Mike Collier, a former two-time Democratic nominee for Texas lieutenant governor, has announced that he will seek the position again in 2026, this time mounting an independent campaign.
In a November 13 announcement video, Collier introduced himself as both an American patriot and a Texas businessman running against a “failed two-party system.” He argued that Texans want “great public schools, lower property taxes, a strong economy, commonsense reproductive rights, and term-limits,” but instead face “dysfunction and chaos” in Washington and “a man too arrogant to even listen to voters” in Austin, referring to Republican incumbent Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
“We’re about to celebrate 250 years since we declared independence from a tyrant. It’s time to declare our independence from a failed two-party system that’s leading our state and our nation to ruin,” Collier said, adding that in running as an independent, he’s involved with “a party of millions, who know we must do something different.”
Collier has run for statewide office several times already, first running in the 2014 election cycle as the Democratic nominee for State Comptroller against Republican Glenn Hegar, Libertarian Ben Sanders, and Green candidate Deb Shafto. While he was unsuccessful, earning just over 1.7 million votes for 37.7% of the total, the campaign helped introduce him to Texas voters.
In 2018, he won the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, mounting his first challenge against Patrick. Collier ultimately earned 3,860,865 votes for 46.5% of the total against Patrick’s 51.3% in a race that also included Libertarian Kerry McKennon, performing more strongly than many expected for a statewide campaign. Four years later, he would run again against Patrick as the Democratic nominee, drawing 3,492,544 votes for 43.5%, again in a three-way contest that included Libertarian Shanna Steele.
Figures provided by the Texas Secretary of State’s office show that Collier will have until June 2026 to submit 81,030 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot, equal to one percent of the turnout in the 2022 state gubernatorial race. Under Texas election law, only voters who do not participate in either party’s 2026 primary will be eligible to sign his petition.
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