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State Senator, District 26

Vote for
1
Term
4 years
Candidates
2
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state senator is one of 31 members of the Texas Senate, which writes and votes on state laws and the state budget and confirms many of the Governor's appointments.

Covers part of Bexar County.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Julián Villarreal

Green

Engineer · San Antonio

The gist

  • Supports eliminating the TEFA voucher program.
  • Supports direct public investment in affordable housing.
  • Proposes requiring companies to plug abandoned oil and gas wells.
  • Proposes legislation for a transition to renewable energy.
  • Supports ending mandatory 287(g) agreements and repealing SB 4.
  • Supports banning automated license plate readers.
More about Julián
View sources (1)

  1. Supports eliminating the TEFA voucher program.

    Campaign Issues - Julián Villarreal for Texas Senate

    Campaign website · Julián Villarreal campaign · julianfortxsenate.org

    “I support eliminating TEFA, and I will fight for fully funding high-quality public education for all Texas students.”

  2. Supports direct public investment in affordable housing.

    Campaign Issues - Julián Villarreal for Texas Senate

    Campaign website · Julián Villarreal campaign · julianfortxsenate.org

    “We need direct investment to build dignified affordable housing for all who need it”

  3. Proposes requiring companies to plug abandoned oil and gas wells.

    Campaign Issues - Julián Villarreal for Texas Senate

    Campaign website · Julián Villarreal campaign · julianfortxsenate.org

    “I will fight for legislation to make fossil fuel companies plug abandoned oil and gas wells”

  4. Proposes legislation for a transition to renewable energy.

    Campaign Issues - Julián Villarreal for Texas Senate

    Campaign website · Julián Villarreal campaign · julianfortxsenate.org

    “If elected, I will introduce legislation to begin a just energy transition for Texas.”

  5. Supports ending mandatory 287(g) agreements and repealing SB 4.

    Campaign Issues - Julián Villarreal for Texas Senate

    Campaign website · Julián Villarreal campaign · julianfortxsenate.org

    “I support ending mandatory 287g agreements and repealing anti-immigrant Senate Bill 4 that passed in 2023.”

  6. Supports banning automated license plate readers.

    Campaign Issues - Julián Villarreal for Texas Senate

    Campaign website · Julián Villarreal campaign · julianfortxsenate.org

    “support a ban on automated license plate readers”
Photo of Jose Menendez
Jose MenendezOfficial portrait — Texas Senate

Jose Menendez

DemocraticIncumbent

Title insurance executive · San Antonio

The gist

  • Proposes letting any qualified voter vote early by mail.In office
  • Proposes creating a Texas Redistricting Commission.In office
  • Proposes legalizing medical cannabis for certain conditions.In office
  • Proposes free prekindergarten for certain children.In office
  • Proposes barring therapists from trying to change children's sexual orientation.In office
  • Sponsored law on allocating low-income housing tax credits.In office
  • Sponsored law on seat belts for buses carrying children.In office

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

More about Jose
View sources (1)

  1. Proposes letting any qualified voter vote early by mail.

    Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. José Menéndez, 89th Legislature Regular Session

    Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov

    “Relating to early voting by mail by any qualified voter”

  2. Proposes creating a Texas Redistricting Commission.

    Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. José Menéndez, 89th Legislature Regular Session

    Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov

    “Relating to the Texas Redistricting Commission.”

  3. Proposes legalizing medical cannabis for certain conditions.

    Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. José Menéndez, 89th Legislature Regular Session

    Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov

    “authorizing the possession, use, cultivation, distribution, delivery, sale, and research of medical cannabis for medical use by patients with certain medical conditions”

  4. Proposes free prekindergarten for certain children.

    Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. José Menéndez, 89th Legislature Regular Session

    Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov

    “Relating to providing free prekindergarten for certain children.”

  5. Proposes barring therapists from trying to change children's sexual orientation.

    Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. José Menéndez, 89th Legislature Regular Session

    Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov

    “Relating to unprofessional conduct by mental health providers who attempt to change the sexual orientation of a child.”

  6. Sponsored law on allocating low-income housing tax credits.

    Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. José Menéndez, 89th Legislature Regular Session

    Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov

    “Relating to the allocation of low income housing tax credits.”

  7. Sponsored law on seat belts for buses carrying children.

    Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. José Menéndez, 89th Legislature Regular Session

    Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov

    “Relating to seat belts on buses that transport children.”

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; 6 issues covered in this race.