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2026 Texas Senate election

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2026 Texas Senate election

← 2024 November 3, 2026 2028 →

16 of the 31 seats in the Texas Senate
16 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Tan Parker Carol Alvarado
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat 28thLubbock 6thHouston
Last election 8 seats, 45.00% 7 seats, 54.88%
Current seats 20 11
Seats needed Steady Increase 5
Seats up 12 4

Map of the incumbents:
     Republican incumbent      Democratic incumbent
     No election

Incumbent Majority Leader

Tan Parker
Republican



Elections to the Texas Senate will be held concurrently to the 2026 Texas House of Representatives elections on November 3, 2026.[1]

Retirements

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  1. District 3: Robert Nichols is retiring[2]
  2. District 11: Mayes Middleton is retiring to run for Attorney General[3]
  3. District 22: Brian Birdwell is retiring[4]

Special elections

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As of July 2025, one special election is scheduled to fill an unexpired term.

2025 District 9 special election

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Kelly Hancock resigned to become chief clerk of the Texas Comptroller's office in June 2025. A special election is scheduled to be held on November 4th, 2025.[5]

Candidates

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Declared
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Summary of results by district

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† - Incumbent not seeking re-election

District Incumbent Party Elected Senator Party
1st Bryan Hughes Rep
2nd Bob Hall Rep
3rd Robert Nichols Rep
4th Brandon Creighton Rep
5th Charles Schwertner Rep
9th Kelly Hancock Rep
11th Mayes Middleton Rep
13th Borris Miles Dem
18th Lois Kolkhorst Rep
19th Roland Gutierrez Dem
21st Judith Zaffirini Dem
22nd Brian Birdwell Rep
24th Pete Flores Rep
26th Jose Menendez Dem
28th Charles Perry Rep
31st Kevin Sparks Rep

Detailed results

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District 1District 2District 3District 4District 5District 9District 11District 13District 18District 19District 21District 22District 24District 26District 28District 31

District 1

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Incumbent Republican Bryan Hughes has yet to announce re-election plans.[7]

District 2

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Incumbent Republican Bob Hall is running for re-election.[8]

Republican primary

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Declared
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District 3

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Incumbent Republican Robert Nichols is retiring.[10]

Republican primary

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Declared
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  • Trent Ashby, state representative from the 9th district (2013-present)[11]
  • Rhonda Ward, State Republican Executive Committee member[12]

District 4

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Incumbent Republican Brandon Creighton has yet to announce re-election plans.

District 5

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Incumbent Republican Charles Schwertner is running for re-election.[13]

District 9

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The incumbent will be determined in the November 4th, 2025 special election.

District 11

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Incumbent Republican Mayes Middleton is retiring to run for Attorney General.[3]

Republican primary

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Declared
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Endorsements
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Dennis Paul
Statewide officials

District 13

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Incumbent Democrat Borris Miles has yet to announce re-election plans.

District 18

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Incumbent Republican Lois Kolkhorst has yet to announce re-election plans.

District 19

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Incumbent Democrat Roland Gutierrez is running for re-election.

District 21

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Incumbent Democrat Judith Zaffirini is running for re-election.

District 22

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Incumbent Republican Brian Birdwell is retiring.[4]

Republican primary

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Declared
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  • David Cook, state representative from the 96th district (2021–present)[4]

District 24

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Incumbent Republican Pete Flores is running for re-election

Republican primary

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Declared
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Democratic primary

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Declared
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District 26

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Incumbent Democrat José Menéndez is running for re-election.

District 28

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Incumbent Republican Charles Perry is running for re-election.

District 31

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Incumbent Republican Kevin Sparks has yet to announce re-election plans.

Notes

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Texas State Senate elections, 2026". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  2. ^ Awtrey, Jeff (June 24, 2025). "Sen. Nichols announces he won't seek reelection; Ashby vying for position". KLTV. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Scherer, Jasper (May 15, 2025). "Sen. Mayes Middleton announces bid for Texas attorney general". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Serrano, Alejandro (June 30, 2025). "GOP state Sen. Brian Birdwell says he won't seek reelection". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Kumar, Atirikta (June 27, 2025). "Gov. Greg Abbott sets Nov. 4 special election for open state Senate seat". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  6. ^ Royster, Rachel (July 8, 2025). "North Texas mayor joins race for Fort Worth-area state Senate District 9". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  7. ^ Richardson, Michael (May 7, 2025). "Sen. Bryan Hughes to make decision on run for Texas Attorney General after legislative session ends". KLTV. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  8. ^ "Hall announces re-election bid for State Senator". Wills Point Chronicle. July 1, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  9. ^ "Eddington For Texas | Texas Senate Candidates". Jason For Texas Sena. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  10. ^ "Senator Robert Nichols won't seek another term". Palestineherald.com. June 24, 2025. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  11. ^ TrentAshby.com (June 24, 2025). "Ashby announces candidacy for Texas Senate". The Lufkin Daily News. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  12. ^ Reports, From Staff (June 3, 2025). "Rhonda Ward to run for Texas Senate". The Daily Sentinel. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  13. ^ Item, Special to The (June 10, 2025). "Dr. Charles Schwertner Announces for Re-Election to Texas Senate District 5". Itemonline.com. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  14. ^ a b Scherer, Jasper (May 8, 2025). "State Rep. Dennis Paul announces bid for Texas Senate with backing from Dan Patrick". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved May 30, 2025.