U.S. House, Texas 32nd Congressional District · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in Texas's 32nd Congressional District?
Dan Barrios has the strongest record in Texas's 32nd Congressional District. Dan Barrios scores 66 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Jace Yarbrough at 53, as of October 6, 2026. Dan Barrios's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Jace Yarbrough's highest marks are communication. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Strongest record
Dan Barrios
On the ballot as DAN BARRIOS
66 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Jace Yarbrough
On the ballot as JACE YARBROUGH
53 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 56
- 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.
Dan Barrios
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Jace Yarbrough
- Unresolved2021
Received an Air Force letter of admonishment calling his June 2021 uniformed retirement-ceremony remarks insubordinate and unbecoming of an officer; appeals were denied, and he sued in 2023 to set it aside.
Where it stands: His 2023 federal lawsuit seeking to set aside the admonishment was pending as of an April 3, 2026 court opinion; its current status was not confirmed.
Sources: U.S. District Court for D.C., Yarbrough v. Saltzman, April 3, 2026, Texas Tribune, Jan. 22, 2026, Christian Post, Oct. 2023
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Dan Barrios. House candidate financial disclosures are on file (filed Jan. 29 and May 11, 2026) and FEC reports through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or Texas Ethics Commission order found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10077360, FEC administrative fines search
Jace Yarbrough. House candidate financial disclosures are on file (filed Feb. 1 and May 15, 2026) and FEC reports through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or Texas Ethics Commission order found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10075618, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Dan Barrios. No public record found.
Jace Yarbrough. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Dan Barrios. No public record found.
Jace Yarbrough. Took part in 2026 primary candidate forums, including one hosted by the Dallas Express on Feb. 10, 2026. No general election debate record found.
Source: The Guardian, Feb. 20, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Dan Barrios. Served on the Richardson City Council from 2023 until resigning in 2026 to run for Congress, while teaching at Lake Highlands High School. No formal conduct finding found.
Sources: Community Impact, July 13, 2026, Lake Highlands Advocate, May 9, 2024
Jace Yarbrough. As an Air Force Reserve officer he received a letter of admonishment calling his 2021 retirement ceremony remarks insubordinate and unbecoming of an officer; his internal appeals were denied. He sued in federal court in 2023 to set it aside.
Sources: U.S. District Court for D.C., Yarbrough v. Saltzman, April 3, 2026, Texas Tribune, Jan. 22, 2026
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Dan Barrios. Took office on the Richardson City Council in 2023 and resigned in 2026, effective on the appointment of a successor. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Community Impact, July 13, 2026
Jace Yarbrough. Took the oath as an Air Force officer and is a major in the Air Force Reserve. No official finding of misuse of office; the 2021 admonishment is scored under criterion 4.
Source: U.S. District Court for D.C., Yarbrough v. Saltzman, April 3, 2026
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Dan Barrios. Elected to the Richardson City Council in 2023; earlier a corporate account manager and a high school business teacher.
Sources: Lake Highlands Advocate, May 9, 2024, Ballotpedia, Dan Barrios
Jace Yarbrough. Constitutional litigation attorney with a Stanford law degree, Air Force Reserve major and co-founder of a classical Christian school. Has not held public office.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Jan. 22, 2026, Ballotpedia, Jace Yarbrough
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Dan Barrios. Publishes positions on costs, health care and restoring trust in government, and lists ethics reform and term limits among his aims; positions are general.
Source: Community Impact, Q&A for U.S. House District 32, Sept. 4, 2026
Jace Yarbrough. Lists priorities of border security, cutting wasteful spending, low taxes, energy production, China, law enforcement and veterans' benefits in general terms.
Source: Community Impact, Q&A for U.S. House District 32, Sept. 4, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Dan Barrios. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, answered Community Impact's 2026 questionnaire and publishes plain-language issue statements.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Dan Barrios, Community Impact, Q&A for U.S. House District 32, Sept. 4, 2026, Campaign site, home page
Jace Yarbrough. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, answered Community Impact's 2026 questionnaire, publishes campaign priorities and took part in primary forums.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jace Yarbrough, Community Impact, Q&A for U.S. House District 32, Sept. 4, 2026, The Guardian, Feb. 20, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Dan Barrios. Says he has lived in the area for 20 years, and represented a Richardson council district from 2023; Richardson is in the district. FEC by-state totals show about 94 percent of itemized individual contributions from Texas.
Sources: Community Impact, Q&A for U.S. House District 32, Sept. 4, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Jace Yarbrough. No public record found.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Dan Barrios. Handled sales and merchandising teams of more than 2,000 employees as a food and beverage account manager, per the Lake Highlands Advocate. FEC reports are on file through June 30, 2026, with no administrative fine.
Sources: Lake Highlands Advocate, May 9, 2024, FEC candidate page
Jace Yarbrough. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine record found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Dan Barrios. No public record found.
Jace Yarbrough. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Dan Barrios. No public record found.
Jace Yarbrough. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Dan Barrios. No public record found.
Jace Yarbrough. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Dan Barrios. No public record found.
Jace Yarbrough. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Dan Barrios. No public record found.
Jace Yarbrough. 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 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Texas's 32nd Congressional District?
Dan Barrios has the strongest record in Texas's 32nd Congressional District. Dan Barrios scores 66 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Jace Yarbrough at 53, as of October 6, 2026. Dan Barrios's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Jace Yarbrough's highest marks are communication. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Texas's 32nd Congressional District in 2026?
DAN BARRIOS (Democratic), JACE YARBROUGH (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Dan Barrios a good candidate for Congress?
Dan Barrios scores 66 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Jace Yarbrough a good candidate for Congress?
Jace Yarbrough scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 56 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, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Texas 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.