{"id":188497,"date":"2026-03-03T14:56:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T14:56:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/188497\/"},"modified":"2026-03-03T14:56:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T14:56:08","slug":"these-are-the-texas-legislative-races-on-the-ballot-for-primary-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/188497\/","title":{"rendered":"These are the Texas legislative races on the ballot for primary election"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"&quot;byline&quot;\">by Nicole Lopez and McKinnon Rice, Fort Worth Report <br \/>March 3, 2026<\/p>\n<p>Editor\u2019s note: This story will be updated with the latest election results after polls close at 7 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Tuesday\u2019s election will determine which Texas House candidates, ranging from local officials to small business owners, will earn spots on the November ballot.<\/p>\n<p>House members are elected for two-year terms.<\/p>\n<p>Voters may find out who represents them and who will be on their ballots for the March 3 primary at <a href=\"http:\/\/vote411.org\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">vote411.org<\/a>. Check your registration status on the <a href=\"https:\/\/teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov\/MVP\/mvp.do\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Texas Secretary of State\u2019s website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Texas House candidates\u2019 responses to the Fort Worth Report\u2019s election survey can be found in <a href=\"https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/fort-worth-tarrant-county-voter-guide\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">this voter guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>House District 98<\/p>\n<p>Three Republicans and two Democrats are vying for <a href=\"https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/2026\/02\/19\/3-republicans-2-democrats-running-to-represent-northeast-tarrant-in-texas-house\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">House District 98<\/a>. The district covers Keller, Colleyville and parts of Southlake, Grapevine, Euless and Westlake. Since 2013, the seat has been held by Republican Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, who is not seeking reelection.<\/p>\n<p>Two of the GOP candidates have vastly outspent their counterparts \u2014 Keller Mayor <a href=\"https:\/\/arminfortexas.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Armin Mizani<\/a>, who has reported about $1.2 million in expenditures since announcing his campaign in June, and <a href=\"https:\/\/tate4texas.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Fred Tate<\/a>, a financial services business owner whose campaign has spent nearly $3 million.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Their campaigns, mostly funded by political action committees pushing for and against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2026\/01\/23\/texas-legislature-2026-republican-primaries-house-tort-reform\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">tort reform in Texas<\/a>, have frequently attacked one another with accusations the opposing party has been bought by special interests.<\/p>\n<p>Tort reform broadly refers to efforts that would make it harder to file lawsuits against corporate entities and would limit compensation for injured parties. In 2025, state <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2025\/06\/01\/texas-legislature-personal-injury-tort-reform\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">lawmakers failed to pass<\/a> such reforms.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the third Republican candidate, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/p\/Zee-Wilcox-for-HD98-61584689012700\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Zee Wilcox<\/a>, a health and beauty business owner, has run a low-budget campaign criticizing the GOP establishment \u2014 and her opponents \u2014 as being corrupt and bought by special interest PACs.<\/p>\n<p>On the Democratic side, <a href=\"https:\/\/brennanforhd98.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cate Brennan<\/a>, a retired business executive, faces <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aaronfortx.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Aaron Hendley<\/a>, who works at a fast food restaurant. The two have both run relatively low-budget campaigns with similar priorities, including making health care more affordable and devoting more funds to public schools.<\/p>\n<p>House District 97\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bethfor97.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Beth Llewellyn McLaughlin<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texas97.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Diane Symons<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/voteryanray.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ryan Ray<\/a> are facing off in the Democratic primary for House District 97. <a href=\"https:\/\/mcqueeneyfortexas.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Incumbent John McQueeney<\/a> is running uncontested for the seat in the Republican election.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/wrm.capitol.texas.gov\/fyiwebdocs\/pdf\/house\/dist97\/m1.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">House District 97<\/a> encompasses White Settlement, Benbrook, most of Crowley and western and southern portions of Fort Worth.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The primary marks a second attempt for all three Democratic candidates to represent the Fort Worth area at the state level.<\/p>\n<p>Ray is an Azle native. He unsuccessfully went up against Republican Bill Zedler in the <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.texastribune.org\/elections\/2018\/texas-midterm-election-results\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">race for House District 96<\/a>, now represented by David Cook. Ray previously served on the Crowley ISD board for 10 years and owns and operates his own tax firm, The Ray Tax Group.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Diane Symons is a self-employed photographer and has lived in various parts of District 97. She <a href=\"https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/2024\/05\/28\/texas-house-district-97-democratic-runoff-election-to-be-decided-may-28-2\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">lost her race<\/a> for District 97 against Democratic candidate Carlos Walker in a May 2024 runoff. She\u2019s also worked for the Tarrant County Democratic Party.<\/p>\n<p>McLaughlin was an educator for Fort Worth ISD for nearly three decades. She\u2019s been a House District 97 constituent for over 40 years. She\u2019s volunteered and served local advocacy groups, including the Tarrant County chapter of the National Organization for Women.<\/p>\n<p>McQueeney owns fast food franchises and serves on several boards. At the state Capitol, he serves on several committees, including the Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting.<\/p>\n<p>All four candidates have expressed interest in addressing rising property taxes. McQueeney told the Report that, aside from finding property tax solutions, he wants Texas to become the most economically competitive state.<\/p>\n<p>House District 92\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhojanifortexas.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">State Rep. Salman Bhojani<\/a> is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for <a href=\"https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/2026\/02\/26\/2-republicans-seek-nomination-to-face-democrat-incumbent-in-texas-house-district-92-race\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">House District 92<\/a>. He will go up against GOP candidates Joseph A. Robinson and <a href=\"https:\/\/woodruff4texas.org\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">JP Woodruff<\/a> in November.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>District 92 covers sections of Tarrant County, including Hurst, Euless, Bedford, Grand Prairie, Arlington and Fort Worth.<\/p>\n<p>A Euless resident of 10 years, Robinson serves on the city\u2019s Police Training and Advisory Board and Historical Preservation Committee and mentors high school students at Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD. He sought a seat on Euless City Council in 2024 but lost in a runoff election. His legislative priorities include public education reform and safety and enforcement of immigration laws.<\/p>\n<p>Woodruff is an Arlington native with experience in the oil and gas industry, according to his <a href=\"https:\/\/woodruff4texas.org\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">campaign website<\/a>. He founded the Christian group and church Revival Remnant Ministries. If elected, he wants to address property taxes, election security and the enforcement of work visas.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhojanifortexas.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bhojani<\/a> has represented District 92 since 2022. He is one of the first Muslims and the first South Asian to earn a seat at the Legislature. He also serves on legislative committees, including the Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency. His top priorities ahead of the 2027 legislative session include education, housing affordability and religious freedom.<\/p>\n<p>House District 91<\/p>\n<p>Republicans must choose between one-term incumbent state Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.davidlowefortexas.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">David Lowe<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.morris4texas.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kyle Morris<\/a>, a small-business owner and political newcomer, for their party\u2019s nomination. Democratic college student <a href=\"https:\/\/yisakfortexas.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Yisak Worku<\/a> is running unopposed.<\/p>\n<p>HD 91 includes Haltom City, North Richland Hills, Richland Hills, Watauga and a small section of northeast Fort Worth.<\/p>\n<p>In 2024, Lowe beat longtime incumbent Stephanie Klick, who <a href=\"https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/2024\/05\/28\/republicans-stephanie-klick-and-david-lowe-face-off-in-runoff-for-house-district-91\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">faced significant intraparty opposition<\/a> due to her vote to impeach Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in 2023. He is seeking a second, two-year term.<\/p>\n<p>Lowe is a retired Army staff sergeant and former detention officer. According to his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.davidlowefortexas.com\/issues\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">website<\/a>, his platform includes eliminating property taxes, securing the U.S.-Mexico border, ensuring election integrity, ending abortion, banning vaccine mandates, supporting Second Amendment rights and protecting children.<\/p>\n<p>Morris is the owner of the small business DeMars &amp; Associates, a dispute resolution firm. His No. 1 campaign issue is the safety of children and families, he said in a February interview with the Report. He is also running on a platform that includes reducing property taxes and ensuring the border stays closed and secure.<\/p>\n<p>State Board of Education District 13<\/p>\n<p>In the State Board of Education District 13 race covering much of Fort Worth and Arlington, incumbent <a href=\"https:\/\/tiffanyclark4stateofeducation.nationbuilder.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tiffany Clark<\/a>, a DeSoto Democrat, faces Dallas ISD administrator <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kimforchange.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kimberly Boswell<\/a> in the Democratic primary.<\/p>\n<p>Clark, a former teacher and school counselor, was selected in 2024 to finish an unexpired term and is seeking her first full term on the 15-member board, which sets curriculum standards, approves instructional materials and oversees charter schools. The primary winner will face Arlington Republican April Williams Moore in November.<\/p>\n<p>Clark is running on transparency and opposition to what she describes as political or religious influence in classroom policy. Boswell, a longtime educator and current assistant principal, argues the board needs stronger classroom representation and said she would prioritize research-based instruction and educator input in policy decisions.<\/p>\n<p>Uncontested races<\/p>\n<p>For Texas House District 96, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebforhd96.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ebony M. Turner<\/a> is running uncontested in the Democratic primary, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ellen4texas.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ellen Fleischmann<\/a> is running uncontested in the Republican primary.<br \/>\nFor Texas House District 93, <a href=\"https:\/\/erickafortexas.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ericka Lomick<\/a> is running uncontested in the Democratic primary, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alanblaylock.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Alan Blaylock<\/a> is running uncontested in the Republican primary.<\/p>\n<p>Local government accountability reporter Drew Shaw and education reporter Matthew Sgroi contributed reporting.<\/p>\n<p>McKinnon Rice is the higher education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at <a href=\"https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/2026\/03\/03\/these-are-the-texas-legislative-races-on-the-ballot-for-primary-election\/mailto:mckinnon.rice@fortworthreport.org\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">mckinnon.rice@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Nicole Lopez is the environment reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at <a href=\"https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/2026\/03\/03\/these-are-the-texas-legislative-races-on-the-ballot-for-primary-election\/mailto:nicole.lopez@fortworthreport.org\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">nicole.lopez@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy <a href=\"https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/about\/fort-worth-report-editorial-independence-policy\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This &lt;a target=&#8221;_blank&#8221; href=&#8221;https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/2026\/03\/03\/these-are-the-texas-legislative-races-on-the-ballot-for-primary-election\/&#8221;&gt;article&lt;\/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&#8221;_blank&#8221; href=&#8221;https:\/\/fortworthreport.org&#8221;&gt;Fort Worth Report&lt;\/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&#8221;_blank&#8221; href=&#8221;https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nd\/4.0\/&#8221;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&#8221;https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fortworthreport.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/cropped-favicon.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;amp;quality=80&amp;amp;ssl=1&#8243; style=&#8221;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&#8221;&gt;<\/p>\n<p>&lt;img id=&#8221;republication-tracker-tool-source&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=431396&amp;amp;ga4=2820184429&#8243; style=&#8221;width:1px;height:1px;&#8221;&gt;&lt;script&gt; PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: &#8220;https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/2026\/03\/03\/these-are-the-texas-legislative-races-on-the-ballot-for-primary-election\/&#8221;, urlref: window.location.href }); } } &lt;\/script&gt; &lt;script id=&#8221;parsely-cfg&#8221; src=&#8221;\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/fortworthreport.org\/p.js&#8221;&gt;&lt;\/script&gt;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"by Nicole Lopez and McKinnon Rice, Fort Worth Report March 3, 2026 Editor\u2019s note: This story will be&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":188498,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[150,152,151,22527,73670],"class_list":{"0":"post-188497","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arlington","8":"tag-arlington","9":"tag-arlington-headlines","10":"tag-arlington-news","11":"tag-election-central","12":"tag-primary-elections"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188497","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=188497"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188497\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/188498"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=188497"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=188497"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=188497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}