Voters in Texas are choosing candidates for local and state races this November. CBS7 Permian Basin published a guide to what several positions do and who is running. The governor signs or vetoes bills passed by the state legislature and appoints thousands of state officials and board members. The governor also commands the state's military and National Guard and can issue disaster declarations.
The U.S. Senate race is between Attorney General Ken Paxton and State Representative James Talarico. The article says the race has drawn national attention because control of the Senate is at stake and because Texas has not elected a Democrat to statewide office in 32 years. It also says the race is the most expensive Senate race in U.S. history, with both campaigns combined spending over half a billion dollars. The attorney general's seat is open because Paxton is running for Senate.
The comptroller race has four candidates. Republican Don Huffines, who the article describes as the incumbent, was appointed by Greg Abbott in August. Alonzo Echeverria Garza is the Libertarian candidate, and Sheila Faisal is the Green Party candidate. The article also says the Railroad Commission, a three-member panel, regulates oil and gas in the state.