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State Senator, District 5

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 all of Bastrop, Brazos, Freestone, Leon, Limestone, Madison, Milam, Robertson, San Jacinto and Walker counties, and part of Williamson County.

Paul Thomasson

Democratic

Retired United Methodist pastor

The gist

  • Opposes school vouchers that divert public school money.
  • Opposes immigrant detention without due process.
  • Supports addressing climate change and a shrinking coastline.
  • Supports action on rising insurance and health care costs.
  • Supports narrowing the gap between rich and poor.
More about Paul
View sources (1)
  1. Opposes school vouchers that divert public school money.

    About Paul - Paul Thomasson for Texas Senate District 5

    Campaign website · Paul Thomasson campaign · thomassonforsenate.com

    “Vouchers have taken millions away from public school systems across Texas, causing all kind of big, new problems.”
  2. Opposes immigrant detention without due process.

    About Paul - Paul Thomasson for Texas Senate District 5

    Campaign website · Paul Thomasson campaign · thomassonforsenate.com

    “Men, women, and especially children are being brutally placed into detention centers without much, if any, due process.”
  3. Supports addressing climate change and a shrinking coastline.

    About Paul - Paul Thomasson for Texas Senate District 5

    Campaign website · Paul Thomasson campaign · thomassonforsenate.com

    “our coastline is shrinking, and we are responsible for taking care of the planet we live in.”
  4. Supports action on rising insurance and health care costs.

    About Paul - Paul Thomasson for Texas Senate District 5

    Campaign website · Paul Thomasson campaign · thomassonforsenate.com

    “Increasing healthcare costs continue to affect Texans negatively”
  5. Supports narrowing the gap between rich and poor.

    About Paul - Paul Thomasson for Texas Senate District 5

    Campaign website · Paul Thomasson campaign · thomassonforsenate.com

    “Paul believes the economy is moving in the wrong direction, leading to a widening gap between the rich and the poor.”
Photo of Charles Schwertner
Charles SchwertnerOfficial portrait — Texas Senate

Charles Schwertner

RepublicanIncumbent

Orthopedic surgeon · Georgetown

The gist

  • Sponsored law requiring sheriffs' immigration agreements with ICE.In office
  • Authored Texas's constitutional carry law.In office
  • Sponsored law creating the Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.In office
  • Sponsored 2025 law on electric service quality and reliability.In office
  • Sponsored law limiting noncompete agreements for physicians.In office
  • Sponsored law regulating automated systems in insurance claim denials.In office

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

More about Charles
View sources (2)
  1. Sponsored law requiring sheriffs' immigration agreements with ICE.

    Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. Charles Schwertner, 89th Legislature Regular Session

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

    “Relating to agreements between certain sheriffs and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration law”
  2. Authored Texas's constitutional carry law.

    Senator Charles Schwertner: District 5

    Government record · Texas Senate · senate.texas.gov

    “authoring one of the strongest Constitutional Carry laws in the nation”
  3. Sponsored law creating the Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

    Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. Charles Schwertner, 89th Legislature Regular Session

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

    “Relating to the establishment and administration of the Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve for the purpose of investing in cryptocurrency”
  4. Sponsored 2025 law on electric service quality and reliability.

    Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. Charles Schwertner, 89th Legislature Regular Session

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

    “Relating to electric service quality and reliability; providing an administrative penalty.”
  5. Sponsored law limiting noncompete agreements for physicians.

    Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. Charles Schwertner, 89th Legislature Regular Session

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

    “Relating to restrictions on covenants not to compete for physicians and certain health care practitioners.”
  6. Sponsored law regulating automated systems in insurance claim denials.

    Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. Charles Schwertner, 89th Legislature Regular Session

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

    “Relating to the use of certain automated systems in, and certain adverse determinations made in connection with, the health benefit claims process.”

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; 7 issues covered in this race.