Texas 20th District
Joaquin Castro (D) holds this seat and is running again. 2 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Joaquin Castro
Democrat · holds this seat today
FLiberty Score FOn the liberty side in 27 of 113 votes and bills.
Raised $592,416 since January 2025: 72% from people, 28% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Edgardo Rafael Baez
Republican · Army veteran, nurse and San Antonio attorney
ALiberty Score A100 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Baez has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Baez.
Raised $69,063 since January 2025: 61% the candidate’s own money, 38% from people, 1% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Edgardo Rafael Baez. Edgardo Rafael Baez: A, 100 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count. Joaquin Castro: F, 21 out of 100 from recorded votes.
Voting in Texas: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Edgardo Rafael Baez, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Baez, so the grade above comes from this list: what Baez has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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Baez says he would support War Powers Resolutions requiring congressional approval for further military action, without naming Iran.
“I would support or introduce War Powers Resolutions under the 1973 War Powers Act to require congressional approval for further military actions.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
No Iran action is named, so it does not settle the measure.
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In his questionnaire he called the US-Israel relationship a strategic alliance and a moral one.
“The U.S.-Israel relationship is a strategic alliance and a moral one.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Treating Israel as an ally is with liberty on free nations.
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Baez says he would back bipartisan bills barring funds for annexing Greenland, which he calls a NATO ally's territory.
“I would back bipartisan bills to block specific actions, such as the one introduced by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) barring funds for occupying or annexing Greenland, a NATO ally's territory.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Defending a NATO ally against seizure follows the rule on backing NATO and allies.
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He wrote that free enterprise and private property are not optional extras and marked strongly agree.
“Free enterprise and private property are not optional extras.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing free enterprise is with liberty on free markets.
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He marked strongly disagree that people who can afford to pay more taxes should do so.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Rejecting higher taxes on higher earners is with liberty on free markets.
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Baez wants a health market with many plans instead of ACA subsidies.
“Open markets is the solution where Americans can pick and choose from a variety of health plans, just as we had prior to the implementation of the ACA.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Choosing open markets over subsidised health care follows the free markets test.
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Baez said of Castro that he wants to bring socialism here, and tied his run to opposing socialism.
“He wants to bring socialism here”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing socialism is with liberty on free markets.
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His candidate page says the campaign wants burdensome government regulations reduced.
“burdensome governmental regulations are significantly reduced”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Cutting regulation is with liberty on free markets.
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His campaign legislation page says he supports legislation that lowers unnecessary regulations.
“lowers unnecessary regulations”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Cutting regulation is with liberty on free markets.
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He marked strongly agree that moving a child to the opposite sex, by names, pronouns, opposite-sex spaces, drugs or surgery, is child abuse.
“attempts to treat a boy as a girl or a girl as a boy, whether by social ritual (names, pronouns, opposite-sex spaces) or by drugs and surgery that damage healthy fertility and sexual function, are not medicine”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Rejecting gender ideology for children is on the with side of the anti woke measure.
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On women's sport he marked strongly disagree with a statement that males should not take part, and wrote an answer that reads as opposing it, so the two do not match.
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
The marked answer and the written words point in opposite directions, so the line does not settle the measure.
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He marked strongly agree that Islamic terrorism is a threat to national security, naming no group or policy.
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
A general statement about terrorism does not name the Brotherhood, Hamas supporters or religious rule, so it does not settle the measure.
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He wrote that his immigration bill secures the border first and then admits those who come legally.
“secure the border first, then admit those who will strengthen families, churches, and the tax base”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Securing the border first is with liberty on borders.
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He marked strongly disagree on a statement supporting sanctuary cities.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing sanctuary policies is with liberty on borders.
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Baez says Congress should stress border security and interior enforcement and oppose amnesty or a path to citizenship for those here illegally.
“Congress should prioritize immigration reforms that emphasize border security, interior enforcement, reduced illegal immigration levels, and the protection of American workers and resources, while opposing amnesty or pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing enforcement and opposing amnesty follows the rule on securing the border and against amnesty.
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Baez said his opponent goes out of his way to help illegal immigrants and takes up anything against ICE.
“He goes out of his way to help the illegal immigrants. Anything that has to do with ICE and against Trump, he jumps into it,”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Criticising opposition to ICE and help for illegal immigrants follows the rule on enforcing the law.
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His campaign legislation page lists strengthening border security among the aims of his bills.
“strengthen border security”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Border security is with liberty on borders.
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
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Texas 20th District
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