Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

Carlos (Charlie) Garza

Candidate · November 3, 2026 general election

Carlos (Charlie) Garza

Republican
On ballot as
Carlos (Charlie) Garza
Current role
Retired teacher
Background
  • B.S., Southern Illinois University Carbondale (per Dallas Morning News questionnaire)
  • M.S., Old Dominion University (per the questionnaire)
  • Retired U.S. Navy veteran (per Dallas Morning News editorial)
  • Former naval submarine officer (per 2012 Texas Tribune report)
  • "24 years of experience as an educator and administrator" (per the questionnaire)
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  • Born and raised in Texas (per the questionnaire)
  • District resident, 23 years (per the questionnaire)
Experience
  • Republican nominee, replacing primary winner April Williams Moore (per Ballotpedia)
  • Moore was found ineligible for the general election ballot (per Ballotpedia)
  • Filing for this race dated Aug. 24, 2026 (per Texas Secretary of State's candidate list)
  • Member, State Board of Education, District 1 (West Texas, including El Paso) (2011–2013)
  • Elected to that seat in 2010; lost the 2012 general election to Martha Dominguez
  • Assistant principal, Clint ISD near El Paso (as of 2012) (per Texas Tribune)
Top priorities
  • "No family should be trapped by a ZIP code or forced to accept a school that does not meet state standards."
  • "Texas voters deserve a real voice in major education decisions—not decisions made behind closed doors by unelected officials."
  • "Book approval belongs closest to the people it affects most: local school boards and parents."
  • On reading: "That starts with training teachers in the science of reading, putting proven phonics materials in every classroom"
Tidbits
  • Curriculum and instructional materials: In a Dallas Morning News questionnaire, on religious content: "we should not erase or ignore the important role religion has played in shaping our nation's history, laws, conflicts, and social movements"
  • Library books: In a Dallas Morning News questionnaire: "Book approval belongs closest to the people it affects most: local school boards and parents."
  • School funding and bonds: No public statement found
  • Vouchers / school choice: In a Dallas Morning News questionnaire, on education savings accounts: "Giving families more choices creates the pressure schools need to improve."
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found