Texas Comptroller Candidates Campaign on Culture Wars

Republican candidates for the state's top accountant position focus on divisive social issues rather than traditional fiscal duties.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The Republican primary race for Texas comptroller, the state's top accountant, has become dominated by culture war issues rather than the office's traditional fiscal responsibilities. Candidates Don Huffines, Christi Craddick, and Kelly Hancock are campaigning on promises to fight 'woke ideology', keep transgender athletes out of girls' sports, and crack down on illegal immigration, despite the comptroller's main duties involving tax collection, budget forecasting, and overseeing state spending.

Why it matters

Historically an apolitical office, the comptroller race reflects the increasing politicization of traditionally non-partisan state agencies in Texas. The winner will have the ability to use the office's platform and resources to advance a partisan agenda, even though the Legislature holds the true power over the state's budget and spending decisions.

The details

The three Republican candidates have vowed to use the comptroller's office to investigate 'waste, fraud, and abuse' in government, with a focus on social conservative priorities like diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, transgender athletes, and illegal immigration. However, the comptroller's office has limited authority to conduct such investigations, with the Legislature stripping much of that power in the 2000s after clashes between the comptroller and the governor. The candidates are instead using the race to raise their profiles and appeal to the GOP base, even though the day-to-day responsibilities of the comptroller are largely administrative and technical.

  • The Texas comptroller seat is open for the first time in over a decade, after former Comptroller Glenn Hegar left the post last year.
  • Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Kelly Hancock, a former state senator, to finish the remainder of Hegar's tenure as acting comptroller.

The players

Don Huffines

A former state senator who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2022, Huffines is campaigning on promises to eliminate 'woke DEI' from government.

Christi Craddick

A railroad commissioner, Craddick has vowed to keep 'boys out of girls' sports' and prevent taxpayer funds from going to 'radical ideology'.

Kelly Hancock

The acting comptroller appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott, Hancock has claimed to have already ended DEI programs in some state contracts.

John Sharp

A former Democratic comptroller in the 1990s who was lauded nationally for uncovering government waste and inefficiencies, but had his office's performance review authority stripped by the Republican-controlled Legislature in 2003.

Glenn Hegar

The most recent comptroller, a Republican who spent his first two terms largely avoiding partisan issues before becoming more politically active in his third term, using the office to punish left-leaning county leaders and ban state business with firms with environmental policies that didn't support the oil and gas industry.

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What they’re saying

“I was on the front lines of this fight when it was difficult. My opponents are playing catch up.”

— Don Huffines (The Texas Tribune)

“We've delivered results at the speed of business. Texans deserve a Comptroller who is already doing the job, understands the responsibility of the office, and has proven they can deliver results.”

— Kelly Hancock, Acting Comptroller (Statement)

“I'll say it again just so I'm clear: boys don't belong in girls' sports. I'm also pro-life, pro-2A, anti-DEI, and strongly support [President Trump's] efforts to deport those who are here illegally. As Comptroller, I will do everything within my power to uphold these values.”

— Christi Craddick, Railroad Commissioner (Social media post)

What’s next

The winner of the Republican primary will face the winner of the Democratic primary in the November general election, though a Democrat hasn't won a statewide office in Texas in more than three decades.

The takeaway

The Texas comptroller race has become a battleground for culture war issues, with the Republican candidates focusing more on divisive social topics than the office's traditional fiscal responsibilities. This reflects the increasing politicization of state agencies in Texas, raising concerns that the winner could use the comptroller's platform and resources to advance a partisan agenda, despite the Legislature's ultimate control over the state's budget and spending.