The landscape for the March 3, 2026, primary elections in Texas’ Panhandle is now clear, following the Dec. 8, 2025, filing deadline. The filing deadline passed Dec. 8, 2025, for candidates seeking a place on the March 3, 2026, primary ballot, revealing county, state and federal races that will appear on those ballots in Potter and Randall counties ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. What emerges is a mix of competitive local commissioner races, open-seat legislative contests, and a few high-profile statewide battles that could reshape political leadership heading into November.
This post takes a common-sense look at where the races are competitive, where the incumbents coasted to the ballot without opposition, and why some of these developments matter for Panhandle voters.
Local Offices: A Tale of Two Counties
Perhaps the clearest dividing line this cycle is the difference between Potter and Randall counties in terms of electoral competitiveness. Commissioner contests stood out as the most competitive local races, with challengers stepping forward in Potter County precincts and a lack of opposition in both Randall precincts, highlighting contrasting levels of interest in county government seats across the two counties ahead of March voting.
Potter County: Competitive Fields and Openings
Potter County residents will see significantly more choices on their March ballots than their neighbors to the south. Incumbents Julie Smith (county clerk), Brooke Graves (treasurer), Walt Weaver (County Court at Law No. 1), and Matt Hand (County Court at Law No. 2) all filed for re-election without mention of primary challengers. But the commissioner races are where competition is strongest.
In Precinct 2, incumbent Blair Schaffer faces a Republican primary challenge from Jeff Raef. In Precinct 4, the contest expands into a three-way competition, with Democratic incumbent Warren Coble facing Democratic challenger Timothy Gassaway, while Republican Jose Perez joins the race to take the seat in November.
Potter County also has activity at the county judge level, where Democrat Jerri Glover and Republican Michelle Eggleston filed. For district clerk, Democrat Jessica Barrientos and Republican incumbent Stephnie Menke will move forward. Justice of the Peace races are particularly active, including a four-candidate Precinct 1 race featuring David Martinez (D) and three Republican candidates: Lisa Devries, Amanda Mayfield, and Bryan Tackett.
These levels of competition signal real interest in reshaping local governance. Voters will not be short on choices, and the variety in party representation shows that Potter County continues to host a more politically mixed environment than many other parts of the Panhandle.
Randall County: A Quieter Ballot—With One Notable Exception
Randall County—traditionally more solidly Republican—sees a much calmer primary season. The filing list shows that incumbents seeking re-lection include County Judge Christy Dyer, Commissioner Eric Barry (Precinct 2), Commissioner Tam Boatler (Precinct 4) and District Clerk Joel Forbis, all of whom filed without apparent intraparty challengers. This dramatically contrasts with Potter County’s competitive slate.
Alongside the incumbent stability, Randall County will see a major change: the turnover in the district attorney’s office. Robert Love, who took office in 2019, will not seek re-election. The only filer for the seat is Lacy Miller of the Randall County District Attorney’s Office, who filed just before the deadline. If no other names appear on the November ballot later, this could effectively be a smooth transition within the same office without a public primary contest.
The one major competitive race in Randall County is the Republican primary for County Court at Law No. 1, where five candidates—Claire Hamker Grammer, Quenton Todd Hatter, Paul Herrmann, Dallas McKibben, and Andrew Caleb Smith—filed. This stands out as the county’s loudest political battle this cycle and will likely attract significant attention among Republican primary voters.
State Legislative Races: Notable Departures and New Contests
The 2026 cycle will carry meaningful implications for the Texas Legislature, especially in the Panhandle. The departure of a long-serving lawmaker is one of the biggest changes. Longtime state Rep. John Smithee, who has represented District 86 for roughly 40 years, is not seeking re-election. His retirement opens a rare and consequential seat.
To fill House District 86, three candidates filed: Republicans Jamie Haynes and Holly Jeffreys, and Democrat Cullin Knutson. For Republican voters, the primary will determine which direction the district takes after decades under the same leadership style.
In House District 87, incumbent Republican Caroline Fairly faces Democratic challenger Diana Loya. Because parties do not overlap here, the primary is less competitive, but the November general election will offer voters a clear ideological choice.
Senate District 31 will see incumbent Republican Kevin Sparks face Democratic opponent John Betancourt. Like HD 87, this is not a competitive primary, but the district’s wide geographic footprint makes the general election important for shaping regional representation.
Federal Races: A Three-Way Competition in U.S. House District 13
At the congressional level, competitive dynamics reappear. In U.S. House District 13, incumbent Republican Ronny Jackson will face Republican challenger Chasity Wedgeworth in the primary. On the Democratic side, Mark Nair filed and will advance to the general election if he secures his party nomination.
This creates a three-way race across the cycle, offering Republican primary voters a choice while setting up a predictable two-party contest in November. District 13 has historically leaned heavily Republican, but primary challenges can reveal intraparty shifts that matter for long-term representation.
High-Profile Statewide Contests
Voters in Potter and Randall counties will also weigh in on several major statewide primaries.
The U.S. Senate race features a crowded field, led by incumbent Republican John Cornyn, who faces a primary with prominent challengers, including Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt. On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and State Rep. James Talarico filed, setting up what may be a competitive Democratic primary as well.
The 2026 Texas governor’s race will also appear on the ballot, with incumbent Greg Abbott seeking re-election and multiple challengers from both parties. While Abbott maintains strong statewide recognition, his appearance alongside other prominent statewide contests ensures that turnout—and political interest—remains high.
The attorney general’s race becomes an open contest, since the filings state that the attorney general’s race is open, with multiple candidates in both major parties filing to succeed Paxton as the state’s top lawyer. Open statewide seats typically draw large fields and intensify voter engagement.
What Voters Should Know
Texas voters will again be able to choose either party’s ballot under the state’s open primary system. Early voting runs Feb. 17–27, and Feb. 2 is the last day to register. This means every voter in the Panhandle has a choice of ballot—regardless of prior voting history—and participation levels in March could significantly influence who appears on November’s ballots.
What It All Means Heading Into 2026
With the ballot now set, the upcoming primaries will determine which candidates move forward to the November general election ballots in Potter and Randall counties. Between competitive commissioner races in Potter County, a major transition in Randall County’s district attorney office, and shifting dynamics in state and federal representation, the 2026 cycle promises meaningful change.
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