By Rita Cook
AUSTIN – Let’s talk about the final mid-term election stretch, which is where we are as I write my column.
Keep this column for future reference no matter if you vote blue, red, or somewhere in between.
What have the Republican and Democrat candidates promised constituents if they make it to the state capitol in January?
Republicans
For the 2026 Texas midterm elections, the Republican platform and overall promises from the candidates and incumbents have strongly revolved around combining strict border enforcement with an overhaul of the property tax system and educational reforms like universal school choice.
The main economic promise is to freeze property taxes at the purchase price and phase them out entirely over a six-year period using state spending reductions.
Regarding border security and enforcement, the idea is a continued and intensified funding for state-level border operations.
And as far as education reform this revolves around a statewide “school choice” voucher system and placing restrictions on gender and sexuality-related curriculum in K-12 public schools.
Governor Greg Abbott, who is going for a fourth-term bid advocates for “border security, economic growth, job creation, and public safety as major priorities.”
He has also put an emphasis on “reducing property taxes and increasing career training opportunities.”
Texas Senator Mayes Middleton who is running for the Republican seat for Texas Attorney General since Ken Paxton vacated to run for U.S. Senate has expressed to media that he will continue using the state’s top legal office to champion culture-war battles and block federal overreach. He has promised to “back Mr. [Donald] Trump’s agenda” while also putting “God back in government.”
Democrats
For the 2026 Texas midterm elections on the Democratic platform the candidates and incumbents are revolving their platform around what is called “kitchen table issues.”
These issues include protecting public schools from state takeovers or voucher programs, expanding access to affordable healthcare, and addressing the rising cost of living.
Their overall agenda themes include economic and civic services.
Fiercely opposing the Republican-backed private school voucher system, these candidates are promising to increase state public school funding to match national averages.
They are also prioritizing the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act and implementing state price controls to reduce hospital and prescription costs.
Related to the cost of living and infrastructure the idea is to invest in affordable housing infrastructure, while also protecting energy grid reliability, and expanding public transportation.
Current State Representative Gina Hinojosa who is running for governor has said in interviews that “prioritizing public school reform, including combating school takeovers and vouchers, and lowering healthcare and living expenses.”
State Senator Sarah Eckhardt has made her campaign priority for the reform of how state funds are allocated. She has been campaigning heavily on “priorities that include protecting public schools from closures, auditing school vouchers, and stopping no-bid contracts.”
Bipartisan By championing grid protection, data center regulation, classroom cellphone bans, and better transportation infrastructure, candidates from both sides are targeting these shared realities as well as the fact that Texas has simply become too expensive for working-class families.
Rita Cook is a world traveler and writer/editor who specializes in writing on travel, auto, crime and politics. A correspondent for Texas Metro News, she has published 11 books and has also produced low-budget films.
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