Voters Guide 2026: Texas Gears Up For Historic Midterms

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article published on Nov. 24 contained incorrect information about Texas Rep. Drew Darby’s legislative record. The article has been corrected as of Nov. 25.

Next year, all statewide executive offices are up for grabs, along with every seat in the State House of Representatives.

Races To Watch

New Democratic Challengers in West Texas: Shiloh Salazar of Howard County, has announced her candidacy for State Representative for District 72 in Texas, which is currently occupied by Drew Darby (R-San Angelo).

Salazar released a statement on Nov. 14 announcing the campaign:

“Some of you may not know me yet, but I’ve spent most of my life working to make life a little better for Texas families — especially here in West Texas.

“For over 15 years, I’ve worked alongside parents, teachers, and local leaders to make sure our kids have access to early education, our families can find help when times get tough, and our small towns aren’t left behind when it comes to resources and opportunity.

“My focus is simple: strong schools, reliable water and infrastructure, affordable healthcare close to home, and protecting the industries that keep West Texas running.”

-Shiloh Salazar for Texas, Facebook

Darby, who has represented District 72 since 2007, faced intra-party opposition after he opposed Gov. Abbott’s school voucher initiatives in 2023.

He defeated primary challenger Stormy Bradley by more than 4,000 votes in 2024. Despite his initial opposition, Darby did eventually cast his vote for the bill during the 89th Legislature.

Riley Rodriguez (D-Abilene), has announced his intentions to run against incumbent Charles Perry.

“We are facing increased costs from healthcare to housing, and now we have data centers moving in further straining our water supply and increasing energy usage and causing housing rent and housing costs to soar. These things are happening because the people we put in power to put Texas citizens first have abandoned the people to cater to corporations.”

-Campaign Announcement, Riley Rodriquez

Perry, (R-Lubbock), has held the seat since 2014. He is currently Senate president pro tempore, succeeding Brandon Creighton, who now serves as chancellor of the Texas Tech University System. Perry has focused in recent years on increasing funding of the Texas Water Development Board, citing Panhandle concerns around water conservation and the replenishing of the Ogallalla Aquifer which supplies much of northwest Texas. Perry has also authored legislation regulating the production and sale of THC Hemp products, among other conservative priorities.

Three challengers for TX-19: U.S. Rep Jodey Arrington announced he will not seek another term. Currently serving as chairman of the House Budget Committee, Arrington represents Texas’ 19th congressional district, which includes Abilene, Lubbock, and numerous counties in the Upper Colorado/Panhandle.

Two Republicans: Tom Sell, Lubbock businessman, and Abraham Enriquez, founder of the conservative political organization Bienvenido US. One Democrat, Kyle Rable of Lubbock, has announced as well.

Arrington began his political career serving under then Governor George W. Bush, then personal assistant once Bush was elected President. He also served as chairman of the FDIC. Arrington also held executive positions at Texas Tech, and was president of Scott Industries in Lubbock before running for Congress.

Executive Incumbents Seek Fourth Term: Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will both seek re-election, having led the Lone Star State since 2015. If elected, this would likely make them the longest serving executives in State history, beating Rick Perry’s record of 14 years.

Since their election, both Abbott and Patrick have sought the national spotlight, their rhetoric often defined around culture war issues and opposition to gay civil rights.

Three democrats have made a run for the seat: former State Senator Wendy Davis, former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez, and State Rep. Beto O’Rourke. Each candidate has succeeded in closing the gap by a few points each time, despite their loss. Abbott won by 59% in 2014 and 54% in 2022.

Six Democrats have joined the race so far: retired firefighter and cattleman Bobby Cole. USMC Ret. Nick Pappas; Bay City Councilman Benjamin Flores; disability activist Meagan Tehseldar; son of former Gov. Mark White, Andrew White, plans to run as an “independent” in the Democratic Party. He previously ran in 2018.

One candidate currently holds office: Gina Hinojosa of Austin, State Rep for District 49.

First elected in 2016, Hinojosa started as a lawyer, working as a part of the legal team that sued former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

In August of this year, she along with 50 other Democratic State Reps. broke quorum to prevent the passage of the updated congressional maps; and was named in Gov. Abbott’s lawsuit to remove them from office.

Throughout her terms in office, she has proposed several bills to protect gay and transgender civil rights: in 2021 she filed HB 73, which would have prohibited the use of the gay or trans panic defense in murder or assault trials, before it was rejected by the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence.

Dan Patrick faces Timothy Mabry, and Esala Wueschner in the Republican primary.

One Democrat, State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, has declared in that race.

Paxton’s Departure Marks End Of An Era: Taking office in 2015; Attorney General Ken Paxton along with Gov. Abbott and Lt. Gov. Patrick, changed the reality of state politics across the nation, through his domineering use of the Attorney General’s power to contest Federal policy in court.

In 2016, the conservative triumvirate filed an amicus brief with the hopes to overturn the Supreme Court’s Ogberfell v. Hodges decision which legalized gay marriage. Despite the initial strike down, the campaign against marriage equality continues today, with the Supreme Court once again affirming its decision again in their ruling in early November of this year. Statewide, the movement has succeeded. The Texas Supreme Court ruled this year to allow judges to deny marriage licenses to gay couples.

Paxton was chief among Republican Attorneys General who supported President Donald Trump’s claims of election fraud in 2020; filing the unsuccessful Texas v. Pennsylvania case in the Supreme Court which saught to overturn the state’s election results. He spoke at the rally on January 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C., that preceded the only domestic attack on the U.S. Capitol in history.

From 2021 to 2025, Paxton pursued legal action against the Biden administration 106 times.

So far, three Democrats have declared their bids: former FBI Agent and Federal prosecutor Tony Box, former mayor of Galveston Joe Jaworski, and Texas State Senator Nathan Johnson.

And four Republicans: State Reps. Joan Huffman and Chip Roy, Corporate Lawyer Mayes Middleton, and former Trump DOJ Appointee Aaron Reitz.

Important Dates

If you’re interested in running for office, contact your local party and watch out for these key dates: 

The deadline for primary candidates and independent candidates to file declaration of intent is set on December 8, 2025, by 6 p.m. 

First day to apply for a ballot by mail using Application for a Ballot by Mail (ABBM) or Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) is set for January 1, 2026.

Last day for voter registration is February 2, 2026.

Primary elections are set for March 6, 2026. 

What Primary Can I Vote In? 

Currently, Texas has “open primaries”, which means you can choose to vote in either party’s primary election regardless of party affiliation. 

According to The Texas Tribune, a court decision might change that:

In September, Attorney General Ken Paxton split from state leadership to join the Texas GOP in their Federal suit against the State’s top election official to close primary elections to party members only in Texas. 

Paxton argued that the practice allowed Democrats and Independents to vote in Republican primaries, backing moderate candidates. He hopes the court will side with the party on First Amendment grounds. 

In her filings, Nelson said a ruling now declaring the state’s open primary system unconstitutional could lead to confusion for voters ahead of the 2026 primary. She reminded the court that mail ballots for that election must be sent less than four months from now. Early voting begins Feb. 17.

Congressional Elections

U.S. Senate

Dem. – James Talarico, Emily Morgul, Michael Swanson, and Terry Virts.

Rep. – John Cornyn (Incumbent), Ken Paxton 

U.S. House of Representatives District 11

Dem. – 

Rep. – August Pfluger (Incumbent) 

U.S. House of Representatives District 19

Dem. – Kyle Rable

Rep. – Jodey Arrington (incumbent, will not seek re-election) Tom Sell, Abraham Enriquez.

U.S. House of Representatives District 23

Dem. – 

Rep. – Tony Gonzales (incumbent) 

State Elections

Governor (4 year term)

Dem. – Gina Hinojosa, Bobby Cole, Nick Pappas, Meagan Tehseldar.

Rep. – Greg Abbott (incumbent), Pete Chambers, Ronnie Tullos

Lieutenant Governor (4 year term)  

Dem. – Vikki Goodwin

Rep. – Dan Patrick (incumbent), Timothy Mabry, Esala Wueschner

Attorney General (4 year term)  

Dem. – Tony Box, Joe Jaworski, Nathan Johnson

Rep. – Joan Huffman, Mayes Middleton, Aaron Reitz, Chip Roy. 

Comptroller of Public Accounts (4 year term)

Kelly Hancock, Acting incumbent.

Commissioner of General Land Office (4 year term)

Dawn Buckingham, incumbent.

Commissioner of Agriculture (4 year term)

Sid Miller, incumbent. Nate Sheets is contesting this race.  

Texas Supreme Court (6 year term)

Place 1, Jimmy Blacklock, Chief Justice. 

Place 2, James Sullivan.

Place 7, Jeffrey S Boyd. 

Place 8, Brett Busby.

Court of Criminal Appeals (6 year term)

Place 3, Bert Richardson. 

Place 4, Kevin Yeary. 

Place 9, David Newell.

15^th Court of Appeals (6 year term)

Place 1, Scott Brister, Chief Justice 

Place 2, Scott Field.

Place 3, April Farris. 

State Legislature Elections

State Senate Dist. 28

Dem. – Riley Rodriquez

Rep. – Charles Perry (incumbent)

State Senate, District 31

Dem. –

Rep. – Kevin Sparks (incumbent)  

State Senate, District 24

Dem. –

Rep. – Pete Flores, incumbent

State Senate, District 19

Dem. –

Rep. – Roland Gutierrez (incumbent)

State House of Representatives District 72

Dem. – Shiloh Salazar

Rep. – Drew Darby (incumbent) 

State House of Representatives District 71 

Dem. –

Rep. – Stan Lambert (incumbent)

State House of Representatives District 53

Dem. –

Rep. – Wes Virdell (incumbent)

State House of Representatives District 81 

Dem. –

Rep. – Brooks Landgraf (incumbent)

State House of Representatives District 82

Dem. –

Rep. – Tom Craddick (incumbent)

State House of Representatives District 83

Dem. –

Rep. – Dustin Burrows (incumbent)

The 144 remaining State Rep. seats are up for grabs as well.

County Elections  

County Judge

Dem. – 

Rep. – Lane Carter (incumbent) 

County Court at Law Judge 1

Currently served by Judge Ben Nolen, who has announced his retirement. Local defense attorney Jana Jackson has announced her intentions to run for the seat. 

County Court at Law Judge 2

Currently served by Judge Andrew Graves, who was elected in 2022. 

District Clerk

Vicki Vines (incumbent)

County Clerk

Christina Ubando (incumbent)

Sheriff

Nick Hanna (incumbent)

County Treasurer

Dianna Spieker (incumbent)

County Commissioner Pct. 2

Sammy Farmer (incumbent)

County Commissioner Pct. 3

Rick Bacon (incumbent)

Justice of the Peace Pct. 1

Susan Werner (incumbent)

Justice of the Peace Pct. 2

Thomas Daniel (incumbent)

Justice of the Peace Pct. 3

Stacye Speck (incumbent)

Justice of the Peace Pct. 4

Randy Harris (incumbent)