Hemp is on the ballot through the people we elect. For Texas business owners, employees and consumers, knowing where candidates stand means looking at their records and giving them the opportunity to explain their positions directly.
The Texas Hemp Business Council has brought together two resources to help you do that: our printable voter guide and our searchable candidate questionnaire directory.
Two resources, a clearer picture
The voter guide provides THBC’s hemp-alignment assessments for the candidates and incumbents shown. It includes statewide races, the Texas Supreme Court, the 15th Court of Appeals, and legislative districts. The stance of each candidate is based on public statements, official actions, or their vote on SB3. If a candidate has changed their stance since voting on SB3, we will update as we receive their questionnaire or public statement.
It is also available to download and print.
The questionnaire directory lets you search candidates by name and filter by office, district or area, party, and response status. Candidates were asked 20 questions covering hemp regulation, retail standards, agriculture, consumer safeguards and legislative priorities. Submitted answers are presented in full, without editorial changes.
*Candidates are still able to submit their answers, and those answers will be added as they are completed.
Use the guide to review THBC’s assessments, then explore the questionnaire to see what candidates say in their own words.
Statewide candidates marked aligned in THBC’s guide
The following candidates are marked Aligned in the linked PDF. This table reports the guide’s assessments; it does not mean each candidate completed the questionnaire or agrees with THBC on every issue.
| Office | Candidate | Regulated Hemp Market |
|---|---|---|
| Governor | Greg Abbott |
Aligned Governor Abbott vetoed SB3 in favor of keeping a legal regulated hemp marketplace. |
| Governor | Gina Hinojosa |
Aligned Supports a regulated hemp marketplace and freedom of choice. |
| U.S. Senate | James Talarico |
Aligned Spoke out against SB3 on the house floor and has made several public statements on social media and in interviews in support of a legal hemp market. |
| Attorney General | Nathan Johnson |
Aligned |
| Lieutenant Governor | Vikki Goodwin |
Aligned Supports adult access to hemp-derived products. Vikki has made public statements on social and has pledged to support the hemp industry if elected. |
| Comptroller | Sarah Eckhardt |
Aligned Strongly supports a regulated marketplace. |
| Land Commissioner | Ben Flores |
Aligned Believes Texas should maintain a legal, well-regulated marketplace for hemp and hemp-derived products that comply with state and federal law. Read Ben Flores's questionnaire |
| Agriculture Commissioner | Clayton Tucker |
Aligned Strongly supports a regulated marketplace. Has made public statements on social media, attended hemp policy panels and believes hemp provides value to farmers. Read Clayton Tucker's questionnaire |
| Railroad Commissioner | Jon Rosenthal |
Aligned |
These summaries explain each listed candidate's record or stated position on hemp. They do not indicate agreement on every issue or a blanket endorsement by THBC. Questionnaire responses are linked where available.
Governor: understanding the candidates’ positions
Both candidates appear as aligned in THBC’s guide for different reasons. That designation recognizes specific actions or stated positions on hemp; it is not a blanket endorsement of either candidate.
Greg Abbott. Governor Abbott vetoed Senate Bill 3 in June 2025, stopping a broad ban on hemp-derived THC products. He called for stronger regulation and recognized the interests of Texans who had built businesses under existing hemp law. THBC recognizes the importance of that veto while continuing to challenge regulations that threaten lawful businesses and consumer access.
Sources: Abbott’s SB 3 veto statement; THBC’s lawsuit update.
Gina Hinojosa. Representative Hinojosa has criticized the uncertainty surrounding legal THC products and called for Texans to have a direct vote on THC policy. Those statements give voters a basis for considering her approach to hemp access and cannabis reform. Her specific proposals, public statements and any questionnaire responses should be considered alongside the guide’s rating.
Sources: Hinojosa’s public statement reported by Marijuana Moment; Texas Tribune’s September 25 candidate comparison.
THBC will continue working with whoever is elected to protect consumer choice, responsible businesses and a workable regulatory framework.
