TheOpenBallot
Español
The candidates for the special election to finish the current term are taken from a secondary source. No official candidate list for the special election was located.

State Senate, District 22 (Unexpired Term)

4-year termSpecial election on Nov. 3, 2026 to serve out the unexpired term of Brian Birdwell (R), who resigned in May 2026. The Secretary of State proclamation orders the election (filing deadline Aug. 20, 2026), and the Tarrant County election order lists State Senator District 22. The Ballot Brief lists David Cook (R) and Amy Martinez-Salas (D), the same candidates as in the full-term race 'state-senate-sd-22'; no official candidate list for the special election was located, so the names still need official confirmation. Candidates confirmed on the Texas Secretary of State Candidate Bio Portal (retrieved Oct 20, 2026).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 reducing government spending, cutting taxes and property tax relief. 
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 parental control over children's education and opposes transgender athletes in girls' sports. 
Voting record
Voted yes on SB 2, which created the education savings account program (often called school vouchers); the House passed it on third reading 86-61 (Record 300, April 17, 2025). 
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
Border Security
What role should the state play in border security and immigration enforcement?
Supports strict immigration enforcement, including action against cities and judges he says shelter people in the country illegally. 
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
Power Grid and Energy
What is the candidate's position on the ERCOT grid, reliability, and energy production?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
Abortion
What is the candidate's position on Texas abortion law?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
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?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
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?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
Elections and Voting
What is the candidate's position on election administration, voting rules, and redistricting?
States support for "ensuring election integrity" without specifics. 
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
District Priorities
What does the candidate say are the top issues for this district?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
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 reducing government spending, cutting taxes and property tax relief. 
Democratic
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
Sources for this contest (9)
  1. Texas State Senator, District 22 (2026 general election), Branch. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026.
  2. 2026 general election ballot guide, The Ballot Brief. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026.
  3. Texas State Senate elections, 2026, Ballotpedia. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026.
  4. 2026 Texas Senate election, Wikipedia. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026.
  5. Governor Abbott Sets Special Election For Texas Senate District 22, Office of the Texas Governor. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026.
  6. Primary Runoff Update: Members Not Returning, 90th Legislature, Legislative Reference Library of Texas. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026.
  7. Candidate Bio Portal: 2026 qualified candidates, Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved Oct 20, 2026.
  8. Proclamation: Special Election, Texas State Senate District 22, Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved Oct 20, 2026.
  9. Special Election Order, November 3, 2026, Tarrant County Elections. Retrieved Oct 20, 2026.