Libertarian Anthony Cristo has announced that he is running for Texas lieutenant governor in 2026, becoming the first publicly declared Libertarian candidate for the statewide office ahead of next year’s nominating convention.
Cristo launched his campaign in a November 13 post on social media, adding in a follow-up remark that his campaign is receiving support from the Libertarian Booster PAC, a project of former Libertarian National Committee Executive Director Wes Benedict and Arthur DiBianca. The PAC assists Libertarians running for state and local office with campaign materials, ballot access paperwork, and building an online presence.
The organization has pledged $2,000 from its local fund and is raising additional contributions to help Cristo meet Texas’ $3,750 filing fee to appear on the ballot, which can be submitted in lieu of collecting 5,000 signatures. The campaign has until December 8 to submit its completed application and fee.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Cristo is based in the San Antonio-area and has a background in education, healthcare, and military service. He is a high school creative writing and debate teacher at Judson Independent School District in Live Oak, as well as a Navy veteran. Before teaching, he worked as a Cancer Information Specialist at the American Cancer Society. Cristo also previously ran for Congress in 2018 in Texas’ 15th Congressional District and again in 2020 in the 34th District.
As the Libertarian Party is not a major party in Texas, Cristo will not run in a primary next March to secure the party’s nomination. Instead, Libertarian Party delegates will decide whether to nominate him at the 2026 state convention, which is scheduled for April in Abilene.
While the Cristo campaign has not yet released a website or outlined specific themes for his 2026 bid, Cristo has been a frequent contributor to the Seguin Gazette, writing on a range of topics from a Libertarian perspective. More recently, he has spoken out against prison labor, discussed the non-aggression principle in contemporary politics, and criticized the impact of the two-party system in Texas.
Cristo joins a growing field seeking the lieutenant governorship in 2026. Incumbent Republican Dan Patrick first announced in April he is seeking a fourth term. He was soon joined by Democratic State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, who entered the race in May, as well as Esala Wueschner and Timothy Mabry, who have filed to challenge Patrick in the Republican primary. More recently, Mike Collier, a former two-time Democratic nominee for the position, launched an independent campaign.
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