Texas Primaries 2026: What’s on the ballot — statewide races and Congressional District 19

Texas voters will be heading to the polls for the 2026 primary election before you know it. The Texas primary is set for Tuesday, March 3, 2026, when voters will select their party’s nominees for offices on the November general election ballot. Early voting runs Feb. 17–Feb. 27, 2026, giving Texans a full week and a half to cast a ballot ahead of Election Day.

Below is a breakdown of key dates, local county races, biggest statewide matchups (both parties), and the filed candidates for U.S. House District 19 (TX-19).

Key election dates

Terry County Elections:

Terry County Clerk is a county-wide race and is contested between two Republicans:

• Nancy Gonzales: Chief Deputy County Clerk
• Jeffrey Davis: Deputy County Clerk

The other Terry County election is for Terry County Commissioner Precinct 4. Only citizens of precinct 4 can vote. Three Republican candidates will be on the ballot. Their names, listed below, are in the order on the ballot.

• Michael Dawson: Retired Fire Captain with the LFD & owner/operator of Dawson Electric
• Elvis Rodriguez: Retired from the City of Brownfield after serving 20 years in the streets dept., now is an employee of Terry County.
• Ernesto Elizardo: Incumbent candidate for Precinct 4.

In both Terry County races, the candidates who win their respective primaries will advance to the November general election ballot. However, those nominees are expected to run unopposed, as no Democratic or third-party candidates filed for those offices.

Statewide races: major candidates in both parties

U.S. Senate (Texas)

One of the marquee races in 2026 is the contest for Texas’s U.S. Senate seat. The outcome could have national implications, as a Democratic victory in November could affect the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.

Republican primary: Incumbent John Cornyn faces Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt. Here is the full Republican list of candidates for the US Senate in Texas:

• John Adefope
• Anna Bender
• Virgil Bierschwale
• Sara Canady
• John Cornyn
• Wesley Hunt
• Gulrez Khan C
• Ken Paxton

Democratic primary: U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico are among the top-profile candidates in the Democratic field. Here is the full list of Democrat Candidates for the US Senate in Texas:

• Jasmine Crockett
• Ahmad Hassan
• James Talarico

Governor

Republican primary for Texas Governor:

• Greg Abbott
• R.F. Achgill
• Evelyn Brooks
• Pete Chambers
• Charles Crouch
• Arturo Espinosa
• Mark Goloby
• Kenneth Hyde
• Stephen Samuelson C
• Ronnie Tullos.

Democratic primary for Texas Governor

• Patricia Abrego
• Chris Bell
• Bobby Cole
• Carlton Hart
• Gina Hinojosa
• Jose Navarro Balbuena
• Zach Vance
• Angela Villescaz
• Andrew White

Attorney General

With Paxton running for U.S. Senate, the attorney general race is a major down-ballot battleground.

• Republican primary: Candidates include state Sens. Joan Huffman and Mayes Middleton, and former DOJ official Aaron Reitz (among others).
• Democratic primary: Democrats include state Sen. Nathan Johnson, plus additional filed candidates.

Comptroller of Public Accounts

• Republican primary: Kelly Hancock, Don Huffines, and Christi Craddick are in the GOP contest.
• Democratic primary: Democrats include state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, along with other filed candidates.

Texas Land Commissioner

The Land Commissioner leads the Texas General Land Office, overseeing state lands and related revenue and coastal work.

• Republican primary: Incumbent Dawn Buckingham is running for re-election.
• Democratic primary: Filed Democrats include Benjamin Flores and Jose Loya.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner (Texas Department of Agriculture)

The Agriculture Commissioner heads the Texas Department of Agriculture, a statewide agency responsible for agricultural promotion and consumer protection programs.

• Republican primary: Incumbent Sid Miller faces Nate Sheets.
• Democratic primary: Clayton Tucker is running for the Democratic nomination.

U.S. House: Texas Congressional District 19 (TX-19)

Current U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington announced on November 11, 2025, that he will not seek re-election in 2026. As a result, Texas’ 19th Congressional District (TX-19) will be an open-seat race in 2026—setting up a wide-open Republican primary field with eight GOP candidates vying to succeed him.

Democratic primary (TX-19)

• Kyle Rable

Republican primary (TX-19)

• James Barbee
• Jason Corley
• Abraham Enriquez
• Donald May
• Tom Sell
• Matthew Smith
• Ryan Zink

Where to see your exact ballot