Not just farms. The Agriculture Commissioner’s agency runs school lunch and breakfast for every Texas public school, licenses every exterminator in the state, inspects the eggs at your grocery store, and decides which farms can call themselves organic. Small-sounding job — it reaches everyone’s kitchen.
The Democratic candidate
Clayton Tucker
DemocratAbout Clayton
Tucker is 28, runs his family's cattle-and-goat ranch outside Lampasas, and is running to be the first Democrat to hold this office since Jim Hightower left it in 1991 — Hightower's protégé, in Hightower's old job.
He researched water for the National Science Foundation, taught school, and organized farmers before coming home to the ranch; he's secretary of the Texas Farmers Union. His fight is against the companies squeezing small farms — he names Tyson, Cargill and John Deere — and, this year, against the AI data centers lining up to drink the water and burn the power that farms depend on; he wants a moratorium until someone studies what they'll cost. His opponent, Nate Sheets, built a honey brand and knocked off Sid Miller in the primary with Abbott's backing.
Also on the ballot
Every candidate who filed for this office appears here. Tap a name to read more.
Nate SheetsAbout Nate
He started a beehive in his backyard as a hobby. It became the number one honey brand in America. Then he decided to run for office.
A Hill Country native and Navy veteran, Sheets turned a backyard experiment into Nature Nate's Honey — the top-selling branded honey in the U.S. With no prior political experience, he defeated three-term incumbent Sid Miller in the 2026 Republican primary, one of the biggest upsets of the Texas primary cycle.
Austin R. KellyAbout Austin
An agricultural scientist finishing a PhD at Texas A&M who researched Hill Country prairie restoration before running for ag commissioner.
Kelly, from Comanche County, is a professional ecologist and agricultural consultant finishing a PhD at Texas A&M University. He's a Certified Prescribed Burn Manager licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture and worked as a researcher on the Texas A&M-based 'Prairie Project,' a federal USDA initiative covering the Hill Country and Edwards Plateau. He grew up showing pigs and competing in 4-H and FFA in Sidney, Texas.
Alfred MolisonAbout Alfred
A 23-year Social Security Administration employee and longtime Green Party of Texas leader who won more than 133,000 votes running for land commissioner in 2022.
Molison has been active in the Green Party of Texas since its founding in 2000, serving as state co-chair, state treasurer, and a steering committee member. A graduate of Sharpstown High School and the University of Texas at Austin (radio/TV/film), he worked 23 years as a Social Security Administration contact representative. In 2022 he ran for Texas Land Commissioner and won more than 133,000 votes (1.67%). He's now the Green nominee for agriculture commissioner.
Where to vote
Hays County uses vote centers — any registered Hays County voter can vote at any open location in the county. Locations and hours by city: