Meet Julián: a grassroots candidate for San Antonio

I was born and raised in San Antonio and have lived most of my life here. Being deeply rooted in this community, I am committed to advancing social justice, environmental sustainability, and equitable solutions for Texas Senate District 26.

About

#### Education background/degrees earned:

Doctorate in materials science and engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, bachelor’s in materials science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Julián Villarreal: State senate, District 26

Julián Villarreal | 2026 candidate for Texas Senate District 26

Julián Villarreal earned a bachelor's degree in materials science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a doctorate degree in materials science from the University of Texas at Austin.

#### Current occupation, employer, or job title:

Scientific consultant

Julián has experience as a scientific consultant.

#### Previous elected offices held and/or sought:

None.

Julian Villarreal (Texas Senate candidate) - Ballotpedia

Julián lost the 2020 election for the Texas State Senate District 26.

2026 Texas General Election

Dignified Housing for All

The cost of housing has become unsustainable for too many people in our community. I will fight for legislation to lower the cost of housing, especially for the most vulnerable people such as senior citizens, the disabled, and people experiencing homelessness. We need direct investment to build dignified affordable housing in both urban and rural areas of the state. I concur with the recommendations from the National Coalition for Housing Justice, and I also support a Tenant’s Bill of Rights as outlined by Texas Housers.

Campaign Issues

Supports lowering housing costs through investment in affordable housing and a tenant bill of rights.

- Supports lowering housing costs through investment in affordable housing and a tenant bill of rights.

Economy

#### If elected, what would be your top priorities after taking office?
I pledge to introduce legislation that will ensure we protect our aquifer for future generations and begin a just transition to 100% clean renewable energy. I will oppose any cuts to public education and will advocate for tuition-free public education from pre-K through college. I will make sure that we finally expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act and lay the foundation for universal single-payer healthcare.

I will also introduce legislation that will abolish qualified immunity and ensure that bad cops are held accountable for misconduct.

Civil Rights

We are living through an unprecedented period of government overreach that threatens the integrity of communities. Our constitutional rights are not up for debate. I oppose the actions of the federal administration in its draconian immigration crackdown. I am also shocked at the habitat destruction occurring in Big Bend National Park for the construction of an illegal and unnecessary border wall. While some might argue that state laws cannot supersede federal laws, I will find ways to protect residents whose rights have been violated and support local governments’ right not to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. I support ending mandatory 287g agreements and repealing anti-immigrant Senate Bill 4 that passed in 2023. I also oppose warrantless mass surveillance and support a ban on automated license plate readers (aka Flock cameras).

Wants to abolish qualified immunity for police officers.

Opposes the Trump Administrations actions on immigration.

- Wants to abolish qualified immunity for police officers.
- Opposes the Trump Administrations actions on immigration.

Public Safety

Seeks to expand Medicaid and lay the foundation for universal single-payer healthcare.

- Seeks to expand Medicaid and lay the foundation for universal single-payer healthcare.

Healthcare

Opposes public education cuts and wants tuition-free public college education.

- Opposes public education cuts and wants tuition-free public college education.

Education

According to the Yale Climate Opinion Maps, nearly 70% of Texans believe that global warming is happening and 65% support a transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050. If elected, I will introduce legislation to begin a just energy transition for Texas.

Seeks to introduce legislation to "begin a just energy transition for Texas."

- Seeks to introduce legislation to "begin a just energy transition for Texas."

Energy & the Environment

As of September 11, 2026, Julián Villarreal’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

Julián Villarreal

Julián is originally from San Antonio, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Science in science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a PhD in science and engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Julián is a longtime volunteer with the Green Party of Texas and a local community organizer in San Antonio.

Julián Villarreal currently works as a scientist. 

Texas's 26th Senate district

Julián Villarreal previously ran for Texas State Senate District 26 in 2020, but did not win. His 2026 campaign for Texas State Senate District 26 is his second run for public office.

Wants to introduce legislation for greater police accountability.

Opposes mass surveillance and supports a ban on automated license plate readers.

- Wants to introduce legislation for greater police accountability.
- Opposes immigration crackdowns.
- Opposes mass surveillance and supports a ban on automated license plate readers.

Public Education

State lawmakers under the influence of private entities have undermined public education in Texas. First by passing laws that favor privately run charter schools and now with the deceptively named Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA). I oppose the TEFA program because it undermines the goal of universal, high-quality, public education for all students. Public schools across the state are facing budget deficits, and rather than properly funding public schools, the legislature decided to devote $1 billion to the TEFA voucher program. Initial reports indicate that most TEFA applicants were already enrolled in private schools, and there has been little to no benefit for low-income or rural families. If elected, I support eliminating TEFA, and I will fight for fully funding high-quality public education for all Texas students. I support withdrawing from the state’s Rainy Day Fund in order to help fund public education.

Supports fully funding high-quality public education from pre-k through to college.

Supports using the Texas Rainy Day Fund for public education.

Opposes school voucher programs, such as TEFA.

- Opposes any cuts to public education.
- Opposes any cuts to public education.
- Supports fully funding high-quality public education from pre-k through to college.
- Supports using the Texas Rainy Day Fund for public education.
- Opposes school voucher programs, such as TEFA.

Environmental Protection

Texas can be a paradise if we choose to take care of it. Unfortunately, industrial polluters have been able to use our state’s air, land, and water as a dumping ground for far too long. Excessive resource extraction coupled with extreme drought has put our state’s water supply in grave jeopardy. The environmental crisis we are living in is the result of lax or nonexistent enforcement of existing laws. If elected, I will hold polluters and our state agencies, such as TCEQ and the Railroad Commission, accountable for the mess they have created. I am not funded by the fossil fuel industry, like my opponent is. I am not beholden to the industry lobbyists who want to continue the status quo. I will fight for legislation to make fossil fuel companies plug abandoned oil and gas wells and to mandate recycling and reuse of contaminated fracking water.

Supports transitioning to 100% clean renewable energy by 2050.

Supports holding polluters accountable for environmental harm.

Wants to mandate the recycling and reusing contaminated fracking water.

- Supports transitioning to 100% clean renewable energy by 2050.
- Supports holding polluters accountable for environmental harm.
- Wants to mandate the recycling and reusing contaminated fracking water.

#### For non-incumbents: What, if anything, would you do differently from the current officeholder?
I will never accept any campaign contributions from corporate PACs and lobbyists. I will never place the wants of corporations and industry lobbyists over the needs of the People and the Planet. I will fight for environmental protection and just climate action, workers’ rights, an end to police brutality, affordable housing, legalization of marijuana, and many other progressive issues that have been neglected.

I will engage the community during the legislative session and in the interim so that constituents are informed about the issues and can voice their concerns. I will ensure that everyone’s voice is heard, especially those who have been most excluded from the political process. We need to use technology and social media to open up government to the people, and I pledge to innovate new modes for the public to interact with their representatives.

Supports greater opportunities for constituents to communicate with their representatives.

- Supports greater opportunities for constituents to communicate with their representatives.

Bluesky

Twitter

- Opposes mass surveillance and supports a ban on automated license plate readers.

- Supports fully funding high-quality public education from pre-k through to college.
- Supports using the Texas Rainy Day Fund for public education.
- Opposes school voucher programs, such as TEFA.

- Supports holding polluters accountable for environmental harm.
- Wants to mandate the recycling and reusing contaminated fracking water.

Edward Krutsch

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Jose Menendez

- Your state senator represents the interests of your district in the Texas State Senate. The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Texas Legislature.
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process.
- There are 31 Texas state senators, each representing a single district with a constituency of around 1 million.
- State senators are elected to 4-year terms and one 2-year term per decade, and there are no term limits.
- They are paid a salary of $7,200/year and a per diem of $221/day.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Texas State Senate.