# Texas Candidates' Affordability Plans > Texas candidates propose tax cuts, subsidies and housing reforms to tackle rising costs. - Title: Texas Candidates' Affordability Plans · The Texas Tribune - Summary: Texas candidates propose tax cuts, subsidies and housing reforms to tackle rising costs. texas, affordability, taxes · reported by The Texas Tribune. - Keywords: texas, affordability, taxes, housing, healthcare, groceries, gasoline, utilities, college tuition, childcare, news, local - Source: The Texas Tribune — https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17491966/texas-affordability-voter-guide-elections-cost-of-living - Published: 2026-10-08T10:00:00+00:00 - Read time: 4 min - Topics: texas, affordability, taxes, housing, healthcare, groceries, gasoline, utilities, college tuition, childcare, news, local ## Texas voters fret about high cost of living Candidates running in this year’s midterm elections are trying to claim the mantle of affordability as Texas voters fret about the high cost of living. ## Candidates propose $1,500 checks and tax pauses Candidates up and down the ballot have floated a litany of ideas, including cutting everyone a $1,500 check and pausing taxes, aimed at taming the high cost of everything. ## Groceries cost drivers Disasters and disease have increased import costs, severe weather and disease have created steep price increases of specific foods, drought and wildfires reduced the U.S. cattle herd and caused beef prices to soar. ## Groceries cost drivers Immigration enforcement, war and tariffs have increased the cost of fertilizers and fuel for transportation of food to store shelves. ## Senate candidates on groceries Ken Paxton R said he would target corporations that supply Americans’ food, accusing them of being monopolies that price gouge and engage in unfair business practices, particularly meatpackers. ## Senate candidates on groceries James Talarico D promises to push back against efforts to restrict federal food aid programs, increase oversight into mergers of companies that supply food, remove tariffs on produce that can’t be grown in the U.S. and work to increase competition among grocery providers. ## Governor on groceries Greg Abbott R has not publicized a plan to tackle high grocery costs. His website says his efforts to boost the Texas economy have put money in Texans’ wallets. ## Governor on groceries Gina Hinojosa D promises to go after major corporations that supply Texans’ food, arguing they put their profits ahead of consumers. She specifically pointed to the practice of surveillance pricing. ## Lieutenant Governor on groceries Dan Patrick R has not released a plan to specifically address grocery prices. ## Lieutenant Governor on groceries Vikki Goodwin D said she would support the Texas Food System Security and Resiliency Planning Council, a body created in 2.024 that is intended to monitor and address food supply chain issues. ## Gasoline cost drivers Oil markets are notably volatile because of the cost and effort that goes into drilling new wells and global demand for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. ## Gasoline cost drivers The price of oil jumped above $100 a barrel in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine. Western sanctions on Russian oil triggered a supply shock. ## Gasoline cost drivers Ukraine war drone strikes on Russian refineries this summer prompted Russia to ban diesel exports in July, further limiting the global supply of diesel. ## Gasoline cost drivers Iran war closed the Strait of Hormuz in late February, restricting exports from the Middle East and driving up the cost of fertilizer and fuel used in farm equipment and to transport food to store shelves. ## Senate candidates on gasoline Ken Paxton R supports a permanent repeal of the federal gas tax and keeping regulations low for the state’s oil and gas industry, promising to increase American oil and gas production to lower prices. ## Senate candidates on gasoline James Talarico D has called for a pause on federal gas and diesel taxes and an end to the war with Iran. ## Governor on gasoline Greg Abbott R declared a state emergency over gas prices and used emergency powers to allow the use of untaxed, dyed diesel fuel on Texas roadways, but said he can’t unilaterally suspend the gas tax without the Legislature. ## Governor on gasoline Gina Hinojosa D has called for a pause on the state and federal gas taxes. In Texas, the tax is 20 cents per gallon of gasoline and diesel. ## Lieutenant Governor on gasoline Dan Patrick R trusts Trump’s war with Iran, arguing the pain at the gas pump is worth defeating the Iranian regime. ## Lieutenant Governor on gasoline Vikki Goodwin D blamed the U.S. war with Iran for high gas prices and said she would push the state to encourage flexible and remote work options and expand public transportation to reduce Texans’ reliance on cars. ## Key takeaway Texas candidates propose tax cuts, subsidies and housing reforms to tackle rising costs.