State

Lieutenant Governor

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 4
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The Lieutenant Governor presides over the Texas Senate, appoints its committees and steers which bills it takes up, and succeeds the Governor if the office becomes vacant. Elected separately from the Governor.

Candidates Compare by issue

Vikki Goodwin

Democratic

The gist

Opposes the private school voucher program.
Supports raising the basic allotment and tying it to inflation.
Supports pausing new data center construction until regulated.
Proposes "Texas Cares," a state-run health insurance program.
Supports expanding Medicaid.
Proposes automatic homestead exemptions at closing.
Supports a $15 minimum wage.
Supports regulating THC products instead of banning them.

More about Vikki

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Opposes the private school voucher program.
Q&A: Meet the 4 candidates running for lieutenant governor of Texas
Candidate questionnaire · Community Impact · communityimpact.com
“fully funding our public schools while stopping private school vouchers”
Public Education | Rep. Vikki Goodwin
Campaign website · Vikki Goodwin Campaign · vikkigoodwin.com
“She'll keep fighting against programs that funnel your tax dollars to unregulated private schools”
Supports raising the basic allotment and tying it to inflation.
Public Education | Rep. Vikki Goodwin
Campaign website · Vikki Goodwin Campaign · vikkigoodwin.com
“It's time to raise the basic allotment to previous levels, and ensure that future funding keeps up with inflation.”
Supports pausing new data center construction until regulated.
Data Centers | Rep. Vikki Goodwin
Campaign website · Vikki Goodwin Campaign · vikkigoodwin.com
“We must have a pause on new data center construction until we can pass comprehensive legislation”
Proposes "Texas Cares," a state-run health insurance program.
Texas Cares Plan | Rep. Vikki Goodwin
Campaign website · Vikki Goodwin Campaign · vikkigoodwin.com
“Texas Cares Plan creates a new, state administered health insurance program”
Supports expanding Medicaid.
Healthcare | Rep. Vikki Goodwin
Campaign website · Vikki Goodwin Campaign · vikkigoodwin.com
“By expanding Medicaid, we can ensure more vulnerable Texans get the care they need”
Proposes automatic homestead exemptions at closing.
Housing Affordability | Rep. Vikki Goodwin
Campaign website · Vikki Goodwin Campaign · vikkigoodwin.com
“Vikki's bill would process this automatically at closing, using forms already signed with a notary.”
Supports a $15 minimum wage.
More Issues | Rep. Vikki Goodwin
Campaign website · Vikki Goodwin Campaign · vikkigoodwin.com
“Vikki champions increasing the minimum wage to at least $15 per hour”
Supports regulating THC products instead of banning them.
Cannabis & THC | Vikki Goodwin
Campaign website · Vikki Goodwin Campaign · act.vikkigoodwin.com
“Texas needs a sensible regulatory framework for THC, rather than outright prohibition.”

Anthony Cristo

Libertarian

The gist

Opposes property tax relief without spending cuts.
Supports a balanced budget and properly funded schools.
Supports legalizing marijuana.
Opposes taxpayer-funded welfare; supports immigrants who come to work.

More about Anthony

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Opposes property tax relief without spending cuts.
Anthony Cristo for Lieutenant Governor
Campaign website · Libertarian Booster PAC · anthonycristo.com
“If you don't reduce spending, you're not cutting taxes—you're just moving them around.”
Supports a balanced budget and properly funded schools.
Anthony Cristo for Lieutenant Governor
Campaign website · Libertarian Booster PAC · anthonycristo.com
“I'm committed to fighting for a balanced budget, protecting your rights, properly funding schools”
Supports legalizing marijuana.
Anthony Cristo for Lieutenant Governor
Campaign website · Libertarian Booster PAC · anthonycristo.com
“It's time to legalize marijuana in Texas.”
Opposes taxpayer-funded welfare; supports immigrants who come to work.
Anthony Cristo for Lieutenant Governor
Campaign website · Libertarian Booster PAC · anthonycristo.com
“I oppose taxpayer-funded welfare, but I strongly support people who come here ready to work”

Kevin McCormick

Green

The gist

Supports ranked-choice voting and limits on gerrymandering.
Proposes greatly improving public transportation in Texas cities.
Opposes tax breaks and water transfers for data centers.
Proposes cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 75%.
Supports basing property taxes on economic, not speculative, value.

More about Kevin

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Supports ranked-choice voting and limits on gerrymandering.
Q&A: Meet the 4 candidates running for lieutenant governor of Texas
Candidate questionnaire · Community Impact · communityimpact.com
“Reform of the Election Code to have ranked-choice voting”
Proposes greatly improving public transportation in Texas cities.
Q&A: Meet the 4 candidates running for lieutenant governor of Texas
Candidate questionnaire · Community Impact · communityimpact.com
“Greatly improve public transportation in Texas cities.”
Opposes tax breaks and water transfers for data centers.
Q&A: Meet the 4 candidates running for lieutenant governor of Texas
Candidate questionnaire · Community Impact · communityimpact.com
“I am opposed to any tax reductions, electricity priorities or water transfers for data centers.”
Proposes cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 75%.
Q&A: Meet the 4 candidates running for lieutenant governor of Texas
Candidate questionnaire · Community Impact · communityimpact.com
“We must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75% and double organic matter in soils.”
Supports basing property taxes on economic, not speculative, value.
Q&A: Meet the 4 candidates running for lieutenant governor of Texas
Candidate questionnaire · Community Impact · communityimpact.com
“Property taxes are too high and should be based on economic value instead of speculative value.”

Dan Patrick

RepublicanIncumbent

The gist

Pledges to eliminate school operating property taxes for average homeowners.In office
Led increases in the school homestead exemption.In office
Led passage of the state's school choice program.In office
Led 2025 law on Ten Commandments, prayer time in schools.In office
Led Senate votes to end DEI policies at universities.In office
Led passage of campus, open and permitless carry laws.In office
Led passage of the Heartbeat Bill restricting abortion.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Dan

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Pledges to eliminate school operating property taxes for average homeowners.
About Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor
Government record · Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Texas · ltgov.texas.gov
“He has pledged to eliminate school M & O property taxes for the average homeowner in the next two legislative sessions.”
Led increases in the school homestead exemption.
About Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor
Government record · Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Texas · ltgov.texas.gov
“he succeeded in increasing the Homestead Exemption to $200,000 for seniors and $140,000 for homeowners under 65”
Led passage of the state's school choice program.
About Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor
Government record · Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Texas · ltgov.texas.gov
“Lt. Governor Patrick led the charge to pass the largest school choice program launch in American history.”
Led 2025 law on Ten Commandments, prayer time in schools.
About Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor
Government record · Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Texas · ltgov.texas.gov
“passed legislation to put the Ten Commandments and prayer time back in public schools”
Led Senate votes to end DEI policies at universities.
About Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor
Government record · Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Texas · ltgov.texas.gov
“abolish discriminatory DEI policies in our universities, enact needed reforms on tenure”
Led passage of campus, open and permitless carry laws.
About Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor
Government record · Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Texas · ltgov.texas.gov
“passing campus carry, open carry, and constitutional carry in Texas”
Led passage of the Heartbeat Bill restricting abortion.
About Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor
Government record · Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Texas · ltgov.texas.gov
“He passed the Heartbeat Bill in 2023, virtually eliminating abortions in Texas”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 9 issues covered in this race.