Sarah Eckhardt, a Democratic state senator from Austin, is running for Texas comptroller in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Also on the ballot are Don Huffines (Republican), Shehla Faizi (Green) and V. Alonzo Echevarria-Garza (Libertarian).

Asked why she is running, Eckhardt said in our candidate questionnaire: "It is time to ask hard questions so Texans get honest answers about where their tax dollars go."

She said: "I will audit the $1 billion private school voucher program under this office's oversight, stand up for our public schools, stop no-bid contracts to wealthy donors, investigate tax breaks for data centers, and open the state budget to the public…"

Candidate information

Occupation: "Attorney and public official."

Hometown: Austin, Texas.

Education: "Double Longhorn: LBJ School of Public Affairs and UT Law." According to BallotReady profile data, Eckhardt holds a bachelor's in theater from New York University (1986), a master's in public affairs from the University of Texas at Austin (1998) and a juris doctor from the University of Texas at Austin (1998).

Family: "I am the youngest of seven, the parent of two, and owner of a couple of fur babies."

Political family: "Among my immediate family, I am the odd-one-out in my family as the only one who pursued public office like my dad, the late Congressman Bob Eckhardt. My two children have so far served in routine civilian roles in the federal government."

Party affiliation: "Lifelong Democrat, but I am running in this race to serve Texans regardless of party."

Experience and public service

Eckhardt described her career in our questionnaire as: "Currently the state senator for District 14, comprising Austin and surrounding areas; previously, the Travis County Judge, Travis County Commissioner for Precinct 2, and Assistant County Attorney for Travis County." BallotReady data lists her as an assistant county attorney from 1997 to 2005 and a Travis County commissioner starting in 2007. She said on her campaign website that she was the first woman elected as Travis County judge.

Asked what qualifies her, Eckhardt said in our questionnaire: "As the chief executive over Travis County, the 5th largest in the state, I cut taxes 3 times in 5 years, balanced the budget 3 times, built infrastructure on time and on budget, and oversaw a massive increase in good-paying jobs."

She added: "In that role, I managed more than 4,000 employees; there are 3,000 in the Comptroller's office, and I am prepared to let them loose doing the honest work of telling Texans where their money is going."

On the issues

Revenue estimate and political pressure: Asked how she would keep the comptroller's revenue estimate accurate, Eckhardt said: "This process requires steadiness and maturity to ensure that the Legislature's ultimate budget is fiscally sound. This is not an opportunity to inject political grandstanding."

Education savings accounts: Eckhardt said in our questionnaire: "Although I did not vote for this program in my capacity as a state senator, as Comptroller my responsibility is well laid out in the law." She added: "I will very carefully and aggressively manage the program to ensure that contractors are complying with their obligations to the state…"

Property taxes: Asked whether she supports proposals to eliminate school district property taxes, Eckhardt said: "First, funding property tax buydowns relies on temporary budget surpluses. Assuming these boom conditions will last indefinitely is fiscally reckless." She added that current policies "ignore other struggling groups—such as young homeowners, businesses, and particularly renters, who receive zero relief under current state proposals."

Economic development incentives: Eckhardt said the state "abates a tremendous amount of potential revenue through a myriad of sales tax exemptions," adding that many "are just handouts to wealthy corporations that do not need the incentive…" She said she would "analyze all of the tax exemptions and submit a report to the Legislature on their effectiveness going forward."

Eckhardt's responses come from the Prosper-Celina Journal's candidate questionnaire. Answers are presented in the candidate's own words and have not been independently verified unless noted.