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Nick Pappas

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Nick Pappas
Image of Nick Pappas

Democratic Party

Candidate, Governor of Texas

Elections and appointments
Next election

March 3, 2026

Education

High school

Humble High School

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Marine Corps

Years of service

2005 - 2022

Personal
Religion
Christian
Profession
Retired
Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Campaign YouTube

Campaign TikTok

Nick Pappas (Democratic Party) is running for election for Governor of Texas. He declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on March 3, 2026.

Pappas completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Nick Pappas served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2005 to 2022. He earned a high school diploma from Humble High School. As of his 2026 campaign, he was retired.[1]

Elections

2026

See also: Texas gubernatorial election, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Texas

Bobby Cole, Nick Pappas, and Meagan Tehseldar are running in the Democratic primary for Governor of Texas on March 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Bobby Cole
Bobby Cole
Image of Nick Pappas
Nick Pappas Candidate Connection
Image of Meagan Tehseldar
Meagan Tehseldar Candidate Connection

There are no incumbents in this race.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Texas

Incumbent Greg Abbott and Ronnie Tullos are running in the Republican primary for Governor of Texas on March 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott
Image of Ronnie Tullos
Ronnie Tullos Candidate Connection

Incumbents are bolded and underlined.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Endorsements

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Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Nick Pappas completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Pappas' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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I am Nick Pappas, a proud Texan, father, and retired United States Marine. As a disabled, combat veteran, I know the value of service, accountability, and resilience. My life has been shaped by hard work and overcoming challenges, from raising a family on a tight budget to recovering from service-related injuries that required years of surgeries and rehabilitation.

I am not a career politician or a millionaire. I’m not famous or related to anyone famous. That means the only people I can rely on for my campaign are my fellow Texans. I am a working Texan who believes public service is about listening, problem solving, and ensuring that no one is left behind. Texas families, seniors, and veterans deserve leaders who put people first.

My vision is a Texas where every person has access to quality healthcare, strong public schools, affordable housing, reliable and cheap water and electricity, and safe communities for their families and private businesses. I will invest in local communities, support small businesses, and work to modernize our outdated infrastructure so we can prevent failures like the 2022 blackout or the 2025 flood.

I believe Texans share common values of fairness, hard work, and respect for one another. As governor, I will fight to ensure opportunity and security for all, not just the well-connected few. My goal is simple: to build a Texas that is equal, affordable, and forward-looking, where every Texan can thrive not just survive.
  • I’m running to fix 30 years of corruption in the Texas government. We can change Texas into the state we tell everyone it is. We can feed our hungry, shelter our homeless, clothe our poor, care for our seniors, and support our communities. All we have to do is vote out those who have undermined, underfunded, and privatized our great state.
  • I will work for term limits on all elected offices in Texas. Terms should never be more than 4 years, and you should never serve more than 2 terms. We need fresh, innovative ideas. People beg for change, but have been electing the same tired representatives for years.
  • I strive to get big money out of Texas politics. The people cannot have a fair say in their representation when billionaires can buy their politicians. The sooner we take money out of politics, the sooner our leaders will run to serve the people, not get fish off of their suffering.
Abortion, Border & Immigration, Business & Jobs, Casinos, Childcare, Disability Rights, Education, Elections & Voting, Environment, Foster Care, Guns, Healthcare, Homelessness, Housing, Infrastructure, Interest Rates, LGBT+, Law Enforcement, Marijuana, Mental Health & Addiction, Polygraph Ban, Prison & Jails, School Safety, Sexual Violence, State Benefit Contracts, Taxes, Technology & Internet, Term Limits, Texas DOGE, Trade Schools, Transportation, Truth in Media, Veterans, Wages & Workplace Rights
(1) Integrity and Honor. An elected official must be honest, ethical, and willing to do the right thing even when it’s hard. Without trust, there’s no leadership.

(2) Sound Judgment and Decisiveness. Texans deserve leaders who can weigh the facts, listen to experts, and make timely decisions that put people first.
(3) Dependability and Accountability. A leader keeps their word, follows through on promises, and takes responsibility for both successes and failures.
(4) Courage and Endurance. Public service requires both moral courage to stand up for what’s right and the stamina to keep working through tough challenges without giving up.
(5) Respect and Unselfishness. Treating others with fairness and dignity, putting the needs of the people ahead of personal gain, and ensuring every Texan feels valued.

(6) Knowledge and Initiative. A leader must keep learning, understand the issues deeply, and take the initiative to solve problems instead of waiting for others to act.
(1) Lead by Example. I will hold myself to the same standards I expect of others. Texans deserve a governor who works hard, tells the truth, and shows respect in every action. Leadership means being accountable and modeling the values we want to see in our communities.

(2) Put People First. Every Texan matters. I will know the needs of our families, workers, veterans, and seniors, and fight to ensure their welfare comes before special interests and donors. A true leader protects those they serve.
(3) Communicate Honestly and Clearly. Texans deserve transparency. I will keep people informed, listen with empathy, and ensure that every decision is explained in plain language. When leaders communicate openly, trust grows.
(4) Build Strong Teams and Communities. Texas is strongest when we work together. I will bring people to the table, train and empower local leaders, and make sure every community has the resources to succeed. A governor’s job is to build unity, not division.

(5) Take Responsibility and Deliver Results. Leadership is about action, not excuses. I will take responsibility for my decisions, own mistakes when they happen, and stay focused on getting the job done. Texans deserve results they can see and feel in their daily lives.
The legacy I want to leave is a Texas where ordinary people know their voices matter and their government works for them. I want Texans to look back and say that during my time as Governor, we made the state more affordable, more fair, and more secure for families, seniors, and veterans. My goal is to be remembered as a leader who put people above politics, who treated every Texan with respect, and who left behind stronger schools, healthier communities, and a state government that earns the trust of its citizens.
I will be the Commander-In-Chief of Texas. This is not just about the National Guard, it’s about being ready to protect and support Texans in times of crisis, whether that’s a flood, a wildfire, another blackout, riot, or a shortage. My military experience taught me how to lead in emergencies, and I will put that to work for Texas.
I believe the Governor of Texas should have a strong but accountable role in the budgeting process. The state budget is where our values become reality, and the Governor must set clear priorities, work transparently with the Legislature, and ensure every dollar is spent wisely. The Governor should be deeply involved in proposing a balanced budget, monitoring agencies for efficiency, and using the line item veto responsibly to prevent waste or corruption. I also believe in checks and balances, so the Legislature must remain a partner in shaping and approving the budget. My approach would be to use the Governor’s influence to direct resources toward core needs like education, healthcare, infrastructure, and public safety, while making sure Texans can see where their tax dollars are going. The Governor’s role should not be to dictate the budget alone but to lead with vision, accountability, and fairness so that the state’s resources serve all Texans, not just the well connected few.
The line item veto is a powerful tool and should be used with caution. My philosophy is that it should never be used to score political points or punish opponents. It should only be used to remove wasteful spending, block unethical earmarks, and protect taxpayers from corruption or abuse. When the Legislature works to pass a balanced budget that funds education, healthcare, infrastructure, and public safety, my role as Governor would be to respect that work while ensuring accountability. If a particular item does not serve the people of Texas, I will not hesitate to strike it. But if the Legislature has acted in good faith for the benefit of Texans, the line item veto should not stand in the way. My goal would be to use this authority sparingly, responsibly, and always with the best interests of Texas families in mind.
The ideal relationship between the Governor and the Legislature is one built on respect, transparency, and collaboration. The Governor should set a clear vision for the state while listening to lawmakers from every region and background. The Legislature should hold the Governor accountable while working together to solve problems that affect everyday Texans. I believe the Governor and Legislature must serve as partners who may not always agree but who remain committed to producing results that strengthen our schools, improve healthcare, grow the economy, and ensure public safety. Texans expect cooperation, not gridlock, and that is the approach I will bring as Governor.
Besides the brisket? The people. Southern hospitality governs our actions… when off the highway. Most Texans are loyal to their state and to their neighbors. They want better opportunities for future generations, and a fair shot at the American dream.
Reforming and restoring public education. The Republican TX government has been undermining, underfunding, and privatizing our children’s’ futures and we need to counter that strongly and swiftly.
The Governor should only use emergency powers when there is an immediate threat to the health, safety, or security of Texans that cannot be addressed quickly enough through the normal legislative process. Examples include natural disasters, public health crises, or major threats to public safety where rapid action is necessary to save lives and protect communities. Emergency powers should always be limited in scope, time, and purpose, and they should never be used to bypass the Legislature for political advantage. Once the immediate crisis is stabilized, decision making should return to the normal democratic process. Emergency authority exists to protect Texans in extraordinary situations, not to expand executive power beyond what is necessary.
I believe Texas should adopt a true statewide ballot initiative process that allows the people to place issues directly on the ballot without having to go through the Legislature. Right now, Texans can only vote on measures that politicians in Austin approve, which limits the ability of citizens to shape their own government. A fair ballot initiative process would give Texans more direct power to hold leaders accountable and address issues that the Legislature refuses to act on. This tool should be used responsibly with clear safeguards to prevent abuse, but I believe it would strengthen democracy in Texas by giving the people a stronger voice.
I see this authority as a call to serve every Texan with accountability, fairness, and vision.
The role of TX government in artificial intelligence should be limited to oversight, transparency, and protecting the public interest. I don’t believe it is the job of state government to develop AI. That work belongs to private industry, universities, and innovators. The responsibility of the state is to make sure AI is used safely and ethically, to protect Texans’ privacy, and to ensure that workers are not unfairly displaced without support. Texas should also encourage innovation and job growth in technology by creating a fair environment for businesses and research, while keeping safeguards in place to prevent abuse. So, the TX government should not be building AI but it should make sure that AI serves the people of Texas rather than the other way around.
As Governor, I would sign legislation that makes our elections more accessible, transparent, and trustworthy for every Texan. I support legislation that expands early voting and Election Day opportunities, strengthens protections against voter intimidation, and ensures that every eligible vote is counted, and to institute ranked choice voting for all TX elections. I would also back laws that increase transparency in campaign finance so that voters know who is funding campaigns and influencing their choices. I would support measures that modernize voting systems with secure technology while maintaining paper ballot backups to guarantee accuracy. Most importantly, I would sign legislation that protects the right of every Texan to vote without unnecessary barriers, because free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.

See also

2026 Elections

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on August 15, 2025
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