Gubernatorial candidate Bobby Cole on Tuesday released his Take It Back Agenda, a policy framework outlining his priorities for Texas ahead of the 2026 election cycle. The plan centers on housing affordability, energy infrastructure, cost of living, healthcare, education, and regulation of emerging industries such as artificial intelligence.

Cole is seeking the Democratic nomination in the 2026 Texas governor’s race, which will be decided during the Texas primary election on March 3, 2026. A runoff election, if needed, will be held on May 26, 2026. The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.

The race includes incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who is seeking a fourth term, along with other candidates who have announced or are expected to announce bids in both major party primaries.

Cole’s agenda positions his campaign as a contrast to Abbott’s three terms in office. The plan argues that current state policies have contributed to rising housing costs, higher electricity prices, limited access to healthcare, and underfunded public education. It also asserts that corporate incentives and donor influence have played a significant role in shaping state policy outcomes.

The Take It Back Agenda calls for increased investment in housing supply, grid reliability, healthcare access, and public schools. It also proposes changes to energy policy that would prioritize residential and small business consumers over large industrial users, including cryptocurrency mining and large scale data centers. On artificial intelligence, the agenda emphasizes worker protections and consumer safeguards as the state positions itself as a hub for emerging technology.

The campaign cites several statewide trends to support the proposal, including a housing shortfall estimated at more than 300,000 homes, sharp increases in wholesale electricity prices between 2021 and 2023, Texas ranking among the most regressive tax systems in the country, the highest uninsured rate in the nation, and near bottom rankings in per student public education spending.

The agenda also criticizes the current administration’s approach to energy regulation, corporate tax incentives, healthcare funding, public education financing, and the use of federal funds. It highlights policies related to grid weatherization, energy market oversight, Medicaid expansion, rural hospital closures, school voucher proposals, and state level regulation of artificial intelligence.

Cole’s plan is organized around six focus areas: housing and middle class wealth building, affordable and reliable energy, lowering everyday costs, protecting workers amid AI driven economic growth, expanding access to healthcare, and increasing investment in public education.