair trade organizer with the Trade Justice Education Fund to fight for fair trade, including ag policies.
Source:https://www.claytontuckertx.com/about
Jurisdiction: All of Texas
About the Agriculture Commissioner
The Texas Commissioner of Agriculture is a state executive position in the Texas state government. The commissioner heads the Texas Department of Agriculture.The commissioners powers, term of office, etc. are derived from Chapter 11 of the Texas Agricultural Code.
Qualifications:
Chapter 11 of the Texas Agricultural Code establishes the requirements for office:
Section 5, Chapter 11:
To be eligible for election as commissioner or appointment to fill a vacancy in the office of commissioner, a person must:
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Have been engaged, for at least five of the 10 years preceding the year in which the person is elected or appointed to the person's initial term, in the business of agriculture;
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Have worked, for the five-year period preceding the calendar year in which the person is elected or appointed to the person's initial term, for a state or federal agency in a position directly related to agriculture;
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Have owned or operated, for at least five of the 10 years preceding the year in which the person is elected or appointed to the person's initial term, farm, ranch, or timber land that qualifies for agricultural use appraisal under Subchapter C, Chapter 23, Tax Code, and be participating, in the calendar year in which the person is elected or appointed to the person's initial term, in a farm program administered by the federal Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service; or
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Have worked, for at least five years at any time before the calendar year in which the person is elected or appointed to the person's initial term, for the Texas Agricultural Council, an organization that is a member of the Texas Agricultural Council, or another agricultural producer association.
Source: Ballotpedia-https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_Commissioner_of_Agriculture
Agriculture Commissioner:
About the State Board of Education
The Texas State Board of Education is an elected executive agency of the Texas state government, responsible for managing the state's public K-12 education. The board is composed of 15 members elected to four-year terms to represent one of the state's 15 education districts. Education district borders are redrawn every 10 years. The first time members meet after getting elected to redrawn districts, seven members selected at random have their current terms shortened to two years, meaning that their seats come up for election in different years than the other eight. Elections are held in even-numbered years. Every two years, the governor selects a chair from among the board's members. The nominee for chair must be approved by the Texas State Senate. If a board member serves two consecutive two-year terms as chair, they are not eligible to be named to the position until four years have passed. Every two years, the board elects a vice chair and secretary from among its members.
Qualifications:
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Members of the board may not hold another public office. This also applies to candidates seeking election to the board.
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Candidates seeking election to the board must have lived in their district for at least one year as of election day.
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Candidates seeking election to the board must be registered to vote in their district.
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Candidates seeking election to the board must be at least 26 years of age.
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Registered lobbyists representing interests relevant to the board may not serve on the board.
Duties:
The duties of the Texas State Board of Education are laid out in Section 7.102c of the Education Code of Texas. Among them are the establishment of long-term plans and standards for the state's education system and the selection of instructional materials for the state's schools.
Section 7.102c:
(1) The board shall develop and update a long-range plan for public education.
(2) The board may enter into contracts relating to or accept grants for the improvement of educational programs specifically authorized by statute.
(3) The board may accept a gift, donation, or other contribution on behalf of the public school system or agency and, unless otherwise specified by the donor, may use the contribution in the manner the board determines.
(4) The board shall establish curriculum and graduation requirements.
(5) The board shall establish a standard of performance considered satisfactory on student assessment instruments.
(6) The board may create special-purpose school districts under Chapter 11.
(7) The board shall provide for a training course for school district trustees under Section 11.159.
(8) The board shall adopt a procedure to be used for placing on probation or revoking a home-rule school district charter as required by Subchapter B, Chapter 12, and may place on probation or revoke a home-rule school district charter as provided by that subchapter.
(9) The board may grant an open-enrollment charter or approve a charter revision as provided by Subchapter D, Chapter 12.
(10) The board shall adopt rules establishing criteria for certifying hearing examiners as provided by Section 21.252.
(11) The board shall adopt rules to carry out the curriculum required or authorized under Section 28.002.
(12) The board shall establish guidelines for credit by examination under Section 28.023.
(13) The board shall adopt transcript forms and standards for differentiating high school programs for purposes of reporting academic achievement under Section 28.025.
(14) The board shall adopt guidelines for determining financial need for purposes of the Texas Advanced Placement Incentive Program under Subchapter C, Chapter 28, and may approve payments as provided by that subchapter.
(15) The board shall adopt criteria for identifying gifted and talented students and shall develop and update a state plan for the education of gifted and talented students as required under Subchapter D, Chapter 29.
(16) Repealed by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 73, Sec. 2.06(a)(1), eff. September 1, 2013.
(17) The board shall adopt rules relating to community education development projects as required under Section 29.257.
(18) The board may approve the plan to be developed and implemented by the commissioner for the coordination of services to children with disabilities as required under Section 30.001.
(19) The board shall establish a date by which each school district and state institution shall provide to the commissioner the necessary information to determine the district's share of the cost of the education of a student enrolled in the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the Texas School for the Deaf as required under Section 30.003 and may adopt other rules concerning funding of the education of students enrolled in the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the Texas School for the Deaf as authorized under Section 30.003.
(20) The board shall adopt rules prescribing the form and content of information school districts are required to provide concerning programs offered by state institutions as required under Section 30.004.
(21) The board shall adopt rules concerning admission of students to the Texas School for the Deaf as required under Section 30.057.
(22) The board shall carry out powers and duties related to regional day school programs for the deaf as provided under Subchapter D, Chapter 30.
(23) The board shall adopt and purchase or license instructional materials as provided by Chapter 31 and adopt rules required by that chapter.
(24) The board shall develop and update a long-range plan concerning technology in the public school system as required under Section 32.001 and shall adopt rules and policies concerning technology in public schools as provided by Chapter 32.
(25) The board shall conduct feasibility studies related to the telecommunications capabilities of school districts and regional education service centers as provided by Section 32.033.
(26) The board shall appoint a board of directors of the center for educational technology under Section 32.034.
(27) Repealed by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 4.001(b), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
(28) The board shall approve a program for testing students for dyslexia and related disorders as provided by Section 38.003.
(29) The board shall perform duties in connection with the public school accountability system as prescribed by Chapter 39.
(30) The board shall perform duties in connection with the Foundation School Program as prescribed by Chapter 42.
(31) The board may invest the permanent school fund within the limits of the authority granted by Section 5, Article VII, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 43.
(32) The board shall adopt rules concerning school district budgets and audits of school district fiscal accounts as required under Subchapter A, Chapter 44.
(33) The board shall adopt an annual report on the status of the guaranteed bond program and may adopt rules as necessary for the administration of the program as provided under Subchapter C, Chapter 45.
(34) The board shall prescribe uniform bid blanks for school districts to use in selecting a depository bank as required under Section 45.206.
Currant Redistricting Data and Source: https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_State_Board_of_Education;
Map: https://dvr.capitol.texas.gov/sboe/0/PLANE2106
Key: (l) = Incumbent. This person currently holds that position.
=Position held by an Incumbent Republican.
Board of Education Members
Member, State Board of Education, District 1 Gustavo Reveles Incumbent
Reveles earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Texas at El Paso. His career experience includes working as a report for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the El Paso Times, as a public information officer for the Canutillo Independent School District, and director of community engagement for the El Paso Independent School District.
Director of Communications and Marketing at Canutillo Independent School District
Former Director of Community Engagement at Official El Paso Independent School District
Former Education Reporter at Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Former Journalist at El Paso Times
Studied Journalism at University of Texas at El Paso
Source: https://ballotpedia.org/Gustavo_Reveles
Population 1,944,973
Jurisdiction: Atascosa (100%), Bandera (100%), Bexar (21%), Brewster (100%), Crockett (100%), Culberson (100%), Dimmit (100%), Edwards (100%), El Paso (100%), Frio (100%), Hudspeth (100%), Jeff Davis (100%), Kimble (100%), Kinney (100%), La Salle (100%), Maverick (100%), Medina (100%), Menard (100%), Pecos (100%), Presidio (100%), Real (100%), Reeves (100%), Schleicher (100%), Sutton (100%), Terrell (100%), Uvalde (100%), Val Verde (100%), Webb (100%), Zapata (100%), Zavala (100%)
Thomas Ray Garcia Member, State Board of Education, District 2
Education: Bachelors Princeton University, 2016, Graduate, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 2023, Graduate UCLA, 2020 Graduate University of California, Los Angeles, 2020
Profession: He is an educator, author, and entrepreneur from Pharr, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley.
Throughout his 12 years of experience in K-12 and higher education, Thomas has taught in the classroom and spearheaded programs focused on college readiness and family engagement. At age 19, Thomas founded the College Scholarship Leadership Access Program. As of 2025, CSLAP has directly impacted more than 2,000 students. As a high school teacher, Thomas developed and taught lessons on critical writing, college readiness, and service learning. As a college professor, Thomas provides his students the guidance he once needed as a first-generation college student from a single-parent household. Thomas became valedictorian of the PSJA North class of 2012, and he was accepted to Princeton University as a first-generation college student. At age 19, Thomas founded the College Scholarship Leadership Access Program. CSLAP offers courses and services on college readiness, financial aid, and leadership development for high school students. Through CSLAP’s near-peer mentor initiatives, Thomas empowered high school graduates to give back to their schools by providing students support on the college application process. After incorporating CSLAP as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Thomas served as executive director. Under Thomas’ leadership, CSLAP introduced scholarship programs, expanded mentorship initiatives, and launched a five-figure community aid fund during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, Thomas joined the board of directors as chairman. As of 2025, CSLAP has directly impacted more than 2,000 students. As a high school teacher, Thomas developed and taught lessons on critical writing, college readiness, and service learning. Aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), these lesson plans continue to form CSLAP’s curriculum. As a graduate student at UCLA, Thomas taught his own courses in composition, literature, and creative writing. He also participated in UCLA Seminars in Teaching and Excellence, where Thomas researched effective models of teaching community engagement in writing courses. Currently, Thomas is an English professor at South Texas College, where he teaches both dual enrollment high schoolers and adult learners. As a college professor, Thomas provides his students the guidance he once needed as a first-generation college student from a single-parent household Thomas earned his bachelor’s degree in English at Princeton University. As an undergraduate, Thomas co-founded the Princeton Hidden Minority Council, a student organization dedicated to supporting first-generation and low-income college students. In 2016, Princeton University awarded Thomas and his fellow co-founders the Martin Luther King Journey Award for their impact on the campus community. While at Princeton, Thomas also wrote blogs for prospective students through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and spearheaded public speaking workshops through the Speak With Style student organization. As a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, he received mentorship on becoming a leader in higher education and advocating for the humanities. Thomas earned his first master’s degree in English from UCLA, where he concentrated in writing pedagogy and composition. Thomas earned his second master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from UTRGV. His coursework focused on student affairs and budgeting finance in higher education. Thomas writes books about South Texas. He is the author of the award-winning book The River Runs: Storiesand co-author of El Curso de la Raza: The Education of Aurelio Manuel Montemayor, a historical memoir of the South Texas Chicano Movement. In 2020, Thomas co-authored a children's picture book, Speechless, with Matt Eventoff to encourage children to practice public speaking. All proceeds from Speechless are dedicated to providing children free paperbacks in English or Spanish. Over 5,500 paperbacks of Speechless have been distributed to school districts, nonprofit organizations, and households across the country. In 2024, Thomas co-founded an independent publishing press, Beyond Borders Books, dedicated to publishing authors from border communities.
Population 1,946,220
Jurisdiction: Aransas (100%) Calhoun (100%) Cameron (100%), Hidalgo (94%) Jackson (100%), Kenedy (100%), Kleberg (100%), Matagorda (100%), Nueces (100%), Refugio (100%), San Patricio (100%), Victoria (100%), Wharton (100%), Willacy (100%)
Member, State Board of Education, District 2
Population 1,946,220
Jurisdiction: Aransas (100%) Calhoun (100%) Cameron (100%), Hidalgo (94%) Jackson (100%), Kenedy (100%), Kleberg (100%), Matagorda (100%), Nueces (100%), Refugio (100%), San Patricio (100%), Victoria (100%), Wharton (100%), Willacy (100%)
Member, State Board of Education, District 3 Marisa Perez-Diaz Incumbent
Executive Director Foundation, Eighth-grade English Language Arts and Reading teacher, department chair, pre-service and new-service teacher mentor and professional development educator in the same district for more than a decade. Pérez holds educator certifications in English Language Arts and Reading for grades 8-12 and Generalist certifications for grades 4-8 from the UT at El Paso. She holds degrees in Business Administration/Accounting and Human Resource Development. She is the author of Unity Framework: Critical Literacy Lessons and Women of the Americas: a teatro." Pérez continues her work in curriculum and framework development, educator training, and creating access and equity in public education. She was also elected by her SBOE peers as the only Democrat to serve on the state's Long-Range Plan for Public Education Steering Committee, which helped to establish broad goals for the Texas public school system. Pérez was instrumental in spearheading policy creating a statewide course in Mexican American Studies as well as developing a fast-track for additional ethnic studies courses and making Texas the only state in the nation to offer the course to all high school students. She is recognized for her leadership on Path2Diploma, an initiative which allows school districts to grant high school diplomas to individuals previously denied diplomas due to standardized testing requirements.Pérez is known as passionate advocate for literacy. She has worked with various organizations and businesses to coordinate a book distribution program and founded Tu Libro, which has provided more than 500,000 books to students who live in rural and impoverished communities in El Paso County and who don’t have regular access to a library. Pérez and her team have spearheaded the creation of a library in Socorro, which is the second-largest municipality in El Paso County, providing more than 55,000 area residents with free access to English and Spanish reading materials. Pérez is the founder and president of the Rural School Education Program & Scholarship Foundation for students and families in El Paso's rural communities. Her initiatives include college and career mentorship programs for graduating seniors, awarding scholarships to students, and grant to public classroom teachers. She is the founder of the Texas Student Civic Engagement Project and a YWCA racial justice ambassador.
Population 1935,905
Jurisdiction: Bee (100%), Bexar (79%), Brooks (100%), De Witt (100%), Duval (100%), Goliad (100%), Gonzales (100%), Hidalgo (6%), Jim Hogg (100%), Jim Wells (100%), Karnes (100%), Lavaca (100%), Live Oak (100%), McMullen (100%), Starr (100%), Wilson (100%)
Staci Childs Incumbent Member, State Board of Education, District 4 Attorney, Staci Childs was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and lives in Houston, Texas. Childs earned a degree from Hampton University and a J.D. from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. Her career experience includes owning a private legal practice and working as an attorney and a language arts teacher. Childs runs the non-profit GirlTalk University.
Population 1,952,470
Jurisdiction: Galveston (4%), Harris (41%)
Allison Bush for Member, State Board of Education, District 5
Education: University of Texas – LBJ School of Public Affairs | Women’s Campaign School, Cohort 6; Stephen F. Austin State University | B.A.A. in Communication & Special Education; Kilgore College | A.A. in Communication & Visual Arts
Profession:
With more than 25 years of experience as a teacher, counselor, administrator, and education foundation leader, Allison has worked across Texas to expand opportunities for students and strengthen communities. She has served as PTA President, led nonprofit foundations in Bastrop and Pflugerville ISDs, and helped pass school bond initiatives that keep classrooms strong.
Community Service Projects:
University of Texas WIN Mentor (2025–Present)
100 Women of Pflugerville (2023–Present)
Texas Education Agency – Certified Surrogate Parent (2019–2024)
Board Member – Kaufman ISD Education Foundation (2022–2024)
Board Member – Hays CISD Education Foundation (2019–2025)
Member – Moe & Gene Johnson High School Athletic Booster Club (2019–2023)
Member – Moe & Gene Johnson High School PTA (2019–2023)
Pflugerville ISD PTO President & Mentor (2011–2019)
Board Member – Pflugerville Chamber of Commerce (2014)
Board Member – Mariposa (2015–2017)
Bastrop ISD PTA Council President & Regional PTA President (2009–2011)
President – Texas Association of Partners in Education (2010); Board Member (2006–2011)
Board Member – Bastrop County Child Protective Services (2006–2008)
Member – St. David’s North Austin Medical Center Ethics Committee (2012–2020)
Women’s Leadership Programs: Leadership Texas (2010); Power Pipeline (2007–2010)
Education Intitiatives and Program Development:
Career Readiness Curriculum – Designed program adopted by American YouthWorks.
Grant Reform in Pflugerville ISD – Created system aligning teacher grant proposals with accountability goals, increasing applications from 32 to 231 and generating ~$500 thousand in funding.
Helping Hands Mentor Program (Bastrop ISD) – Founded program, authored curriculum and policy; still active today.
Texas Foundation for Education Network –and statewide conference presenter for six years.
Staff Development Funding – Secured multi-year grants to fund staff at Texas Association of Partners in Education.
Secured multi-year grant funding for Bastrop ISD’s College and Career Readiness Program, resulting in a 70% increase in students applying to and enrolling in college or trade schools after graduation.
Organized County-Wide College Night (Bastrop ISD) with 2,500+ attendees.
Launched Back to School Bash (Bastrop ISD), drawing 3,000+ community members.
Population 1,936,424
Jurisdiction: Bastrop (100%), Blanco (100%), Caldwell (100%), Guadalupe (100%), Hays (100%), Travis (100%), Williamson (13%)
Run off May 2, 2026
Stephanie Limon Bazan for Member, State Board of Education, District 5
Education: B.A. in English from St. Edward's University in 2002 and an M.A. in creative writing from the University of Leeds in 2005
Profession: Stephanie Bazan is an award-winning leader, mom, community advocate, philanthropist, and public speaker with a long-standing career in communications. Stephanie is a visionary leader and current Executive Director at Generation SERVE in Austin. Her career experience includes working as a communications consultant, communications officer, marketing director, adjunct professor, and graphic designer. She has also served as the executive director at Generation SERVE, a nonprofit. Bazan has been affiliated with the following organizations:
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Integral Care
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The Junior League of Austin
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City of Austin Parks and Recreation Board
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Explore Austin
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Austin Community Foundation Hispanic Impact Fund
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Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas
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LBJ Future Forum
Source: https://ballotpedia.org/Stephanie_Bazan, https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniebazan/
Population 1,936,424
Jurisdiction: All 100% except Williamson—Bastrop, Blanco, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Hays, Travis counties, and parts of Williamson county (13%).
Run off May 2, 2026
Michelle Palmer for Member, State Board of Education, District 6
Education:Bachelor's degree from the University of Houston
Profession:Career experience includes working as a teacher and a manager in retail. Palmer has been associated with the Houston Federation of Teachers, the Southwest Democrats, and the West Houston Democrats
I have been a teacher since 2009 and have taught Mathematics, ELA, and Social Studies. I am very familiar with much of the core curriculum in Texas and will work to make certain that it is based on scientific and historical facts. I am also actively involved in canvassing and helping my neighbors learn about the issues facing our community as well as registering people to vote at my school and civic and community events. I am currently working on my Master's in American History and Government to better help my students understand how this country was built and how our government functions.
Source: https://ballotpedia.org/Michelle_Palmer: https://palmerfortexased.com/about
Population 1,942,263
Jurisdiction: Harris (32%), Montgomery (72%)
Debra Drake Ambroise for Member, State Board of Education, District 7
Education: Lamar University Associate of Arts and Sciences - AAS, Mid Management Associate of Arts and Sciences
Profession: Port Arthur ISD Board Trustee Texas Association of School Boards Master Trustee Retired Planner City of Port Arthur
Population 1,942,256
Jurisdiction: Brazoria (100%), Chambers (100%), Fort Bend (76%), Galveston (94%), Hardin (100%), Harris (0%), Jasper (100%), Jefferson (100%), Liberty (100%), Newton (100%), Orange, (100%) Tyler (100%)
Run off May 2, 2026
Tiffany Perkinz for Member, State Board of Education, District 7
Education: Master’s degree in English
Profession: Tiffany Perkinz is a mother of six, a dedicated educator, and a passionate advocate for academic freedom.She currently owns and operates a tutoring and teaching business, working with students from diverse backgrounds, learning styles, and academic needs. From struggling readers to advanced learners, Tiffany meets students where they are and helps them grow.
Population 1,942,256
Jurisdiction: Brazoria (100%), Chambers (100%), Fort Bend (76%), Galveston (94%), Hardin (100%), Harris (0%), Jasper (100%), Jefferson (100%), Liberty (100%), Newton (100%), Orange, (100%) Tyler (100%)
Run off May 2, 2026
Dana Van De Walker for Member, State Board of Education, District 8
Education:
Bachelor's Degree, Politics and Government, Illinois State University
Master's Degree, Politics and Government, Illinois State University
Doctor of Education - EdD, Higher Education Administration, Sam Houston State University
Independent Coursework, University of the Cumberlands
Independent Coursework, Louisiana State University
Profession: International Student Recruiter and Special Programs Coordinator at Sam Houston State University; Director of Honors and International Education at Lone Star College
Population 1.936,505
Jurisdiction: Fort Bend (24%), Galveston (3%), Grimes (100%), Harris (27%), Houston (100%), 22,066 Montgomery (28%), Polk (100%), San Jacinto (100%), Trinity (100%), Walker (100%), Waller (100%)
Ericka Ledferd for Member, State Board of Education, District 9
Education: Ericka holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science with a minor in Science Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master's degree in Spanish Literature.
Profession:
Ericka Ledferd has over 15 years of board experience with community organizations across a variety of entities, including community planning and public education. Her work impact followed 20 years in education, and youth empowerment with East Texas A&M, TRIO Programs, Baptist Immigration Center of McKinney, Baptist Immigration Center of Plano, Light of Hope Immigration Law Center, Upward Bound, the UB Summer/TRIO Program in the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development at Southern Methodist University, and 12 years at Royse City ISD where she taught on level and dual credit classes, and was the head RCHS ESL testing coordinator and ESL director.
Source: https://www.ledferd4texas.com
Population 1.947,153
Jurisdiction: Angelina (100%), Camp (100%), Cass (100%), Cherokee (100%), Dallas (26%), Franklin (100%), Gregg (100%), Harrison (100%), Kaufman (100%), Marion (100%), Morris (100%), Nacogdoches (100%), Panola (100%), Rains (100%), Rockwall (100%), Rusk (100%), Sabine (100%), San Augustine (100%), Shelby (100%), Smith (100%),Titus (100%), Upshur (100%), Van Zandt (100%), Wood (100%)
Member, State Board of Education, District 10
Population 1,937,699
Jurisdiction: Anderson (100%), Austin (100%), Bell (100%), Brazos (100%), Burleson (100%), Burnet (100%), Colorado (100%), Comal (100%), Falls (100%), Fayette (100%), Freestone (100%), Gillespie (100%), Henderson (100%), Kendall (100%), Kerr (100%), Lampasas (100%), Lee (100%), Leon (100%), Limestone (100%), Llano (100%), Madison (100%), Mason (100%), Milam (100%), Robertson (100%), San Saba (100%), Washington (100%), Williamson (87%)
Member, State Board of Education, District 11
Population 1,946,851
Jurisdiction: Dallas (5%), Hood (100%), Johnson (52%), Parker (100%), Somervell (100%), Tarrant (71%)
Member, State Board of Education, District 12
Population: 1,951,032
Jurisdiction: Bowie (100%), Collin (100%), Cooke (100%), Dallas (12%), Delta (100%), Denton (7%), Fannin (100%), Grayson (100%), Hopkins (100%), Hunt (100%), Lamar (100%), Red River (100%)
Dr. Tiffany Clark Incumbent Member, State Board of Education, District 13
Education:
Bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston, she holds a Masters in community & school counseling from University of North Texas, and has a Doctoral degree from Abilene Christian University, where she focused on conflict resolution.
Profession:
Clark's career experience includes working as an adjunct professor, small business owner, independent beauty consultant, co-founder, and high school counselor.
DeSoto ISD School Board Trustee Place 4
Profile · Digital creator
Owner/Manager/CEO at Akkomplished Experience
Former School counselor at Waxahachie High School
Former School counselor at Waco High School
Former Science Teacher at DeSoto West Middle School
Tiffany co-founded Project E.D.G.E (Excelling Dreams and Goals) in 2012 at DeSoto High School, a career services event that connects high school students with successful community leaders in a variety of career fields. The successful program linked over 500 students with opportunities for higher education and success outside the walls of the classroom. Project EDGE was hailed as a model community partnership when DeSoto ISD received the college readiness “GEAR UP!” grant from the Department of Education – resulting in over $7 million dollars for DeSoto students.
In 2017, Tiffany became the youngest woman ever elected to the DeSoto Independent School District Board of Trustees at the time. As a member of the DeSoto Independent School board, The 6 years she spent on the board she focused on Academics, Accountability and Achievements for all students in DeSoto ISD to empower her community. She’s been an activist, advocate and agent of change through implementing a community service policy and enacting an attendance policy to ensure that we get our fair share from Austin. She’s implemented staff mental health days and added African-American and Mexican American studies to our curriculum. Trustee Clark has created policies revamping the student dress code policy. She also developed a reputation as a “thought leader” on School Safety, including a headlining town hall in 2018 with state-Senator Royce West. In 2019, Tiffany was named a Dallas Business Journal ‘40 under 40’ honoree – recognizing her trailblazing leadership potential in Dallas/Fort Worth and beyond. In 2020, Tiffany was selected to participate in the Leadership TASB program which is a yearlong educational leadership journey. In 2021, she was a recipient of the inaugural class of Texas Coalition of Black Democrats 40 under 40 Elected Officials and Community Leaders. In 2022, she received two distinguished awards. The first one was from the ladies of Zeta Phi Beta, as their Community Woman of the Year for 2021. She was also inducted into the DeSoto High School Hall of Honor, 2022. Tiffany also runs a non-profit leadership development program in partnership with Christie Brown entitled Elevating Dreams by H.E.A.R.T.S. (Helping Education Adolescents through Relationship Time and Support). The program mission is to educate teen girls to exhibit self-awareness, to be effective leaders and to display a sense of compassion and empathy to fellow citizens. She also has three published books and loves baking. Tiffany was a school counselor for 10 years serving both the middle and high school level. Tiffany, has also served as an adjunct professor at University of North Texas at Dallas, where she teaches future educators. Currently, Tiffany works in the nonprofit sector, as a school relationship manager. She is an active member of Friendship West Baptist Church and is “pretty engaged” as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Source: https://sboe.texas.gov/state-board-of-education/sboe-board-members/sboe-member-district-13
Population 1,945,502
Jurisdiction: Dallas (51%), Tarrant (29%)
Amy Taylor for Member, State Board of Education, District 14
Education:
Profession: A dedicated teacher with 15 years of experience in public school education.
I understand the vital role strong public schools play. Our schools can serve as the engine of excellence, driving students and their families towards achieving the American Dream. However, this can only be realized when we remove politics from educational decisions, embrace the value of every student, and commit to providing a comprehensive educational experience that ensures all children have access to opportunities.
Source: https://amytaylortexas.com
Population 1,937,339
Jurisdiction: Bosque (100%), Clay (100%), Comanche (100%), Coryell (100%), Dallas (6%), Denton (93%), Eastland (100%), Ellis (100%), Erath (100%), Hamilton (100%), Hill (100%), Jack (100%), Johnson (48%), McLennan (100%), Mills (100%), Montague (100%), Navarro (100%), Palo Pinto (100%), Wise (100%)
Member, State Board of Education, District 15
Population 1,942,913
Jurisdiction: Andrews (100%), Archer (100%), Armstrong (100%), Bailey (100%), Baylor (100%), Borden (100%), Briscoe (100%), Brown (100%), Callahan (100%), Carson (100%), Castro (100%), Childress (100%), Cochran (100%), Coke (100%), Coleman (100%), Collingsworth (100%), Concho (100%), Cottle (100%), Crane (100%), Crosby (100%), Dallam (100%), Dawson (100%), Deaf Smith (100%), Dickens (100%), Donley (100%), Ector (100%), Fisher (100%), Floyd (100%), Foard (100%), Gaines (100%), Garza (100%), Glasscock (100%), Gray (100%), Hale (100%), Hall (100%), Hansford (100%), Hardeman (100%), Hartley (100%), Haskell (100%), Hemphill (100%), Hockley (100%), Howard (100%), Hutchinson (100%), Irion (100%), Jones (100%), Kent (100%), King (100%), Knox (100%), Lamb (100%), Lipscomb (100%), Loving (100%), Lubbock (100%), Lynn (100%), Martin (100%), McCulloch (100%), Midland (100%), Mitchell (100%), Moore (100%), Motley (100%), Nolan (100%), Ochiltree (100%), Oldham (100%), Parmer (100%), Potter (100%), Randall (100%), Reagan (100%), Roberts (100%), Runnels (100%), Scurry (100%), Shackelford (100%), Sherman (100%), Stephens (100%), Sterling (100%), Stonewall (100%), Swisher (100%), Taylor (100%), Terry (100%), Throckmorton (100%), Tom Green (100%), Upton (100%), Ward (100%), Wheeler (100%), Wichita (100%), Wilbarger (100%), Winkler (100%), Yoakum (100%), Young (100%)