Benjamin Flores is the Democratic nominee for Texas Land Commissioner in the Nov. 3 general election. He faces Republican Dawn Buckingham and Libertarian Neill Snider.
Asked why he is running, Flores said in our candidate questionnaire: "I believe the Texas General Land Office should work for everyday Texans, not special interests or political agendas. … I am running because I want to protect the land and resources that belong to all Texans, strengthen support for our public schools and veterans, defend property owners, and make sure the General Land Office is focused on service rather than politics."
Candidate information
Party: Democrat
Family: "My wife An and my beautiful daughter Nadia," Flores said in our questionnaire.
Education: Flores said in our questionnaire: "I studied Geography at a university in Mexico before coming to the United States. My education and professional development later shifted toward technology, and I am currently continuing my studies in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance."
Background: Flores was born in Mexico City and came to the United States in 1996, according to the Texas Tribune. He has stated that if elected, he would become the first Latino land commissioner in Texas history. He originally declared his candidacy for governor before switching to the land commissioner race, citing opposition to how the current land commissioner used General Land Office resources to support border and immigration enforcement.
In June 2026, Flores was diagnosed with leukemia. Two weeks later, he announced he was in remission while addressing the Texas Democratic Convention in Corpus Christi, according to the Texas Tribune. He said he would remain in the race and was receiving treatment at MD Anderson in Houston.
Endorsements: Sierra Club Political Committee of Texas and AFL-CIO, according to the Texas Tribune. Greater Heights Democratic Club and Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, according to BallotReady.
Experience and public service
Flores said in our questionnaire: "I am a cybersecurity professional with roughly 30 years of experience in information technology and security. My career began with working-class jobs, including at KFC, a car wash, and in hotel IT, before I built a long career in technology and cybersecurity."
He serves as a Bay City councilmember, according to BallotReady. He was elected to Bay City's city council in 2023, according to the Texas Tribune. He has also served as a board member of the Bay City Development Corporation and as a representative on the Houston-Galveston Area Council.
His background includes work as a heritage pig farmer on his family homestead in Matagorda County.
On the issues
What sets him apart: Flores said in our questionnaire: "I bring nearly 30 years of experience in cybersecurity, risk management, and technology, along with service as a city councilman and firsthand experience with agriculture and small-town Texas. … I am not running to use the General Land Office as a political stepping stone. I am running to manage it professionally, protect public lands, support veterans, strengthen the Permanent School Fund, improve disaster recovery, and bring greater transparency and accountability to the office."
Disaster recovery: Flores said he would streamline disaster response by accelerating debris removal and contract approvals and would create "a roster of pre-vetted Texas contractors ready to mobilize," according to the Texas Tribune. He has also said he would strengthen coastal protections and ensure recovery money is distributed fairly, according to his campaign website.
Education: Flores strongly opposes school vouchers, according to the Texas Tribune. He has argued they undermine the constitutional mission of public lands to fund public education.
Veterans: Flores has said he would advocate for a VA hospital in the Rio Grande Valley and a new assisted living home in the Coastal Bend region, according to the Texas Tribune.
Energy: Flores has said he would invite more solar and wind energy producers to join the oil and gas companies operating on state land, according to his campaign website.
Best advice: Asked about the best advice he ever received, Flores said in our questionnaire: "The best advice ever shared with me came from my mother: 'No seas agachado.' Growing up, she taught me not to shrink myself, stay silent, or back down when something was wrong."
