Before evaluating a candidate, know the job. Texas has some offices that are easy to misunderstand. A few worth knowing:

• The Railroad Commission regulates oil, gas, and pipeline safety statewide, not railroads. It's one of the most powerful regulatory bodies in the state.
• The Texas Supreme Court handles civil and juvenile cases only. Criminal cases go to the Court of Criminal Appeals, which is a separate court.
• The Comptroller manages state finances and revenue forecasting, not just accounting.
• The General Land Office manages state-owned land, the Alamo, and veterans' programs.

If you're unsure what an office does, search the office name plus "Texas responsibilities," or visit texas.gov for official descriptions.

Start with the candidate's own website. What issues do they lead with? What do they say they'll do? Then look for:

• Position papers or issue pages on their website
• Responses to candidate questionnaires from local media or civic groups
• Statements made at debates or forums. Search for video or transcripts
• Their social media for unfiltered positions and tone

For incumbents or candidates who've held prior office, their record is the most reliable predictor of future behavior. Look for:

• Voting record: For Texas legislators, votes are public. Search the Texas Legislature Online for roll call votes by legislator name
• Sponsored legislation: What bills did they introduce or co-sponsor? That shows priorities, not just talking points
• Committee assignments: Which committees did they serve on and what work did they do there?
• Attendance record: Did they show up and vote, or miss sessions?
• Prior statements vs. current positions: Has their position shifted? If so, have they explained why?

Campaign finance filings are public record in Texas. You can look up contributions at:

• Texas Ethics Commission: ethics.state.tx.us for state and local candidates
• Federal Election Commission: fec.gov for U.S. House and U.S. Senate candidates

Look at both the size of donations and where they come from. Large contributions from a specific industry or interest group can indicate where a candidate's priorities may lie.

Endorsements from organizations, elected officials, and community leaders signal who a candidate is aligned with. Look for endorsements on the candidate's website and consider whether the endorsing organizations reflect values you share. Endorsements from groups on different sides of an issue can reveal how a candidate is positioning themselves across a broad coalition.

In Texas, judicial candidates run under a party label, but that doesn't mean party affiliation is the only thing worth evaluating. For judicial races, also look for:

• Years and type of legal experience (criminal, civil, appellate)
• Whether they've been a prosecutor, public defender, or private attorney. Each brings a different perspective to the bench
• Any disciplinary history with the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com
• Endorsements from legal and bar associations familiar with their work
• For Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals: which court they're running for and what types of cases it handles