Don Huffines Targets TxDOT Audits to Cut Waste and Delays

Don Huffines won the Republican primary for Texas Comptroller on March 3, 2026, defeating Christi Craddick and Kelly Hancock. He now faces Democrat Sarah Eckhardt in the November general election. Huffines has pledged to shift the office's roughly 600 auditors away from routine business checks and toward state agencies, local governments, and TxDOT to root out fraud, waste, and abuse.

Huffines Primary Victory Sets Stage for General Election

Huffines secured the GOP nomination after a competitive primary that included Craddick and Hancock. The former state senator now holds the party's banner against Eckhardt, who won her party's nomination earlier. The general election contest will decide who oversees the state's fiscal operations for the next four years.

Primary results showed Huffines prevailing on March 3. Both Craddick and Hancock conceded after the vote tallies came in. Eckhardt enters the fall campaign as the Democratic standard-bearer with her own platform on government accountability.

Plan to Redirect Auditors Toward Agencies and TxDOT

Huffines proposes moving the Comptroller's approximately 600 auditors to examine state agencies, local governments, and entities such as TxDOT. The goal is to identify fraud, waste, and abuse instead of focusing primarily on private businesses. This shift would apply private-sector standards to public spending, according to his statements in candidate questionnaires.

The candidate specifically calls for reviews of TxDOT contracts. These audits would check whether roadways and infrastructure projects finish on schedule and hold the agency accountable for delays that frustrate drivers. Complaints about traffic and construction backlogs have grown in recent years, and Huffines ties the audits directly to those issues.

Rationale Draws on Past Senate Experience and Efficiency Goals

Huffines frames the effort as a "DOGE Texas" initiative modeled on private-sector discipline. He points to his earlier Senate service, where he helped expose a major scandal, as evidence that such reviews can uncover corruption. Savings from reduced waste would then support property tax relief, he has said in interviews and questionnaires.

Other primary candidates, including Christi Craddick, also raised agency audits during the race. Huffines' proposals stand out for their emphasis on TxDOT contracts and local governments alongside state agencies. His Ballotpedia profile and responses to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal questionnaire detail these priorities.

General Election Timeline and Next Steps

The November 2026 general election remains the next decision point for voters. Eckhardt and Huffines will present competing visions for the Comptroller's office through the fall campaign. Early voting and candidate forums will shape the contest before ballots are cast.

Huffines has linked his audit plans to broader goals of faster infrastructure delivery and lower taxes. The outcome will determine whether the office expands reviews of TxDOT and other entities or maintains its current focus.