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Texas House of Representatives, District 1

2-year termGary VanDeaver (R) did not seek reelection. General-election roster cross-checked against Branch and The Ballot Brief (both cite the Secretary of State certified list); the Secretary of State candidate search site could not be loaded during research. Candidate positions summarize Branch Politics profiles (which summarize candidate websites, checked July-September 2026) unless a campaign site is cited directly. Incumbent records cite the 2025 SB 2 (education savings accounts) journal votes; other 89th Legislature votes were not yet researched.Partially researched. Last researched Oct 19, 2026Report a correction
Republican
Democratic
Property Taxes
What is the candidate's position on property tax levels and relief?
Supports central appraisal district reforms to address property taxes. 
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
Education and School Choice
What is the candidate's position on public school funding, education savings accounts, and curriculum?
Supports funding that follows families' choice of public, private or homeschool options, and expanded vocational training. 
Supports fully funding public education. 
Border Security
What role should the state play in border security and immigration enforcement?
Prioritizes southern border security, including completing a border wall. 
Supports border security and a faster path to citizenship. 
Power Grid and Energy
What is the candidate's position on the ERCOT grid, reliability, and energy production?
Opposes stricter environmental regulations and describes oil and gas as the most reliable sources for growing demand. 
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
Abortion
What is the candidate's position on Texas abortion law?
Supports allowing elective abortion only to save the mother's life and in-person rules for abortion-inducing drugs. 
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
Firearms
What is the candidate's position on Texas firearms laws?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
Public Safety and Bail
What is the candidate's position on bail, policing, and criminal justice?
Opposes redirecting police funding to community programs. 
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
Health Care
What is the candidate's position on Medicaid, insurance coverage, and health costs in Texas?
Supports keeping Medicaid but adding means-testing and work requirements. 
Prioritizes rural health care access. 
Elections and Voting
What is the candidate's position on election administration, voting rules, and redistricting?
Supports photo ID requirements and making attempted noncitizen voting a felony. 
Supports congressional term limits. 
District Priorities
What does the candidate say are the top issues for this district?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
Supports removing regulatory barriers to local business growth. 
Transgender Policy
What is the candidate's position on Texas laws related to transgender people, including medical treatment for minors, school sports, facilities, and legal definitions of sex?
Not yet researched.
Not yet researched.
Religion and Public Schools
What is the candidate's position on religion in public schools, such as displaying the Ten Commandments, school prayer, and chaplains?
Not yet researched.
Not yet researched.
Religious Liberty and Faith Communities
What has the candidate said or done regarding religious freedom and specific faith communities in Texas, such as Christians, Jews, and Muslims?
Not yet researched.
Not yet researched.
Home Insurance and Housing Costs
What is the candidate's approach to home insurance rates and housing costs in Texas?
Not yet researched.
Not yet researched.
Issue 1 of 14

Property Taxes

What is the candidate's position on property tax levels and relief?
Republican
Supports central appraisal district reforms to address property taxes. 
Democratic
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
Sources for this contest (3)
  1. Texas State Representative, District 1 (2026 general election), Branch. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026.
  2. 2026 Texas House of Representatives election, Wikipedia. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026.
  3. Primary Runoff Update: Members Not Returning, 90th Legislature, Legislative Reference Library of Texas. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026.