The governor is Texas’ chief executive, with a hand in everything from enforcing laws to setting budget priorities and responding to crises. Here’s a look at who’s running in the 2026 primary and where they come from.

Twenty-four candidates have filed to run for governor of Texas, including Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking his fourth term.

Abbott entered 2026 with a staggering $105,737,180 cash on hand. The latest total contributions to the campaign sit at $45,343,474, with $44,067,462 in expenditures, according to data compiled by Transparency USA, a nonpartisan website that tracks public donations to candidates.

Abbott raised almost $23 million from July through December, while his leading Democratic challenger, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, brought in $1.3 million in the last 10 weeks of 2025.

Source: Polls collected by The New York Times. Pollsters that meet at least two of the three criteria below are considered “select pollsters” by The Times, as long as they are conducting polls for nonpartisan sponsors.

Marcos Vélez, a union organizer and first-time Democratic candidate, is running for lieutenant governor, arguing that the GOP is not the party of the working class.

The declaration is to make sure resources are available to communities that need them.

The lieutenant governor’s office is often described as the most powerful in Texas government. Here’s a look at who’s running in the 2026 Democratic and Republican primaries and where they stand.