State Representative, District 8 - Texas Ballot Compare

Cody Harris

Republican Incumbent

On ballot as: CODY HARRIS
Current role: State Representative, Texas House District 8 (since 2019)
Background: Bachelor's degree, Texas A&M University (2006) (per Ballotpedia)
Built Liberty Land and Ranch, a farm and ranch real estate, management and development business (per campaign)
Real estate broker and banking (per Secretary of State filing)
Former president, Palestine YMCA board (per official biography)
Former president, Palestine Young Professionals Network (per official biography)
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Deacon, First Baptist Church in Palestine (per official biography)
Born in Tyler (per Ballotpedia)
Experience: Chairman, House Natural Resources Committee
Member, Calendars and Licensing & Administrative Procedures committees
Commissioner, Southwestern States Water Commission; appointed by Governor Abbott (per official biography)
Republican primary (March 3, 2026): won, 74.7% over Daniel Hunt
Top priorities: Campaign home page (wording unchanged since his first campaign in 2018): "Cody will focus on securing the border, improving public education, protecting farmers and ranchers and private property owner rights"
Campaign home page (same 2018 wording): "lowering property taxes, shrinking the size of government and fighting for pro-life and pro-family values"
Tidbits: Abortion: Campaign home page (wording unchanged since his first campaign in 2018): says he will focus on "fighting for pro-life and pro-family values"
Border and immigration: Campaign home page (wording unchanged since his first campaign in 2018): says he will focus on "securing the border"
Guns: Campaign site, listing accomplishments of the 87th legislative session (2021): "Passed Constitutional Carry for law-abiding citizens."
Public schools and vouchers: Campaign home page (wording unchanged since his first campaign in 2018): says he will focus on "improving public education"
Property taxes: Campaign home page (wording unchanged since his first campaign in 2018): says he will focus on "lowering property taxes"
Endorsements: Texas Home School Coalition
Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) PAC
Texas Alliance for Life
TEXPAC (Texas Medical Association Political Action Committee)
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
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Texas Farm Bureau AGFUND
NFIB Texas PAC (primary)
TruckPAC (Texas Trucking Association) (primary)
Campaign website: codyfortexas.com

Jeff Chavez

Democratic

On ballot as: JEFF CHAVEZ
Current role: Graduate student (per Secretary of State filing)
Background: Diploma, Palestine High School (per Ballotpedia)
Bachelor's degree, University of Texas at Dallas (2013) (per Ballotpedia)
Former East Texas news reporter, after college (per campaign)
Former public school educator, three years (per campaign)
Son of a Vietnam veteran (per campaign)
Grandson of a World War II Merchant Marine (per campaign)
Experience: Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
Top priorities: "Stop Vouchers & Fund Public Schools"
"Stop the Drain: I will fight the permits that let these big companies take our water for their profit."
"Stop all AI Data Center progress."
"Expand Medicaid & Affordable Healthcare as a right to US Citizens"
"Reduce Property Taxes."
Tidbits: Abortion: Campaign site: "A woman should have the final say on her own body."
Border and immigration: No public statement found
Guns: No public statement found
Public schools and vouchers: Campaign site: "Stop Vouchers & Fund Public Schools"; says he "saw firsthand how the voucher program is hurting public schools by diverting vital funding"
Property taxes: Campaign site: "Reduce Property Taxes" and "Expand property tax relief and freeze programs for homeowners aged 65."
Endorsements: National Democratic Redistricting Committee
Texas Democratic Veterans (listed by campaign)
Center for Freethought Equality (listed by campaign)
Campaign website: chavezfortexas.org