Texas Democrats dominate 2026 ballot with all-state and federal wins, a historic first

Texas Democrats Make History with Full Candidate Slate in 2026 Elections

For the first time in modern state history, every state and federal race on the Texas ballot in 2026 will feature a Democratic candidate. This historic move marks a significant shift in Texas politics, as the party aims to challenge the long-standing Republican dominance across the state.

The effort is led by a coalition of top Democratic groups and politicians, including the Texas Majority PAC, the Texas Democratic Party, former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, and former state Sen. Wendy Davis. Together, they have recruited 104 candidates to fill every congressional, state House, and state Senate seat up for election in 2026. Additionally, a Democrat will be running in every statewide judicial and State Board of Education race.

“No Republican gets a free ride in Texas,” said Kendall Scudder, chair of the Texas Democratic Party. “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.”

This push comes as Democrats look to capitalize on increased voter turnout and backlash against the Trump administration. The strategy is to maximize the chances of flipping down-ballot seats while also increasing Democratic engagement in areas that top-of-the-ticket candidates may not reach.

“We need a network of talented, compelling Democratic communicators across the state to clearly communicate the message that Republican leadership has failed us,” said Katherine Fischer, director of the Texas Majority PAC. “Texans should consider voting differently this cycle and in the future.”

Challenges and Strategies

Despite the ambitious goal, Texas remains a Republican stronghold. Of the state’s 38 congressional districts, Republicans currently hold 25, with a new gerrymandered map expected to give them an additional three to five seats. The GOP also dominates the state Legislature, controlling 88 out of 150 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 a statewide office since 1994, and historically, the party has left an average of 50 state and federal seats uncontested each cycle. Even in 2018, when Democrats flipped two congressional and 12 state House districts, they left 20 seats uncontested.

Fischer emphasized the need for Democrats to improve their outreach to every type of voter in every part of the state. While urban and suburban areas are key to boosting turnout, she noted that the level of turnout required to flip Texas is so high that it is “if not impossible, quite improbable” to achieve through these areas alone.

Why Rural Areas Matter

One of the main reasons Democrats have struggled in rural areas is that they haven’t been campaigning there. “When you don’t have Democrats running, you don’t have Democrats showing up in communities telling people what we stand for,” Scudder said. “The Republicans have an opportunity to brand us and tell people what we stand for instead of it coming out of our mouths.”

Longtime Republican strategist Dave Carney called the Democrats’ candidate slate “just a gimmick, if they don’t back it up with serious resources.” However, Texas Governor Greg Abbott is vowing to spend big to flip Harris County red, recruiting Republicans to run in every state House seat in the county, including in safely blue districts.

Building a Stronger Base

Texas Majority PAC, backed by millions in donations from liberal megadonor George Soros, plans to spend about $1 million between its recruitment efforts and helping candidates pay for various campaign overhead costs. If the effort garners even 2 to 3 percent more Democratic turnout, Fischer argues, that could mean thousands of votes sent to the top of the ticket.

O’Rourke saw this upstream benefit in his 2018 Senate bid, when he lost to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz by under 3 points. “Oftentimes they didn’t win, but all of them brought in net new voters that I as a Senate candidate never would have met or never would have turned out,” he said.

Recruiting Everyday Texans

To recruit a Democrat for every uncontested race, Texas Majority PAC and the TDP leaned on the star power of O’Rourke, Davis, state Rep. James Talarico, and former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred. They held 40 recruitment rallies mostly in rural towns across the state. In the trickiest races, the groups also asked local officials and community members to suggest potential candidates.

To find and screen potential candidates, Texas Majority PAC sent 2.3 million text messages, made 105,631 calls, and interviewed 1,385 candidates in target districts. The final crop includes “everyday Texans,” with a third working in education, 20% in oil fields, chemical refineries, factories, and similar jobs, 15% military veterans, and 10% union members. The overwhelming majority, 90%, are first-time candidates for public office.

Real Stories Behind the Candidates

Diana Loya, an educator at Dumas Independent School District, is challenging state Rep. Caroline Fairly, R-Amarillo, for her dark-red Texas House seat. Loya, who has never run for office, was inspired to run after researching the district’s representation in Austin. She criticized Fairly for focusing on banning books in schools rather than addressing pressing issues like teacher shortages.

Zack Dunn, a family violence prosecutor, is running for House District 121, a district that state Rep. Marc LaHood, R-San Antonio, won by just 5 points last year. “People are fired up,” Dunn said. “They want meaningful change.”

Orlando Lopez, a construction manager, is taking on state Rep. Katrina Pierson, R-Rockwall, in North Texas’ House District 33. Lopez, inspired by his wife, a former public school teacher, and his daughter, wants to defend immigrants, support public schools, and tackle affordability issues.

Support for Candidates

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 success of the campaign will ultimately depend on the candidates themselves to make their case.