When Denison voters reach the down-ballot statewide races this fall, they will pick the official who keeps the state's books: the Texas comptroller of public accounts.
Four candidates are on the Grayson County ballot: Republican Don Huffines, Democrat Sarah Eckhardt, Libertarian V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza and Green Party candidate Shehla Faizi.
What the job does
The comptroller is Texas' chief financial officer. The office collects sales taxes, manages hundreds of state contracts for other agencies and issues the revenue estimate that sets the limits for the Legislature's budget writing every two years. It is also responsible for launching the state's new $1 billion school voucher program, which pays for private school tuition and other education costs.
No one is running as an elected incumbent. Glenn Hegar left the office in 2025 to become chancellor of Texas A&M. Gov. Greg Abbott appointed state Sen. Kelly Hancock to serve as acting comptroller, and after Hancock lost the GOP primary this year, Abbott appointed Huffines to hold the post until the election, according to The Texas Tribune's candidate guide.
The candidates
Don Huffines (R) co-founded Huffines Communities, a Dallas-area real estate developer, with his brother, served in the Texas Senate from 2015 to 2019 and challenged Abbott in the 2022 GOP primary for governor. He has pledged not to accept a state salary. His platform includes auditing government spending and returning savings through property tax relief, studying what undocumented immigration costs the state, cutting regulations he says hold back job creation and running the voucher program transparently. He reported $1 million on hand at the end of June after raising $6.2 million in the first half of the year, including $3.2 million of his own money. Endorsers include Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Keith Self.
Sarah Eckhardt (D) has represented Travis County in the Texas Senate since 2020 and was Travis County judge for five years before that; she is a former prosecutor. She says she would focus the office on safety rather than divisive social issues, end no-bid contracts to large donors, audit the voucher program and run an independent office. She reported $240,002 on hand at the end of June after raising $394,531. Her endorsers include the Texas AFL-CIO.
V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza (L) is Hearne's city manager and was previously that city's chief financial officer. He ran for comptroller as a Libertarian in 2022.
