José Menéndez
Photo: Public domain
DemocratIn office since Nov 2016

José Menéndez

Texas State Senator, District 26 since 2016. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2030.

Texas State Senator, District 26Born 1969

In office
9 yrs
Since 2016
Bills became law
28
303 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed
17.1%
Chamber median 0.0%
With party
100%
On votes splitting the parties
Last margin
+68.1
Won 2026
Next election
2030
Nov 5, 2030

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

  • Administration
  • Business and Commerce
  • Disaster Preparedness and Flooding Select
  • Education
  • General Investigating Committee on the July 2025 Flooding Events
  • Veteran Affairs Select
  • Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 303 sponsored · 28 became law
BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw
SB 5 Relating to making supplemental appropriations for disaster relief and preparedness and giving direction and…
Disaster Preparedness & Relief (I0211) · Became law Sep 2025
SB 11 Relating to an affirmative defense to prosecution for certain victims of trafficking of persons or…
CRIME VICTIMS (S0046) · Became law Sep 2025
SB 14 Relating to the provision by a political subdivision of credits against impact fees to builders and…
City Government--General (I0060) · Became law Sep 2025
SB 16 Relating to real property theft and real property fraud; establishing recording requirements for certain…
ATTORNEY GENERAL (V2811) · Became law Sep 2025
SB 3 Relating to outdoor warning sirens in flash flood-prone areas.
ALERT SYSTEM (S0523) · Became law Sep 2025

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Menéndez sits in the Texas State Senate

Menéndez is closer to the center than 67% of the chamber's Democrats.

Dem. medianRep. medianMenéndezMore liberalMore conservative

Closest: Borris Miles, Judith Zaffirini, Roland Gutierrez

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:04 PM ET

With Menéndez’s party

  • Votes with the chamber's Democrats100%
  • Cosponsorships of the other party's bills82%

Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Texas State Senate.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Menéndez’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Menéndez was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Elections

Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.

YearRaceResultMarginSeat+/−
2026Texas Senate District 26WonD+68.1D+22.8+45.3
2022Texas State Senate, District 26WonD+33.1——
2020Texas State Senate, District 26WonD+60.0——
2016Texas State Senate, District 26WonD+66.2——
2014Texas House of Representatives, District 124Won———
2012Texas House of Representatives, District 124WonD+69.9——
2010Texas House of Representatives, District 124WonD+58.5——
2008Texas House of Representatives, District 124Won———
2006Texas House of Representatives, District 124WonD+28.9——
2004Texas House of Representatives, District 124Won———
2002Texas House of Representatives, District 124Won———
2000Texas House of Representatives, District 124Won———

Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Texas Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 7, 2026, 3:01 PM ET

Campaign money, 2025–26

Raised
$321.4K
Spent
$378.4K
Cash
$1M

Source: Texas Ethics Commission filings through Oct 24, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 3:49 AM ET

Campaign committees

Open committees can still raise and spend money.

Jose Menendez
State
Active—

Source: Texas Ethics Commission filings through Oct 24, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 3:49 AM ET

Seats Menéndez has held

Source: 99chambers results archive

Who Menéndez has run against

  • Julián Villarreal (G) · 2026 general, won
  • Ashton Murray (R) · 2022 general, won
  • Julian Villarreal (I) · 2020 general, won
  • Fidel Castillo (L) · 2016 general, won
  • Herb Gonzales Jr. (G) · 2012 general, won
  • Douglas P. Hanson (L) · 2010 general, won

Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Texas Secretary of State (unofficial)

How we know Menéndez

One person, matched across every source we use.

Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET