Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

State Representative, District 122

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

State of Texas
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked
Mark DorazioMark DorazioRepublican Incumbent
Shelly NickelsShelly NickelsDemocratic
On ballot as
Mark Dorazio
Shelly Nickels
Current role
State Representative, Texas House District 122 (since January 10, 2023; first elected 2022)
Internal medicine physician (hospitalist) in San Antonio
Background
  • Co-owner with his wife, Dorazio Enterprises, Inc., a construction company
  • The company does work for power companies
  • Born in Derry, Pennsylvania
  • Moved to Texas after high school; apprenticed in construction
  • Has served as an elder and Sunday school teacher at Lifehouse Church
  • Has served on the board of The Justice Foundation
  • Undergraduate degree and master's in health care administration, Trinity University
  • M.D., Marshall University
  • Graduate, Katy High School
  • Hospitalist, San Antonio (since 2014) (per campaign)
  • Native Texan from Houston
Experience
  • Member, Homeland Security & Public Safety and Human Services committees (per his San Antonio Report questionnaire)
  • Bexar County Republican Party chairman (2017–2018)
  • Republican precinct chairman, over 30 years
  • Chaired the 2020 Republican Party of Texas Platform Committee
  • Served on the State Republican Executive Committee
  • Medical director, hospital medicine programs
  • Became the youngest medical director at Methodist Hospital (per campaign)
  • Served on Methodist Hospital's medical executive committee (per campaign)
  • Chaired hospital committees (per campaign)
  • Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
Top priorities
  • In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "My goal is to eliminate government waste, ensure the state budget remains lean, and return excess dollars to the taxpayer."
  • "I am fully committed to delivering on Governor Abbott's 5-point plan to provide permanent relief and restore taxpayer control."
  • "Border & Public Safety"
  • "I will continue to fight for parental empowerment in public education."
  • "requiring two-thirds voter approval for property tax increases and allowing for citizen-led tax rate rollbacks"
  • In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "I believe Texas should expand Medicaid to improve access to care and reduce the financial burden on families and rural hospitals."
  • "We must restore women's reproductive rights"
  • "use the state's purchasing power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices"
  • "I support fully funding public education, investing in universal pre-K, paying teachers competitive salaries"
  • Campaign site: "Hold high-demand industries, including data centers, accountable for their impact on water, air, infrastructure, and electricity demand."
  • "Support mental health diversion courts."
Tidbits
  • Abortion: No public statement found
  • Border and immigration: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "Texas is now working hand-in-hand with the federal government to maintain the most secure border in modern history"
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Public schools and vouchers: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "Parents must have the freedom to choose the best environment for their children."
  • Property taxes: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "I am fully committed to delivering on Governor Abbott's 5-point plan to provide permanent relief and restore taxpayer control."
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
  • Abortion: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "We must restore women's reproductive rights and reverse laws that have denied Texans access to necessary medical care"
  • Border and immigration: Campaign site: "Hold federal agencies accountable for their actions in our communities, including ICE."
  • Guns: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "I support strong hate crime protections, common-sense gun safety measures"
  • Public schools and vouchers: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "Texas should fully fund public education, oppose vouchers that drain neighborhood schools"
  • Property taxes: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "Relief should focus on primary residences, seniors, disabled Texans, veterans, and working families"
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements
  • Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) PAC
  • Texas Home School Coalition
  • Texas Right to Life PAC
  • Texas Values Action
  • San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board
  • Planned Parenthood Texas Votes
Mark Dorazio

Mark Dorazio

Republican Incumbent
On ballot as
Mark Dorazio
Current role
State Representative, Texas House District 122 (since January 10, 2023; first elected 2022)
Background
  • Co-owner with his wife, Dorazio Enterprises, Inc., a construction company
  • The company does work for power companies
  • Born in Derry, Pennsylvania
  • Moved to Texas after high school; apprenticed in construction
  • Has served as an elder and Sunday school teacher at Lifehouse Church
  • Has served on the board of The Justice Foundation
Experience
  • Member, Homeland Security & Public Safety and Human Services committees (per his San Antonio Report questionnaire)
  • Bexar County Republican Party chairman (2017–2018)
  • Republican precinct chairman, over 30 years
  • Chaired the 2020 Republican Party of Texas Platform Committee
  • Served on the State Republican Executive Committee
Top priorities
  • In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "My goal is to eliminate government waste, ensure the state budget remains lean, and return excess dollars to the taxpayer."
  • "I am fully committed to delivering on Governor Abbott's 5-point plan to provide permanent relief and restore taxpayer control."
  • "Border & Public Safety"
  • "I will continue to fight for parental empowerment in public education."
  • "requiring two-thirds voter approval for property tax increases and allowing for citizen-led tax rate rollbacks"
Tidbits
  • Abortion: No public statement found
  • Border and immigration: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "Texas is now working hand-in-hand with the federal government to maintain the most secure border in modern history"
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Public schools and vouchers: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "Parents must have the freedom to choose the best environment for their children."
  • Property taxes: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "I am fully committed to delivering on Governor Abbott's 5-point plan to provide permanent relief and restore taxpayer control."
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements
  • Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) PAC
  • Texas Home School Coalition
  • Texas Right to Life PAC
  • Texas Values Action
  • San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board
Campaign website
markdorazio.com
Shelly Nickels

Shelly Nickels

Democratic
On ballot as
Shelly Nickels
Current role
Internal medicine physician (hospitalist) in San Antonio
Background
  • Undergraduate degree and master's in health care administration, Trinity University
  • M.D., Marshall University
  • Graduate, Katy High School
  • Hospitalist, San Antonio (since 2014) (per campaign)
  • Native Texan from Houston
Experience
  • Medical director, hospital medicine programs
  • Became the youngest medical director at Methodist Hospital (per campaign)
  • Served on Methodist Hospital's medical executive committee (per campaign)
  • Chaired hospital committees (per campaign)
  • Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
Top priorities
  • In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "I believe Texas should expand Medicaid to improve access to care and reduce the financial burden on families and rural hospitals."
  • "We must restore women's reproductive rights"
  • "use the state's purchasing power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices"
  • "I support fully funding public education, investing in universal pre-K, paying teachers competitive salaries"
  • Campaign site: "Hold high-demand industries, including data centers, accountable for their impact on water, air, infrastructure, and electricity demand."
  • "Support mental health diversion courts."
Tidbits
  • Abortion: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "We must restore women's reproductive rights and reverse laws that have denied Texans access to necessary medical care"
  • Border and immigration: Campaign site: "Hold federal agencies accountable for their actions in our communities, including ICE."
  • Guns: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "I support strong hate crime protections, common-sense gun safety measures"
  • Public schools and vouchers: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "Texas should fully fund public education, oppose vouchers that drain neighborhood schools"
  • Property taxes: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "Relief should focus on primary residences, seniors, disabled Texans, veterans, and working families"
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements
  • Planned Parenthood Texas Votes
Campaign website
shellynickels.com