Here are the Democratic primary candidates for Texas comptroller
Three Democrats are running in the primary for Texas comptroller of public accounts. The winner in the March 3 primary will be on the November ballot with one of these Republican candidates
Here are the Democratic candidates’ responses to a Star-Telegram questionnaire. They are listed in the order you’ll see them on the ballot.
Savant Moore
Age (as of March 3): 40
Campaign website: www.savantmoore.com
Best way for voters to reach you: Campaign website contact form or savant@savantmoore.com
Occupation: Educator, public servant, and small businessman
Education: Bachelor of Arts in History, Howard University
Have you run for elected office before? I’m currently elected HISD Trustee, District 2 (2024-present)
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism in Texas:
Elected trustee for the largest school district in Texas
Advocate for fully funding public education
Leader on restoring access to historically underutilized business opportunities
Community organizing around broadband access, infrastructure equity, and fiscal transparency
Veteran service and mentorship for young people and aspiring entrepreneurs
Mentor at Juvenile
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? No
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? No
Who are your top three campaign contributors? This campaign is primarily supported by grassroots donors across Texas. No single donor or interest group dominates my fundraising.
Why are you seeking this office? Texas deserves a comptroller who understands everyday Texans, not just spreadsheets. I am running to restore trust, transparency, and fairness to how our state manages money. The comptroller should ensure our budget reflects our values, including fully funding public education, supporting small businesses, and responsibly planning for Texas future economy.
If elected, what would your top 3 policy priorities be?
Restoring and expanding the Texas HUB program
Full fiscal transparency and independent audits of state agencies
Statewide broadband access and modernized financial systems
How will you measure your success as Texas comptroller? Success will be measured by increased transparency, measurable growth in HUB participation, expanded broadband access, improved public trust, and a state budget that clearly demonstrates Texas can fully fund its priorities without gimmicks.
Why should voters choose you over your opponents? I bring lived experience, not just theory. I have worked inside public education, understand small business realities, and am committed to data driven, people centered budgeting. Texans deserve a comptroller who serves all Texans, not a select few.
What are Texans looking for and wanting most in their Texas comptroller? Honesty, competence, and accountability. Texans want to know where their money is going, that it is being managed responsibly, and that the state’s economic success benefits everyone.
What is the biggest challenge facing the Texas economy, and how would you address it if elected? The biggest challenge is uneven economic participation. Too many communities are excluded from growth. As comptroller, I would use data, audits, and targeted investments to ensure economic opportunity reaches rural areas, urban neighborhoods, veterans, women, and minority owned businesses.
Please outline your business and finance experience. How will that experience inform your tenure as comptroller if elected? I have operated and advised small businesses, managed budgets in public education, and worked directly with families and entrepreneurs navigating Texas economic systems. This experience grounds my approach in practicality, accountability, and real world outcomes rather than theory alone.
Should Texas be investing in cryptocurrency? Why or why not? Texas should approach cryptocurrency cautiously and strategically. The comptroller’s role is not speculation, but oversight. Any involvement should focus on regulation, consumer protection, and understanding emerging technologies without exposing taxpayers to unnecessary risk.
The Texas Comptroller’s Office recently froze the Historically Underutilized Business program. Do you support that move, and what is your vision for the HUB program? I do not support freezing the HUB program. My vision is to restore and strengthen HUB with transparency, accountability, and measurable participation goals so historically excluded businesses have real access to state contracts. 30% goal from the 11% over the last two decades.
Texas Lawmakers tapped the Texas Comptroller’s Office to take the lead on much of Texas’ new voucher program. What is your vision for education savings accounts in Texas? Any education savings account program must have strict oversight, transparency, and clear accountability. Public dollars must serve students, not unregulated systems. As comptroller, my responsibility would be ensuring fiscal integrity, protecting taxpayers, and safeguarding public education funding.
Sarah Eckhardt
Age (as of March): 61
Campaign website: saraheckhardt.com
Best way for voters to reach you: In person or online, I’m willing to meet folks wherever they are.
Occupation: State Senator, Attorney
Education: New York University (BA), LBJ School of Public Affairs (Masters), UT Law
Have you run for elected office before? Travis County Commissioner, 2007-13; Travis County Judge, 2015-20; State Senate, 2020-present
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism in Texas:
Historic Firsts: Youngest person in a generation on Travis County Commissioners Court; first woman Travis County Judge; first woman to hold her current State Senate seat.
County Leadership: Managed 4,000 employees, lowered property taxes, and balanced budgets.
Community Impact: Delivered thousands of affordable housing units and expanded healthcare coverage.
Legislative Wins: Passed the Academic Fresh Start law and tuition exemptions for first responders.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? No.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? No.
Who are your top three campaign contributors? Perry Lorenz (2,500), Nancy Sanders (3,000), Simone Coxe (3,500); Texas Trial Lawyers Assn (5,000)
Why are you seeking this office? I am running to be a watchdog for your money, not a lapdog for the powerful. For too long, our state’s finances have been managed under a pay-to-play system that favors the wealthy while everyday people struggle with the basics. I am seeking this office to restore accountability, ensure our massive state reserves actually serve the public good, and protect our tax dollars from being diverted away from the real needs of Texans.
If elected, what would your top 3 policy priorities be?
Affordability: Using the Comptroller’s influence to lower the cost of living and ensure fair tax policy.
Transparency: Ending the pay-to-play culture and making state spending fully visible to every Texan.
Trust: Demonstrating that government can take care of the basics while accomplishing big things, which requires following through on our commitment to invest in critical needs like water, connectivity, and healthcare.
How will you measure your success as Texas comptroller? Success will be measured by how effective the office is in informing the public and policy leaders about the consequences of inaction on urgent priorities, from our schools to hospitals and the grid. By exposing who is benefitting most least, or not at all from the investment of our money, we will finally be able to deliver for all Texans, not just a few.
Why should voters choose you over your opponents? Throughout my career, I have consistently delivered results by bringing partners from both sides of the aisle together to achieve the best outcomes for the people we serve. On day one, I will walk into office with twenty years of experience, deep relationships, and the preparedness necessary to take on special interests. I will bring a fierce decency to state government that Texans can be proud of—providing leadership you can count on to work for you. My administration will prioritize protecting civil rights and labor while managing our economy with rigorous, data-driven transparency.
What are Texans looking for and wanting most in their Texas comptroller? Texans deserve a fair shake. They need a Comptroller who understands how the success they built is being used against them and will stand up to unfairness. We must ensures that state services, from water to the internet, work for every zip code, not just the well-connected.
What is the biggest challenge facing the Texas economy, and how would you address it if elected? The biggest challenge is the widening gap between our state’s massive wealth and our crumbling infrastructure. I would address this by mobilizing the resources in this office to shed light on a path t effectively ensuring our economy has a solid foundation to support future growth and worker productivity.
Please outline your business and finance experience. How will that experience inform your tenure as comptroller if elected? My experience involves managing complex budgets and high-stakes negotiations to the get best deal for my constituents. I will look past political rhetoric to the raw data—ensuring that every dollar spent is an investment in the Quality of Life for all Texans, rather than a subsidy for a select few.
Should Texas be investing in cryptocurrency? Why or why not? Texas must prioritize stability and the long-term security of our state funds. While innovation is vital, our primary focus should be on traditional infrastructure and human capital—investments that provide guaranteed returns for the public good rather than high-risk speculative assets.
The Texas Comptroller’s Office recently froze the Historically Underutilized Business program. Do you support that move, and what is your vision for the HUB program? I do not support moves that limit opportunity for historically underutilized businesses. My vision for the HUB program is one of expansion and transparency—ensuring that state contracting is a tool for building middle-class wealth and supporting a diverse range of Texas entrepreneurs.
Texas Lawmakers tapped the Texas Comptroller’s Office to take the lead on much of Texas’ new voucher program. What is your vision for education savings accounts in Texas? I will demand rigorous performance data and transparency regarding exclusions—such as how certain schools are shut out of the program. My priority remains protecting the public money in our public school system, and ensuring every child in our state receives an education that is not merely adequate, but truly exceptional in preparing them for success.
Michael Lange
Age (as of March 3): 62
Campaign website: TexansforLange.com
Best way for voters to reach you: info@texansforlange.com
Occupation: Finance Professional
Education: University of Texas - Austin, BBA-Finance. Completed Advanced Finance Courses at Rice University, Houston. Completed Advanced Finance Courses at the New York Institute of Finance, NYC. Graduate of Advanced Management Program for Senior Executivies, INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France
Have you run for elected office before? Democratic Primary 2022, Texas Land Commissioner
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism in Texas:
Delegate to DNC Rules Committee, DNC Convention Los Angeles 2000, Delegate for John Kerry, 2004 DNC Convention Boston 2004. Harris County Precinct Chair, VDVR/GOTV, Delegate to State Democratic Convention numerous times. Worked on several Democratic Campaigns at Federal, State and Local Level. Supporter and Volunteer to several charities, including the Houston Food Bank, Fisher Foundation and more.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? No
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? No
Who are your top three campaign contributors? Sweat Equity for Primary Campaign is our approach in line with my Financial Background
Why are you seeking this office? Texas needs a Better Comptroller. Texans deserve a Better Bang for their Buck, for their hard-earned money. Will discuss in more detail if allowed.
If elected, what would your top 3 policy priorities be?
1. Improve transparency of the work the Comptroller does so Texans have a much better understanding of how their money works as well as improve effectiveness of monies used for infrastructure and more across the entire Agency using all avenues available. 2. Help create more jobs in Texas, especially in small businesses and in rural Texas. Take percentage of jobs worked in Texas Small Business from roughly 44% to over 65%. Jobs that stay in Texas. 3. Get Texas Future-ready including transforming Broadband quality to the Best in the US and then the best in the world. Will discuss in more detail if allowed.
How will you measure your success as Texas comptroller? How much Texans are able to feel how the Comptrollers office is positively affecting their lives, making their lives safer, better, more affordable. Improvement in efficiency metrics, make Texas an even better place for small businesses to operate and thrive. How well we handle future Texas issues as Texas is growing by 10,000 people every week.
Why should voters choose you over your opponents? I care about Texas and Texans. It matters to me. 40 years of real world financial industry experience in Texas, the US and around the world in large multi-national, multi-billion dollars businesses with tens of thousands of employees at Senior Levels. The Comptroller has almost 3,000 employees, more than 30 offices, serves an additional 1,800 other organizations, 32 Million Texans and over 3.5 Million businesses. Able to be effective day one creating positive change. Able to get things done on a timely basis. Doing the “Kitchen Table” issues well, Actions, not words. I will be a Servant Leader who cares about making Texans lives safer and better/more affordable.
What are Texans looking for and wanting most in their Texas comptroller? Most Texans are unaware of what the Comptroller does. Texans need their lives to be more affordable, they need to make sure their money is being used to make their lives better.
What is the biggest challenge facing the Texas economy, and how would you address it if elected? There are many good answers, but at the base is the continual creation of more jobs in Texas that stay in Texas, as technology is increasingly changing the way money is earned. In the 20th century robots replaced many workers who earned a living using their hands, in the 21st Century AI and more will replace people who earn money using intellectual abilities. Workers drive the economy, No spending no economy.
Please outline your business and finance experience. How will that experience inform your tenure as comptroller if elected? Please see my answers above. Will discuss in more detail if allowed.
Should Texas be investing in cryptocurrency? Why or why not? No. It is very risky and volatile with no regulation at this time. Texans work hard for their money, the Comptroller should be using it carefully with a focus on now and getting Texas future ready, not taking on unnecessary risk that is not needed.
The Texas Comptroller’s Office recently froze the Historically Underutilized Business program. Do you support that move, and what is your vision for the HUB program? No, I do not support the freeze. I would reinstate HUB, however HUB was not working that well. Out of 3.5 Million businesses there were only about 17,000 HUB certified companies. It should have been 350,000 after 26 years in operation. HUB reinstated and improved dramatically not just more of the same.
Texas Lawmakers tapped the Texas Comptroller’s Office to take the lead on much of Texas’ new voucher program. What is your vision for education savings accounts in Texas? The Comptroller is not a Legislative role, it does not make laws or get a vote on them. Vouchers are now State Law. The Comptroller needs to be fully transparent on how the $ 1 Billion is being used as well as the up to $ 50 Million which may be expenses. I would move all Education Savings administration to companies based in Texas with all jobs based in Texas. It needs to ensure that all applications are treated with equal respect and work done on a timely basis. It is not supposed to be a reimbursement program.
This story was originally published February 14, 2026 at 3:00 AM.