Dawn Buckingham
Texas Republican Senate nominee?
$16.2M
MAY 27, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleOther
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age58 years old (Feb 21, 1968)
GenderFemale
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LocationTexas
BackgroundPhysician
EducationUniversity of Texas at Austin — B.S.
Notable personal detailsDawn Buckingham is an American physician and Texas politician who has served as the Texas Land Commissioner since January 10, 2023. She previously represented Texas Senate District 24 from 2017 to 2023. She is an ophthalmologist and has described her medical career as focused on oculoplastic/eye surgery. She earned a B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.D. from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports low-tax, pro-business policies including opposition to a state income tax, efforts to lower property taxes, and protection of the oil and gas industry as central to Texas’s economy and revenue. Emphasizes limited government, reduced spending, and defending energy industry revenue streams that fund public services.
Healthcare
Dawn Buckingham has advanced conservative, limited-government approaches to health policy as a Republican state official. Her legislative actions include reducing proposed postpartum Medicaid coverage from 12 to 6 months in a 2021–2022 session amendment, and her campaign and endorsements emphasize smaller, less-intrusive government rather than expansion of public insurance programs.
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Immigration & Border
Supports aggressive border enforcement and state-led border control measures including allowing Texas law enforcement access to Rio Grande islands, acquiring land for border infrastructure, and partnering with DPS to install and maintain fencing. Advocates using state resources to build physical barriers and to assist or enable large-scale enforcement or deportation operations.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports near-total restrictions on abortion, endorsing laws that ban abortion when a fetal heartbeat is detected and stating abortion should only be allowed when the life of the mother is in jeopardy. Opposes public funding for abortion and supported a trigger law to make abortion illegal in Texas if Roe v. Wade were overturned.
Climate & Energy
The candidate supports Texas oil and gas development and energy independence, opposes federal regulations that would sharply limit emissions from fossil-fuel power plants, and has actively opposed proposed offshore wind projects in the Gulf of Mexico. She has used her role as Texas Land Commissioner to challenge Biden administration energy rules and to defend liquefied natural gas exports and other fossil-fuel interests while promoting coastal resilience and infrastructure projects.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate publicly describes herself as a defender of the Second Amendment and has supported permitless/"constitutional carry" measures in the Texas Senate. Her campaign and public statements emphasize protecting gun rights while opposing new restrictions.
News
Dawn Buckingham is being mentioned in coverage of the Texas 2026 election cycle, where Republicans are under pressure as Democratic turnout has been strong in the primaries. Reports also say Texas Republicans could be at risk of losing a Senate seat if they choose a weak candidate. More broadly, the race is being shaped by redistricting fights and voting disputes, including a court ruling that stopped extended voting hours in Dallas County.
Nate Silver Issues Warning to Texas Republicans
Republicans Get Early Midterm Warning as Democratic Turnout Surges
Crockett warns Dallas County vote dispute may delay Texas Senate results
What to watch as the midterms begin with Tuesday's primaries
Endorsements
Endorsers of Dawn Buckingham for Texas Republican Senate nominee?
Ted Cruz
Political organization
Ted Cruz endorsed Dawn Buckingham in her reelection campaign for Texas Land Commissioner.
National Border Patrol Council
Public figure
National Border Patrol Council endorsed Dawn Buckingham for reelection as Texas Land Commissioner.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Fundraising