Shehla Faizi is running for Texas comptroller as the Green Party candidate in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. She is one of four candidates certified for the ballot, along with Don Huffines, a Republican; Sarah Eckhardt, a Democrat; and V. Alonzo Echevarria-Garza, a Libertarian.

The comptroller sets the state's revenue estimate, which determines how much the Legislature can spend. The office also administers economic development incentives and the state's education savings account program.

Asked why she is running, 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."

Candidate information

Party: Faizi said: "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."

Education: Faizi said: "I have a Master's Degree in Strategic Communication, but my best education has been as a wife and mother of two teenage boys."

She also holds a bachelor's degree in graphic design, according to her campaign website.

Family: Faizi said: "I'm a daughter, sister, wife, and mother of two boys. My children are the reason I entered politics!"

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

Experience and public service

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

Faizi worked in advertising and marketing journalism before moving to the United States in 2007 and to Texas in 2012, according to her campaign website. She volunteered for the Stein/Ware Green Party presidential campaign in 2024, according to her campaign website.

On the issues

Differences from opponents: Faizi said: "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 … 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 independence: Asked how she would keep the comptroller's revenue estimates accurate and free of political pressure, Faizi said: "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. 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: Faizi said: "The school voucher scam drains money from our public schools and gives handouts to private schools and education vendors. A study of the first round of voucher funding said 70% went to students who were already in private school … 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: Faizi said: "Property taxes are not the best way to fund school districts. But raising tax money in new ways is politically difficult. 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 and transparency: Faizi said: "Our economic development incentives must be depoliticized and reimagined to benefit Texans, not big donors. For example, we must end the 100% sales tax exemption for Data Centers, which costs the state more than $1 billion per year. The Comptroller office's website should be much more user-friendly and accessible … There should be an English and a Spanish version of the website."

Responses were collected through a Surround Sound News candidate questionnaire. Answers have been excerpted for length but not otherwise edited.