Texas gubernatorial election, 2026 (March 3 Republican primary)
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← 2022
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| Governor of Texas |
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| Democratic primary Republican primary General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: December 8, 2025 |
| Primary: March 3, 2026 Primary runoff: May 26, 2026 General: November 3, 2026 |
| How to vote |
| Poll times:
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Race ratings |
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican Inside Elections: Solid Republican |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2026 Impact of term limits in 2026 State government trifectas State government triplexes Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026 |
| Texas executive elections |
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A Republican Party primary takes place on March 3, 2026, in Texas to determine which candidate will earn the right to run as the party's nominee in the state's gubernatorial election on November 3, 2026.
This page focuses on Texas' Republican Party gubernatorial primary. For more in-depth information on Texas' Democratic gubernatorial primary and the general election, see the following pages:
Candidates and election results
Note: The following list of candidates is unofficial. The filing deadline for this election has passed, and Ballotpedia is working to update this page with the official candidate list. This note will be removed once the official candidate list has been added.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Texas
Incumbent Greg Abbott, Pete Chambers, Kenneth Hyde, and Ronnie Tullos are running in the Republican primary for Governor of Texas on March 3, 2026.
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Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.
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Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "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."
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "My name is Ronnie Tullos, and I’m running for Governor of the great state of Texas. I’m not a politician—I’m a lawman, a veteran of the Texas Guard, a first responder, and above all, a proud Texan. I’ve spent over 30 years protecting and serving this state, from the frontlines of natural disasters to the halls of justice, and now I’m stepping up to lead Texas with strength, integrity, and the courage to take on the issues that matter most. I was born and raised right here in Texas. I grew up with God, grit, and a deep belief in personal responsibility. That foundation led me to a life of service—starting in law enforcement and rising to the rank of Captain with the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office. I’ve never turned away from a tough job, and I’ve never forgotten who I work for: the people of Texas."
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Texas
Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.
Election analysis
Click the tabs below to view information about demographics, past elections, and partisan control of the state.
- Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the state.
- Statewide elections - Information about recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections in the state.
- State partisanship - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.
- Demographics - Information about the state's demographics and how they compare to the country as a whole.
Cook PVI by congressional district
2024 presidential results by 2026 congressional district lines
| District | Kamala Harris  |
Donald Trump  |
|---|---|---|
| Texas' 1st | 26.6% | 71.9% |
| Texas' 2nd | 35.9% | 62.0% |
| Texas' 3rd | 37.5% | 60.1% |
| Texas' 4th | 37.5% | 60.5% |
| Texas' 5th | 39.6% | 58.6% |
| Texas' 6th | 37.2% | 60.6% |
| Texas' 7th | 63.9% | 33.9% |
| Texas' 8th | 39.3% | 58.8% |
| Texas' 9th | 46.6% | 51.6% |
| Texas' 10th | 39.9% | 57.6% |
| Texas' 11th | 33.1% | 64.7% |
| Texas' 12th | 38.9% | 58.9% |
| Texas' 13th | 26.0% | 71.9% |
| Texas' 14th | 37.4% | 60.7% |
| Texas' 15th | 51.4% | 46.8% |
| Texas' 16th | 68.1% | 28.8% |
| Texas' 17th | 39.7% | 57.8% |
| Texas' 18th | 81.2% | 17.1% |
| Texas' 19th | 25.4% | 72.5% |
| Texas' 20th | 68.7% | 28.8% |
| Texas' 21st | 38.6% | 59.0% |
| Texas' 22nd | 38.0% | 60.0% |
| Texas' 23rd | 44.8% | 53.0% |
| Texas' 24th | 39.2% | 58.5% |
| Texas' 25th | 40.4% | 57.7% |
| Texas' 26th | 36.9% | 60.7% |
| Texas' 27th | 39.1% | 58.8% |
| Texas' 28th | 60.6% | 37.4% |
| Texas' 29th | 71.8% | 26.4% |
| Texas' 30th | 77.0% | 21.2% |
| Texas' 31st | 37.7% | 59.7% |
| Texas' 32nd | 42.1% | 55.7% |
| Texas' 33rd | 71.0% | 26.7% |
| Texas' 34th | 51.7% | 46.3% |
| Texas' 35th | 46.7% | 51.0% |
| Texas' 36th | 39.4% | 58.9% |
| Texas' 37th | 78.8% | 18.1% |
| Texas' 38th | 37.5% | 60.5% |
| Source: The Downballot | ||
2016-2024
How a state's counties vote in a presidential election and the size of those counties can provide additional insights into election outcomes at other levels of government including statewide and congressional races. Below, four categories are used to describe each county's voting pattern over the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections: Solid, Trending, Battleground, and New. Click [show] on the table below for examples:
| County-level voting pattern categories | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | |||||||
| Status | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 | ||||
| Solid Democratic | D | D | D | ||||
| Trending Democratic | R | D | D | ||||
| Battleground Democratic | D | R | D | ||||
| New Democratic | R | R | D | ||||
| Republican | |||||||
| Status | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 | ||||
| Solid Republican | R | R | R | ||||
| Trending Republican | D | R | R | ||||
| Battleground Republican | R | D | R | ||||
| New Republican | D | D | R | ||||
Following the 2024 presidential election, 41.8% of Texans lived in one of the state's 224 Solid Republican counties, which voted for the Republican presidential candidate in every election from 2016 to 2024, and 41.6% lived in one of 11 Solid Democratic counties. Overall, Texas was Solid Republican, having voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016, Donald Trump (R) in 2020, and Donald Trump (R) in 2024. Use the table below to view the total number of each type of county in Texas following the 2024 election as well as the overall percentage of the state population located in each county type.
| Texas county-level statistics, 2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid Republican | 224 | 41.8% | |||||
| Solid Democratic | 11 | 41.6% | |||||
| Battleground Republican | 2 | 9.4% | |||||
| New Republican | 8 | 5.7% | |||||
| Trending Democratic | 1 | 0.9% | |||||
| Trending Republican | 8 | 0.5% | |||||
| Total voted Democratic | 12 | 42.5% | |||||
| Total voted Republican | 242 | 57.5% | |||||
Historical voting trends
Texas presidential election results (1900-2024)
- 16 Democratic wins
- 15 Republican wins
| Year | 1900 | 1904 | 1908 | 1912 | 1916 | 1920 | 1924 | 1928 | 1932 | 1936 | 1940 | 1944 | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winning Party | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | D | R | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
This section details the results of the five most recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections held in the state.
U.S. Senate elections
The table below details the vote in the five most recent U.S. Senate races in Texas.
Gubernatorial elections
- See also: Governor of Texas
The table below details the vote in the five most recent gubernatorial elections in Texas.
- See also: Party control of Texas state government
Congressional delegation
The table below displays the partisan composition of Texas' congressional delegation as of October 2025.
| Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Texas | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | U.S. Senate | U.S. House | Total |
| Democratic | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| Republican | 2 | 25 | 27 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vacancies | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 2 | 38 | 40 |
State executive
The table below displays the officeholders in Texas' top four state executive offices as of October 2025.
| Office | Officeholder |
|---|---|
| Governor | Greg Abbott |
| Lieutenant Governor | Dan Patrick |
| Secretary of State | Jane Nelson |
| Attorney General | Ken Paxton |
State legislature
Texas State Senate
| Party | As of October 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 11 | |
| Republican Party | 18 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 2 | |
| Total | 31 | |
Texas House of Representatives
| Party | As of October 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 62 | |
| Republican Party | 88 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 150 | |
Trifecta control
Texas Party Control: 1992-2025
Three years of Democratic trifectas • Twenty-three years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
The table below details demographic data in Texas and compares it to the broader United States as of 2023.
| Demographic Data for Texas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Texas | United States | |
| Population | 29,145,505 | 331,449,281 |
| Land area (sq mi) | 261,257 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White | 53.9% | 63.4% |
| Black/African American | 12.2% | 12.4% |
| Asian | 5.3% | 5.8% |
| Native American | 0.6% | 0.9% |
| Pacific Islander | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Other (single race) | 8.6% | 6.6% |
| Multiple | 19.2% | 10.7% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 39.5% | 19% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate | 85.7% | 89.4% |
| College graduation rate | 33.1% | 35% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income | $76,292 | $78,538 |
| Persons below poverty level | 13.8% | 12.4% |
| Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2018-2023). | ||
| **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
State profile
| Demographic data for Texas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Texas | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 27,429,639 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 261,232 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 74.9% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 11.9% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 4.2% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2.5% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 38.4% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 81.9% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 27.6% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $53,207 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 19.9% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Texas. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Texas
Texas voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Pivot Counties (2016)
Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, one is located in Texas, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total pivot counties.[1]
Pivot Counties (2020)
In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Texas had one Retained Pivot County, 0.55 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.
More Texas coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Texas
- United States congressional delegations from Texas
- Public policy in Texas
- Endorsers in Texas
- Texas fact checks
- More...
See also
| Texas | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
