The deadline to register to vote in the March primary election is less than a week away. Texans must be registered by Monday, Feb. 2, to participate. Early voting begins Feb. 17 and runs through Feb. 27, with Election Day set for March 3, 2026.
The joint Republican and Democratic primary will determine nominees for a wide range of federal, state, and local offices, as well as several party-specific propositions. Offices on the ballot include U.S. Senator, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and multiple county and judicial positions.
How the Primary Works in Texas
Texas is an open-primary state, meaning voters may choose to participate in either the Republican or Democratic primary, regardless of party affiliation. However, voters may only vote in one party’s primary and, if applicable, that same party’s runoff election. Runoffs are scheduled for May 26 if no candidate receives a majority of votes in the March primary. Winners of the primary advance to the general election on Nov. 3.
Notable Races and Retirements
Several longtime officeholders are not seeking re-election this cycle. Among them are state Rep. John Smithee of Amarillo, who has represented House District 86 for about 40 years, and Potter County Judge Nancy Tanner, who has served 12 years in office. In the Lubbock area, U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, chair of the House Budget Committee, has also announced he will not seek another term.
Federal and Statewide Races
U.S. Senator:
Incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn faces multiple primary challengers, including Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt. On the Democratic ballot are U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico.
Governor and Lieutenant Governor:
Incumbents Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are seeking re-election and face multiple challengers. The governor’s race includes a particularly long list of candidates, with 11 Republicans and nine Democrats filed.
Attorney General:
With Paxton running for U.S. Senate, the attorney general’s race is open. Republican candidates include Chip Roy, Mayes Middleton, Joan Huffman, and Aaron Reitz. Democratic candidates are Nathan Johnson, Joe Jaworski, and Anthony “Tony” Box.
Other statewide offices on the primary ballot include Comptroller of Public Accounts, General Land Office Commissioner, Agriculture Commissioner, and Railroad Commissioner.
Congressional and Legislative Races
In U.S. House District 13, incumbent Republican Rep. Ronny Jackson faces primary challenger Chasity Wedgeworth, while Mark Nair is on the Democratic ballot.
Local legislative races include:
House District 86: Jamie Haynes and Holly Jeffreys (Republican); Cullin Knutson (Democrat)
House District 87: Caroline Fairly (R, incumbent); Diana Loya (D)
Senate District 31: Kevin Sparks (R, incumbent); John Betancourt (D)
County and Local Races
In Potter County, Republican incumbent Commissioner Blair Schaffer (Precinct 2) faces challenger Jeff Raef. In Precinct 4, Democratic incumbent Warren Coble is challenged by Timothy Gassaway, alongside Republican candidate Jose Perez. Jerri Glover (D) and Michelle Eggleston (R) are running to replace Tanner as county judge.
In Randall County, incumbents seeking re-election include County Judge Christy Dyer, Commissioner Eric Barry (Precinct 2), and Commissioner Tam Boatler (Precinct 4). District Attorney Robert Love, who took office in 2019, is not seeking re-election, and Lacy Miller has filed to run for the position.
Many local judicial and county offices are also on the ballot, with most candidates running unopposed within their respective parties.
Party Propositions
Voters will also weigh in on 10 to 13 party propositions, depending on which primary they choose. Republican propositions address topics such as property taxes, vaccines, education curriculum, water resources, term limits, and immigration services. Democratic propositions include issues related to health care, immigration, reproductive rights, and proposals to raise salaries for school and state employees to meet the national average and provide cost-of-living increases.
Voting by Mail and Voter Information
The last day to receive an application for a mail ballot is Friday, Feb. 20. Voters can check their registration status online through the Texas Secretary of State or by contacting their county elections office. While recent redistricting and legal challenges have delayed the mailing of some voter registration cards, the cards are not required to vote.
Local election offices include:
Potter County: pottercountytexasvotes.gov
Voter Registrar Office: 900 S. Polk St., Room 320, Amarillo | 806-379-2299
Randall County: randallcounty.gov/166/Election-Administration
Voter Registrar Office: 1605 5th Ave., Canyon | 806-656-2151
Registering to Vote
To register in Texas, applicants must be:
A U.S. citizen
A resident of the county where applying
17 years and 10 months old at the time of application and 18 by Election Day
Not a convicted felon, unless the sentence, probation, and parole are complete
First-time voters must submit a registration application at least 30 days before the election. Applications can be completed through the Secretary of State’s online system, printed, signed, and mailed, or obtained directly from a local voter registrar.
Voters who have changed their name or address can update their registration through Texas.gov.
