Texas churches that also serve as official polling locations have become a flashpoint in two separate 2026 races, one in San Antonio and one in Dallas, with candidates and officials from both parties raising questions about the arrangement.
In San Antonio, Republican U.S. Senate nominee Ken Paxton attended a Sunday service at Cornerstone Church, where he was recognized alongside fellow Republican candidates Dan Patrick and Donna Campbell. None of the candidates addressed the congregation or campaigned during the service. Pastor John Hagee acknowledged the visiting candidates and reminded worshippers that early voting in Texas began the following day, Monday, and that the Cornerstone building would serve as a polling site.
Paxton later posted on social media thanking Pastors John Hagee and Matt Hagee and the Cornerstone congregation for the welcome.
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, a Democrat who is running for governor, criticized the visit on social media, tagging state Rep. James Talarico. She wrote that Cornerstone was “recognizing U.S. Senate candidates” during services and, “as a polling site,” reminding attendees that early voting begins the next day. “Could be a good stop next Sunday!” she added. Reports following her post noted that some voting rights advocates have called on Bexar County to stop using the church as a polling location.
A parallel situation in Dallas
In Dallas County, Friendship-West Baptist Church is also an official polling location. Its senior pastor, Frederick Douglass Haynes III, has led the church since 1983 and is the Democratic nominee for Texas’ 30th Congressional District, seeking to succeed Jasmine Crockett. That means voters casting ballots at the church this cycle will see Haynes’ own name on the congressional ballot.
Haynes’ Republican opponent, Everett Jackson, protested outside Friendship-West last week, calling the arrangement a conflict of interest. “How can you be on the ballot and the church that you reside over is a polling site with your name on that ballot?” Jackson asked.
There is no evidence that either arrangement, in San Antonio or Dallas, violates any law. Early voting in Texas is now underway and continues through October 30.
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