State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, an Austin Democrat, is running for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
Asked why she is seeking the office, Eckhardt said in our candidate questionnaire: "It is time to ask hard questions so Texans get honest answers about where their tax dollars go." She said: "I will audit the $1 billion private school voucher program under this office's oversight, stand up for our public schools, stop no-bid contracts to wealthy donors." She also pledged to investigate tax breaks for data centers and open the state budget to the public.
Other candidates in the race are Don Huffines (Republican), Shehla Faizi (Green) and V. Alonzo Echevarria-Garza (Libertarian).
Candidate information
Party: "Lifelong Democrat, but I am running in this race to serve Texans regardless of party," Eckhardt said in our questionnaire.
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Education: "Double Longhorn: LBJ School of Public Affairs and UT Law," Eckhardt said. According to her Texas Senate biography, she earned a juris doctor and a master's in public affairs from the University of Texas at Austin in 1998. She earned a bachelor's in theater from New York University in 1986, according to BallotReady.
Family: "I am the youngest of seven, the parent of two, and owner of a couple of fur babies," Eckhardt said.
Experience and public service
Occupation: "Attorney and public official," Eckhardt said.
Previous offices: "Currently the state senator for District 14, comprising Austin and surrounding areas; previously, the Travis County Judge, Travis County Commissioner for Precinct 2, and Assistant County Attorney for Travis County," she said. Eckhardt said she was the first woman elected as Travis County judge.
Asked what accomplishments show she can handle the job, Eckhardt said: "As the chief executive over Travis County, the 5th largest in the state, I cut taxes 3 times in 5 years, balanced the budget 3 times, built infrastructure on time and on budget." She said she oversaw a large increase in good-paying jobs and managed more than 4,000 employees.
On the issues
Revenue estimates: Asked how she would keep the comptroller's revenue estimate free of political pressure, Eckhardt said: "This process requires steadiness and maturity to ensure that the Legislature's ultimate budget is fiscally sound. This is not an opportunity to inject political grandstanding."
School voucher oversight: Eckhardt said: "The Comptroller is charged with implementing the voucher program (known as Education Saving Accounts)." She added: "I will very carefully and aggressively manage the program to ensure that contractors are complying with their obligations to the state."
Property taxes: Asked whether she supports proposals to eliminate school district property taxes, Eckhardt said: "Texans should not pay more taxes than necessary to fund statutory state services." She cautioned that "… funding property tax buydowns relies on temporary budget surpluses. … Assuming these boom conditions will last indefinitely is fiscally reckless."
Tax exemptions: Eckhardt said: "The state abates a tremendous amount of potential revenue through a myriad of sales tax exemptions. … Many are just handouts to wealthy corporations that do not need the incentive." She said she would "analyze all of the tax exemptions and submit a report to the Legislature on their effectiveness going forward."
