Texas

Texas agriculture commissioner primary: Who is running and what you need to know

Published

1 month ago

January 27, 2026

Texas agriculture commissioner primary: Who is running and what you need to know

Editor’s note: To help readers learn more about primary candidates, The Texas Tribune is sharing background information on top candidates. In particularly crowded races, we focused on candidates who have political experience or prominence. For a full list of the candidates running in this race view our primary ballot page. For more information on the primaries and the voting process, check out our voter guide here.

About this seat: The Texas Agriculture Commissioner is the chief advocate for Texas’s agriculture industry. Under the commissioner’s purview, the Texas Department of Agriculture regulates the state’s agriculture industry, including cattle, grain, plants, pesticides, hemp and organic operations. The department provides agribusiness support, promotes Texas products and advocates for policies at the state and federal level that help farmers and ranchers. It also administers the National School Lunch Program to public schools. The department works on economic development in rural areas and provides disaster relief to farmers. The department also ensures that price scanners and scales are all accurate to ensure consumers are paying an accurate price for these items when they purchase them.

What’s at stake: Agriculture is the second largest industry in the state and Texas is home to more than 230,000 farms, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 2024, it was the 6th largest state exporter of agricultural products. Farmers and ranchers are on the frontlines of economic pressures, the effects of climate change, and labor and supply chain disruptions and it’s the responsibility of the state agriculture commissioner to regulate farmers from a consumer protection standpoint, while providing support and funding to farms that are economic engines in rural areas of the state.

Candidates at a Glance:

Commissioner of Agriculture of Texas

💰 Campaign finance:

💰 Major donors this cycle:

Philip Oshotse, owner of Houston African grocery store – $60,000
Joe Cavender, owner of Cavender’s boots – $5,000
Stan Graff, owner at El Dorado Motors – $10,000
Kent Hance, former U.S. Rep. and chancellor of Texas Tech University System – $10,000

Experience:

First elected agriculture commissioner in 2014, and reelected twice in 2018 and 2022
12 years in the Texas House of Representatives
Graduate of Tarleton State University in Stephenville, where he lives and owns a tree nursery
Breeds horses and is a rodeo cowboy

Political ideology: Miller is known as a staunch MAGA conservative with a fiery personality and a loyal supporter of President Donald Trump. He is a Christian who often rails against Islam and leftist politics on social media. He’s against diversity, equity and inclusion policies and in 2023, he ordered employees to dress “in a manner consistent with their biological gender,” a move that was viewed as anti-transgender.

Policy stances:

Increasing water security in Texas
Defending agriculture from invasive pests and disease
Enhancing local food pride through the agency’s Go Texan brand program
Ensure farm and ranchland is not affected by the expansion of data centers in Texas
Supports legalization of marijuana for medical purposes

In the news:

Endorsements:

Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian
Ted Nugent, a guitarist and singer

How to contact or learn more:
campaign@sidmiller.com
6407 S US Hwy 377
Stephenville, TX 76401

💰 Campaign finance:

💰 Major donors this cycle:

Houston furniture store owner Mattress Mack – $10,000
Sen. Kevin Sparks, a Republican from Midland and family – $13,000
The Saulsbury Family, owners of Saulsbury Industries oil and gas company in Odessa and former donors of Sid Miller’s campaign – $25,000

Experience:

Texan business and ranch owner
Served for six years in the U.S. Naval Reserve before he graduated from Texas State University
He and his wife founded a honey company called Nature Nate’s, which became famous for its raw and unfiltered honey. He sold the company in 2021 and resigned as CEO in 2024 to run for agriculture commissioner.
Previously worked as communications director for E3 Partners, an evangelist ministry organization that establishes new Christian congregations around the world

Political ideology: Sheets is a conservative Christian and self-declared member of the MAHA (Make American Healthy Again) movement, which was inspired by Trump administration Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Nature Nate’s Honey emphasized testing to ensure the honey didn’t contain pesticides or herbicides, and Sheets has said his experience leading the company shaped his views on healthy eating.

Policy stances:

Helping Texas farmers grow and produce clean and healthy food at home and in the state’s public schools
Boost job opportunities in the agriculture industry in rural areas of the state
Work with the Legislature to ensure Texas has the power to investigate agro terrorists who might spread pathogens that could damage state agriculture production

In the news:

Endorsements:

Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Cattlefeeders Association
Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, a Republican from Pennsylvania

How to contact or learn more:
campaign@natesheets.com

💰 Campaign finance:

💰 Major donors this cycle:

Jim Hightower, former Texas Agriculture Commissioner from 1983 to 1991 – $1,000

Experience:

Grew up working on his family’s ranch in Lampasas
Fair trade organizer for the Trade Justice Education Fund, a left-leaning non-profit that promotes awareness of the impact of trade on public health and the environment.

Political ideology: Tucker spent his early career working as a Democratic political campaign organizer. He is an active member of the Texas Democrats and a member of the Texas Progressive Caucus.

Policy stances:

Preserving family farms
Lowering the cost of food and removing chemicals from food
Stop the spread of microplastics and regulate dangerous chemicals like PFAS
Protect Texas from the growth of data centers across the state and “bust monopolies”

Endorsements:

U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland
Many Democratic state representatives

How to contact or learn more:
info@claytontuckertx.com
PO Box 1059
Lampasas, TX 76550

Disclosure: Texas Cattle Feeders Association and Texas Tech University System have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

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Texas

U.S. and Israel carry out joint military strikes against Iran

Published

3 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

U.S. and Israel carry out joint military strikes against Iran

The U.S. and Israel announced a major military operation against Iran early Saturday, after President Trump threatened the Iranian regime for weeks to make a new deal to rein in its nuclear program, and before that, threatened it over its violent crackdown on protesters in January.

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Texas

Texas to require proof of identity, legal status for new vehicle titles March 5, 2026

Published

15 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Texas to require proof of identity, legal status for new vehicle titles March 5, 2026

EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — A major change is coming to how vehicles are titled and registered in Texas, with local officials and border-area dealerships bracing for questions, delays and the possibility that some buyers could take their business out of state.

Beginning March 5, 2026, Texans applying for an original vehicle title and registration will need proof of identity and proof of legal status in the United States.

The Texas Motor Vehicle Board approved a new rule requiring county tax offices to verify that documentation before processing those transactions.

“If the person doesn’t have valid ID, we cannot register their vehicle,” said Ruben Gonzalez, the El Paso County tax assessor-collector.

Gonzalez said the rule is mandatory statewide and is not a local policy, but a state mandate he is required to follow as an agent of the DMV.

Under the rule, buyers must present a REAL ID-compliant Texas ID or other federally recognized documents, including a passport or permanent resident card.

Gonzalez said the rule takes effect March 5 for new titles and registrations, but proof of legal status for registration renewals will not be required until Jan. 1, 2027.

“We’re going to give a year’s time for those people to qualify, but more so to allow the entities, businesses like lean holders and dealers and the county offices to be trained on what’s an acceptable form of documentation to accept from people that are renewing online or in our offices,” Gonzalez said.

Destiny Venecia reports on Texas to require proof of identity and legal status for vehicle titles, registrations (Credit: KFOX14)

RECOMMENDED: El Paso residents report natural gas bills nearly doubling, citing surprising fees

Local dealerships said they are working to adapt, but some employees and customers are uneasy about the change.

Luis Fierro, president of the El Paso Hispanic Independent Automobile Dealer Association, said, “My personnel is a little bit scared to make a mistake. Within the dinner community, they’re all scared, they’re all lost in the system. They’re trying to figure out, as we all believe, an ID was a real ID. Now we find out that what we knew that was good to be used is no longer good.”

Border-area dealerships also worry customers could buy and register vehicles in New Mexico, taking taxes and fees out of Texas.

“Customers are scared of the new implementation, that they’re going to take their business to New Mexico, pay their taxes in New Mexico, and handle the registration and renewals in the state of New Mexico and avoid Texas,” Fierro said.

County leaders said the concern extends beyond lost sales to lost revenue for Texas counties.

“It’s going to be a loss of revenue because if they go to New Mexico, we can’t collect our fees that are due because they’re all they’re running using our highways,” Gonzalez said.

County officials said they expect an increase in questions and possible delays in the first few months after the rule takes effect March 5, 2026.

RECOMMENDED: Texas bans temporary paper license plates to curb fraud

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Texas

North Texas middle school closes after a norovirus outbreak

Published

1 day ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

North Texas middle school closes after a norovirus outbreak

A middle school in the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD is closed Friday after an outbreak of norovirus.

According to the school district, they closed Creekview Middle School in Fort Worth on Friday to sanitize and clean the building. The district said they plan on reopening the school on Monday.

The district said children started to get sick on Tuesday with what appeared to be a stomach virus and that on Wednesday it spread to a larger group.

EMSISD said they reached out to the Tarrant County Public Health Department and that they recommended disinfecting and cleaning the school on Wednesday night and reopening the next day.

More cases continued to be reported on Thursday, so the public health department then recommended that they clean again and close the campus on Friday.

Parents were notified of the district’s decision on Thursday afternoon.

The district has not said how many students and staff were sickened in the outbreak.

Officials with Children’s Medical Center said that because norovirus is highly contagious and resistant to many common hand sanitizers, it presents a unique challenge for families.

The hospital says hand sanitizer isn’t enough and recommends thorough hand washing with soap and water. They also recommend parents keep their children home for a full 48 hours after symptoms stop to prevent further outbreaks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are approximately 2,500 norovirus outbreaks in the United States each year and that they are most common from November through April. For further tips on preventing the spread of norovirus, visit the CDC.

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