Clayton Tucker, a Democrat from Lampasas, is running for Texas agriculture commissioner in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Republican Nate Sheets and Libertarian Austin R. Kelly.

Asked why he is seeking the office, Tucker said in our candidate questionnaire: "I'm running for Agriculture Commissioner to make food and farming affordable again and protect the water Texans depend on. Corporate monopolies squeeze family farmers while charging families more at the grocery store. Irresponsible AI data centers threaten our farmland and put more pressure on our water and electric bills."

Candidate information

Party: Democratic

Education: Tucker said in our questionnaire: "Southwestern University. Bachelor of Arts in International Studies at Southwestern University to study International Politics with a minor in Mandarin, then to the National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan to study Mandarin. I am a member of Kappa Sigma."

Family: Tucker said in our questionnaire: "My family has a ranch in Lampasas, the RX Ranch, where my grandfather put me to work as soon as I could wear my own boots. I spent weekends and summers there baling hay, mending fences, and caring for livestock while attending school in Georgetown during the week. I returned to Lampasas after working abroad and continue to manage the family ranch."

Occupation: Tucker said in our questionnaire: "I'm a family rancher in Lampasas and a trade analyst for a nonprofit. I grew up working on our family's RX Ranch and continue to manage it today. My work has included water and agriculture policy research for the National Science Foundation, an internship at the Texas State Capitol, and work for an environmental compliance firm in Shanghai. I also taught kindergarten in Taipei, Taiwan."

Experience and public service

Tucker holds no prior elected office. He ran for Texas State Senate District 24 in 2020, according to his campaign. He said he serves as secretary of the Texas Farmers Union and is a founding board member of Killeen Creators, a community garden organization. Tucker has been associated with Our Revolution Texas, according to Ballotpedia.

His endorsements include the AFL-CIO, the Dallas AFL-CIO Council, Texas AFT and the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, according to BallotReady.

On the issues

Qualifications: Asked what accomplishments show he can handle the job, Tucker said in our questionnaire: "I grew up working on my family ranch, researched water and agriculture policy, and serve as the Texas Farmers Union Secretary. I know agriculture from the pasture to public policy."

Data centers: Tucker said in our questionnaire: "For example, I will fight the massive expansion of data centers destroying people's livelihoods. When we don't put enforceable guardrails around their design, placement, and purpose, they bring higher water and power bills, run our water wells dry, and blast our homes and livestock with high-decibel noise." He said he would help local communities develop "Ag Impact Studies" before, in his words, "any more data centers come for their land, their water, and their tax dollars."

Food prices: Tucker said on his campaign website: "We can have cheaper, healthier, and more local foods that pay farmers their fair share while also ensuring food remains affordable -- but only if we limit the ability of the greedy few corporate middlemen from monopolizing our food system."

Water and soil: Tucker said on his campaign website that he wants to "keep Texas water for Texans, not for Wall Street profits." He also called for research into sustainable practices to protect soil from erosion and degradation, according to his campaign.

Candidate responses were collected through the Surround Sound News candidate questionnaire and from BallotReady and Ballotpedia. Questionnaire answers are presented verbatim.