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Over the past few months, we have received a handful of requests to share a comparison of the platforms being offered by the major parties with candidates on the ballot in Texas. Now that the final November ballots have been certified, and the parties have released their platforms, we are proud to bring you a comparison of the four major parties on the Texas ballot this year.
Republican Party
2024 presidential ticket: Donald J. Trump/JD Vance
2024 U.S. Senate nominee: Ted Cruz
The Republican National Committee and Republican Party of Texas both released updated platforms following their respective conventions this year.
The RNC’s platform — which was approved at the national convention in Milwaukee in July — lists 20 promises that the Republican Party will promote over the next two years. These include sealing the border, ending inflation, cutting taxes for American workers, ending the weaponization of government, keeping men out of women’s sports, preventing cuts to Social Security and Medicare, and securing elections.
The Republican Party of Texas’ platform focuses on issues related to Texas, more specifically. The state platform, which was approved at the state convention in San Antonio in May, consists of more than 250 planks related to a number of topics, including election integrity, energy production, and property taxes.
Democratic Party
2024 presidential ticket: Kamala D. Harris/Tim Walz
2024 U.S. Senate nominee: Colin Allred
The Democratic National Committee and Texas Democratic Party also released updated platforms following their respective conventions this year.
The DNC’s platform — which was approved at the national convention in Chicago in August— consists of 92 pages of policy promises, including proposals on topics related to the economy, the military, advancing unity, and climate change.
The Texas Democratic Party’s platform includes a long list of proposals and pledges for the state government. The party says its proposals are shaped by the belief that government “exists to achieve as a community, state, and nation what we cannot achieve as individuals.”
Libertarian Party
2024 presidential ticket: Chase Oliver/Mike ter Maat
2024 U.S. Senate nominee: Ted Brown
The Libertarian Party has again fielded a number of statewide candidates in Texas elections this year. Leading the ballot is Chase Oliver, the party’s presidential nominee from Georgia.
The Libertarian Party’s most recent national platform listed on the party’s website was approved in 2022 and is among the shortest of any major national party. Topics addressed in the platform include the party’s two main issue focuses: personal liberty and economic liberty. The state party’s platform focuses on similar issues and was most recently amended in 2024.
Green Party
2024 presidential ticket: Jill Stein/Rudolph Ware
The Green Party is the smallest party with ballot access in Texas. Leading the ballot is Jill Stein, the party’s returning presidential nominee who had previously run in 2012 and 2016. The only other statewide Green Party candidate is Eddie Espinoza, who is running for Railroad Commissioner. The Green Party is the only party with ballot access who has not put forward a nominee to represent Texas in the United States Senate.
The Libertarian Party’s most recent national platform listed on the party’s website was approved in 2020 with updates made in 2022 and 2024. The platform’s four pillars are “peace, ecology, social justice, and democracy.” The state party’s platform was most recently updated in 2021 and focuses on similar goals to the national platform.