Texas Senate, District 5District race (Texas) · 2 candidates
In their own words
Charles Schwertner
WebsiteBallotpedia- Key message 1
I will continue to be a fighter for our conservative values. I fought back against the radical left and passed laws to bring the Ten Commandments and prayer back into classrooms, stop DEI programs, and remove boys from girls' sports. …
- Key message 2
Under the Biden administration, more than ten million unvetted illegal aliens invaded our country, including criminals, gang members, and potential terrorists. It’s critical that we focus on strong enforcement of our immigration laws to restore law, order, and safety to our nation. …
- Key message 3
A high priority of mine is enhancing the permanent property tax relief already accomplished, which helps families stay in their homes and protects household budgets. My focus next session is to continue reducing property taxes while also speeding up the relief of existing measures for homeowners.
Voting record
- HB 46 (2025) Relating to the medical use of low-THC cannabis under and the administration of the Texas Compassionate-Use Program; requiring registration: Yea · 6/1/2025 · Adopt conference committee report, 31–0 (unanimous; the journal lists no names) · Senate Journal
- SB 15 (2023) Relating to requiring public institution of higher education students who compete in intercollegiate athletic competitions to compete based on biological sex: Yea · 5/26/2023 · Concur in House amendment, 19–12 · Senate Journal
- SB 14 (2023) Relating to prohibitions on the provision to certain children of procedures and treatments for gender transitioning, gender reassignment, or gender dysphoria and on the use of public money or public assistance to provide those procedures and treatments: Yea · 5/17/2023 · Concur in House amendments, 19–12 · Senate Journal
- HB 25 (2021) Relating to requiring public school students to compete in interscholastic athletic competitions based on biological sex: Yea · 10/15/2021 · Passage (third reading), 19–12 · Senate Journal
- HB 1535 (2021) Relating to the medical use of low-THC cannabis by patients with certain medical conditions and the establishment of compassionate-use institutional review boards to evaluate and approve proposed research programs to study the medical use of low-THC cannabis in the treatment of certain patients: Yea · 5/25/2021 · Passage (third reading), 31–0 (unanimous; the journal lists no names) · Senate Journal
- SB 8 (2021) Relating to abortion, including abortions after detection of an unborn child's heartbeat; authorizing a private civil right of action: Yea · 5/13/2021 · Concur in House amendments, 18–12 · Senate Journal
Official record votes, Texas House and Senate Journals (the bill name links to its history page, the record link to the journal page). Final floor vote on each bill in the chamber the member sat in at the time (passage, concurring in the other chamber's amendments, or adopting the conference report). Bills voted on before the member took office are not listed. Which bills and why · Checked 10/18/2026.
Paul Thomasson
WebsiteBallotpedia- Key message 1
Jobs and the economy must be made better! The rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. The Democratic Party MUST stand with the vast majority of working Texans to represent their interests against the power, privilege and special laws of the oligarchs. …
- Key message 2
Education in Texas is under attack. First, millions and millions of dollars have been taken out of our public schools and given over to vouchers and administrators. This has caused innumerable terrible problems for our public schools. …
- Key message 3
Healthcare in Texas (and everywhere else) is in grave trouble. Every time a rural hospital is closed it winds up costing lives. Every time our health-care premiums rise our quality of life is adversely impacted. …