TX-21 Republican nominee?
$31.5K
MAR 10, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleCriminal defense attorney
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyTrump-aligned Republican
GenderMale
LocationTexas
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BackgroundCriminal defense attorney
EducationUniversity of Chicago — Chemistry (degree)
Notable personal detailsDaniel W. Betts is a Texas criminal defense attorney and Republican candidate for U.S. House in Texas’ 21st Congressional District in the 2026 election cycle. He previously ran for Travis County district attorney in 2024. He has said he earned a chemistry degree from the University of Chicago and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law (2010), and he lives in Dripping Springs in the Texas Hill Country.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Eliminate the federal income tax and replace it with a consumption-based tax; pursue tax cuts paired with fiscal restraint and smaller government; oppose subsidies or federal policies that raise costs for energy and businesses.
Healthcare
Daniel Betts supports shifting care toward health savings accounts paired with a government catastrophic plan that covers wellness visits, regulating pharmacy benefit managers, expanding telemedicine for rural areas, and expanding evidence-based mental health treatment. His campaign emphasizes market-based tools and limited federal intervention in healthcare.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate emphasizes border security and interdiction, prioritizing stopping fentanyl and sanctioning foreign chemical suppliers. Policy proposals include designating Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations, funding better screening at ports of entry, and providing rapid field-testing equipment for law enforcement. The campaign frames immigration policy primarily through enforcement and border-control measures to protect communities from drugs and criminal activity.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate describes himself as "unapologetically pro-life," supports leaving abortion policy to the states rather than federal mandates, and emphasizes expanding support for adoption and services for mothers in crisis. He opposes federal intervention to preserve or expand abortion access and frames protections for life as a states' rights issue.
Climate & Energy
Supports reliable, Texas-focused energy and opposes green-subsidy policies that he says disadvantage natural gas and nuclear; favors clearing regulatory burdens for nuclear and rejects certain clean-energy subsidies such as for battery storage. Emphasizes energy independence, stabilizing the grid and pairing generation (including nuclear) with local needs like desalination. Advocates market-oriented, state-led solutions rather than federal “green” mandates or subsidies.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate describes himself as a lifelong hunter and responsible gun owner who will defend the Second Amendment and protect law‑abiding gun owners. He opposes federal bans on commonly owned firearms, accessory bans, licensing schemes, and registries, and supports locally driven school safety measures such as increased trained SROs and voluntary guardian programs.
News
Daniel Betts is in the news because Kalshi said it suspended and fined him and two other political candidates for betting on their own races, calling it political insider trading. The company said it has since added safeguards to stop candidates from trading on their own elections. Earlier coverage also placed him among the U.S. House races to watch in the 2026 midterms, but the betting issue is the main recent development.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements