AUSTIN, TX — For the first time in modern Texas political history, the Texas Democratic Party is running a candidate in every state and federal race on the 2026 ballot, a sweeping effort party leaders say is aimed at boosting turnout and challenging Republican dominance across the state.
According to reporting, Democrats have recruited 104 candidates to contest every congressional seat, all state legislative districts, statewide judicial races, and State Board of Education positions. Strategists backing the move argue that even in heavily Republican areas, having a Democratic candidate can energize voters who are otherwise ignored in top-tier races.
Texas Majority PAC Director Katherine Fischer said the strategy is designed to build a statewide network of Democratic messengers capable of reaching voters beyond major metropolitan areas. Party Chair Kendall Scudder added that the goal is to prevent Republicans from running unchallenged and to counter years of one-sided political branding in rural communities.
Republicans downplayed the announcement. Gov. Greg Abbott’s chief strategist, Dave Carney, dismissed the effort as symbolic unless Democrats commit substantial funding to long-shot races. Texas remains a difficult landscape for Democrats: Republicans control 25 of the state’s 38 congressional districts and hold supermajorities in the Legislature, while Democrats have not won a statewide office since 1994.
Still, party leaders argue the long-term payoff could be significant. By contesting every race, Democrats hope to increase turnout, identify future candidates, and gradually erode Republican margins in down-ballot contests. The effort is being supported in part by former Rep. Beto O’Rourke and former state Sen. Wendy Davis.
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