The 2026 Texas gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Texas. Republican incumbent Greg Abbott is seeking a fourth term. He is being challenged by Democratic state representative Gina Hinojosa.
Primary elections were held on March 3, 2026. Facing minimal opposition, Abbott won the Republican nomination with 82% of the vote. Hinojosa won the Democratic nomination with 59% of the vote over a field of candidates that included former congressman Chris Bell.
If Abbott is re-elected, he will become the state's longest-serving governor. Democrats have not won a gubernatorial election in Texas since 1990.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Greg Abbott, incumbent governor (2015–present)
Eliminated in primary R.F. "Bob" Achgill, literary researcher and candidate for Bryan City Council in 2024 Evelyn Brooks, member of the Texas State Board of Education from the 14th district (2023–present) Pete "Doc" Chambers, former Lieutenant Colonel in U.S. Army Special Forces Charles Andrew Crouch, author Arturo Espinosa, candidate in 2025 San Antonio mayoral election Mark V. Goloby, businessman and conservative activist Kenneth Hyde, contractor Stephen Samuelson, veteran Ronnie Tullos, project manager Nathaniel Welch, businessman
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin GregAbbott EvelynBrooks PeteChambers ArturoEspinosa Mark V.Goloby Other UndecidedYouGovFebruary 26 – March 2, 20261,668 (LV)± 2.8%72%2%11%0%0%2% 13%University of Texas/Texas Politics ProjectFebruary 2–16, 2026360 (LV)± 5.2%91%1%5%1%1%2%–
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Gina Hinojosa, state representative from the 49th district (2017–present)
Eliminated in primary Patricia Abrego Chris Bell, former U.S. representative for Texas's 25th congressional district (2003–2005), nominee for governor in 2006, candidate for mayor of Houston in 2001 and 2015, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020 Bobby Cole, rancher Carlton Hart, event manager Jose Navarro Balbuena, tax strategist Faizan Syed, manager Zach Vance, veteran Angela Villescaz, education and gun safety advocate
Withdrawn Ben Flores, Bay City councilor (running for Land Commissioner, endorsed Hinojosa) Nick Pappas, marine veteran (running for Denton County Judge) Andrew White, son of former governor Mark White, and candidate for governor in 2018 (endorsed Hinojosa)
Declined Jasmine Crockett, U.S. representative from Texas's 30th congressional district (2023–present) (ran for U.S. Senate, endorsed Hinojosa) Veronica Escobar, U.S. representative from Texas's 16th congressional district (2019–present) (running for re-election, endorsed Hinojosa) Clay Jenkins, Dallas County Judge (2011–present) Beto O'Rourke, former U.S. representative from (2013–2019), nominee for governor in 2022, nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018, and candidate for president in 2020 Ron Nirenberg, former mayor of San Antonio (2017–2025) (running for Bexar County Judge)
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin ChrisBell BobbyCole GinaHinojosa AngelaVillescaz AndrewWhite Other UndecidedYouGovFebruary 26 – March 2, 20262,342 (LV)± 2.7%4%5%55%2%–9%25%Blueprint Polling (D)February 23–24, 2026472 (LV)± 4.5%4%3%61%2%1%9%20%UT TylerFebruary 13–22, 2026– (LV)–25%–60%––14%1%– (RV)25%–58%––15%2%University of Texas/Texas Politics ProjectFebruary 2–16, 2026369 (LV)± 5.9%4%9%76%3%–8%–University of Houston/YouGovJanuary 20–31, 2026550 (LV)± 4.2%7%6%37%4%–14%32%Slingshot Strategies (D)January 14–21, 20261,290 (LV)± 3.7%4%3%29%––6%58% January 5, 2026White withdraws from the raceTexas Southern UniversityDecember 9–11, 20251,600 (LV)± 2.5%5%3%41%1%6%2%42%
Results
Third-party and independent candidates Candidates Declared Pat Dixon (Libertarian), former chair of the Libertarian Party of Texas Write-in Edward Earl Gileshttps://www.amarillopioneer.com/blog/2026/9/1/write-in-candidates-to-appear-on-texas-state-ballot Jenn Mack Raphoon (Independent) Jinghpaw Majoishingra Mike Miller
Disqualified or did not file Sarah Bowman Cunningham (Independent) Demetra J. Wysinger (Independent) Blas Eugenio Padrino (Independent) Elliot Charles Chavez (Independent) Janis Marie Richards (Independent)
Declined Matthew McConaughey, actor
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportOctober 1, 2026Decision Desk HQSeptember 23, 2026Fox NewsSeptember 22, 2026Inside ElectionsSeptember 17, 2026RealClearPoliticsSeptember 22, 2026Sabato's Crystal BallSeptember 22, 2026Silver Bulletin September 23, 2026
Post-primary endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of September 24, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handGreg Abbott (R)$50,575,992$128,990,883$18,187,265Gina Hinojosa (D)$19,428,410$16,107,485$4,082,077Pat Dixon (L)$15,602$11,056$2,368Source: Texas Ethics Commission
Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregation Datesadministered DatesupdatedGreg Abbott (R)Gina Hinojosa (D)Other/Undecided Margin270toWinSeptember 22 – October 4, 2026October 4, 202648.6%47.2%4.5%Abbott +1.4%Decision Desk HQthrough September 30, 2026October 4, 202648.3%46.7%5.0%Abbott +1.6%FiftyPlusOnethrough September 30, 2026October 4, 202649.0%46.5%4.5%Abbott +2.5%Race to the WHthrough September 30, 2026October 4, 202648.5%46.4%5.1%Abbott +2.1%RealClearPoliticsSeptember 8–30, 2026October 4, 202648.2%46.2%5.6%Abbott +2.0%Silver Bulletinthrough September 30, 2026October 4, 202648.5%47.0%4.5%Abbott +1.5%Average48.5%46.7%4.8%Abbott +1.8%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin GregAbbott (R) GinaHinojosa (D) Other UndecidedYouGovSeptember 28 – October 5, 20263,625 (LV)±3.0%47%48%1%5%New York Times/Siena UniversitySeptember 22 – October 1, 2026615 (LV)± 2.1%46%49%5%Beacon Research (D)/Shaw & Co. Research (R)September 24–28, 20261,005 (LV)±3.0%52%47%1%1,203 (RV)±2.5%50%49%1%Big Data PollSeptember 24–26, 2026698 (LV)±4.0%49%44%6%47%44%4%5%793 (RV)48%44%8%46%43%4%7%Stratus Intelligence (R)September 22–24, 2026865 (LV)±3.5%50%45%5%Texas Public Opinion ResearchSeptember 19–22, 20261,007 (LV)±3.6%50%46%3%2%Marist UniversitySeptember 17–20, 20261,139 (RV)±4.4%46%49%1%3%Texas Southern UniversitySeptember 15–19, 20261,800 (LV)±2.3%49%45%2%4%Emerson CollegeSeptember 12–14, 20261,000 (LV)±3.0%49%46%2%4%SoCal Strategies (R)September 12–13, 2026649 (LV)52%44%3%ReconMR/Siena UniversitySeptember 8–11, 2026614 (LV)±4.3%45%49%2%4%Mason-DixonSeptember 8–10, 2026625 (LV)±4.0%48%41%3%8%Univision/YouGovAugust 27 – September 4, 20261,000 (RV)±3.6%47%47%1%5%Fabrizio Ward (R)/Impact Research (D)August 30 – September 1, 2026895 (LV)±3.3%49%46%5%Overton Insights (R)August 24–26, 20261,167 (LV)±2.9%51%49%47%46%7%Texas Public Opinion ResearchAugust 21–24, 20261,000 (LV)±3.3%49%42%3%6%University of Texas/Texas Politics ProjectAugust 5–13, 20261,200 (RV)±2.83%45%40%5%10%Emerson CollegeAugust 9–10, 20261,000 (LV)± 3.0%49%45%3%4%GBAO (D)August 4–9, 20261,000 (LV)±3.1%49%48%3%Wedgewood Polls (D)July 30–31, 2026800 (LV)±4.0%50%44%6%Cygnal (R)July 29–31, 2026800 (LV)±3.5%49%46%5%Texas A&M University/ReconMR/Siena UniversityJuly 27–30, 2026619 (LV)±4.7%46%45%4%5%Texas Southern UniversityJuly 27–30, 20261,200 (LV)±2.8%49%43%3%5%Beacon Research (D)/Shaw & Co. Research (R)July 23–27, 20261,005 (RV)± 3.0%50%49%–1%Texas Public Opinion ResearchJuly 15–17, 20261,048 (LV)±3.4%45%42%13%New York Times/Siena UniversityJune 19–27, 2026656 (LV)±4.5%51%44%5%SoCal Strategies(R)June 21, 2026800 (LV)–54%42%–4%University of Texas/Texas Politics ProjectJune 5–12, 20261,200 (RV)± 2.8%47%40%3%10%Quantus Insights (R)June 3–4, 2026800 (LV)± 3.5%49%41%3%7%Texas A&M University/ReconMRJune 1–4, 2026807 (LV)± 4%49%43%3%5%Texas Public Opinion ResearchMay 27–28, 20261,670 (LV)± 2.8%46%41%3%9%Public Policy Polling (D)May 22–23, 2026643 (RV)–48%44%–8%Texas Southern University/YouGovApril 22 – May 5, 20261,223 (LV)± 2.8%49%43%3%5%Slingshot Strategies (D)April 17–20, 20261,018 (LV)± 3.3%48%43%2%7%University of Texas/Texas Politics ProjectApril 10–20, 20261,200 (RV)± 2.8%44%38%5%13%UT TylerFebruary 13–22, 20261,117 (RV)± 3.1%49%41%–10%University of Texas/Texas Politics ProjectFebruary 2–16, 20261,300 (RV)± 5.1%45%35%6%14%GBAO (D)January 26 – February 3, 20261,000 (LV)± 3.1%46%43%6%5%University of Houston/YouGovJanuary 20–31, 20261,502 (LV)± 2.5%49%42%3%6%Emerson CollegeJanuary 10–12, 20261,165 (RV)± 2.8%50%42%–8%
Greg Abbott vs. Chris Bell Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GregAbbott (R) ChrisBell (D) UndecidedUT TylerFebruary 13–22, 20261,117 (RV)± 3.1%51%39%10%
Generic Republican vs. generic Democrat Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GenericRepublican GenericDemocrat Other UndecidedTexas Public Opinion ResearchAugust 27–29, 2025843 (RV)± 4.6%49%43%8%–
Results
See also 2026 United States gubernatorial elections 2026 Texas elections
Notes
Partisan clients
References
External links Official campaign websites Greg Abbott (R) Pat Dixon (L) Gina Hinojosa (D) Jenn Mack (I)