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Andrew Trakas
Andrew Trakas (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Texas. He declared candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled on March 3, 2026.[source]
Trakas completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Andrew Trakas was born in Riverside, California. He earned a high school diploma from Future High School. His career experience includes working as a chief executive officer for Freedom 75, a firefighter, and in the private security sector.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: United States Senate election in Texas, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.
General election for U.S. Senate Texas
Joshua Cain, Camencia Ford, Jade Simmons, and Hans Truelson are running in the general election for U.S. Senate Texas on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Joshua Cain (Independent) | ||
| Camencia Ford (Independent) | ||
 | Jade Simmons (Independent) | |
 | Hans Truelson (Independent) | |
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Texas
Colin Allred, Emily Morgul, Michael Swanson, James Talarico, and Terry Virts are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Texas on March 3, 2026.
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Texas
The following candidates are running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Texas on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | John Cornyn | |
 | Andrew Alvarez | |
 | Virgil Bierschwale | |
 | Alexander Duncan | |
 | Ronald Evans | |
 | Wesley Hunt | |
| Matthew Elliot Kelley | ||
 | Gulrez Khan | |
 | Rennie Mann | |
 | Ken Paxton | |
 | Tony Schmoker | |
 | Andrew Trakas | |
| Leo Wyatt | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Keith Allen (R)
- Barrett McNabb (R)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Andrew Trakas completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Trakas' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- 1. Economy, Taxes & Cost of Living
My Fix:
“I’ll work to put more money back in Texans’ pockets and I will cut federal red tape, lowering taxes for working families, and protecting Texas industries from overregulation." - 2. Border Security & Immigration My Fix: “As Senator, I’ll push for a Texas-first border security plan, no illegal immigrants in our cities, towns or neighborhood's."
- 3. Energy & Grid Reliability My Fix: “I’ll fight to protect Texas energy independence by investing in modernizing the grid, supporting both traditional energy and smart infrastructure, and ensuring Texans never freeze or sweat in the dark again."
Strong leadership and courage are essential to make tough decisions, defend what’s right, and resist the temptation to follow the easy or politically convenient path. An effective elected official should be a good listener, staying connected to the communities they represent and understanding the real issues people face every day.
They must craft, support, and vote on legislation that strengthens communities, boosts the economy, ensures public safety, and preserves the values that make our state and nation strong. It’s their duty to oversee government actions, hold agencies accountable, and make sure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and transparently.
I hope my work inspires trust in public service, showing that leadership is about dedication to others, not personal gain. Whether through defending our citizens, supporting veterans, creating economic opportunities, or empowering communities, I want my legacy to reflect a life spent uniting people, solving real problems, and leaving a stronger, safer, and more prosperous nation for future generations.
That role taught me discipline, attention to detail, calm under pressure, and an absolute commitment to the safety of others. After that I served as a firefighter, joined the Texas State Military, worked as a financial director in the private sector, and eventually founded Freedom 75 a business that brings together community members, law enforcement, and veterans. Those experiences shaped my leadership, operational experience, and my drive to serve my community.
It’s a book that reinforces my belief that whether in government, business, or community service, strong teams and shared purpose are essential to achieving meaningful results. It inspires me to lead with clarity, humility, and a focus on empowering others to succeed.
Captain America represents the idea that true strength comes from character, not power, and that resonates with how I strive to lead: with honor, loyalty, and a relentless dedication to doing what’s right for the people I serve.
It required me to rebuild my identity outside of uniform, learn new skills, and find meaningful ways to continue serving my community. That journey led me to firefighting, leadership roles in the private sector, and ultimately founding Freedom 75. While the transition wasn’t easy, it shaped my resilience, deepened my empathy for others facing change, and strengthened my commitment to serve in new ways.
Second, economic growth and opportunity we need to ensure a thriving economy that supports small businesses, creates jobs, and allows working families to prosper without excessive regulation or burdens. Inflation, energy independence, and supply chain stability will be key priorities.
Third, the strength of our democratic institutions we must safeguard the rule of law, maintain election integrity, and ensure government accountability. Polarization and political division threaten our ability to govern effectively.
Fourth, education and workforce development preparing the next generation with the skills, knowledge, and values necessary to compete in a global economy is essential.
By encouraging regular turnover, term limits ensure elected officials stay connected to the real world, not the political bubble. At the same time, it’s important to maintain enough time for effective leadership and experience to make a difference. Overall, term limits strengthen democracy by promoting accountability, limiting career politicians, and ensuring government remains truly by and for the people.
The Senate plays a critical role as a deliberative body, where legislation is carefully examined, debated, and refined. Its longer terms allow senators to take a broader, long-term view rather than focusing only on short-term political pressures.
However, real world experience outside of politics is equally important. Leaders who have served their communities, run businesses, or worked on the front lines bring fresh perspectives and practical solutions. What matters most is integrity, leadership, and a genuine commitment to serve the people. A balance of experience and real world perspective often leads to the strongest, most effective representation.
That said, the filibuster can also be misused to stall progress or block important legislation indefinitely, which can frustrate the legislative process. Overall, I believe the filibuster serves an important purpose when used responsibly it encourages deliberation, balance, and stability in lawmaking. Any changes to it should be carefully considered to preserve the Senate’s role as a deliberative body, not just a partisan battlefield.
1. Qualifications and experience. The nominee should have a strong legal background, demonstrated expertise, and a record of competence in handling complex legal issues.
2. Integrity and ethics. A judge must uphold the highest ethical standards, demonstrate honesty, and avoid conflicts of interest.
3. Commitment to the Constitution. They should interpret the law faithfully, respecting the Constitution and the separation of powers rather than legislating from the bench.
4. Judicial temperament. Fairness, impartiality, and the ability to consider differing viewpoints are critical.
I would prioritize professionalism and integrity, treating colleagues with courtesy even during disagreement, and working to foster an environment where debate is constructive rather than divisive. At the same time, I would stand firmly on my principles and the interests of my constituents, ensuring that collaboration never comes at the cost of core values.
That said, compromise should never come at the expense of core principles or the rights of the people. It works best when it is guided by integrity, respect, and a genuine desire to solve problems rather than score political points. In a diverse nation like ours, the ability to collaborate while standing firm on key values is essential to achieving results that last.
The Senate should use these powers to oversight of federal agencies, examine potential abuses of power, and evaluate the implementation of laws, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and that the government operates efficiently and ethically. When done properly, investigations strengthen public trust, reinforce the rule of law, and maintain the checks and balances that are fundamental to our democracy.
First, the nominee must be highly qualified, with the experience, knowledge, and leadership skills necessary to manage their department effectively. Second, they must demonstrate honesty, accountability, and ethical behavior, with a record that shows they can be trusted to serve the American people not political or special interests.
Hearing his story reinforced why I do what I do to create opportunities, support those who serve, and build communities where no one feels forgotten. It reminded me that behind every policy and decision are real people whose lives are directly affected and that service isn’t just about titles or positions, it’s about making a tangible difference in people’s lives.
What makes this accomplishment meaningful isn’t just the business itself it’s the positive impact it has on people’s lives, giving veterans purpose, supporting public safety, and creating opportunities for personal growth. It’s a tangible way I’ve been able to serve and make a difference beyond my years in uniform.
This includes establishing clear standards and regulations to prevent misuse, protect privacy, and ensure transparency, without unnecessarily stifling technological advancement. The government should also invest in research and workforce development to maintain American leadership in AI and prepare citizens for the evolving job market.
Key components would include:
1. Secure and transparent voting systems. Mandate the use of verifiable paper ballots, secure electronic systems with audits, and standardized cybersecurity protocols to protect against interference.
2. Accessible elections for all eligible voters. Expand options for early voting, absentee ballots, and accessible polling places while maintaining robust identity verification to prevent fraud.
3. Clear and uniform election standards. Encourage consistency across states for voter registration, ballot handling, and reporting results to ensure public trust and reduce confusion.
4. Enhanced election security funding. Provide federal support to states for election infrastructure, cybersecurity, and training for election officials.
5. Transparency and oversight. Strengthen reporting requirements and oversight mechanisms to ensure accountability in election administration.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from the Federal Elections Commission. That information will be published here once it is available.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 9, 2025
