What to know: Polls are open today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 20 locations across Midland County, and Election Day is the last chance to vote in the 2026 November general election. Locations are posted on the Midland County Elections website.

Midlanders cast 32,112 votes during early voting and ballot decides who sets state tax policy, who represents the Permian Basin in Austin and Washington, and who oversees Midland ISD’s schools and budget.

Below is what the candidates in the major races on Midland’s ballot have said in the final weeks of the campaign, or how their campaign websites describe their priorities. Candidates are listed in ballot order.

Governor

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Greg Abbott (R), says his priorities are eliminating school property taxes for homeowners, require 2/3rd voter approval for local tax increases, reduce permitting on home building, and spending education dollars in the classroom and not on bureaucrats.

Gina Hinojosa (D) says her priorities are saving public schools by ending STAAR tests and ending vouchers and a one-time distribution of money from the Rainy Day fund.

U.S. Senate

Ken Paxton (R) who is the current Attorney General of Texas, says he is a fearless conservative, a relentless fighter, and a true defender of Texas values. He’s never bent a knee — not against the Biden administration, not against corporate overreach, and certainly not against the corrupt political establishment that’s tried to silence him time and time again.

James Talarico (D) who is a Texas House Rep from Austin, says There’s something broken in America.  The biggest divide in this country is not left vs. right. It’s top vs. bottom. Billionaires want us looking left and right at each other instead of looking up at them.

U.S. House, District 11

August Pfluger (R), the incumbent since 2021, closed the Oct. 5 Basin PBS debate in Midland by saying, “When I’m re-elected, I’m going to go back to D.C. to keep D.C. out of your business, to let you make the decisions for your households,” according to the Midland Reporter-Telegram. After the debate, he told First Alert 7, “I was raised here, my family lives here, we go to church here — I mean this district is deeply personal to me.”

Claire Reynolds (D), an Austin attorney, said in her closing statement at the same debate, “My main goal in getting to Congress is to get big money out of politics.” She said she wants a single payer health care system, reinstitute abortion rights, and follow China on going all-in on all types of energy.

Texas Senate, District 31

Kevin Sparks (R), the incumbent first elected in 2022, said in his closing statement at the Oct. 12 Basin PBS debate that in the Senate he “focused on things that directly affect this district: energy reliability, water, rural healthcare, agriculture, wildfire preparedness, and oil field theft.” He added, “I believe government should protect Texans, help provide essential infrastructure, stay fiscally responsible, and then get out of the way so that people can solve these problems themselves.”

John Betancourt (D), a Amarillo College Regent, says he believes vouchers should not exist and local property taxes shouldn’t be used to increase funding to schools.  Betancourt recently was arrested for a DWI on January 2nd and his attorney withdrew from his court case on Oct 7th for unpaid fees.

Texas House, District 82

Tom Craddick (R), who has held the seat since 1969, says he has delivered results for the Permian Basin: Protecting our local domestic oil and gas producers and delivering better healthcare, education, and transportation to our area.

Cathy Broadrick (D) was the Midland county Democrat Chair before stepping down to run, says she will fight for public education, fair wages, and a justice system that works for everyone.

Midland ISD Board of Trustees

The District 3 race is between incumbent Tommy Bishop and challenger Tim Lirley. District 5 is an open seat, with La’Toya Mayberry, Nickolas Joel Jasso and Karl Boroski on the ballot. Sara Burleson was the only candidate to file in District 6, and MISD declared her elected. Read The Permian Press’ candidate Q&As for District 3 and District 5.

Tommy Bishop, on the board since 2006, closed the Oct. 14 Basin PBS debate by saying, “I’m an experienced board member,” according to the Reporter-Telegram. “I’m committed.” “We can move from a C to a B and then keep making progress,” Bishop said.

Tim Lirley, a solutions architect, said at the same debate, “A C-rated district is not the standard Midland should be accepting.” He closed with, “Twenty years is long enough. It’s time for a change. It’s time to move forward.”

La’Toya Mayberry, a child care center owner, closed the Oct. 13 District 5 debate by saying, “I’m not a politician. I’m a mom. I’m an entrepreneur, and I have already been doing this work.”

Nickolas Joel Jasso, a territory sales manager, said, “By the end of my term, I want every campus at a B or better and our third graders meeting or beating the state average in reading and math.”

Karl Boroski, an executive director, said at the debate that he has not accepted campaign donations. “I grew up like one of these kids, so I want to fight for that,” he said. He told The Permian Press, “A C is not good enough for Midland’s kids.”