Texas House District 26 2026

Compare candidates running in this Texas federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

Elizabeth Markowitz

Party: Democrat

Matt Morgan

Party: Republican

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Texas House District 26

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 10, 2026
📊Polling
No recent polling data available for this state legislative race
safe r— Cook Political Report PVI Analysis

This is a heavily Republican district where the GOP has maintained control continuously since 1984. With a Republican lean and historical voting patterns favoring conservative candidates, this seat is unlikely to flip to Democrats in 2026, though Elizabeth Markowitz's 2026 challenge represents the ongoing Democratic effort to contest previously safe seats.

Elizabeth MarkowitzD
Matt MorganR

Summary

Dr. Elizabeth 'Eliz' Markowitz is an educator, healthcare policy expert, and advocate for public education and healthcare access. Born and raised in Sugar Land by a teacher and an oil worker, she earned her bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Studio Art from Trinity University, three master's degrees in Technology, Healthcare, and Public Administration, and her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Houston. She currently works as an instructor, corporate trainer, and textbook author with the Princeton Review and teaches Public Health at the University of Houston. Markowitz has run for office twice previously (Texas House District 28 in 2020 and Texas State Board of Education in 2018), bringing political campaign experience to her 2026 candidacy.

Matt Morgan is a conservative Republican businessman from Fort Bend County. Born in Houston, he earned a bachelor's degree from Sam Houston State University in 2002 and has worked as a managing director, business owner, and insurance adjuster. His company, Morgan Elite Specialist Services, has maintained good standing with the State of Texas for over a decade and received awards from the Better Business Bureau and industry organizations. Morgan is married to Jessica and has three children. He is an eighth-generation Texan whose ancestral family moved to Texas with Stephen F. Austin as part of the original 300 settlers in 1825.

View Elizabeth Markowitz's Full Profile →View Matt Morgan's Full Profile →

Campaign Promises

Healthcare
  • Expand Medicaid
  • Make healthcare more accessible and affordable
Education
  • Strengthen public education
  • Eliminate STAAR testing
Other
  • Ensure government accountability and transparency
Other
  • Reject PAC influence
  • Oppose gender modification for minors
Immigration
  • Secure the border
Justice
  • Ensure election integrity
Economy
  • Reform property taxes

Key Issue Positions

Healthcare Access and Medicaid Expansion
Strong supporter of Medicaid expansion and healthcare access
Markowitz emphasizes that Texas is one of only eight states without Medicaid expansion and has one of the highest uninsured populations. She advocates for expanding rural hospitals, telehealth, mental health services, and reducing prescription drug costs.
Public Education Funding
Opposes voucher programs and supports public school funding
Markowitz argues that Republicans funneled taxpayer money to charter schools through vouchers without transparency or requirement to educate all children. She advocates for raising teacher pay, early childhood programs, and career technical education.
Education Standards and Assessment
Opposes high-stakes standardized testing
Markowitz has spent her career advocating for reforms to Texas standardized testing and calls for eliminating the STAAR test and reinvesting those funds into education.
Economic Fairness and Transparency
Government should work for everyday people, not special interests
Markowitz emphasizes honesty, integrity, and evidence-based policymaking. She believes in an economy that works for all Texans with accessible healthcare and quality education.
Immigration and Border Security
Strong border security advocate
Morgan emphasizes securing the border and completing wall construction. He views immigration as a major cost burden on Texans.
Election Integrity
Election security focus
Morgan advocates for paper ballots with serial numbers, voter ID requirements, and removal of deceased voters from rolls.
Healthcare
Limited government approach
Morgan opposed a 2019 bill to create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board and opposed provisions adding stricter Medicaid eligibility requirements, supporting limitations on able-bodied recipients.
School Vouchers
Support for education freedom
Texas Right to Life PAC endorsed Morgan, describing him as a pro-life grassroots champion committed to defending innocent life from conception to natural death.

Top Donors

No donor data available.

Texas Right to Life PAC
EndorsementOrganization PAC
Endorsed Morgan for his pro-life positions and commitment to preventing state funding for gender transition procedures
Texans for Strong Borders
100 ratingIssue PAC
Gave Morgan perfect 100 score rating on border security in Texas Legislature Member Ratings

Contradictions

No contradictions documented.

Claim: Morgan claims to reject PAC money and endorsements, stating 'I turned down money and an endorsement from PAC's because they wanted to buy my loyalty to them.'
Contradiction: Morgan received endorsements from Texas Right to Life PAC, which endorsed him for his pro-life stance and commitment to preventing gender transition funding.

What Opponents Say

Matt Morgan

Morgan emphasizes border security and closing the border as key priorities; Markowitz has not made border security a campaign focus.

Immigration policy disagreement

Matt Morgan

Morgan opposes spending tax dollars on gender transition for children; Markowitz campaign materials do not address this issue.

Social policy disagreement on transgender-related legislation

Elizabeth Markowitz

Markowitz criticizes Republicans for funneling taxpayer money to fund charter schools through vouchers without transparency or requirement to educate all children, stating she will work to strengthen public schools instead.

Education policy disagreement regarding school funding mechanisms and transparency

Elizabeth Markowitz

Markowitz highlights that Texas is one of only eight states not to expand Medicaid and has one of the highest uninsured populations in America, calling for expansion.

Healthcare policy - Medicaid expansion debate

Endorsements

Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus PACorganization
Center for Freethought Equality PACorganization
Network for Public Education Actionorganization
Progress Texasorganization
Texas Right to Life PACorganization
Texans for Strong Bordersorganization