What's on your ballot? State/Federal races.
What's on your ballot? ​
Go to your sample ballot at epcountyvotes.com/voter-information/dashboard
Come back and learn more about what each position does and how they affect your day-to-day life.
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U.S. Senate
Senators may vote to declare war, impeach government officials, investigate actions of the executive branch, reject presidential appointees, sign treaties, and vote on bills.
Each state has 2 senators, which means there are 50 senators total in the country. These 100 senators may vote on bills or amendments that are created by Congress, then signed by the president if Congress passes them. Numerous committees in the Senate propose laws relating to their committee, for example, someone from the Energy and Natural Resources committee would present a bill to the House and Senate about an issue relating to Energy and Natural Resources. The Senate can veto a president’s decision with a supermajority (66%) of the Senate.
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The Senate has a high impact on US Citizens, they pass the spending bills, which may cut or add services, raise taxes, declare war, and pass laws that may impact the average American.
Example:
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed by the House of Representatives, then the Senate, and then signed into law by the president. This act outlawed discrimination based on race, ethnicity, sex, and religion, and ended segregation in public places that still had it at the time.
U.S. Congress Representative
Congressional Representatives represent and advocate for the needs of their district and its people at the national level. Along with 434 other representatives, they have the power to create and pass laws that affect everyone's day-to-day lives. In the event of a tie in a presidential election, they may also step in as a tie-breaker.
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Example:
Congress passed the Rescissions Act of 2025, which cut about $7.9 billion in funding from international aid programs, and about $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (which funds NPR and PBS), meaning less public media and services the government offers around the world.
Texas State Representative
State representatives represent their district’s concerns at the Texas Capitol. They serve on committees that shape policy in their districts (for example: education, transportation, economy, etc.) Very importantly, Texas Representatives also decide how Texas spends its state budget and they write, debate, and vote on state laws.
In the issue area of healthcare, representatives vote on:
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Medicaid and CHIP funding
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Mental health services
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Maternal health programs
To relieve property taxes, they help set:
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Homestead exemptions
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Property tax laws
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Limits to how much property taxes can rise year to year
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State spending priorities
On voting & civil rights, they can pass laws that shape:
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How elections are run
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Voter access and rules
As a response to major natural disasters, State Representatives:
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Approve disaster relief funds
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Expand flood-mitigation programs
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Improve emergency response coordination
In public health & safety, State Reps have sponsored laws expanding:
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Mental health services
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Opioid response programs
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Domestic violence protections
Texas Governor
Governors are powerful seats. Governors are similar to a president but at the state level. They are the state's primary leader and spokesperson, setting policy, responding to crises, and acting as a liaison to the federal government.
Some of the key responsibilities for the governor are:
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Commander in Chief– Commands the state's National Guard
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Budget Preparation– Develops and administers the state's annual budget
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Chief Executive– manages the state’s budget, oversees state agencies, ensures laws are executed
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Legislative Leader– Proposes new policies, recommends legislation, signs bills into law and can veto unwanted bills
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Executive Orders– Issues orders to manage state operations and emergencies, such as natural disasters
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Appointment Power– Appoints heads of state agencies, many of the state's judges, and other officials
Example:
Governor Abbott recently mandated that the state redistrict the Congressional voting districts mid-decade, before the next U.S. census is taken in 2030. Another example is Governor Abbott deploying the state's National Guard along the southern border and installing concertina wire to mitigate unauthorized crossings.
Lieutenant Governor
The Texas lieutenant governor is the second-highest official in the state and has a lot of power in making laws. They lead the Texas Senate, decide which senators serve on which committees and write and help pass legislation through the Senate. Lieutenant governors may also serve as acting governors when the elected governor is out of state or incapacitated.
Example:
In 2025, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick pushed through the “school choice” law (Senate Bill 2) — a controversial policy that allows many families to use funds assigned to public schools to pay for private schools instead.
Attorney General
Attorney generals advise by giving legal guidance. Specifically, they explain what the law allows or forbids, help write or review laws and contracts, and tell agencies and lawmakers how to follow the law and avoid legal trouble.
The role of attorney general typically includes:
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Proposing legislation
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File lawsuits on behalf of the state
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Enforcing federal and state environmental laws
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Operating victim compensation programs
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Acting as public advocates in areas such as child support enforcement, consumer protections, antitrust and utility regulation
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Representing the state and state agencies before both state and federal courts
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Handling criminal appeals and serious statewide criminal prosecutions
Comptroller of Public Accounts
The Comptroller is the chief accounting officer, responsible for keeping an organization’s financial records accurate and trustworthy. They ensure that all transactions are recorded, classified, and reported. Following these standards provides a reliable and transparent view of the organization's economic performance and position.
The Texas comptroller is in charge of returning sales tax revenue to county governments. They also return hundreds of millions of dollars in unclaimed property to Texans who previously forgot about it, which puts money back in people’s pockets. ,
An example of the duties of a Comptroller are
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Create public databases to show how taxpayer money is being used
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Oversight and Financial reporting
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Management of Internal Controls
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Budgeting and Forecasting
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Tax and Regulatory Compliance
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Management of the Accounting Department
Commissioner of the General Land Office​
The Texas Land Commissioner serves as the elected head of the General Land Office, the state's oldest agency established in 1836. The commissioner manages 13 million acres of state-owned land and over 3,400 miles of coastline. The position includes negotiating and enforcing leases for oil, natural gas, wind, and solar development on state lands, overseeing the Texas Veterans Land Board, managing disaster recovery programs, preserving state history including The Alamo, and maintaining coastal environmental protection programs. The commissioner is elected statewide to four-year terms with no term limits.
The commissioner operates as both a resource manager and disaster recovery coordinator. Revenue generated from state land leases flows into the Permanent School Fund, which supports public education throughout Texas. This fund, valued at over $37 billion, provides more money for Texas schools than the state lottery. The GLO also chairs the Veterans Land Board, which provides low-interest loans for veterans purchasing homes and operates state veterans’ homes and cemeteries. When natural disasters strike, the commissioner administers federal disaster recovery grants to help communities rebuild.
The GLO's management of state lands directly impacts public school funding, as lease revenues help purchase textbooks and support educational programs. The agency's disaster recovery work affects thousands of Texans following hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters. Veterans benefit from housing loan programs and healthcare facilities operated under the commissioner's oversight. Coastal residents depend on the GLO's environmental protection and oil spill prevention programs to safeguard beaches and marine ecosystems. Property owners in affected disaster areas rely on GLO-administered federal grants to rebuild their homes.
Example:
Following Hurricane Harvey in 2017, the GLO administered over $5.6 billion in federal disaster recovery funds to help Texas communities rebuild. The agency managed programs that rebuilt more than 9,100 homes and reimbursed over 4,400 homeowners for repairs across 49 counties. The GLO coordinated housing assistance programs, infrastructure repairs, and long-term recovery planning for affected communities. Homeowners received up to $65,000 for rehabilitation or full reconstruction assistance through programs designed by the GLO. The recovery effort showed that the commissioner’s duties include aiding citizens after disasters, not just managing land.
Commissioner of Agriculture
The Texas Commissioner of Agriculture leads the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). The Commissioner oversees statewide efforts to support agriculture, regulate agricultural practices, protect consumers, and promote economic development related to farming and rural communities. Responsibilities include ensuring accuracy in commercial weights and measures (for example gas pumps and grocery scales), regulating pesticide use and food safety inspections, certifying organically produced products, and administering federal nutrition programs such as school lunches. The office also works to enhance markets for Texas agricultural products and provides support services to farmers and ranchers.
This role is both regulatory and promotional. By setting and enforcing standards for food safety and fair trade, the Commissioner helps maintain consumer confidence and public health. By promoting agricultural products and supporting rural economies, the office influences the economic vitality of a major Texas industry. The Commissioner is elected every four years and must have a background in agriculture.
The Commissioner’s decisions affect everyday life in several ways. Consumers benefit from fair and accurate measurements when purchasing goods. Families and schools benefit from nutrition programs that provide healthy meals to students. Stability and growth in the agricultural sector help support jobs and a reliable food supply, which influences food prices and availability.
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Example:
When the Commissioner’s office certifies scales at grocery stores and gas stations, it ensures that customers receive the correct amount of product for the price paid. This consumer protection function directly impacts everyday purchases by Texans.
Railroad Commissioner​
The Texas Railroad Commissioner serves as one of three elected officials on the Railroad Commission of Texas, the state agency responsible for regulating the oil and natural gas industry, pipeline safety, natural gas utilities, and surface mining operations. Despite its name, the commission has not regulated railroads since 2005. Commissioners are elected statewide to six-year staggered terms, with one position appearing on the ballot every two years.
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The commission oversees oil and gas exploration, drilling, production, and transportation throughout Texas. It enforces safety standards for pipelines, manages well permits and inspections, ensures proper shutdown of inactive operations, and adjudicates disputes between operators. The agency also regulates natural gas rates for consumers and monitors the liquefied petroleum gas industry.
Railroad Commissioners' decisions directly affect Texans' daily lives through energy costs, environmental safety, and grid reliability. The commission's oversight of natural gas pipelines and utilities influences electricity prices, since many Texas power plants run on natural gas. Pipeline safety regulations protect communities from accidents and environmental damage. The commission's policies also impact property owners with oil and gas operations on their land.
Supreme Court Chief Justice
The Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice leads the state's highest court for civil matters, serving alongside eight other justices. The Chief Justice presides over court proceedings, assigns opinion-writing duties when voting with the majority, and carries extensive administrative responsibilities. These include overseeing the entire Texas judicial system, appointing judges to serve in different regions, chairing the Texas Judicial Council, and directing judicial committees. The Chief Justice also maintains administrative control over the State Bar of Texas and holds sole authority for licensing attorneys in the state. The position is elected statewide to six-year terms with no term limits.
The Chief Justice serves as both a judge and the chief administrator for Texas courts. In the judicial role, the Chief Justice hears appeals in civil cases including contract disputes, property matters, family law, and juvenile delinquency cases. As an administrator, the Chief Justice sets policies for court operations, assigns retired and active judges to serve in courts across Texas, appoints members to judicial committees, and can deliver a State of the Judiciary message to the Legislature. The Chief Justice implements reforms to improve court efficiency and access to justice throughout the state's court system.
Decisions by the Texas Supreme Court under the Chief Justice's leadership establish legal precedents that affect Texans' daily lives in matters of property rights, business contracts, family law, and education. The court's rulings bind all lower state courts and shape how laws are interpreted and applied. The Chief Justice's administrative decisions influence how efficiently courts process cases, affecting how quickly citizens can resolve legal disputes. Court policies on technology implementation, case management, and judicial assignments all impact citizens' access to the justice system.
Example:
In Edgewood Independent School District v. Kirby (1989), the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the state's school funding system violated the Texas Constitution because it created vast inequalities between wealthy and poor school districts. The court found the funding disparities denied students in property-poor districts equal access to education. This decision led to major reforms in Texas school finance, including the implementation of policies to redistribute funding from wealthy to poor districts. The case demonstrated how the Chief Justice and the court's interpretation of the state constitution directly shaped educational opportunities and funding for millions of Texas schoolchildren.
Supreme Court Justice Place 7​​
The Texas Supreme Court is the highest civil court in Texas. Its primary job is appellate review. Justices hold this position in 6-year terms, with a maximum age limit of 75. Justices supervise the State Bar of Texas and license attorneys. Justices may also change how court procedures and deadlines are handled.
When someone appeals a civil case, then appeals it again, and the Texas Supreme Court chooses to hear it, then they can no longer appeal that case, and the Texas Supreme Court has the final verdict. Justices interpret the Texas constitution and release opinions about it or rule on cases involving that interpretation. They also supervise the State Bar of Texas by appointing members who administer the exam, and once someone passes that exam, the Justices license the attorney
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The Texas Supreme Court establishes legal decisions that impact the lives of everyday citizens since its decisions are final. These final decisions then set precedents that apply to future cases relating to the same topic. For those interested in becoming an attorney, the Texas Supreme Court is an impactful institution.
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Example:
Edwards Aquifer Authority v. Day and McDaniel (2012) discussed whether landowners owned groundwater rights. Before this case, landowners had rights to the groundwater on the property they owned. This case eventually went up to the Texas Supreme Court, and their ruling was that people do not have access to groundwater rights on land they own, unless they used the groundwater before the ruling, in which case they can obtain a permit to keep using it.