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Federal

U.S. Senator

Vote for
1
Term
6 years
Candidates
3
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A U.S. senator is one of Texas's two members of the U.S. Senate, voting on federal laws, taxes and spending, treaties, and confirming federal judges and officials.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

  • Ken PaxtonRepublican

    • Proposes federal tax deductions for health costs and home purchases.
    • Pledges to cut taxes and wasteful federal spending.

  • James TalaricoDemocratic

    • Proposes a cost-of-living tax cut paid for by the wealthy.

  • Ted BrownLibertarian

    • Pledges never to vote to raise taxes.
    • Supports cutting federal spending to curb inflation.

Public safety

  • Ken PaxtonRepublican

    • Supports finishing the border wall and deporting criminal immigrants.
    • Pledges to protect gun rights and oppose abortion.
    • Pledges faster federal disaster response with less red tape.

  • James TalaricoDemocratic

    • Supports expanding FEMA's Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program eligibility.

  • Ted BrownLibertarian

    No documented position found.

Education

  • Ken PaxtonRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • James TalaricoDemocratic

    • Supports expanding career and technical education.

  • Ted BrownLibertarian

    No documented position found.

Economy & jobs

  • Ken PaxtonRepublican

    • Pledges lower taxes, fewer regulations and more energy production.
    • Supports a federal crypto framework such as the CLARITY Act.

  • James TalaricoDemocratic

    • Supports wider SBA loan access, higher wages and union protections.

  • Ted BrownLibertarian

    • Supports ending all of President Trump's tariffs.
    • Opposes arresting and deporting small-business employees.

Roads & infrastructure

  • Ken PaxtonRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • James TalaricoDemocratic

    • Opposes data centers driving up utility costs.

  • Ted BrownLibertarian

    No documented position found.

Health & human services

  • Ken PaxtonRepublican

    • Supports taking on drug and food companies over chronic illness.

  • James TalaricoDemocratic

    • Pledges to take on drug and healthcare companies over prices.

  • Ted BrownLibertarian

    No documented position found.

Government & transparency

  • Ken PaxtonRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • James TalaricoDemocratic

    • Supports banning corporate PACs.

  • Ted BrownLibertarian

    • Opposes government-mandated age verification for internet use.
    • Opposes Flock and other public surveillance cameras.

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.