Commissioner of Agriculture of Texas · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in the Texas commissioner of agriculture race?
Nate Sheets has the strongest record in the Texas commissioner of agriculture race. Nate Sheets and Clayton Tucker each score 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 5, 2026; Nate Sheets ranks first on the tiebreakers (character score, then total points earned). Nate Sheets's highest marks are roots in the constituency and command of the job. Clayton Tucker's highest marks are roots in the constituency and command of the job. Austin R. Kelly (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Libertarian
Austin R. Kelly
On the ballot as AUSTIN R. KELLY
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Strongest record
Nate Sheets
On the ballot as NATE SHEETS
63 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 75
Democratic
Clayton Tucker
On the ballot as CLAYTON TUCKER
63 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Austin R. Kelly
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Nate Sheets
- On the record2026-03-04
The day after winning the primary, told The Texas Tribune he would fire every “cancerous” employee who was “pro-Sid” at the 755-person Texas Department of Agriculture.
Sources: KBTX (The Texas Tribune report), March 4, 2026, The Texas Tribune, March 4, 2026
- Credit1997 to 2024
Bought a small honey business in 1997, rebranded it Nature Nate’s in 2012 and grew it into the industry’s leading honey brand; Blue Road Capital acquired it, and he left as CEO in 2024.
Sources: D Magazine (D CEO), Dec. 2, 2025, The Texas Tribune via Yahoo News, Sept. 24, 2026
- Credit1988 to 1994
Served six years in the U.S. Navy Reserve, 1988 to 1994, before graduating from Texas State University.
Sources: The Texas Tribune via News From The States, Jan. 21, 2026, KBTX (The Texas Tribune report), March 4, 2026
Clayton Tucker
- On the record2026-06
Shared a bipartisan Bay City data center forum with Republican Commissioner Sid Miller, who said Tucker was “right on the issue” while saying he would never endorse a Democrat.
Sources: The Texas Tribune, June 2, 2026, The Texas Tribune via KSAT, Aug. 6, 2026
- Credit2026
Serves as secretary of the Texas Farmers Union and spoke for the group at a data center news conference reported April 15, 2026.
Sources: Houston Public Media, Sept. 30, 2026, Spectrum News, April 15, 2026
- Creditbefore 2025
Former chairman of the Lampasas County Democratic Party and a member of the State Democratic Executive Committee.
Sources: Lampasas Dispatch Record, Sept. 15, 2025, San Antonio Report candidate profile
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Austin R. Kelly. July 2026 semiannual report filed with the Texas Ethics Commission on the July 15, 2026 due date. No commission sworn complaint order naming him found.
Sources: Texas Ethics Commission, July 2026 semiannual cash-on-hand list, Texas Ethics Commission, sworn complaint orders issued (1992 to 2026)
Nate Sheets. July 2026 semiannual report filed with the Texas Ethics Commission on the July 15, 2026 due date. No commission sworn complaint order naming him appears in its 1992 to 2026 order list.
Sources: Texas Ethics Commission, July 2026 semiannual cash-on-hand list, Texas Ethics Commission, sworn complaint orders issued (1992 to 2026)
Clayton Tucker. July 2026 semiannual report filed with the Texas Ethics Commission on the July 15, 2026 due date; sworn personal financial statement on file. No commission sworn complaint order naming him appears in its 1992 to 2026 order list.
Sources: Texas Ethics Commission, July 2026 semiannual cash-on-hand list, The Texas Tribune, Sept. 29, 2026, Texas Ethics Commission, sworn complaint orders issued (1992 to 2026)
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Austin R. Kelly. No public record found.
Nate Sheets. No public record found.
Clayton Tucker. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Austin R. Kelly. No public record found.
Nate Sheets. Took part in 2026 Republican primary debate forums, including Canton on Jan. 17, 2026, and began a 32-day, 80-county public bus tour in October 2026. No general election debate with Tucker found.
Sources: The Texas Tribune via News From The States, Jan. 21, 2026, KLTV report via KSLA, Oct. 3, 2026
Clayton Tucker. Spoke at an Aug. 19, 2026 Wichita Falls forum and took part in an Aug. 23, 2026 bipartisan data center debate there; spoke with Sid Miller at a June data center forum. No general election debate with Sheets found.
Sources: KFDX via AOL, Aug. 24, 2026, Wichita Falls Times Record News via Yahoo News, Aug. 20, 2026, The Texas Tribune via KSAT, Aug. 6, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Austin R. Kelly. No public record found.
Nate Sheets. Led the Nature Nate’s honey company as founder and CEO until resigning in 2024 to run. No formal conduct finding found.
Sources: The Texas Tribune via Yahoo News, Sept. 24, 2026, D Magazine (D CEO), Dec. 2, 2025
Clayton Tucker. Former Lampasas County Democratic Party chairman, State Democratic Executive Committee member and secretary of the Texas Farmers Union. No formal conduct finding found.
Sources: Lampasas Dispatch Record, Sept. 15, 2025, Houston Public Media, Sept. 30, 2026, San Antonio Report candidate profile
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Austin R. Kelly. No public record found.
Nate Sheets. Served six years in the U.S. Navy Reserve, 1988 to 1994. No official finding of misuse of office and no recorded action to reject certified results found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Nate Sheets (Candidate Connection survey 2026), The Texas Tribune via News From The States, Jan. 21, 2026
Clayton Tucker. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Austin R. Kelly. Ecologist with a Texas A&M bachelor’s degree and Ph.D., founder of ARK Ecological Consulting and a former Texas A&M lecturer in rangeland, botany and ecology. No government office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Austin Kelly, The Texas Tribune via Yahoo News, Sept. 24, 2026
Nate Sheets. Bought a small honey business in 1997, built it into the Nature Nate’s brand, sold it to Blue Road Capital and resigned as CEO in 2024; earlier a ministry communications director and Navy reservist. No government office.
Sources: D Magazine (D CEO), Dec. 2, 2025, The Texas Tribune via Yahoo News, Sept. 24, 2026
Clayton Tucker. Rancher on his family’s Lampasas County ranch, former water and agriculture researcher for the National Science Foundation, fair trade organizer and Texas Farmers Union secretary. No government office.
Sources: The Texas Tribune via Yahoo News, Sept. 24, 2026, Killeen Daily Herald, Oct. 1, 2025
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Austin R. Kelly. Published positions in general terms, including an audit of the department to cut spending and lower fees and fewer licensing rules.
Nate Sheets. Published specific plans within the office’s powers: audit the agency, refocus the GO TEXAN program, launch a cost-neutral Texas Agriculture Marketplace and steer state food procurement to Texas-grown products.
Source: Ballotpedia, Nate Sheets (Candidate Connection survey 2026)
Clayton Tucker. Published specific plans within the office’s powers: agriculture impact studies on data centers from day one and sourcing Texas public school food from Texas farmers, which the department administers through the school lunch program.
Source: Ballotpedia, Clayton Tucker (Candidate Connection survey 2026)
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Austin R. Kelly. Completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey and publishes an issues page.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Austin Kelly, Austin R. Kelly campaign site
Nate Sheets. Completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey, publishes issue pages, took part in primary debate forums and gave broadcast interviews, including KLTV’s East Texas Now.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Nate Sheets (Candidate Connection survey 2026), The Texas Tribune via News From The States, Jan. 21, 2026, KLTV, Jan. 23, 2026
Clayton Tucker. Completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey, publishes issue pages run as public petitions, and took part in 2026 forums in Wichita Falls and Bay City.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Clayton Tucker (Candidate Connection survey 2026), Killeen Daily Herald, Oct. 1, 2025, KFDX via AOL, Aug. 24, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Austin R. Kelly. Born and raised in Comanche County; Sidney, Texas address on TEC filings. No itemized individual contributions reported through June 30, 2026.
Sources: The Texas Tribune via Yahoo News, Sept. 24, 2026, Texas Ethics Commission, Kelly July 2026 semiannual report (report 101061431)
Nate Sheets. Native Texan, graduate of Jack C. Hays High School and Texas State University; Frisco address on TEC filings. Texas donors gave 97.8 percent of itemized individual contributions, $1.60 million of $1.63 million, April 2025 to June 2026 (TEC data).
Sources: The Texas Tribune via News From The States, Jan. 21, 2026, Ballotpedia, Nate Sheets (Candidate Connection survey 2026), Texas Ethics Commission, Sheets July 2026 semiannual report (report 101061569), Texas Ethics Commission, campaign finance search and CSV database
Clayton Tucker. Grew up working his family’s Lampasas ranch; Lampasas address on TEC filings. Texas donors gave 84.8 percent of itemized individual contributions, $319,915 of $377,331, May 2025 to June 2026 (TEC data).
Sources: The Texas Tribune via Yahoo News, Sept. 24, 2026, Texas Ethics Commission, Tucker July 2026 semiannual report (report 101060321), Texas Ethics Commission, campaign finance search and CSV database
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Austin R. Kelly. January and July 2026 semiannual reports filed by their due dates; no TEC fine found.
Source: Texas Ethics Commission, July 2026 semiannual cash-on-hand list
Nate Sheets. All 2025 and 2026 campaign reports in the TEC database were filed by their due dates; no TEC fine or order found. Ran Nature Nate’s as CEO; company staff size not documented in sources opened.
Sources: Texas Ethics Commission, July 2026 semiannual cash-on-hand list, Texas Ethics Commission, campaign finance search and CSV database
Clayton Tucker. All 2025 and 2026 campaign reports in the TEC database were filed by their due dates; no TEC fine or order found.
Sources: Texas Ethics Commission, July 2026 semiannual cash-on-hand list, Texas Ethics Commission, campaign finance search and CSV database
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Austin R. Kelly. No public record found.
Nate Sheets. Grew a 1997 honey side business, rebranded Nature Nate’s in 2012, into the industry’s leading honey brand within 10 years, per D Magazine; the first Walmart order was $107,000.
Source: D Magazine (D CEO), Dec. 2, 2025
Clayton Tucker. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Austin R. Kelly. No public record found.
Nate Sheets. No public record found.
Clayton Tucker. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Austin R. Kelly. No public record found.
Nate Sheets. No public record found.
Clayton Tucker. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Austin R. Kelly. No public record found.
Nate Sheets. No public record found.
Clayton Tucker. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Austin R. Kelly. No public record found.
Nate Sheets. No public record found.
Clayton Tucker. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 5, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Texas commissioner of agriculture race?
Nate Sheets has the strongest record in the Texas commissioner of agriculture race. Nate Sheets and Clayton Tucker each score 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 5, 2026; Nate Sheets ranks first on the tiebreakers (character score, then total points earned). Nate Sheets's highest marks are roots in the constituency and command of the job. Clayton Tucker's highest marks are roots in the constituency and command of the job. Austin R. Kelly (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Texas commissioner of agriculture race in 2026?
AUSTIN R. KELLY (Libertarian), NATE SHEETS (Republican), CLAYTON TUCKER (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Austin R. Kelly a good candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture?
Austin R. Kelly has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Nate Sheets a good candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture?
Nate Sheets scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Clayton Tucker a good candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture?
Clayton Tucker scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Texas race scored, and the Texas 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.