Kenneth Hyde

Kenneth Hyde

Republican Party

Candidate, Governor of Texas

Elections and appointments

Next election

March 3, 2026

Personal

Birthplace

El Paso, TX

Religion

Christian

Profession

Contractor

Contact

Campaign website

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Kenneth Hyde (Republican Party) is running for election for Governor of Texas. He declared candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled on March 3, 2026.

Hyde completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Kenneth Hyde was born in El Paso, Texas. His career experience includes working as a contractor.

Elections

2026

See also: Texas gubernatorial election, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Governor of Texas

Bobby Cole (D), Gina Hinojosa (D), Nick Pappas (D), and Meagan Tehseldar (D) are running in the Democratic primary for Governor of Texas on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Bobby Cole
		Gina Hinojosa
		Nick Pappas
		Meagan Tehseldar

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for Governor of Texas

Incumbent Greg Abbott (R), Pete Chambers (R), Kenneth Hyde (R), and Ronnie Tullos (R) are running in the Republican primary for Governor of Texas on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Greg Abbott
		Pete Chambers
	Submit photo	Kenneth Hyde
		Ronnie Tullos

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
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Endorsements

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Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Kenneth Hyde completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hyde's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Kenneth Hyde is a lifelong Texan, dedicated husband, father, and committed Christian, running as a Republican candidate for Governor of Texas in the 2026 election. With over 25 years of experience as a horticulturist and entrepreneur, he brings a practical, non-political perspective to public service, focusing on real solutions for everyday Texans rather than career politics.

Driven by concerns over skyrocketing property taxes, foreign influence on Texas land, and excessive government bureaucracy, Kenneth’s platform centers on bold reforms. Key initiatives include the Cultivate Texas Act to legalize cannabis, generate revenue to cut property taxes by 50%, fully fund schools, and empower farmers; the Texas Sovereignty & Influence Shield Act to ban foreign ownership by hostile entities; comprehensive border security measures; the Texas Freedom Act to expand personal and economic freedoms; school choice; ending corporate welfare; and enhanced self-defense rights.

As an underdog candidate funded solely by grassroots support—no lobbyists or corporate PACs—Kenneth is committed to fighting for Texas families, ensuring a prosperous future free from overreach. His ready-to-file bills reflect a personal mission to protect and uplift the Lone Star State for generations to come.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Revolutionary Tax Relief Through Cannabis Legalization: My Cultivate Texas Act will legalize cannabis cultivation, generating billions in revenue to slash property taxes by 50%, fully fund public schools, and empower Texas farmers—turning a stigmatized industry into an economic powerhouse for everyday families.
• Defending Texas Sovereignty and Security: I’ll enact the Texas Sovereignty & Influence Shield Act to ban foreign ownership of Texas land by hostile entities, coupled with comprehensive border security measures to protect our state’s independence and ensure safety for all Texans.
• Expanding Freedoms and Economic Opportunities: The Texas Freedom Act will promote personal and economic liberties by legalizing destination resort casinos, allowing sports betting, permitting Tesla direct sales, enabling the sale of raw milk, and supporting home-built homes like barndominiums and container houses—removing unnecessary government interference to foster innovation and generate revenue for phasing out property taxes.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am deeply passionate about reducing and eliminating property taxes through innovative revenue sources like the Cultivate Texas Act, which legalizes cannabis to cut taxes by 50%, fund schools, and support farmers. I also focus on protecting Texas sovereignty by banning foreign ownership via the Texas Sovereignty & Influence Shield Act. Expanding personal and economic freedoms is key, with the Texas Freedom Act enabling casinos, sports betting, Tesla direct sales, raw milk, and alternative homes. Enhancing border security, promoting school choice, ending corporate welfare, and strengthening self-defense rights round out my priorities, all aimed at a freer, prosperous Texas for families.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, accountability, and independence from special interests are paramount for any elected official. They must prioritize the people’s needs over personal gain or lobbyist influence, acting with transparency and a servant’s heart. Practical experience outside politics, like my 25 years in horticulture, fosters real-world solutions rather than bureaucratic red tape. Officials should embody strong moral values, rooted in faith and family, while championing freedoms, sovereignty, and prosperity for all—ensuring decisions benefit future generations, not just the elite. As a grassroots candidate, I commit to these traits to serve Texas faithfully.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

I believe the core responsibilities of the Governor of Texas include faithfully enforcing the state’s laws while protecting constitutional rights; managing the budget responsibly to eliminate wasteful spending like corporate welfare; securing our borders and sovereignty against external threats; promoting economic growth and freedoms that empower families, farmers, and innovators; vetoing legislation that expands bureaucracy or infringes on liberties; and leading with integrity as a servant to the people, not special interests. As governor, I’d prioritize real solutions like tax relief through the Cultivate Texas Act, ensuring Texas remains prosperous, independent, and true to its values for future generations.

What legacy would you like to leave?

As a grassroots fighter born in '84, I've clawed my way up from the bottom—arrested under outdated cannabis laws, watching the movement explode from California to Colorado while Texas lagged behind, empowering cartels and crushing lives. My legacy as governor would be flipping that script: proving a regular Texan can dismantle the elite's grip and deliver true freedom. I'd champion the Cultivate Texas Act to legalize cannabis, generate billions for 50% property tax cuts (phasing them out entirely), fund schools, and let farmers thrive legally. The Texas Freedom Act would smash overregulation, freeing up raw milk sales, direct car buys, and everyday choices. With the Texas Sovereignty & Influence Shield Act, I'd block foreign threats and cronyism, securing our borders and culture. In the end, I'd leave a Texas where no one's priced out or persecuted by archaic rules—a state of real opportunity, built by and for the people who've been in the trenches like me.

Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?

In Texas, the most important responsibilities of the Governor are, in my view:

1. Securing the border and protecting state sovereignty – With the federal government failing, Texas must take the lead through the Texas Plan: full National Guard deployment, completing the wall, ending catch-and-release, and making illegal crossings unprofitable for cartels.
2. Delivering real property-tax relief – Property taxes are forcing families out of their homes. Using new revenue streams like the Cultivate Texas Act and Texas Freedom Act to cut taxes by 50% immediately and work toward total elimination is my top priority.
3. Vetoing bad bills and blocking overreach – The Governor’s veto pen is one of the strongest in the nation. I will use it aggressively to stop any legislation that grows bureaucracy, infringes on freedoms, or hands taxpayer money to corporate special interests.

Everything else—appointments, disaster response, budget certification—matters, but these three directly determine whether Texans keep their homes, stay safe, and remain free. That’s where I’ll focus every single day.

In most states, governors have the power to make line-item vetoes. If that is true in your state, what would be your philosophy for how and when to use this power?

I believe the line-item veto is a critical tool for ensuring fiscal discipline and protecting Texas taxpayers from unnecessary government spending. As governor, I would use this power judiciously to strike out any appropriations that perpetuate corporate handouts, bureaucratic waste, or special interest giveaways, such as subsidies to industries that don't directly benefit everyday Texans. Instead, I would prioritize vetoing items that hinder our goals of slashing property taxes by 50% initially and phasing them out entirely, while redirecting resources toward essential areas like fully funding education through innovative revenue streams (e.g., regulated cannabis legalization), securing our borders, and promoting economic freedoms under the Texas Freedom Act. This approach would foster a leaner, more accountable state budget that puts Texans first, without relying on burdensome taxes

What do you love most about your state?

What I love most about Texas is its unyielding spirit of independence and resilience—the way our people embody freedom, hard work, and innovation in everything from our vast landscapes to our thriving communities. Growing up here, I've seen firsthand how Texans come together to build a brighter future, whether it's our farmers stewarding the land, our entrepreneurs pushing boundaries, or our families holding strong to values that make this state a true home. Texas isn't just where I live; it's who I am, and I'm committed to ensuring it remains a place where everyone can thrive without being held back by outdated barriers, embracing progress while honoring our roots.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Over the next decade, Texas faces critical challenges requiring bold leadership to safeguard our independence and prosperity. Key issues include:

- Skyrocketing property taxes burdening families and inflating living costs—I'll slash them 50% via the Cultivate Texas Act and phase them out with alternative revenues.

- Porous southern border enabling cartels, trafficking, and illegal immigration, harming safety; I'll secure it fully with the Texas National Guard and complete the wall.

- Spread of Muslim ideology and demographic changes threatening cultural cohesion, with the Muslim population over 313,000 and growing rapidly due to immigration and birth rates, plus controversies like EPIC City raising concerns over foreign influences—my Texas Sovereignty & Influence Shield Act will ban hostile ownership to protect Texas values.

- Outdated cannabis laws fueling black markets and lost revenue; legalizing responsibly under Cultivate Texas will fund schools, cut taxes, and align with national progress.

- Overregulation and cronyism stifling freedoms (e.g., housing, raw milk) and wasting funds on special interests, plus inadequate school choice.

By enacting the Texas Freedom Act and prioritizing fiscal responsibility, we'll overcome these and keep Texas a beacon of opportunity.

A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean to you?

Being the top executive authority in Texas means serving as a steadfast guardian of the state’s sovereignty, freedoms, and prosperity—leading with unwavering integrity to enforce laws that protect constitutional rights while vetoing those that expand bureaucracy or infringe on liberties. To me, it signifies putting Texas families first: responsibly managing the budget to end corporate welfare and deliver tax relief through innovative reforms like the Cultivate Texas Act; securing our borders via the Texas Plan to combat threats; and championing economic opportunities under the Texas Freedom Act. As a non-career politician, I’d approach this role as a servant, accountable to the people and free from special interests, ensuring decisions build a stronger Texas for generations ahead.

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Campaign finance summary

Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.

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Footnotes

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