Polling Average
30%25%20%15%10%5%0%
5%
24%
5%
TX-09 Democratic nominee?
$29.2K
MAR 10, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleNASA astronaut (retired)
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age58 years old (Dec 1, 1967)
GenderMale
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LocationTexas
BackgroundNASA astronaut (retired)
EducationUnited States Air Force Academy — B.S. in Mathematics (French minor) (1989)
Notable personal detailsTerry Wayne Virts Jr. is a retired NASA astronaut and U.S. Air Force colonel who piloted Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-130) and later commanded the International Space Station during Expedition 43 in 2015. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, earned a master’s degree from Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, and completed Harvard Business School’s General Management Program. After retiring from NASA in 2016, he has worked as an author, filmmaker, speaker, and consultant, and was a federal candidate in Texas during the 2026 cycle.
SourcesShowHide
fec.govnasa.goven.wikipedia.orgterryvirts.comwikidata.orginvesting.comleticiaforcongress.comelectionline.orgva01republicans.orgthecandidate.comhoustonchronicle.comhppr.orgtexasdemocrats.orgcbsnews.comdocquery.fec.govnewtools.cira.state.tx.usuh.edureddit.comspace.commusic.amazon.intexastribune.orgksat.comnewsweek.comspectrumlocalnews.comthestandupway.orgcongress.govepi.orgirssettlementsecrets.comterrysavage.comconvergencemag.comvermontbiz.compodscripts.co8kun.toparchyde.comaxios.comapnews.comstartribune.comfoxnews.comwashingtonpost.comabcnews.go.comgames-cdn.washingtonpost.comstatic-radio.foxnews.comstatic.foxnews.comcdn.cnn.comballotready.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgvotesmart.orges.wikipedia.org
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
The candidate emphasizes making healthcare, groceries, and housing more affordable, supporting small businesses through reduced overregulation, opposing tariffs that hurt Texas workers, and rejects tax cuts for billionaires. He frames his economic approach around helping working Texans and opposing policies he describes as benefiting the wealthy at the expense of ordinary people.
Healthcare
Supports making healthcare more affordable and increasing access through practical reforms such as expanding the supply of doctors and medical residencies, offering free preventive care (mammograms, vaccines, screenings), and targeting cost inefficiencies. Positions emphasize pragmatic, government-enabled measures to broaden access rather than proposals for single-payer or full privatization.
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Immigration & Border
Supports legal immigration while opposing illegal immigration; advocates a “strong border” combined with treating immigrants with dignity and respect and focusing enforcement on criminal activity. Describes his approach as “common-sense immigration.”
Climate & Energy
Terry Virts has criticized federal cuts to weather and climate science and has said extreme flooding influenced his decision to run, but his campaign materials and public statements do not lay out specific climate or energy policy proposals such as emissions targets, clean-energy investment, or fossil-fuel transition plans.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJun 12, 2026
Terry Virts is in the news as a candidate in the Texas 2026 Senate race, where Democrats are trying to build momentum in a competitive state. Recent reports say Democratic turnout has been strong in Texas primaries and that Democrats have raised solid money for battleground Senate races, including Texas. The race is also being shaped by election-related disputes and broader concerns about whether Democratic support, especially among Hispanic voters, will hold up in the general election.
fec.gov+48
Articles
MJMother Jones16 days ago
They’re All Ken Paxton Now
Neutral
NNewsmax16 days ago
Trump-Backed Mealer Wins Texas GOP Runoff in Redrawn Houston-Area District
Neutral
AGAmarillo Globe-News3 months ago
Official says certified Texas 2026 primary election results coming soon
Neutral
NNewsweek3 months ago
Republicans Get Early Midterm Warning as Democratic Turnout Surges
Positive
Polls
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$665.4K
$499.1K
$332.7K
$166.4K
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$665.4K
$35.4K
$421.7K
$28.1K
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements