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Q&A: Get to know the candidates running for Texas land commissioner

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Three candidates are running to lead the Texas General Land Office in the Nov. 3 election.

The big picture

The state land commissioner manages 13 million acres of state lands, with duties such as allocating disaster recovery funds, leasing state lands to generate revenue for the Texas Permanent School Fund, preserving state landmarks such as The Alamo and overseeing several veterans programs.

Democrat Benjamin Flores and Libertarian Neill Snider are challenging Republican incumbent Dawn Buckingham for the seat.

Buckingham ran uncontested in the March Republican primary, Community Impact reported, while Flores won the Democratic primary. Snider was selected as the Texas Libertarian Party's candidate during an April nominating convention.

The winner of the November election will begin a four-year term in January. Write-in candidates may also appear on the ballot; however, Community Impact does not send questionnaires to write-in candidates.

Preparing for the polls

Early voting runs from Oct. 19-30, and Election Day is Nov. 3. In addition to eight statewide races, the following state and federal seats are up for election this fall:

38 U.S. House seats (by congressional district)
Four seats on the Texas Supreme Court (statewide)
Three seats on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (statewide)
Three seats on Texas' 15th Court of Appeals (statewide)
16 state Senate seats (by legislative district)
150 state House seats (by legislative district)
Eight State Board of Education seats (by SBOE district)

For more coverage of local and state races, visit communityimpact.com/election.

Zooming in

Community Impact's goal with election Q&As is to provide a side-by-side, equitable resource for Texas voters to review candidates' perspectives before they head to the polls.

To ensure that candidates are the ones defining their positions, if candidates did not complete the questionnaire after multiple attempts to contact them, Community Impact's website reads "candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time." Candidates were informed of this policy.

Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been minimally edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.

Candidate Q&A

Dawn Buckingham

RepublicanIncumbent

Land Commissioner, physician, conservative, Christian, businesswoman and mom working to improve the lives of Texans.

Website:: https://dawnbuckingham.com/

What would your top priorities be if elected?

My priorities are clear: Protect Texas lands, generate billions for public education without raising our taxes, serve our veterans, secure our border, strengthen our coast and ensure the General Land Office (GLO) remains a responsible steward of the resources entrusted to us. I will continue delivering results while defending Texas.

After a natural disaster, how will you ensure disaster recovery efforts are efficient and equitable?

Disaster recovery must serve Texans and get families back on their feet quickly. That means cutting red tape, communicating directly with local communities, and ensuring recovery dollars reach those in need. We’ve distributed billions in disaster recovery [and] rebuilt thousands of homes, and will continue delivering results for Texas.

How will you balance the sovereignty of Texas lands with border security efforts?

Texas has an obligation to secure its border, but we will not sacrifice our state sovereignty. We will continue working with our federal, state and local partners while protecting Texas land and holding anyone accountable who enters, damages or alters Texas property without authorization. Texas land belongs to Texas.

How will you advance the GLO’s goal of generating revenue for the Permanent School Fund while preserving Texas lands?

We have a constitutional obligation to maximize the value of Texas’ natural resources while responsibly stewarding the land. During my tenure, the GLO has generated more than $6 billion for the Permanent School Fund. We will continue expanding responsible energy development and generating billions for public education without raising taxes.

What do you see as the greatest challenge for Texas in the next 5 years?

Water will be one of Texas’ greatest challenges as our population and economy continue growing. The GLO is supporting research into treating and reusing produced water which could expand water supplies, support agriculture and power generation, and turn energy byproducts into a valuable resource for Texas.

Benjamin Flores

Democrat

Bay City councilman, cybersecurity and compliance professional, rancher, immigrant, and longtime community leader in Texas.

Website:: https://www.letsgowithben.com/

What would your top priorities be if elected?

My priorities are increasing revenue for public schools through responsible land management, making Veterans Land Board programs faster and easier to access, protecting our coast, and delivering quicker, fairer disaster recovery. The GLO should serve Texans with transparency, competence, and urgency. I will refocus the agency on that mission.

After a natural disaster, how will you ensure disaster recovery efforts are efficient and equitable?

I will cut red tape, publish timelines and dashboards, and work directly with leaders and organizations. Recovery funding must reach rural, coastal and low-income Texans without years of delay. We will track outcomes by community so the public can see who is being served and where gaps remain.

How will you balance the sovereignty of Texas lands with border security efforts?

Texas can protect its border without surrendering control of state lands or sacrificing parks, resources and private property rights. I will demand transparent agreements, lawful coordination and review of every proposal. Security decisions must be effective, accountable and respectful of the lands Texans expect the GLO to protect.