Who is running for Texas Agriculture Commissioner in 2026?

Private citizen

Nate Sheets founded the Nature Nate's honey company, sold it in 2021 and resigned as CEO in 2024 to run for agriculture commissioner². He served in the U.S. Navy Reserve and owns a ranch in Guthrie¹⁴. He defeated incumbent Sid Miller in the March 2026 Republican primary with 52.7 percent¹.

Where they stand

• Business regulation: Cut red tape, but keep core safety and environmental rules Questionnaire answer · medium confidence
  • In a Community Impact questionnaire Sheets said he would cut unnecessary taxes and regulations while bringing more transparency and accountability to the agency. (2026-09-07) source
  • In a Ballotpedia survey he said he would audit the Texas Department of Agriculture to cut unnecessary taxes, fees and regulations. (2026) source
  • Local coverage reports he wants to remove pesticides and plastics from Texas food and supports deregulating certain areas of agriculture and lowering fees. (2026-08-30) source
• Immigration: Deport everyone here illegally, as quickly as possible Said · low confidence
  • His campaign website says he will enthusiastically support the Trump administration's efforts to secure the border and praises its approach to deporting illegal immigrants. (2026-02-04) source
  • He supports requiring federal E-Verify for all employment in Texas and says he will push state legislation so anyone working in Texas has had citizenship verified. (2026-09-24) source
• Trade and tariffs: Position does not fit our answer choices; see evidence. Said · medium confidence
  • Asked whether President Trump's tariffs were a mistake, Sheets said farmers feel some pain but not only because of tariffs, and that other countries use trade rules to keep U.S. producers out. (2025-10-31) source
  • His campaign website calls for a Texas First Trade approach modeled on President Trump's America First trade agenda. (2026-02-04) source
• Marijuana: Position does not fit our answer choices; see evidence. Said · medium confidence
  • Sheets said his concern with hemp is synthesized THC products like Delta-8 and Delta-10, and he welcomed a federal ban on them. (2025-12-14) source

No public position found on: Energy and climate.

Private citizen

Clayton Tucker is a cattle and goat rancher from Lampasas, Secretary of the Texas Farmers Union and a fair trade organizer¹². He previously worked as a water and agriculture researcher for the National Science Foundation and as a kindergarten teacher². He was unopposed in the March 2026 Democratic primary and ran for Texas Senate District 24 in 2020, losing to Dawn Buckingham¹².

Where they stand

• Business regulation: Much stronger rules, including breaking up the largest companies Said · high confidence
  • Tucker's campaign site says a handful of corporations control the food system and that, as in the past, monopolies must be broken up again. (2026) source
  • In a Ballotpedia survey he listed busting the monopolies that have rigged food and farming prices as a key campaign message. (2026) source
  • He told Community Impact he would rebuild the state food inspection system to hold food corporations accountable. (2026-09-07) source
• Trade and tariffs: Position does not fit our answer choices; see evidence. Said · medium confidence
  • His campaign site says NAFTA and other so-called free trade deals sent Texas agriculture overseas and that reshoring agriculture requires fair trade. (2026) source
  • The same page says he would promote Texas food products in other countries to boost exports. (2026) source
• Energy and climate: An aggressive shift to clean energy with firm deadlines Questionnaire answer · low confidence
  • In a 2019 Ballotpedia survey for his state Senate campaign, Tucker listed 100 percent renewable energy by 2030 as a key message and called for expanding Texas wind power to address climate change. (2019) source
• Marijuana: Position does not fit our answer choices; see evidence. Said · medium confidence
  • His campaign site says he fully supports the right of farmers to raise hemp and of adults to consume hemp products without undue interference from government or corporations. (2026) source
• Immigration: Position does not fit our answer choices; see evidence. Said · medium confidence
  • His campaign site opposes border wall construction in the Big Bend region, saying the terrain is already a barrier and the wall would harm tourism, wildlife and private property. (2026) source

Private citizen

Austin R. Kelly is an ecologist from Comanche County who runs ARK Ecological Consulting and has lectured in rangeland, botany and ecology at Texas A&M University²³. He was nominated by the Libertarian Party of Texas for agriculture commissioner in April 2026¹⁵.

Where they stand

• Business regulation: Cut regulations broadly and let the market sort it out Said · high confidence
  • Kelly's campaign site calls for aggressively cutting red tape around the hemp industry, cottage food and local meat processing, and eliminating agricultural licensing schemes. (2026) source
  • He told Community Impact his top priorities are cutting burdensome regulations, defending property rights and ending wasteful spending, and that he would remove protectionist rules on direct sales. (2026-09-07) source
  • In a Ballotpedia survey he said the free market, not government, should pick winners and losers in agriculture. (2026) source
• Marijuana: Position does not fit our answer choices; see evidence. Said · medium confidence
  • Kelly's campaign site calls for aggressively cutting red tape around the hemp industry and says the agency treats hemp producers like threats. (2026) source

No public position found on: Trade and tariffs, Immigration, Energy and climate.