The race for Texas comptroller, which includes Republican, Democratic, Libertarian and Green Party candidates, is closely tied to the state's new school voucher program. The comptroller oversees the $1 billion fund known as Texas Education Freedom Accounts, or TEFA.
Current Comptroller Don Huffines was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott this spring. Huffines has long supported a school voucher system and told the Texas Tribune in April that he is "a champion" of the program. He said demand is strong. According to the state, more than 274,000 requests for TEFA money were filed, and more than 100,000 students received some funding before the program hit its billion-dollar cap. Huffines did not respond to KERA's requests for an interview.
In his appropriations request to state lawmakers, Huffines asked for another $1 billion for the program in the 2028-29 biennium. That would more than double the TEFA budget. His leading opponent, Democratic state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, said officials should see results from a program's first year before doubling its funding.
Brent Boyea, a political science professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, said the comptroller estimates state revenue and certifies budget funds, which affects how much the state can spend.