Carl Sherman
Carl Sherman
Texas Democratic Senate nominee?
$14.6M
MAR 4, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer State Representative
PartyDemocratic
Age60 years old (Jun 13, 1966)
GenderMale
LocationTexas
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BackgroundPolitician
EducationNorthwood University
Notable personal detailsCarl Oscar Sherman Sr. is a Texas Democratic politician, pastor, and former local executive who served as mayor of DeSoto, Texas (2010–2016) and later represented Texas House District 109 (2019–2025). He ran for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Texas in 2024, filing with the Federal Election Commission as a challenger. He has been associated with police-accountability legislation in the Texas House, including sponsorship of the “Botham Jean Act.”
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Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports policies to help working people and local governments—advocates raising the minimum wage, directing recovery aid to local governments and small businesses rather than large corporations, and opposing state restrictions that limit local taxing authority. Emphasizes workforce training and reducing student loan burdens as part of economic policy.
Healthcare
Supports expanding Medicaid and prioritizes Medicaid expansion as a legislative goal. Emphasizes broader access to care rather than advocating for single‑payer systems.
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Immigration & Border
Supports immigration reform that protects asylum access and humane treatment of migrants while working with local law enforcement, Border Patrol, ICE and Mexico to address enforcement and border management. Emphasizes finding sensible, bipartisan solutions that boost the economy and treat people with dignity rather than endorsing maximalist enforcement or broad deportation policies.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports legal access to abortion and reproductive healthcare and seeks to codify the protections of Roe v. Wade into federal law. Describes himself as "not pro-abortion, but pro-choice" and says he would support the Women’s Health Protection Act. Advocates protecting patients' ability to make healthcare decisions and removing barriers to access.
Climate & Energy
Supports climate action and clean-energy measures consistent with Democratic positions; has received favorable ratings from climate-focused organizations and serves on committees related to land and resource management. Voting and interest indicate support for moderate climate investments and clean energy incentives while operating within a pragmatic, state-legislative context.
Public Safety & Guns
Carl O. Sherman has sponsored and supported police accountability measures (including the Botham Jean Act to strengthen body‑camera evidence) and has voiced support for sensible background checks and licensing/training for gun purchasers while expressing concerns about proposals like constitutional carry increasing risks for communities of color. He identifies as a gun owner but has criticized the lack of state-level restrictions and supports measures to reduce gun-related risks to officers and communities.
News
Carl Sherman is in the news because the Texas 2026 U.S. Senate race is now being treated as highly competitive, with a recent poll showing it tied. The race has also been reshaped by Ken Paxton’s win of the Republican nomination after defeating John Cornyn, which Democrats see as making the general election more winnable. Recent coverage also points to strong Democratic fundraising and higher Democratic turnout in Texas primaries, adding to the sense that the contest could be close.
Paxton dominates Cornyn in Texas US Senate runoff, the latest sign of Trump's hold on GOP
Official says certified Texas 2026 primary election results coming soon
Republicans’ Home-Field Edge for Senate Seems Just Enough for Now
Trump claims he would have won California if Jesus counted the votes
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20242024
LatestCycle 2024
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements