Chris Bell

Bell was born in Abilene, Texas, and grew up in Dallas. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from South Texas College of Law. While attending law school, Bell worked as a journalist and tv and radio reporter. His professional experience includes working as an attorney in private firms. He became a partner at Berg Feldman Johnson Bell, LLP in 2014.

Bell's political experience includes serving on the Houston City Council, following his election in 1997. He was elected to Congress in 2002 and served one term. He ran for Governor of Texas in 2006, winning the Democratic primary and losing the general election to Governor Rick Perry.[1]

Chris Bell did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

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Campaign websiteBell's campaign website stated the following:Texans Deserve BetterThe people of Texas shape my policy positions. Individual Reproductive RightsI trust Texas women — and I believe government should not come between a woman and her doctor. For decades now, unqualified leaders in the highest positions in the state have spent far too much time thinking about the inner workings of women's bodies, and not nearly enough time thinking about women's individual rights.I have consistently supported policies that protect reproductive rights while ensuring that mothers have access to the healthcare and support they need.I voted against banning certain medical procedures that could endanger a mother’s life, because people and their doctors — not politicians — should make those decisions. Affordability: InsuranceWe do not review and approve rate hikes in Texas, thus leaving us with some of the highest home and car insurance rates in the country. Like other states, we need to stop the practice of allowing insurance carriers to simply file and implement their desired increases. They need to be required to justify every cent. This will greatly slow and deter increases. And, while the new review system is being put into place, we need to freeze rates if possible. TransportationThe governor has a non-delegable duty to appoint Texas Transportation Commissioners whose sole mandate is measurable mobility, fiscal discipline, and independence from road-builder capture. Commissioners must be subject to strict conflict-of-interest bans, term limits, and mandatory public disclosure of benefit-cost analyses for all major projects. No data? No deal. No corruption. We must end the practice of simply widening highways that fail within five years. We must increase our throughput-per-dollar spent. Texans have paid billions to widen roads that clog up again. that’s not inevitability; that’s bad management.— Chris Bell's campaign website (January 14, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

Chris Bell did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Bell's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[14]

Streets and transportation

Excerpt: "We need to take a modern approach to fixing our infrastructure. That's why I'll create a new Streets and Traffic Management department to cut the bureaucracy at City Hall and make fixing our streets and sidewalks a real priority. We need a new, efficient system using new technology in innovative ways to synchronize our lights, fix our streets and share information with all Houstonians."

Public safety

Excerpt: "I'm committed to using the most advanced techniques to keep our citizens safe. Everything from computerized tracking of crime, to body cameras on police, and CCTV in high crime areas. Technology can be our biggest weapon."

Education

Excerpt: "We need an innovative approach, and one possibility is to put the unused space in our public libraries to work hosting pre-kindergarten programs. Pre-K for all children who want it is not just a political bandwagon. It can be the key toward a child's long-term success in the classroom."

Mobility

Excerpt: "In addition to the light rail, I will work with METRO to consider the feasibility of a new modern system, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) for areas not covered by rail."

Excerpt: "BRT uses state of the art electric buses that run on dedicated lanes, and BRT systems are considerably less expensive than light rail and have the added advantage of being able to be built in a fraction of the time. BRT is working well in Cleveland, Las Vegas, and many cities around the world. Federal money may be available, and I will work with my former colleagues in Congress to make it happen."

Finances and city pensions

Excerpt: "Advances in technology, especially as they are used in financial management, can make government more efficient and as cost-effective as possible."

Excerpt: "My administration will conduct audits throughout the city in every department to reduce costs and create a new, modern government. If government is closer to you, with more interaction through technology, we create efficiencies and improve accountability. I recognize our pension challenges will not be solved overnight, but I'll bring all parties to the table and work toward a system based on the fiscal realities we face."