<\/p>\n
State Rep. James Talarico, left, and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Democratic primary candidates for U.S. Senate, shake hands prior to a debate at the Texas AFL-CIO COPE Convention in Georgetown, Texas, on Jan. 24, 2026.<\/p>\n
Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune via POOL<\/p>\n
This week, Texans have their first chance to cast ballots in what is guaranteed to be a critical midterm election year.<\/p>\n
Early voting begins Feb. 17 in primaries across the state, including county offices, courts, the Texas Legislature, Congress and the biggest one of all \u2014 the Texas race for U.S. Senate, where incumbent John Cornyn has drawn a slate of Republican primary challengers, and two Democratic candidates are drawing national attention (and dollars).<\/p>\n
The primaries will set up November showdowns, when Republicans in Congress hope to cling onto their slim majority. Texas isn\u2019t about to turn blue, but Democrats intend to capitalize on what could be a vulnerable year for the GOP.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a closer look at who\u2019s on the ballot in challenged races across North Texas and what\u2019s at stake with your vote. Early voting is Feb. 17-27, and primary election day is March 3.<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udfe5Election 2026\ud83d\udfe6<\/p>\n
Get Star-Telegram headlines in your inbox<\/a>. A heated U.S. Senate race<\/p>\n The U.S. Senate race in Texas is arguably the closest-watched this election cycle, as Cornyn hopes to hold onto the seat he\u2019s held since 2003. On the Republican side, candidates are trying to cast themselves as the most conservative pick as they jockey for the backing of President Donald Trump. For the Democrats, it\u2019s a battle of style over substance as the frontrunners make their case for why they\u2019re best positioned to win in November.<\/p>\n Democrats eye a blue flip in November<\/p>\n Democrats haven\u2019t won a statewide office in Texas since 1994, a losing streak they hope to end in November.<\/p>\n Democratic primary voters will pick between leading candidates U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett from Dallas and state Rep. James Talarico from Round Rock. Also in the race is Ahmad Hassan from Katy.<\/p>\n When it comes to policy, there isn\u2019t much that separates Crockett, an attorney and former state lawmaker, and Talarico, a former public school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian.<\/p>\n Crockett told the Star-Telegram her priorities are affordability; fixing the country\u2019s \u201cbroken healthcare system\u201d; and establishing comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to legal status or citizenship, while also investing in border personnel and technology to keep out drug traffickers.<\/p>\n Talarico said he\u2019d prioritize caps on campaign contributions, banning super PACS and partisan gerrymandering, and policies to increase the minimum wage and lower the cost of living for working families. He also proposes universal early childhood education.<\/p>\n But what the Democratic race has really come down to is persona, a contrast that was starkly highlighted during in a January debate between Crockett and Talarico<\/a>. Many see Talarico as milder-mannered and capable of reaching across party lines, while Crockett is a more flashy fighter, ready to take on the Trump administration and MAGA movement.<\/p>\n \u201cCrockett\u2019s appeal, most simply, is that she speaks the language of Democratic discontent in the moment, and she speaks it very well,\u201d said Joshua Blank, the director of research for the Texas Politics Project at UT Austin<\/a>.<\/p>\n An argument among Democrats for her candidacy is the that she might better energize and mobilize voters, Blank said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Talarico argument would be … because of the nature of the brand that he\u2019s built, and even, maybe particularly, the role that Christianity plays in it, he presents as a less threatening alternative to independent voters and maybe even some Republicans who traditionally have not voted for a Democratic candidate, but nonetheless find themselves dissatisfied with the direction of the state and, or the country under Republican leadership,\u201d Blank said.<\/p>\n Republicans work to unseat Cornyn<\/p>\n The frontrunners in challenging Cornyn on the Republican side are Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Houston.<\/p>\n Paxton, who took office in 2015, pitches himself<\/a> as a \u201cfearless conservative, a relentless fighter, and a true defender of Texas values\u201d who stood up the Biden administration, corporate overreach and \u201cthe corrupt political establishment that\u2019s tried to silence him time and time again.\u201d<\/p>\n The attorney general\u2019s legal troubles, his 2023 impeachment (and acquittal in the Senate) and a pending divorce from Sen. Angela Paxton, a McKinney Republican, have been contention points early in the campaign.<\/p>\n Cornyn touts his years of experience and effectiveness in Washington, as well as his record of \u201cno scandals, just results.\u201d Cornyn says he\u2019s a \u201creliable ally of President Trump, helping him secure the border, support law enforcement, and unleash our economy.\u201d A win would deliver Cornyn his fifth term in the Senate.<\/p>\n \u201cThe conventional wisdom,\u201d Blank said, \u201chas been that John Cornyn is potentially weak amongst a segment of the Republican primary electorate, that Ken Paxton is uniquely positioned to expose that vulnerability, and that, that might be the dynamic that takes down this long term incumbent senator.\u201d<\/p>\n Hunt is a combat veteran in his second term in Congress. He calls himself a next generation of leader who represents changes that Texans are demanding. He told the Star-Telegram he promised to take on the \u201cWashington elite\u201d and carry his \u201cmission of Texas-first policies all the way to Washington and stand for faith, family, and freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n All three Republicans align themselves to Trump at every opportunity, but the president hasn\u2019t endorsed in the race.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Trump were to endorse in the U.S. Senate race, it would effectively cause us to throw out every survey we\u2019ve previously done, because it would change the dynamics to such an extent that you\u2019d have to wait and see once the dust cleared what the overall effect was,\u201d said Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University.<\/p>\n Redistricting shakeups in Congress<\/p>\n Texas\u2019 mid-decade redistricting, which triggered other states including California to do the same, has injected a new level of uncertainty the future of Republicans\u2019 grip on Washington. At Trump\u2019s urging, the Texas Legislature redrew congressional boundaries, tilting advantage to Republicans to pick up five additional seats in the U.S. House.<\/p>\n Seats in North Texas were among those affected by the reconfiguration, and the maps will be used in the March primaries.<\/p>\n Congressional District 32<\/p>\n Centered in Dallas County, District 32 was redrawn to extend farther east into more rural parts of the state. Its current representative, Democrat Julie Johnson of Farmers Branch, is now running in nearby District 33 (more on that below.)<\/p>\n Now favoring Republicans, the District 32 GOP primary has drawn nine candidates<\/a>. Given the size of the pool, the contest will likely need a runoff.<\/p>\n Two Democrats are competing for District 32: Richardson City Council member Dan Barrios and EMT Anthony Bridges.<\/p>\n Congressional District 33<\/p>\n Perhaps most notably for Tarrant County voters, District 33 (represented by Marc Veasey of Fort Worth) is no longer in Tarrant County, and will not be on the ballot here. The seat does still lean blue.<\/p>\n Veasey, drawn out of the district, didn\u2019t seek reelection, opening up the race in 2026. Johnson, the Farmers Branch Democrat, and former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred are among four Democratic contenders in the primary. The race has also drawn four Republican primary candidates.<\/p>\n Allred challenged Sen. Ted Cruz for U.S. Senate in 2024.<\/p>\n Congressional District 30<\/p>\n Contested congressional races in Tarrant County include the election for District 30, which is currently represented by Jasmine Crockett. A small portion of the North Texas district falls within Tarrant County\u2019s eastern edge.<\/p>\n Crockett\u2019s decision to run for Senate after being drawn out of the district prompted a three-way race in the Democratic primary. Candidates include Frederick D. Haynes III, the senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas; Rodney LaBruce, a pastor and financial executive for a real estate lender; and Barbara Mallory Caraway, a former state representative and Dallas council member.<\/p>\n Four candidates are running in the Republican primary: Small business owner and community organizer Everett Jackson; IT project coordinator Nils B. Walker; public interest lawyer Sholdon Daniels; and businessman Gregorio H. Heise.<\/p>\n Familiar faces in statewide races<\/p>\n North Texans will see familiar names on the statewide ballot, which includes elections for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller and commissioners of the General Land Office, Department of Agriculture and Railroad Commission. The governor\u2019s race has a full slate of candidates on both sides, but Gov. Greg Abbott will likely win his primary and be a tough incumbent to defeat in November.<\/p>\n Texas Attorney General<\/p>\n The attorney general\u2019s race is an interesting one, given the seat hasn\u2019t been open in about a decade.<\/p>\n In the Republican primary are U.S. Rep. Chip Roy from Austin; state Sen. Joan Huffman from Houston; state Rep. Mayes Middleton from Galveston; and Aaron Reitz, who previously worked as a prosecutor for Paxton and as chief of staff for Sen. Ted Cruz before moving to the U.S. Department of Justice. Roy also previously served as Cruz\u2019s chief of staff.<\/p>\n On the Democratic side, the candidates include attorney Anthony \u201cTony\u201d Box; lawyer and mediator Joe Jaworski; and state Sen. Nathan Johnson from Dallas.<\/p>\n Texas Comptroller<\/p>\n Kelly Hancock of North Richland Hills was appointed in June<\/a> to serve as acting comptroller, and he wants to keep the job.<\/p>\n The former state senator is among four Republicans seeking a full term leading the comptroller\u2019s office. Joining him is Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick; former state Sen. Don Huffines, a Dallas Republican; and Michael Berlanga, an accountant, property tax consultant and real estate broker.<\/p>\n Democrats running for the seat include finance professional Michael Lange, educator Savant Moore and state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt from Austin.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Hancock\u2019s vacated seat in the Texas Senate went to a special election with Democrat Taylor Rehmet winning decisively on Jan. 31. He will face off again with Republican Leigh Wambsganss in November for a chance to serve a full term in Senate District 9.<\/p>\n Railroad Commissioner<\/p>\n Former Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French is one of five Republicans vying to serve on the Texas Railroad Commission, which \u2013 despite what its name suggests \u2013 regulates the state\u2019s oil and gas industry.<\/p>\n The race also includes current Commissioner Jim Wright; well control specialist Hawk Dunlap; James \u2018Jim\u2019 Matlock, who is retired; and Katherine Culbert, a process safety engineer for an oil and gas company.<\/p>\n Texas Legislature, Tarrant County Commissioners Court<\/p>\n Several state lawmakers aren\u2019t seeking reelection in 2026 or are running for a different office, creating open seats in Tarrant County\u2019s legislative delegation. There\u2019s also an open seat on the commissioners court. These are some of the House and Senate races we\u2019re watching in the primaries:<\/p>\n Senate District 22<\/p>\n Sen. Brian Birdwell, a Granbury Republican, isn\u2019t seeking reelection after being nominated as an assistant secretary of defense in the Trump administration.<\/p>\n The seat, which stretches south into Stephenville, Hillsboro and Waco, has drawn three Republican primary candidates: State Rep. David Cook; former McLennan County District Clerk Jon Gimble; and rancher Rena Schroeder.<\/p>\n Amy Martinez-Salas, a student and mother, is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.<\/p>\n House District 94<\/p>\n Tony Tinderholt, an Arlington Republican, retired from the Texas House in June and is seeking a job on the Tarrant County commissioners court. His House seat includes parts of Bedford, Euless, Hurst, Arlington and other North Texas communities.<\/p>\n Republicans vying to fill the open seat include executive director of Texans for Medical Freedom Jackie Schlegel, accountant Michael Daughenbaugh, mortgage broker Michael Ingraham, registered nurse Susan Valliant and business owner Cheryl Bean.<\/p>\n Katie O\u2019Brien Duzan, who works in marketing, is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.<\/p>\n House District 98<\/p>\n State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, a Southlake Republican, isn\u2019t seeking reelection. Two Democrats and three Republicans hope to win the seat that spans Colleyville, Grapevine, Keller, Southlake and other North Texas communities.<\/p>\n Cate Brennan and Aaron Hendley are running in the Democratic primary. Republicans Fred Tate, the managing director at CFO Shield; Keller Mayor Armin Mizani; and health and beauty business owner Zdenka \u2018Zee\u2019 Wilcox are running in the Republican primary.<\/p>\n Tarrant County Judge<\/p>\n County Judge Tim O\u2019Hare is hoping to win a second term leading, but will first have to defeat fellow Republican Robert Trevor Buker, a behavorial health security officer, in the March primary. Democrats running for the seat include Precinct 2 Commissioner Alisa Simmons and Millennium Anton C. Woods, Jr., a private contractor and consultant.<\/p>\n Tarrant County Commissioner, Pct. 2<\/p>\n Simmons, a Democrat, was reconfigured in a new precinct map that commissioners approved in June.<\/a> The seat now favors Republicans. Simmons is bidding for Tarrant County Judge rather than seeking reelection.<\/p>\n Tinderholt and Lucila Seri are running in the Republican primary. Political consultant Gabe Rivas, who previously worked as Simmons\u2019 community outreach director, nonprofit executive Amanda Arizola and former Fort Worth council member Jared Williams are running in the Democratic primary.<\/p>\n Tarrant County Commissioner, Pct. 4<\/p>\n Commissioner Manny Ramirez is running unopposed by fellow Republicans, but the seat has drawn three candidates in the Democratic primary. The winner will face Ramirez in November.<\/p>\n The Democrats are business owner Cedric Kanyinda; Nydia C\u00e1rdenas, a leadership coach and organizational development consultant; and educator Perla Bojorquez.<\/p>\n Voters could see May runoff elections<\/p>\n Some races may not be finalized in the March 3 election. Seats where a single candidate doesn\u2019t win more than half of the votes head into a runoff between the top-two vote getters.<\/p>\n Runoffs for the Democratic and Republican primaries are set for May 26. Early voting runs from May 18-22.<\/p>\n The general midterm election is on Nov. 3.<\/p>\n Find your sample ballot and polling place<\/p>\n Voters in Tarrant County can find their personalized sample ballot and information about early voting and Election Day polling places and times on the county\u2019s Election Administration website.<\/a><\/p>\n Eleanor Dearman<\/a><\/p>\n Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n Eleanor (Elly) Dearman is a Texas politics and government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She\u2019s based in Austin, covering the Legislature and its impact on North Texas. She grew up in Denton and has been a reporter for more than six years.
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