The following are the complete and unedited responses submitted by the candidate listed below to the Amarillo Pioneer’s Candidate Questionnaire.
Hyde/Photo via campaign
Name: Kenneth Hyde
Office Sought: Governor
Party Affiliation: Republican
Age: 41
What is your educational background? Please list any degrees or certificates earned and any institutions attended.
The University of Texas at San Antonio/St. Mary's University
What is your occupation?
Small Business Contractor
Please list any civic boards or commissions (non-profit, government, union, religious, political, etc.) on which you have served as a board member or equivalent.
Cornerstone Church San Antonio - Member
Have you previously held or do you currently hold any elected office? If so, what office(s)?
No
If your campaign has any online campaign resources where voters can learn more about you, such as social media accounts or a website, please list them below.
KennethHyde4TxGov.com x.com/KennethHyde facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584060474640 youtube.com/@Kenneth-Hyde instagram.com/kennethhydetx/
Why did you decide to run for this office in 2026?
I decided to run for Governor in 2026 because Texas families are being crushed by sky-high property taxes—forcing seniors and working folks out of their homes—and the establishment in Austin refuses to fix it permanently.
Career politicians talk big but deliver crumbs. I've written bold, ready-to-pass legislation—the Cultivate Texas Act, Texas Freedom Act, and Freedom Fund—to eliminate property taxes forever by legalizing restricted industries (cannabis and others) and generating billions in new revenue without raising taxes.
Add in securing the border with my Texas Sovereignty Acts, defending life, guns, faith, and parental rights, and unleashing real freedom—I'm running as a grassroots outsider to finally deliver what Texans deserve: lower taxes, stronger sovereignty, and true opportunity.
No more excuses. Texas needs a fighter, not another insider. That's why I'm in this race.
If elected, what will be your top three priorities in office?
An overlooked issue in this race is foreign ownership and influence over Texas land, water rights, and critical infrastructure—especially by hostile nations like China and cartels.
Thousands of acres are being bought up, threatening our food security, water supply, national security, and sovereignty. Establishment politicians talk tough but haven't banned it outright.
If elected, I'll pass my ready-to-go Texas Sovereignty & Influence Shield Act on Day 1: outright ban foreign adversaries and their agents from owning or controlling Texas land, agriculture, water, or infrastructure.
No loopholes, no shadows—Texas land stays in Texas hands.
We'll audit existing ownership and reclaim where needed.
Texas sovereignty isn't negotiable. I'll protect our state from foreign threats—no more selling out our future.
What is an issue you believe has gone overlooked in your race and how will you address it if elected?
Mental health has been largely overlooked in this race, particularly how deeply it affects individuals, families, workforce stability, and public safety across Texas. For more than a decade, I have worked closely with people who felt abandoned by systems that were supposed to support them, including veterans and individuals experiencing crisis.
My focus is not just on treatment, but on addressing the conditions that push people into despair in the first place. This includes improving access to mental health support, reducing barriers to care, strengthening community-based services, and ensuring that veterans and first responders receive meaningful, long-term support when they return to civilian life.
By prioritizing those who were willing to sacrifice for our country, we strengthen the foundation for everyone else. When we build systems that help people regain purpose, stability, and dignity, we create healthier communities and a stronger Texas overall.
Do you have any notable endorsements you would like to highlight for voters? If this question is not applicable, please write N/A.
N/A
Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?
I'm the best candidate because I'm a grassroots outsider with bold, ready-to-pass legislation that solves Texas' biggest problems—no career politician excuses.
–Permanent property tax elimination: My Freedom Fund (via Cultivate Texas Act and Texas Freedom Act) cuts taxes 50% in my first term, zero by 2034—funded by legalizing restricted industries, no new taxes.
–Real border security and sovereignty: My Texas Sovereignty Acts ban foreign adversaries from owning our land and fully secure the border—finish the wall, deploy forces, end catch-and-release.
–Empower parents and fund schools generously: True school choice + billions in new revenue for education, all without raising taxes.
I'm a committed Christian, small-business owner, and fighter for life, guns, faith, and freedom—no compromises, no special interests.
Texas needs proven solutions and a leader who delivers, not more talk. I'm that leader. Support me—let's make Texas freer and stronger.