Andrew White, son of former Texas Governor Mark White, announced that he is joining the 2026 Democratic primary for Texas governor. This marks White's second bid for Texas Governor after losing the 2018 Democratic nomination to Lupe Valdez.
In a post to social media, White said he hopes to build a broader coalition within the Democratic Party by uniting progressives, moderates, and independents.
"It's time for a new approach," White wrote. "The best way to defeat Greg Abbott is to unite Progressives and Moderates-- and unite Independents-- into the Democratic Party to expand our base. So, I'm running as an Independent Democrat —a leader focused on getting things done, not engaging in culture wars."
It's time for a change. Gov Abbott’s culture war is failing our schools, hospitals and infrastructure.
Our leaders’ incompetence led to my son almost dying in the 4th of July flood. This is personal for me, like it is for so many other Texans.
We need leaders who work to…
— Andrew White (@andrewwhite4tx) September 16, 2025
White highlighted his three decades as an entrepreneur, pointing to problem-solving and innovation as his strengths. He pledged to focus on improving schools, hospitals and infrastructure.
White mentioned that the July 4th Texas Hill Country flood nearly took his son's life, and it played a role in his decision to enter the race.
White's 2018 campaign drew scrutiny over his personal opposition to abortion, though he vowed to uphold abortion rights as governor, as well as his company's work with border security personnel.
Despite the challenges, White is betting that his combination of experience and pragmatism can help democrats break through in Texas.
