Comptroller of Public Accounts of Texas · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in the Texas comptroller of public accounts race?
Don Huffines has the strongest record in the Texas comptroller of public accounts race. Don Huffines scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Sarah Eckhardt at 63, as of October 5, 2026. Don Huffines's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Sarah Eckhardt's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza (6 of 15 criteria) and Shehla Faizi (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Libertarian
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza
On the ballot as V. ALONZO ECHAVARRIA-GARZA
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 45
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Sarah Eckhardt
On the ballot as SARAH ECKHARDT
63 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 67
Green
Shehla Faizi
On the ballot as SHEHLA FAIZI
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Don Huffines
On the ballot as DON HUFFINES
65 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 75
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.
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Sarah Eckhardt
- Mark against2026
The Texas Ethics Commission delinquent filer list, checked Oct. 5, 2026, shows an unpaid $500 civil penalty for an untimely filing by her as a comptroller candidate; not referred to the Attorney General.
Sources: Texas Ethics Commission, delinquent filer list data feed, Texas Ethics Commission, delinquent filer list (candidates and officeholders), Texas Ethics Commission, enforcement page
- On the record2025-12-08
Ended a roughly monthlong campaign for the 10th Congressional District on Dec. 8, 2025 and filed for comptroller instead, keeping her Senate seat, to which she was reelected in 2024.
Source: The Texas Tribune, Dec. 8, 2025
- On the record2022-01-11
The State Commission on Judicial Conduct admonished her in December 2020 over the 2019 remark and a 2017 hat worn at a commissioners court meeting; a special court of review reversed it in January 2022.
Source: The Texas Tribune, Jan. 12, 2022
- On the record2019-09-27
On Sept. 27, 2019, as Travis County judge, said Gov. Greg Abbott "hates trees because one fell on him" at a public panel, and apologized that evening.
- Credit2021 to 2025
Primary Senate author of seven bills enacted 2021 to 2025, including SB 973 (2025), coauthored with Republican Sen. Mayes Middleton, and SB 371 (2023) on the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program.
Sources: Texas Legislature Online, bills authored, 89th Legislature, Texas Legislature Online, bills authored, 88th Legislature
- Credit2020-03-24
As Travis County judge, postponed her required resignation in March 2020 to keep leading the county COVID-19 response, pausing her Senate campaign.
Shehla Faizi
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Don Huffines
- On the record2026-07-02
Gov. Greg Abbott appointed him comptroller on July 2, 2026 for the rest of the year, after acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock resigned; he was sworn in Aug. 1, 2026.
Sources: The Texas Tribune, July 2, 2026, The Texas Tribune, Aug. 1, 2026
- On the record2026-09
Named Noah Betz, whose consulting firm his campaigns paid nearly $2.7 million since 2022, chief clerk (deputy comptroller) at a $306,000 salary.
- On the record2023-08
Bought Jeffrey Epstein's former Zorro Ranch in New Mexico in August 2023 through San Rafael Ranch LLC; the ownership became public in February 2026. The New Mexican reported neither of his privacy steps was illegal.
Sources: Santa Fe New Mexican via Yahoo News, April 25, 2026, The Texas Tribune, Feb. 13, 2026
- On the record2021-05-10
Challenged sitting Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in the 2022 Republican primary, announced May 10, 2021, and lost the primary.
Sources: The Texas Tribune, May 10, 2021, The Texas Tribune, March 6, 2026
- On the record2017-02-27
On Feb. 27, 2017 he told a Richardson ISD student questioning vouchers that her view was "the most selfish thing I've ever heard"; his office then expressed regret for his tone.
Sources: The Texas Tribune, Feb. 27, 2017, The Texas Tribune, March 6, 2026
- Credit2026-08-01
Declined the comptroller salary on taking office in August 2026, keeping a campaign pledge, as he had declined his Senate salary from 2015 to 2019.
Sources: The Texas Tribune, Aug. 1, 2026, The Texas Tribune, Sept. 29, 2026
- Credit2017
Primary Senate author of three bills enacted in 2017, including SB 15, a homestead tax exemption for certain surviving spouses, and Senate sponsor of 16 enacted House bills in 2015 and 2017.
Sources: Texas Legislature Online, bills authored, 85th Legislature, Texas Legislature Online, bills sponsored, 85th Legislature
- Credit2017-11-07
Filed SB 1122 in 2017 to abolish Dallas County Schools and led the Protect Dallas Kids committee; on Nov. 7, 2017 Dallas County voters rejected continuing the agency, 58.26% to 41.74%.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Dallas County Schools Proposition A (2017), NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, 2017
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza. Texas Tribune reports his 2026 campaign finance totals from state filings; he is not on the Ethics Commission delinquent filer list and no sworn complaint order names him.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Sept. 29, 2026, Texas Ethics Commission, sworn complaint orders search
Sarah Eckhardt. No Texas Ethics Commission sworn complaint order names her. PolitiFact rated one statement Mostly True. An unpaid $500 late-filing penalty is scored under Management (E20).
Sources: Texas Ethics Commission, sworn complaint orders search, PolitiFact, Sarah Eckhardt
Shehla Faizi. Texas Tribune reports her 2026 campaign finance totals from state filings; she is not on the Ethics Commission delinquent filer list and no sworn complaint order names her.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Sept. 29, 2026, Texas Ethics Commission, sworn complaint orders search
Don Huffines. No Ethics Commission sworn complaint order names him and he is not on its delinquent filer lists. He pledged to refuse a state salary and is refusing it as comptroller, as he did as senator. PolitiFact: no False ratings.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Sept. 29, 2026, Texas Tribune, Aug. 1, 2026, Texas Ethics Commission, sworn complaint orders search, PolitiFact, Don Huffines
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza. No public record found.
Sarah Eckhardt. No public record found.
Shehla Faizi. No public record found.
Don Huffines. Challenged the sitting Republican governor, Greg Abbott, in the 2022 GOP primary, and in August 2026 called a federal plan for a permanent wall through Big Bend National Park one of the dumbest ideas he had heard.
Sources: Texas Tribune, May 10, 2021, Texas Tribune, Aug. 21, 2026
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza. No public record found.
Sarah Eckhardt. Appeared on a Texas Tribune Festival panel with other Democratic statewide candidates in September 2026 and gave on-record interviews on the race. No 2026 general election debate with her opponents was found.
Source: Texas Tribune, Sept. 25, 2026
Shehla Faizi. No public record found.
Don Huffines. Gave on-record interviews on the race to Nexstar and the Texas Tribune and answered the Community Impact questionnaire. No 2026 general election debate or forum with his opponents was found, and no declined invitation was reported.
Source: Texas Tribune, March 6, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza. No public record found.
Sarah Eckhardt. Travis County commissioner, county judge (2015 to 2020) and state senator since 2020 with no standing conduct finding: a 2020 judicial conduct admonition was reversed in 2022. Delayed her 2020 resignation to lead the county COVID-19 response (see Record).
Sources: Texas Tribune, Jan. 12, 2022, Texas Tribune, March 24, 2020
Shehla Faizi. No public record found.
Don Huffines. Four years in the Texas Senate (2015 to 2019) and comptroller since Aug. 1, 2026, with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding. In 2017 his office expressed regret for his tone with a student (see Record).
Source: Texas Tribune, Feb. 27, 2017
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza. No public record found.
Sarah Eckhardt. Took the oath as Travis County commissioner, county judge and state senator. A 2020 Commission on Judicial Conduct admonition was reversed by a special court of review in January 2022. No recorded action to reject certified results found.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Jan. 12, 2022, Texas Senate, member page
Shehla Faizi. No public record found.
Don Huffines. Took the oath as a state senator (2015 to 2019) and as comptroller (sworn in Aug. 1, 2026). No official finding of misuse of office and no recorded vote or legal filing to reject certified results found.
Source: Texas Tribune, Aug. 1, 2026
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza. City manager of Hearne since February 2022 (interim from August 2021), previously the city's chief financial officer, with earlier finance roles for Big Spring and Port Isabel.
Sources: KBTX, Feb. 18, 2022, City of Hearne, City Hall
Sarah Eckhardt. State senator for District 14 since July 2020 (elected 2020, reelected 2022 and 2024); Travis County judge 2015 to 2020; county commissioner 2006 to 2013; eight years an assistant county attorney.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Texas Senate, member page, Texas Tribune, March 24, 2020
Shehla Faizi. Graphic designer with a background in advertising and marketing journalism; lists her occupation as podcaster in state filings. No leadership role in an organization documented.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Texas Tribune, Sept. 29, 2026
Don Huffines. One Texas Senate term (2015 to 2019); appointed comptroller July 2, 2026 for the rest of the year and sworn in Aug. 1; founded the real estate developer Huffines Communities in 1985. Less than one full term in this office.
Sources: Texas Tribune, July 2, 2026, Ballotpedia, Texas Tribune, Aug. 1, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza. No published issue positions found: no campaign site per the Texas Tribune, no 2026 Ballotpedia survey, and no response to the Community Impact questionnaire.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Sept. 29, 2026, Ballotpedia
Sarah Eckhardt. Published specific plans within the office: auditing the education savings account program and its administrator, ending no-bid contracts, and reporting who benefits from state spending.
Sources: Community Impact, Sept. 10, 2026, Texas Tribune, Sept. 29, 2026
Shehla Faizi. Published positions on tax and spending transparency, data center tax breaks, foreign bond holdings and voucher administration; the Tribune notes some would require legal and political support beyond the office.
Sources: Community Impact, Sept. 10, 2026, Texas Tribune, Sept. 29, 2026
Don Huffines. Published specific plans within the office: auditing government spending to fund property tax relief, auditing highway construction contracts, a cost study of illegal immigration, and administering the education savings account program. Senate vice chair of Transportation (2015).
Sources: Texas Tribune, Sept. 29, 2026, Community Impact, Sept. 10, 2026, Ballotpedia
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza. No questionnaire answered (Ballotpedia 2026 and 2022, Community Impact 2026) and no issue explanations published were found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Community Impact, Sept. 10, 2026
Sarah Eckhardt. Completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey (2026), answered the Community Impact questionnaire, publishes a Senate district newsletter, and took part in a Texas Tribune Festival panel. Three or more channels.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Community Impact, Sept. 10, 2026, Texas Senate, member page, Texas Tribune, Sept. 25, 2026
Shehla Faizi. Completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey (2026), answered the Community Impact questionnaire and publishes an issues page on her campaign site. Three channels.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Community Impact, Sept. 10, 2026, Faizi campaign site
Don Huffines. Completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey (2025), answered the Community Impact questionnaire, publishes a priorities page on his campaign site, and gave on-record interviews. Three or more channels.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Community Impact, Sept. 10, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza. Works in Texas as Hearne city manager and earlier held finance posts with the Texas cities of Big Spring and Port Isabel. Residence address and in-state donor share not documented.
Source: KBTX, Feb. 18, 2022
Sarah Eckhardt. Austin resident; Travis County public official since at least 2006 and earlier an assistant county attorney for eight years; UT Austin law and public affairs graduate (1998). In-state share of contributions not available (TEC search not reachable).
Source: Texas Senate, member page
Shehla Faizi. States she moved to Texas in 2012 (campaign site). In-state donor share not available.
Source: Faizi campaign site
Don Huffines. Dallas-area businessman whose family has been in North Texas business for decades; University of Texas at Austin graduate (1981); founded Huffines Communities in Dallas in 1985. In-state share of contributions not available (TEC search not reachable).
Sources: Texas Tribune, March 6, 2026, Ballotpedia
Management
Can build and run an organization.
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza. Runs the administration of the City of Hearne as city manager; size of staff and budget not published in the sources opened. No Ethics Commission late-filing penalty listed.
Sources: City of Hearne, City Hall, Texas Ethics Commission, delinquent filer list (candidates and officeholders)
Sarah Eckhardt. The Texas Ethics Commission delinquent filer list, checked Oct. 5, 2026, shows an unpaid $500 civil penalty for an untimely filing by her as a comptroller candidate, not referred to the Attorney General.
Sources: Texas Ethics Commission, delinquent filer list (candidates and officeholders), Texas Ethics Commission, delinquent filer list data feed, Texas Ethics Commission, enforcement page
Shehla Faizi. Campaign finance reports on file per the Texas Tribune; no Ethics Commission late-filing penalty listed. No organization she has run is documented.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Sept. 29, 2026, Texas Ethics Commission, delinquent filer list (candidates and officeholders)
Don Huffines. Heads the comptroller agency, which has more than 2,900 full-time employees, and founded Huffines Communities. No Ethics Commission late-filing penalty or order found. The agency cut 41 employees in his first weeks (see Record).
Sources: Texas Ethics Commission, delinquent filer list (candidates and officeholders), Ballotpedia
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza. No public record found.
Sarah Eckhardt. Primary Senate author of seven bills enacted 2021 to 2025, including SB 371 (2023) and SB 973 (2025), and Senate sponsor of 13 enacted House bills, per Texas Legislature Online.
Sources: Texas Legislature Online, bills authored, 88th Legislature, Texas Legislature Online, bills authored, 89th Legislature
Shehla Faizi. No public record found.
Don Huffines. Primary Senate author of three bills enacted in 2017 (SB 15, SB 259, SB 848) and Senate sponsor of 16 enacted House bills in 2015 and 2017. Led the 2017 push to abolish Dallas County Schools (see Record).
Sources: Texas Legislature Online, bills authored, 85th Legislature, Texas Legislature Online, bills sponsored, 85th Legislature
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza. No public record found.
Sarah Eckhardt. No public record found.
Shehla Faizi. No public record found.
Don Huffines. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza. No public record found.
Sarah Eckhardt. Her Senate office offers constituent casework, with a casework guide and privacy release form, and a district newsletter.
Source: Texas Senate, member page
Shehla Faizi. No public record found.
Don Huffines. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza. No public record found.
Sarah Eckhardt. Enacted bills with Republicans: SB 973 (2025) coauthored by Sen. Mayes Middleton (R), SB 371 (2023) coauthored by Sen. Donna Campbell (R), and HB 4077 (2023), House coauthor Giovanni Capriglione (R), which she sponsored.
Sources: Texas Legislature Online, bills authored, 89th Legislature, Texas Legislature Online, bills authored, 88th Legislature, Texas Legislature Online, bills sponsored, 88th Legislature, Texas Tribune directory, Mayes Middleton, Texas Tribune directory, Donna Campbell
Shehla Faizi. No public record found.
Don Huffines. Enacted bills with Democrats: SB 848 (House sponsor Ramon Romero Jr., D) and HB 3178 (House author Rafael Anchia, D) in 2017; accepted Sen. Royce West's (D) amendment so the Dallas County Schools bill left the Senate unanimously.
Sources: Texas Legislature Online, bills authored, 85th Legislature, Texas Legislature Online, bills sponsored, 85th Legislature, Texas Tribune directory, Ramon Romero Jr., NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, 2017
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza. No public record found.
Sarah Eckhardt. No public record found.
Shehla Faizi. No public record found.
Don Huffines. 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 comptroller of public accounts race?
Don Huffines has the strongest record in the Texas comptroller of public accounts race. Don Huffines scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Sarah Eckhardt at 63, as of October 5, 2026. Don Huffines's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Sarah Eckhardt's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza (6 of 15 criteria) and Shehla Faizi (6 of 15 criteria) have 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 comptroller of public accounts race in 2026?
V. ALONZO ECHAVARRIA-GARZA (Libertarian), SARAH ECKHARDT (Democratic), SHEHLA FAIZI (Green), DON HUFFINES (Republican, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza a good candidate for Comptroller of Public Accounts?
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza 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 Sarah Eckhardt a good candidate for Comptroller of Public Accounts?
Sarah Eckhardt scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 67 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Shehla Faizi a good candidate for Comptroller of Public Accounts?
Shehla Faizi 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 Don Huffines a good candidate for Comptroller of Public Accounts?
Don Huffines scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 75 of 100. 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.