The Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) has released its 89th Legislative Session Ratings, giving voters a detailed look at how lawmakers performed on conservative priorities during the most recent session in Austin.
The annual ratings — obtained exclusively by The Dallas Express — score legislators based on key votes tied to fiscal responsibility, individual liberty, and constitutional governance.
“The main goal is transparency for Texan conservatives,” said Cassidy Schnoor, YCT senior vice chairman. “We want Texans to look at these ratings and hold their elected officials accountable when they call themselves conservative but do not have the voting record to back that.”
According to Schnoor, YCT members reviewed every House and Senate journal from the 89th legislative session, identifying bills that aligned with or opposed the organization’s stated priorities.
“We narrowed down the list to roughly 100 votes in each chamber that we believed were the most important,” she said.
Top Performers – Texas House
- Brian Harrison (R) – 94
- Andy Hopper (R) – 94
- Brent Money (R) – 93
- Mike Olcott (R) – 93
- Joanne Shofner (R) – 92
“The extent to which the Senate was unified on conservative priorities stood out to us,” Schnoor said, “as well as freshmen representatives like Andy Hopper, Brent Money, Mike Olcott, and Joanne Shofner, who voted their way into our top five.”
Lowest-Rated – Texas House
Least Conservative Democrats:
- Christina Morales (D) – 17
- Nicole Collier (D) – 17
- Ron Reynolds (D) – 18
- Venton Jones (D) – 18
- Jessica Gonzales (D) – 18
Least Conservative Republicans:
- Cody Harris (R) – 53
- Ken King (R) – 63
- Charlie Geren (R) – 64
- Brooks Landgraf (R) – 65
- Stan Lambert (R) – 65
Most Conservative Democrats:
- Richard Raymond (D) – 62
- Sergio Muñoz (D) – 54
- Terry Canales (D) – 47
- Eddie Morales (D) – 45
- Armando Martinez (D) – 44
House Average: 58.1
Top Performers – Texas Senate
- Bryan Hughes (R) – 89
- Bob Hall (R) – 89
- Mayes Middleton (R) – 88
- Brandon Creighton (R) – 87
- Kelly Hancock (R) – 87
Lowest-Rated – Texas Senate
Least Conservative Democrats:
- Sarah Eckhardt (D) – 19
- Molly Cook (D) – 22
- Borris Miles (D) – 34
- Roland Gutierrez (D) – 37
- Nathan Johnson (D) – 38
Least Conservative Republicans:
- Robert Nichols (R–Jacksonville) – 77
- Tan Parker (R) – 82
- Charles Schwertner (R) – 83
- Angela Paxton (R) – 83
- Pete Flores (R) – 83
Most Conservative Democrats:
- Juan Hinojosa (D) – 62
- César Blanco (D) – 54
- Judith Zaffirini (D) – 50
- Royce West (D) – 45
- Carol Alvarado (D) – 40
Senate Average: 68.7
Conservative Momentum
“This year’s results should tell conservatives in Texas to be hopeful,” Schnoor said. “Although there is still room for improvement, the Texas Legislature is moving in a more conservative direction, and the conservative movement can look forward to many more victories in future sessions.”
YCT Chairman Nathan Darsch added that the results reflect lawmakers who “took conservative policy stances even when unpopular in the Austin swamp.”
Looking Toward 2026
Schnoor said YCT will use the ratings to guide endorsements and political engagement ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
“We will use these ratings to help determine who we will and won’t endorse, as well as which races we will get involved in. Our goal is to make sure the Texas Legislature has even more conservative members for the 90th Session,” she said.