Background: 

The Texas primary elections will be held tomorrow, March 3, and early voting began Feb. 17. Voters will get to determine which candidates will represent each major party in the midterm elections this November. 

The U.S. senate seat is a part of the federal government and is a six-year term. Senators are responsible for passing federal legislation, approving or rejecting treaties and conducting oversight of the executive branch. In preparation for students of voting age to vote in their first election this year, here is an overview of the senate candidates and their stances on certain policies. 

Healthcare policies:

Talarico: Democratic candidate James Talarico (U.S. Senate) said universal healthcare is a human right. He has proposed a plan called “Medicare for Y’all” which would allow every American to opt into Medicare as a not-for-profit public option. Talarico says he would protect the Affordable Care Act, expand Medicare to include dental and vision coverage, lower prescription drug prices and reverse federal health care cuts. He has pointed to his work capping insulin copays in Texas highlighting his personal experience through his type 1 diabetes diagnosis. 

Cornyn: Republican candidate John Cornyn is the current U.S. Senator representing Texas, a position he has held since 2002. Cornyn opposes the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), arguing it increases costs and federal control over health care. Cornyn has backed efforts to reduce prescription drug prices and said he supports protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

Crockett: Democratic candidate Jasmine Crockett (U.S. Senate) said healthcare should be accessible to all and has made it a priority in her Senate campaign. Crockett supports a single-payer system that centers patients, not profits, and includes dental, vision, mental and reproductive health coverage. 

Hunt: Republican candidate Wesley Hunt (U.S. Senate) has not publicly responded to a Texas Tribune survey asking candidates about healthcare, but based on past statements and votes, he supports a free‑market approach to health care, opposes Medicare for All and favors keeping programs like Medicare and Medicaid rather than expanding federal coverage. 

Hassan: Democratic candidate Ahmad R. Hassan (U.S. Senate) said he will work to lower health care and prescription drug costs and expand affordable access to quality care for Texas families.

Paxton: Republican candidate Ken Paxton (U.S. Senate) criticizes the Biden administration’s health directives, focusing on restricting access to abortion and transgender treatments while advocating for parental rights in medical settings. 

Adefope: Republican candidate John. O Adefope (U.S. Senate) said he wants to focus on policies that support collective and individual pursuit of good health, and increase availability and access to high-quality mental health services.

Bender: Republican candidate Anna Bender (U.S. Senate) said she will propose policies requiring employers to offer health insurance for their employees. Bender said healthcare should be privatized and affordable. 

Khan: Republican candidate Gulrez Khan (U.S. Senate) said the federal government should remove barriers, reduce bureaucracy and empower patients. He will reopen 25 rural hospitals that have been closed for the past 20 years and promise affordable and adequate healthcare. 

Republican candidates Virgil Bierschwale and Sara Canady have not reported their plans on healthcare policies. 

Economy policies:

Talarico: He advocates for a “top v. bottom” economic approach. Talarico said he wants to create a fairer tax system, lower housing costs, energy costs, utility costs, increase wages and repeal Trump’s tariffs.

Cornyn: Senator Cornyn focuses on growing the private sector of the economy through lower taxes and reduced government spending. He supported the Working Family Tax Cuts Acts, which eliminated taxes on tips and overtime. He also authorized the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act, which provided funding for semiconductor services and reduced reliance on foreign supply chains.

Crockett: She vows to repeal Trump’s tariffs and increase taxes on billionaires to guarantee relief to the middle and working class. Crockett is co-sponsoring the Raise the Wage Act to increase the minimum wage.

Hunt: He  said Texas should expand the U.S. energy production. Hunt advocates for cutting federal regulations, achieving total energy independence and making the 2017 tax cuts permanent to benefit Texas workers and businesses.

Hassan: He promises to support workforce training, small businesses, fair taxation and infrastructure investment that aims to create more job opportunities.

Paxton: He focuses on free-market principles, reducing government regulation, cutting taxes and protecting the state’s energy sector. A major focus has been on defending Texas’s oil and gas sector against federal intervention. He supports Trump’s economic agenda in growing manufacturing and reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.

Adefope: He advocates for building on President Trump’s “America First” agenda by making tax cuts permanent. He advocates in building resilience in infrastructure in power grids and public schools. 

Bender: She vows to reduce regulations that prevent businesses from operating, which will increase job opportunities. Bender will support legislation that will increase funding for ICE and the Border Patrol Agency. 

Khan: He supports policies that provide American manufacturing incentives and ensure deregulation to create jobs and lift wages. Khan said he will continue Trump’s efforts in reducing basic utility and grocery costs. 

Bierschwale: Bierschwale says one of the most pressing issues citizens in Texas face is the lack of good paying jobs. In his first year, a priority of his is to force Sharia Law out of Texas.

Canady: She plans to promote general welfare from the government, and incentivize working among adults.

Education policies:

Talarico: He is a former middle school teacher who advocates for more funding in the public school system and universal childcare. Talarico has led efforts to block mandates requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms, arguing for a clear separation of church and state in education.

Cornyn: Senator Cornyn said he is a strong supporter of school choice and parental rights. He advocates for local control over federal bureaucracy, and has supported legislation to increase training for school employees to recognize and report child abuse.

Crockett: She focuses on the affordability of higher education, advocating for the elimination of student loan debt and increasing federal aid for students from diverse backgrounds.

Hunt: Hunt supports school choice initiatives and the importance of trade schools as viable alternatives to traditional four-year degrees.

Hassan: He emphasizes the need for increased federal funding to address “education shortfalls” and inequality.Hassan supports expanding access to affordable early childhood education and workforce training programs to prepare students for the future. 

Paxton: He opposes “woke” classroom policies and the inclusion of gender ideology in the K-12 curriculum. He aims to enforce conservative principles like displaying the ten commandments in school districts. 

Adefope: He advocates for educational reform that prioritizes “real-world readiness” and parental involvement. Adefope supports policies that give parents more control over their children’s curriculum.

Bender: She believes education should be managed strictly at the state level rather than by the federal government.

Khan: He promises to revive education in rural areas and advocates for a reduction in federal bureaucracy to empower local school boards.

Biershwale: He argues that the education system must be better aligned with the needs of domestic labor to prevent Texas college graduates from losing jobs to “foreign labor” and outsourcing.

Canady has not reported her plans on education policies.