The 2026 Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the lieutenant governor of Texas. Incumbent Republican Dan Patrick is running for a fourth term. Primary elections were held on March 3, 2026, with a Democratic runoff election held on May 26.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Dan Patrick, incumbent lieutenant governor (2015–present) Eliminated in primary Perla Muñoz Hopkins, educator Timothy Mabry, business consultant Esala Wueschner, candidate for Austin City Council in 2022

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin PerlaHopkins TimothyMabry DanPatrick EsalaWueschner OtherUniversity of Texas/Texas Politics ProjectFebruary 2–16, 2026326 (LV)± 5.4%2%3%87%1%8%

Results

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Vikki Goodwin, state representative from the 47th district (2019–present) Eliminated in runoff Marcos Velez, union representative

Eliminated in primary Courtney Head, contracts and privacy manager

Declined Joaquin Castro, U.S. representative from Texas’s 20th congressional district (2013–present) (running for re-election) Veronica Escobar, U.S. representative from Texas’s 16th congressional district (2019–present) (running for re-election) Nathan Johnson, state senator from the 16th district (2019–present) (running for attorney general)

Endorsements

First round Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin VikkiGoodwin CourtneyHead MarcosVelez OtherUniversity of Texas/Texas Politics ProjectFebruary 2–16, 2026181 (LV)± 7.3%63%10%15%12%

Results

Runoff Results

Third-party and independent candidates

Candidates Declared Anthony Cristo (Libertarian), nominee for Texas%27s 15th congressional district in 2018, and nominee for Texas%27s 34th congressional district in 2020 Kevin McCormick (Green), former teacher Write-in Arturo Espinosahttps://www.amarillopioneer.com/blog/2026/9/1/write-in-candidates-to-appear-on-texas-state-ballot Stephen Samuelson

Did not qualify Mike Collier (Independent), certified public accountant, Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor in 2018 and 2022, Democratic nominee for Comptroller in 2014 Jeffery Wayne Marshall (Independent)

General election Following the primary election, the Democratic candidate for the office in 2022, Mike Collier, who is running this time as an independent, filed a suit arguing that the requirements for an independent candidate to get on the ballot were too burdensome to be practicable. Under current law, independent candidates have 30 days after the primary runoff election in which the candidate must submit a petition with the number of signatures equal to 1% of the total vote for governor in the preceding election (81,000 for the 2026 ballot). If one has voted in either party’s primary they are ineligible to sign an independent candidate’s petition.

On September 19, 2026, Goodwin filed a police complaint with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office against Patrick for posting two AI-generated advertisements depicting Goodwin. She alleged that the videos violated a 2019 Texas law making it a criminal offense to publish or distribute deceptive AI-generated deepfake videos targeting political candidates within 30 days of an election because in-person early voting begins on October 19, 2026. Patrick's campaign denied it broke the law but took down the advertisements the following day.

Post-primary endorsements

Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of September 24, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handDan Patrick (R)$11,329,840$19,903,578$24,424,528Vikki Goodwin (D)$1,558,967$902,522$643,078Anthony Cristo (L)$1,819$3,151$647Kevin McCormick (G)$301$7,082$0Source: Texas Ethics Commission

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DanPatrick (R) VikkiGoodwin (D) Other UndecidedStratus Intelligence (R)September 22–24, 2026865 (LV)±3.5%49%44%7%Texas Public Opinion ResearchSeptember 19–22, 20261,007 (LV)±3.6%47%44%3%6%Texas Southern UniversitySeptember 15–19, 20261,800 (LV)±2.3%47%41%3%9%ReconMR/Siena UniversitySeptember 8–11, 2026614 (LV)±4.3%46%47%1%5%Texas Public Opinion ResearchAugust 21–24, 20261,000 (LV)±3.3%47%41%4%8%University of Texas/Texas Politics ProjectAugust 5–13, 20261,200 (RV)±2.83%42%35%7%16%Texas A&M University/ReconMR/Siena UniversityJuly 27-30, 2026619 (LV)±4.7%46%48%6%Texas Southern UniversityJuly 27–30, 20261,200 (LV)±2.8%46%39%3%12%University of Texas/YouGovJune 5–12, 20261,200 (RV)± 3.47%43%36%5%16%Texas A&M University/ReconMRJune 1–4, 2026807 (LV)± 4%49%44%2%5%Texas Southern University/YouGovApril 22 – May 5, 20261,223 (LV)± 2.8%47%40%4%9%University of Texas/Texas Politics ProjectApril 10–20, 20261,200 (RV)± 2.83%35%31%7%27%UT TylerFebruary 13–22, 20261,117 (RV)± 3.1%47%42%–11%University of Texas/Texas Politics ProjectFebruary 2–16, 20261,300 (RV)± 5.1%37%31%8%25%University of Houston/YouGovJanuary 20–31, 20261,502 (LV)± 2.5%46%41%4%9%UT TylerMay 28 – June 7, 20251,154 (RV)± 3.0%46%42%–12%

Results

See also 2026 United States lieutenant gubernatorial elections 2026 Texas elections

Notes

References

External links Official campaign websites Mike Collier (I) for Lieutenant Governor Anthony Cristo (L) for Lieutenant Governor Vikki Goodwin (D) for Lieutenant Governor Kevin McCormick (G) for Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (R) for Lieutenant Governor