There are 11 candidates across the Republican and Democratic primaries.
By Julia James
Dallas Morning News
https://www.dallasnews.com/
Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer
With early voting in full swing, several Texans are vying to be the state’s next senator.
Eight Republicans and three Democrats are running to represent their party in the general election. Eligible Texans can cast a ballot in either primary but not bothbefore or on election day, March 3.
Here’s a senator candidate rundown. For more candidate details, check out our voter guide.
Republican primary
John Cornyn
Cornyn, the senior senator from Texas, took the seat in 2002. The San Antonio native previously served as a state district judge, Texas Supreme Court justice and Texas attorney general. He serves on the Senate finance, judiciary, intelligence, foreign relations and budget committees.
Ken Paxton
The current Texas attorney general earned his bachelor’s degree and MBA from Baylor University and attended the University of Virginia School of Law. On his campaign website, he identifies himself as a loyal supporter of President Donald Trump, focused on border security and dismantling the “political establishment.”
Wesley Hunt
Hunt represents District 38 in the U.S. House. A Houston native, he graduated from West Point and spent eight years in the Army as a pilot, according to his campaign website. He started serving in Congress in 2023 and sits on the House natural resources and judiciary committees.
Gulrez “Gus” Khan
Khan is an Indian-American entrepreneur who co-owns American Star Home Health & Hospice Care in Lubbock. According to his campaign website, he has held several leadership positions within the Texas Republican Party and ran for U.S. House in 2024 and mayor of Lubbock in 2022. He has also published multiple books.
John O. Adefope
Adefope does not have a campaign website or other public profiles.
Anna Bender
According to Bender’s campaign website, she immigrated to the U.S. 25 years ago. Her campaign features religious themes and a plan to propose a 28th amendment abolishing abortion nationwide.
Virgil John Bierschwale
Bierschwale said he spent his life working in the tech industry. On his campaign website, he said he saw American employees replaced by foreign workers on H1-B visas. He proposes requiring all Texas state contracts to prioritize hiring Texas workers.
Sara Canady
On her campaign website, Canady said she brings “small-town Texas values” and a Christian worldview to her candidacy. She supports tariffs, bringing industry back to America and limiting social service benefits.
Democratic primary
Jasmine Crockett
Crockett represents District 30 in the U.S. House. A graduate of the University of Houston Law Center, she later moved to Dallas. She was sworn into the Texas House of Representatives in 2021, and earned the freshman lawmaker of the year award from the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. She was elected to Congress in 2022.
James Talarico
A Texas native, Talarico was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2018. He previously worked as a teacher in San Antonio. According to his campaign website, he passed legislation to increase school funding, lower the cost of child care and expand job opportunities.
Ahmad R. Hassan
Hassan has lived in Texas for more than 20 years and previously served in the military. He is the CEO of Alexandria Realty and Mortgage, and according to his campaign website, he wants to reform immigration policies to ensure no one is deported without due process.
Julia is a breaking news reporter with the Dallas Morning News, currently focused on covering weather and climate. She is a Louisiana native and a graduate of the University of Mississippi where she studied journalism and public policy. She previously covered education for Mississippi Today in Jackson, Miss.
This story, originally published in The Dallas Morning News, is reprinted as part of a collaborative partnership between The Dallas Morning News and Texas Metro News. The partnership seeks to boost coverage of Dallas’ communities of color, particularly in southern Dallas.
