Shehla Faizi is the Green Party candidate for Texas comptroller in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Don Huffines (Republican), Sarah Eckhardt (Democratic) and V. Alonzo Echevarria-Garza (Libertarian) are also running.

Asked why she is seeking office, Faizi said in our candidate questionnaire: "I'm a Texas mom fed up with big money donors controlling our government and harming our public schools. … I take no PAC donations or lobbyist donations of any kind. I am running for office to serve Texans and bring transparency and fairness to the Comptroller's office."

Candidate information

Party: "I'm proud to be running for office with the Green Party! The Green Party doesn't take corporate PAC or lobbyist donations, and neither do I," Faizi said in our questionnaire.

Education: "I have a Master's Degree in Strategic Communication, but my best education has been as a wife and mother of two teenage boys," Faizi said. She also holds a bachelor's degree in graphic design, according to her campaign website.

Family: "I'm a daughter, sister, wife, and mother of two boys. My children are the reason I entered politics! I am fighting for a better future for them and all our kids," Faizi said.

Occupation: "I'm a podcaster, the host of 'I'm A Muslim (And That's Okay!)' My podcast covers family, culture, and politics," Faizi said.

Previous elected or appointed office: "This is my first time running for office, I am not a career politician nor a big political donor," Faizi said.

Family in politics or government: "My brother is a medical administrator at a VA hospital. I don't come from a political dynasty, and I am not a political insider," Faizi said.

On the issues

Critical differences with opponents: Faizi said in our questionnaire: "My Republican opponent used wealth from his family's car dealership to become an influential political donor, and then eventually self-funded the start of his own political career. He takes tons of PAC money, including over $3.6 million from Defend Texas Liberty PAC, funded mainly by oil billionaires Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks. … He bought Jeffrey Epstein's New Mexico Ranch."

She added: "My Democratic opponent takes corporate PAC donations from industries like construction and consulting, which have business with the Comptroller's office. … As a Green Party candidate, I proudly refuse to take PAC donations of any kind."

Revenue estimates and political pressure: "By refusing to fundraise from corporate PACs or billionaire-funded PACs, and by refusing to engage in politics as usual, I would be a truly independent Comptroller," Faizi said. "Neutral technical experts, not political insiders, should run the Comptroller's office and work on revenue estimates. … I pledge to hire only highly qualified economists and subject matter experts."

School vouchers: "The school voucher scam drains money from our public schools and gives handouts to private schools and education vendors," Faizi said. "A study of the first round of voucher funding said 70% went to students who were already in private school, so the argument that vouchers help public school kids is a lie. As Comptroller I would use all legal means and public pressure to end school vouchers and focus on equitable funding for our public schools."

Property taxes and school funding: "Property taxes are not the best way to fund school districts. But raising tax money in new ways is politically difficult," Faizi said. "Those who want to eliminate school district property taxes should find new sustainable revenue streams to fill that gap first, not cut taxes and hope to find new revenue later."

Economic development incentives: "Our economic development incentives must be depoliticized and reimagined to benefit Texans, not big donors," Faizi said. "For example, we must end the 100% sales tax exemption for Data Centers, which costs the state more than $1 billion per year."

Faizi also said: "The Comptroller office's website should be much more user-friendly and accessible. It should have clear infographics and charts on budgets, revenues, spending, and debt. There should be an English and a Spanish version of the website."