Texas Democrats Fill All 2026 Ballot Races Through Strategic Recruitment

A Historic Effort to Field a Full Democratic Slate in Texas

For the first time in modern state history, every state and federal race on the Texas ballot next year will feature a Democrat running. This unprecedented move marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Texas, where Republicans have long dominated. The Texas Democratic Party (TDP) and a coalition of top Democratic groups, including the Texas Majority PAC, former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, and former state Sen. Wendy Davis, have worked together to recruit 104 candidates to fill every congressional, state House, and state Senate seat up for election in 2026. Additionally, Democrats are running in every statewide judicial and State Board of Education race.

“This is the first time either party has fielded a full slate of candidates in modern Texas history,” said Kendall Scudder, chair of the Texas Democratic Party. “No Republican gets a free ride in Texas. If you want to hold public office, you’re going to have to fight us for it.”

The push to run candidates in every seat — even those that lean heavily Republican — comes as Democrats look to capitalize on voter turnout and backlash against the Trump administration. The goal is not just to flip down-ballot seats but also to increase Democratic engagement in areas that top-of-the-ticket candidates may not reach. This strategy aims to create an “upstream effect” that could boost statewide Democratic efforts.

Strategic Recruitment and Outreach

Texas Majority PAC Director Katherine Fischer emphasized the importance of having a network of talented Democratic communicators across the state. “Even the most relentless statewide candidate is never going to talk to every voter they need to,” she said. “We need a network of people who can clearly communicate that Republican leadership has failed us.”

Of Texas’ 38 congressional districts, Republicans currently hold 25, with a new gerrymandered map giving 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. In recent cycles, the party has left an average of 50 state and federal seats uncontested. Even in 2018, when Democrats flipped two congressional and 12 state House districts, they left 20 seats uncontested.

After a tough election cycle, Fischer said the party realized that to win statewide, they needed to improve with “basically every single type of voter in every part of the state.” One key challenge has been increasing turnout in rural Texas, where the party has historically underperformed.

Why Rural Texas Has Been a Challenge

According to Scudder, one reason 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,” she said. “The Republicans have an opportunity to brand us and tell people what we stand for instead of it coming out of our mouths.”

Despite these challenges, the TDP and Texas Majority PAC have made a concerted effort to recruit candidates in every uncontested race. They leaned on the star power of figures like O’Rourke, Davis, state Rep. James Talarico, and former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred to bring prospective candidates to 40 recruitment rallies held mostly in rural towns across the state.

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 or factories, 15% military veterans, and 10% union members. The overwhelming majority, 90%, are first-time candidates.

Real People, Real Stories

One of the recruits is Diana Loya, an educator at Dumas Independent School District in the Panhandle, who has never run for office. She is challenging state Rep. Caroline Fairly, R-Amarillo, for her dark-red Texas House seat. Loya was initially hesitant to run but changed her mind after researching the district’s representation in Austin.

“I’m not very familiar with politics, I’m not a politician at all,” Loya said. “But I do know the needs that we have here.”

Another first-time candidate is Zack Dunn, a family violence prosecutor in the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, running for House District 121. He said people are fired up for meaningful change and want a pragmatic leader who can represent their interests in Austin.

Orlando Lopez, a construction manager, is running against state Rep. Katrina Pierson, R-Rockwall, in North Texas’ House District 33. He cited his wife, a former public school teacher, and his 16-month-old daughter as inspiration for his campaign.

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. The organization also provides legal and compliance services.

While the success of this effort remains to be seen, the sheer scale of the operation reflects a bold attempt to reshape the political landscape in Texas. As O’Rourke put it, “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.”