Rhett Rosenquest Smith

Rhett Rosenquest Smith is the Republican candidate for Texas House of Representatives District 116 in the November 3, 2026 general election, facing Democrat Trey Martinez Fischer.[1][2] A U.S. Navy veteran with a University of Texas at Austin degree in accountancy, he has run for several offices previously.[1]

Rosenquest Smith graduated from Eastland High School in 1968 and earned a B.A. in accountancy from the University of Texas at Austin in 1973.[1] He served in the U.S. Navy from 1979 to 1983.[1] His career experience includes working as a noncommissioned officer with Allied Universal and as an auditor and accountant with the Texas Department of Human Resources.[1]

Rosenquest Smith ran for the U.S. House in Texas's 14th District in 2012 as a Green Party candidate, receiving 0.4% of the vote.[1] He ran for San Antonio mayor in 2017, as a Libertarian for the U.S. House in Texas's 11th District in 2018, for Bexar County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Place 1 in 2020, and for Texas State Board of Education District 8 in 2022, losing each race.[1] He advanced from the Republican primary for House District 116 on March 3, 2026.[1]

In a 2026 Ballotpedia survey, Rosenquest Smith described himself as an extensive political volunteer and strategist.[1] He listed religious freedom, family safety and honoring veterans as key messages, named transparency and responsible spending of taxpayer money as policy interests, and listed the Texas Republican Party as an endorser.[1]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.