Texas Elects Governor, Lieutenant Governor Nov. 3
Texas voters will choose a new governor and lieutenant governor on November 3, 2026, as prediction markets price the races and gambling policy remains unsettled.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Gambling
Live Poll
Should Texas legalize sports betting and destination casinos?
Texas voters will elect a governor and lieutenant governor on November 3, 2026. Texas has no legal sports betting or Las Vegas-style commercial casinos, and the state is weighing whether prediction markets evade its gambling laws.
Why it matters
The offices on the ballot shape whether the state legislature takes up gambling expansion or regulation of prediction markets. Control of the Senate and House could determine which gambling bills advance.
House Joint Resolution 102 passed the Texas House 101-42 on May 11, 2023, but the Texas Senate did not take it up. Kalshi priced Republican control of the Texas Senate at 94% as of November 2, and what the vote means for gambling policy remains unresolved.
The players
Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott is the Republican governor of Texas seeking reelection in 2026.
Gina Hinojosa
Gina Hinojosa is the Democratic candidate challenging Greg Abbott for Texas governor in 2026.
Dan Patrick
Dan Patrick is the Republican lieutenant governor of Texas who presides over the state Senate and oversees its gambling study.
James Talarico
James Talarico is a Democratic Texas politician running for the U.S. Senate against Ken Paxton.
Ken Paxton
Ken Paxton is the Republican Texas attorney general and U.S. Senate candidate.
The details
Patrick directed senators in March to study whether prediction markets evade Texas gambling laws, and the Senate held a September hearing on banning or regulating them. A constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers before going to voters, and the governor cannot place it on the ballot or veto it.
Timeline
May 11, 2023: The Texas House passed House Joint Resolution 102, 101-42.
March 2026: Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick directed senators to study prediction markets.
September 2026: The Senate held a hearing on banning or regulating prediction markets.
November 3, 2026: Texans vote for governor and lieutenant governor.
January 2027: The Texas Legislature convenes its regular session.
Legal Context
Texas has no legal sports betting or Las Vegas-style casinos, and the House passed a 2023 amendment resolution that the Senate never considered. Prediction markets now test whether existing state gambling laws still apply.
Texans who want to bet on sports or casino games still cannot do so legally in the state, and prediction market contracts on election outcomes remain under review. Voters' choices on November 3 could determine whether that changes in the next session.
The takeaway
Gambling policy in Texas depends on which party controls the Senate and which candidates win statewide, so readers following the issue should track the November 3 results. The unresolved question of prediction markets will likely carry into the 2027 session.
What happens next
The general election occurs November 3, 2026, and the Texas Legislature convenes its regular session in January 2027.
Further reading
For background on the state's gambling rules, see Texas Gambling coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Deadspin.
Live Poll
Should Texas legalize sports betting and destination casinos?
