Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

State Representative, District 57

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

State of Texas
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked3-way race
Richard HayesRichard HayesRepublican Incumbent
Ray StithDemocratic
Darren HamiltonLibertarian
On ballot as
Richard Hayes
Ray Stith
Darren Hamilton
Current role
State Representative, Texas House District 57 (since January 10, 2023)
Human resources executive and small business owner
Senior data architect; chair of the Denton County Libertarian Party (per his Ballotpedia survey)
Background
  • B.B.A., Texas Christian University (1975)
  • M.B.A., Texas A&M University (1976)
  • J.D., St. Mary's University School of Law (1978)
  • Attorney
  • Founder, law firm now called Hayes, Berry, White & Vanzant, L.L.P., at age 32 (per campaign)
Show all 7
  • Board certified in commercial and residential real estate law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (per campaign)
  • Former parliamentary procedure team coach, Billy Ryan High School, Denton, 15 years (per campaign)
  • West Point graduate (per campaign)
  • Former U.S. Army officer; deployed to Afghanistan (per campaign)
  • "Leader of Human Resources", privately held company (per campaign)
  • Community coach and mentor (per candidate)
  • U.S. Marine Corps (1984–1992)
  • Technical and professional roles, including at the Los Angeles Times (per campaign)
  • Board member, St. Arbor Community Garden (per campaign)
  • Does not accept campaign donations (per campaign)
Experience
  • Past chair, Denton County Republican Party (per campaign)
  • Parliamentarian, Republican Party of Texas (per campaign)
  • Past chair, Denton Chamber of Commerce (per campaign)
  • Former member, Texas Woman's University Board of Regents (per campaign)
  • Law clerk to a U.S. District Court judge, San Antonio, after law school (per campaign)
  • Bexar County District Attorney's office, after law school (per campaign)
  • Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
  • Libertarian nominee, Texas House District 57 (2022 and 2024)
  • Libertarian nominee, U.S. House District 24 (2020)
Top priorities
  • "continuing active support of property tax relief for property owners and firmly addressing out-of-control insurance rates and healthcare costs"
  • "ensuring the state's basic infrastructure—roads, power, and water—will have the capacity to meet the needs of District 57's continuing, explosive growth"
  • "Seeking solutions to public school funding while supporting our teachers in the classroom, requiring testing that makes sense, and ensuring every child is safe at school"
  • Says the Legislature should "continue to respect our police, other first responders, and veterans through additional, supportive legislation"
  • "maintenance of election integrity"
  • "My priorities are fully funding public schools, investing in infrastructure that keeps pace with our growth and supporting veterans and military families"
  • On growth: "Improved roads and transportation access" and "Reliable water and utility systems"
  • "Support and grow small businesses" and "Expand job training and apprenticeships"
  • For veterans: "Faster access to state and federal benefits" and "Mental health services and support"
  • "Making government programs prove that they work"
  • "Protecting local decision-making from unnecessary state interference"
  • "Requiring data centers and major developments to disclose their demands on water, electricity, and public infrastructure"
  • "Defending property owners against uncontrolled taxation and eminent domain for private gain"
  • "Protecting civil liberties, privacy, due process, and equal treatment"
Tidbits
  • Abortion: No public statement found
  • Border and immigration: No public statement found
  • Guns: Campaign site describes him as "A strong Second Amendment supporter" and "a Life Member of the Texas State Rifle Association"
  • Public schools and vouchers: "Seeking solutions to public school funding while supporting our teachers in the classroom, requiring testing that makes sense, and ensuring every child is safe at school remain high priorities"
  • Property taxes: Priorities include "continuing active support of property tax relief for property owners"
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
  • Abortion: At an April 2026 candidate event: "As a man, I do not carry babies and I cannot deliver babies" and "It's not my decision."
  • Border and immigration: No public statement found
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Public schools and vouchers: "My priorities are fully funding public schools, investing in infrastructure that keeps pace with our growth and supporting veterans and military families."
  • Property taxes: No public statement found
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
  • Abortion: "Should Texas have the power to make this decision for a woman? My answer is no"
  • Border and immigration: "A country has the authority and responsibility to control its border. But border security cannot substitute for a functional legal immigration system."
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Public schools and vouchers: "I opposed the Texas voucher program because it commits public money to private education while creating another state-administered benefit"
  • Property taxes: "Owning a home should not mean renting it indefinitely from the government."
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements
  • Texas Values Action
  • Texas Home School Coalition
  • Texas Alliance for Life (primary)
  • Tracy Murphree, Sheriff, Denton County (listed by campaign)
  • Andy Eads, County Judge, Denton County (listed by campaign)
Show all 11
  • Dena Meek, Mayor, Oak Point (listed by campaign)
  • Lynn Clark, Mayor, Hickory Creek (listed by campaign)
  • Tony Singh, Councilman, Little Elm (listed by campaign)
  • Nick McGregor, Mayor, Ponder (listed by campaign)
  • Burt Thakur, Councilman, Frisco (listed by campaign)
  • Ken Eaken, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem, Council Member, Little Elm (listed by campaign)
  • VoteVets (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Democratic Veterans Caucus (listed by campaign)
None found in our research
Campaign website
hayesforhouse57.com
raystithfortx57.com
hamiltonfortx.com
Richard Hayes

Richard Hayes

Republican Incumbent
On ballot as
Richard Hayes
Current role
State Representative, Texas House District 57 (since January 10, 2023)
Background
  • B.B.A., Texas Christian University (1975)
  • M.B.A., Texas A&M University (1976)
  • J.D., St. Mary's University School of Law (1978)
  • Attorney
  • Founder, law firm now called Hayes, Berry, White & Vanzant, L.L.P., at age 32 (per campaign)
Show all 7
  • Board certified in commercial and residential real estate law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (per campaign)
  • Former parliamentary procedure team coach, Billy Ryan High School, Denton, 15 years (per campaign)
Experience
  • Past chair, Denton County Republican Party (per campaign)
  • Parliamentarian, Republican Party of Texas (per campaign)
  • Past chair, Denton Chamber of Commerce (per campaign)
  • Former member, Texas Woman's University Board of Regents (per campaign)
  • Law clerk to a U.S. District Court judge, San Antonio, after law school (per campaign)
  • Bexar County District Attorney's office, after law school (per campaign)
Top priorities
  • "continuing active support of property tax relief for property owners and firmly addressing out-of-control insurance rates and healthcare costs"
  • "ensuring the state's basic infrastructure—roads, power, and water—will have the capacity to meet the needs of District 57's continuing, explosive growth"
  • "Seeking solutions to public school funding while supporting our teachers in the classroom, requiring testing that makes sense, and ensuring every child is safe at school"
  • Says the Legislature should "continue to respect our police, other first responders, and veterans through additional, supportive legislation"
  • "maintenance of election integrity"
Tidbits
  • Abortion: No public statement found
  • Border and immigration: No public statement found
  • Guns: Campaign site describes him as "A strong Second Amendment supporter" and "a Life Member of the Texas State Rifle Association"
  • Public schools and vouchers: "Seeking solutions to public school funding while supporting our teachers in the classroom, requiring testing that makes sense, and ensuring every child is safe at school remain high priorities"
  • Property taxes: Priorities include "continuing active support of property tax relief for property owners"
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements
  • Texas Values Action
  • Texas Home School Coalition
  • Texas Alliance for Life (primary)
  • Tracy Murphree, Sheriff, Denton County (listed by campaign)
  • Andy Eads, County Judge, Denton County (listed by campaign)
Show all 11
  • Dena Meek, Mayor, Oak Point (listed by campaign)
  • Lynn Clark, Mayor, Hickory Creek (listed by campaign)
  • Tony Singh, Councilman, Little Elm (listed by campaign)
  • Nick McGregor, Mayor, Ponder (listed by campaign)
  • Burt Thakur, Councilman, Frisco (listed by campaign)
  • Ken Eaken, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem, Council Member, Little Elm (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
hayesforhouse57.com

Ray Stith

Democratic
On ballot as
Ray Stith
Current role
Human resources executive and small business owner
Background
  • West Point graduate (per campaign)
  • Former U.S. Army officer; deployed to Afghanistan (per campaign)
  • "Leader of Human Resources", privately held company (per campaign)
  • Community coach and mentor (per candidate)
Experience
  • Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
Top priorities
  • "My priorities are fully funding public schools, investing in infrastructure that keeps pace with our growth and supporting veterans and military families"
  • On growth: "Improved roads and transportation access" and "Reliable water and utility systems"
  • "Support and grow small businesses" and "Expand job training and apprenticeships"
  • For veterans: "Faster access to state and federal benefits" and "Mental health services and support"
Tidbits
  • Abortion: At an April 2026 candidate event: "As a man, I do not carry babies and I cannot deliver babies" and "It's not my decision."
  • Border and immigration: No public statement found
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Public schools and vouchers: "My priorities are fully funding public schools, investing in infrastructure that keeps pace with our growth and supporting veterans and military families."
  • Property taxes: No public statement found
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements
  • VoteVets (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Democratic Veterans Caucus (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
raystithfortx57.com

Darren Hamilton

Libertarian
On ballot as
Darren Hamilton
Current role
Senior data architect; chair of the Denton County Libertarian Party (per his Ballotpedia survey)
Background
  • U.S. Marine Corps (1984–1992)
  • Technical and professional roles, including at the Los Angeles Times (per campaign)
  • Board member, St. Arbor Community Garden (per campaign)
  • Does not accept campaign donations (per campaign)
Experience
  • Libertarian nominee, Texas House District 57 (2022 and 2024)
  • Libertarian nominee, U.S. House District 24 (2020)
Top priorities
  • "Making government programs prove that they work"
  • "Protecting local decision-making from unnecessary state interference"
  • "Requiring data centers and major developments to disclose their demands on water, electricity, and public infrastructure"
  • "Defending property owners against uncontrolled taxation and eminent domain for private gain"
  • "Protecting civil liberties, privacy, due process, and equal treatment"
Tidbits
  • Abortion: "Should Texas have the power to make this decision for a woman? My answer is no"
  • Border and immigration: "A country has the authority and responsibility to control its border. But border security cannot substitute for a functional legal immigration system."
  • Guns: No public statement found
  • Public schools and vouchers: "I opposed the Texas voucher program because it commits public money to private education while creating another state-administered benefit"
  • Property taxes: "Owning a home should not mean renting it indefinitely from the government."
Claims and the record
  • Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
hamiltonfortx.com

Open in the full comparison: Denton County

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