Who is running against Greg Abbott in 2026?

Texans will decide in the 2026 election whether or not to elect a brand new governor or if Gov. Greg Abbott will remain in office.

Abbott is searching for a fourth time period. Texas has not elected a Democratic governor since Ann Richards, whose time period lasted from 1991 to 1995. As the state heads into the primaries, voters will see a spread of candidates.

Here are the Democratic and Republican candidates running in the Texas primaries.

Of the 9 Democratic main candidates, solely three are polling above 5%, with one clearly forward of the pack, in accordance with a latest ballot from the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs.

State Rep. Gina Hinojosawho represents a good portion of Austin and Travis County, is polling at 37%, about 30 factors forward of the following candidate. As the probably nominee, she was solely 7 factors behind in a common election ballot by the Hobby School.

Hinojosa is a five-term Democratic state consultant from House District 49, which spans central Austin and consists of the University of Texas at Austin. At the Capitol, she sits on the House Public Education and Business & Industry committees and has chaired the Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee.

Her marketing campaign pitch is closely “kitchen-table”: public colleges, well being care prices and day-to-day affordability. On her coverage web page, she argues Texas ought to crack down on “profit-over-patients” practices — together with personal fairness possession in well being care — whereas additionally taking direct intention at insurance coverage and drug prices.

Hinojosa has additionally tried to border her candidacy because the best-positioned Democratic problem to the incumbent Abbott — and she or he’s backed that up with a mixture of endorsements and fundraising claims.

Chris Bell served on the Houston City Council earlier than profitable a time period in Congress from 2003–2005, then later turned the Democratic nominee for governor in 2006.

This cycle, Bell is running on a well-known anti-corruption lane; he is framed Abbott-era politics as pay-to-play and has targeted his case on “cleaning up” state authorities whereas boosting public schooling and tackling rising prices.

His marketing campaign biography leans exhausting into his “watchdog” origin story — a University of Texas journalism alumnus who labored in broadcast information earlier than changing into an lawyer — and he positions that background as the rationale he is comfy going after entrenched energy.

Bobby Cole is a retired firefighter, cattleman and poultry producer — an East Texas-rooted candidate making a working-class pitch in a main dominated by better-known political names.

He is running with an emphasis on property taxes and public schooling, aiming to attach with rural and small-town voters who really feel priced out or missed.

His points web page lists populist reforms like elevating the minimal wage, strengthening employees’ means to prepare, and legalizing marijuana.

Here is an inventory of the remaining candidates:

• Patricia Abrego
• Carlton Hart
• Jose Navarro Balbuena
• Zach Vance
• Angela Villescaz
• Andrew White (ended his marketing campaign in early January, however will seem on the March poll)

Abbott is anticipated to be the Republican nominee in the 2026 gubernatorial election. He has served as governor since 2015, and Texas has not elected a Democrat to statewide workplace in greater than 30 years. With greater than $100 million in marketing campaign funds, he holds a big monetary benefit.

Abbott faces 10 challengers in the Republican main. The winner of that race will face the Democratic nominee in November.

While Abbott stays sternly in the lead, the Republican main candidates difficult him are:

• RF Achgill
• Evelyn Brooks
• Pete Chambers
• Charles Crouch
• Arturo Espinosa
• Mark Goloby
• Kenneth Hyde
• Stephen Samuelson
• Ronnie Tullos
• Nathaniel Welch