Lucio Vasquez / Houston Public Media
Pictured is a sign outside a Houston polling location that says “voting this way” in multiple languages.
Midterm election season is already upon us as voters in the Houston area and across Texas will head to the polls in less than three months for the March 3 primaries. They will pick the Democratic and Republican nominees for congressional seats after Texas’ controversial mid-decade redistricting, and for high-profile statewide offices such as governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.
All 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives will be on the ballot in 2026, along with 16 state senate seats and eight seats on the Texas State Board of Education. Voters also will elect four justices for the Texas Supreme Court as well as judges at the state and county levels.
There are lots of local races as well, including for the top elected offices in Harris, Fort Bend, Galveston and Montgomery counties.
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The candidate filing deadline for the March primaries was Monday evening, and Houston Public Media has a breakdown of who will be on the ballots for local voters.
Below is a rundown of the Democratic and Republican candidates for notable county-level races, the race for one of Texas’ two seats in the U.S. Senate and races for Houston-area seats in Congress. A record number of congressional members are not seeking reelection in 2026, including five from the Houston area.
CANDIDATES FOR MARCH 3 PRIMARY ELECTIONS
HARRIS COUNTY
Harris County Judge
Sarah Grunau/ Houston Public Media
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo confirmed her intentions to not seek reelection during a press conference Sept. 16, 2025.
Democrats: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced in September she would not seek a third term. Three fellow Democrats have filed to succeed her, and two of them already have high profiles.
Running in the Democratic primary in March are former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Houston City Council member Letitia Plummer and Matt Salazar, a University of Houston graduate and real estate agent.
Republicans: Six members of the GOP have filed to run for county judge, a seat that was held by a Republican until Hidalgo upset Ed Emmett in 2018.
The crowded race for next year’s GOP primary includes Marty Lancton, the president of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, former Harris County treasurer and city council member Orlando Sanchez and Aliza Dutt, the mayor of Piney Point Village. The other Republicans to file as candidates are former Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputy Oscar Gonzales, former county judge candidate Warren Howell and George Harry Zoes, a Spring Branch business owner and former candidate for city council.
Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 2
Democrat: Incumbent Adrian Garcia is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Republicans: Two candidates are vying for the GOP nomination to take on Garcia in next November’s general election. They are Raquel Hernandez Boujourne, a construction business owner, and pastor Richard Vega.
Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 4
Democrat: Incumbent Lesley Briones does not have an opponent for the March primary.
Republican: Steve Radack, a former commissioner for Precinct 3, will be unopposed in the GOP primary before trying to unseat Briones next November.
Harris County Attorney
Justin Doud/ Houston Public Media
Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee
Democrats: In compliance with Texas’ resign-to-run rules, acting Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee is leaving his post to run for the vacant seat in the 18th Congressional District.
The fellow Democrats who filed to succeed Menefee as the county’s top legal advisor are Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin and Judge Audrie Lawton-Evans, who presides over Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 1.
Republican: Jacqueline Lucci Smith, who narrowly lost to Menefee in 2024, is the lone candidate for the GOP primary. She has previously served as a judge for Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 2.
Harris County District Clerk
Democrats: Eight candidates are running to succeed fellow Democrat Marilyn Burgess, who announced she would not seek reelection a few days after Harris County commissioners struck down her request for an $81,000 raise.
The field for the March primary includes Desiree Broadnax, a former candidate for Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector; Pernell Davis, a deputy chief of staff for Harris County Precinct 2; and Angie Dozier, a special services administrator for the district clerk’s office. Also running are Donna Glover, an IT program manager, attorney Darrell Jordan, nurse practitioner Carlis Lollie, teacher Jose “Alex” Maldonado and Roslyn “Rozzy” Shorter, a vice chair for a community development board.
Republican: Chris Daniel, a former Harris County district clerk, is running unopposed in the GOP primary.
Lucio Vasquez / Houston Public Media
Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth discussing the upcoming election during a press conference on Oct. 20, 2023.
Harris County Clerk
Democrat: Incumbent Teneshia Hudspeth, who serves as the county’s chief election official, is seeking another term and will be unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Republicans: Lynda Sanchez and Mike Wolfe are running in the GOP primary, with the winner taking on Hudspeth in the November 2026 general election.
FORT BEND COUNTY
Fort Bend County Judge
Democrats: With incumbent County Judge KP George having switched from the Democratic to Republican party earlier this year amidst legal troubles, several candidates have lined up for the Democratic primary. Those to have filed include District Court Judge J. Christian Becerra, attorney Rachelle Carter, Houston City College trustee Cynthia Lenton-Gary, Fort Bend County Commissioner Dexter McCoy and entrepreneur Eddie Sajjad.
Republicans: George, the incumbent who switched political parties this year, will attempt to hold off a handful of challengers in the Republican primary. Those to have filed include Daryl Aaron, Kenneth Omoruyi, Melissa M. Wilson and Daniel Wong, a former Sugar Land City Council member.
Fort Bend County Commissioner, Precinct 2
Democrats: Incumbent Grady Prestage is facing a primary challenge from Larry Blackmon, a retired teacher from Missouri City.
Lucio Vasquez/Houston Public Media
The Fort Bend County Courthouse.
Republican: Antonio Aranda of Missouri City was the only candidate to appear on the Texas Secretary of State website as of Wednesday.
Fort Bend County Commissioner, Precinct 4
Democrats: With incumbent Dexter McCoy seeking the county judge seat, several candidates have filed to succeed him as commissioner. The group of Democrats includes Maggie Salomon, April L. Jones, Brittanye Lashay Morris, Haroon Mughal, Robert Nnake, Nicole Roberts and Nabile Shike, a constable who previously was running for county judge.
Republicans: Seeking the Republican nomination are engineer Abolaji Ayobami, financial advisor Ramesh Kumar Cherivirala, business owner Ken Mathews and peace officer Adam Schoof.
GALVESTON COUNTY
Galveston County Judge
Democrat: Albert Smith of Texas City was the lone candidate to file, according to the Texas Secretary of State website.
Republicans: Longtime County Judge Mark Henry, first elected in 2010, is seeking another term. He’ll be challenged in the March primary by Chris Kinard, the wife of Galveston County District Clerk John Kinard.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Montgomery County Judge
Democrat: James Graf was the lone candidate to file for the Democratic primary, according to the Texas Secretary of State website.
Republicans: Incumbent Mark Keough has drawn a primary challenge from longtime Justice of the Peace Wayne Mack.
Montgomery County Commissioner, Precinct 2
Democrats: No candidates filed to run, according to the Texas Secretary of State website.
Republicans: Bob Harvey of The Woodlands is challenging incumbent Charlie Riley of Magnolia in the March primary. Riley is serving his third term.
Montgomery County Commissioner, Precinct 4
Democrats: No candidates filed to run, according to the Texas Secretary of State website.
Republican: As of Wednesday, the Texas Secretary of State website did not show that any candidates had filed to challenge incumbent Commissioner Matt Gray.
FEDERAL
U.S. Senator from Texas
Democrats: U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Dallas Democrat and University of Houston law school graduate, entered the race on Monday – when former Congressman Colin Allred dropped out. State Rep. James Talarico of Austin is another prominent Democrat vying for the seat occupied by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, speaks to reporters after announcing her run in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Ahmad Hassan of Katy also filed to run in the Democratic primary.
Republicans: Cornyn is seeking a fifth term in Washington but faces a stiff challenge from the right in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Houston also is gunning for Cornyn’s seat.
The other Republicans to have filed as candidates are John O. Adefope, Anna Bender, Virgil John Bierschwale and Gulrez “Gus” Khan.
U.S. Representative, District 2
Democrat: Shaun Finnie, an investment banker from Spring, was the only Democrat to file in this race.
Republicans: Incumbent U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw is facing a primary challenge from state Rep. Steve Toth of The Woodlands and Martin Etwop.
U.S. Representative, District 7
Democrat: As of Wednesday, incumbent Lizzie Fletcher of Houston was the only candidate to file for the March primary, according to a list of candidate filings on the Texas Secretary of State website.
Republicans: Tina Cohen, a Houston business owner, was the only candidate listed on the Texas Secretary of State website as of Tuesday afternoon.
U.S. Representative, District 8
Democrats: The retirement of Republican U.S. Rep. Morgan Lutrell is leaving this Montgomery County-based seat open. Keith Coleman of Montgomery and Laura Jones of Coldspring filed for the Democratic primary.
Republicans: Brett Jensen of Pinehurst, Stephen Long and Nick Tran of The Woodlands, Conroe attorney Jessica Hart Steinmann and Deddrick T. Wilmer of Cypress have filed to run in a district that favors the GOP.
U.S. Representative, District 9
Democrats: Incumbent U.S. Rep. Al Green is shifting to the 18th Congressional District after he was drawn out of the 9th by Texas Republicans. The candidates to file for the Democratic primary include former NASA astronaut Terry Virts, a one-time senate candidate, along with Leticia Ablaza, Earnest Clayton Jr., Peter Filler, Todd Ivey and Marty Rocha.
AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, right, speaks with House Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, following a Republican Caucus meeting at the State Capitol, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Austin, Texas.
Republicans: In a district that was redrawn to include Liberty County and favor Republicans, state Rep. Briscoe Cain of Deer Park and former Harris County Judge candidate Alex Mealer are the most prominent GOP candidates.
Others include Jaimy Blanco of Pasadena, Michael A. Curran, Dan Mims of Channelview, Crystal DeLeon Sarmiento of Manvel, Dwayne Stovall of Cleveland and Terry Lee Thain.
U.S. Representative, District 10
Democrats: In this seat held by retiring Republican U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, Dawn Marshall, Bernie Reyna and Caitlin Rourk have filed for the Democratic primary.
Republicans: With the retirement of McCaul, this district that stretches from the Houston area to the Austin area is up for grabs. The fellow Republicans to have filed are Rob Altman of Bryan, Ben Bius of Huntsville, Chris Gober of Austin, Brandon Hawbaker of Sealy, Jessica Karlsruher of Austin, Kara King of Lakeway and Jenny Garcia Sharon, a Houston native.
U.S. Representative, District 14
Republican: Incumbent Randy Weber of Friendswood is being challenged in the March primary by Jessica Forgy, a farmer from Alvin.
Democrat: Thurman Bill Bartie, Richard Davis and Konstantinos Vogiatzis have filed as Democratic candidates for the primary.
U.S. Representative, District 18
Democrats: U.S. Rep. Al Green, the longtime representative of the 9th Congressional District, is switching to the 18th after Texas’ mid-decade redistricting. In the March primary he could end up facing both Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee and former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards, who are the candidates in the upcoming special election runoff to complete the term of late U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner. Both Menefee and Edwards have filed as candidates, as has defense analyst Gretchen Brown of Kemah.
Andrew Schneider/Houston Public Media
U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, speaks about a Supreme Court decision in Texas’ redistricting case during a news conference on Dec. 5, 2025.
Republicans: In a heavily Democratic district, Ronald Dwayne Whitfield was the only GOP candidate listed on the Texas Secretary of State website as of Wednesday.
U.S. Representative, District 22
Democrats: The field for the Democratic primary will include Chris Fernandez, Marquette Greene-Scott, Robert “Puga” Thomas and Pearl Vuorinen.
Republicans: Incumbent U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls is retiring and has endorsed his twin brother, Trever Nehls, for this seat based on Fort Bend County. The other Republican to have filed is Rebecca Clark of Fulshear,
U.S. Representative, District 29
Democrats: Incumbent U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia has drawn a primary challenge from Jarvis Johnson, a former state representative and Houston City Council member, in this district that was redrawn by Texas Republicans.
Republicans: No GOP candidates were listed on the Texas Secretary of State website as of Wednesday.
U.S. Representative, District 36
Democrats: The March primary will include Rhonda Hart of Dickinson and Doug Alan Rogers of Beaumont.
Republicans: Incumbent Brian Babin of Woodville is facing a primary challenge from Jonathan “Pipeliner” Mitchell.
U.S. Representative, District 38
Democrats: The primary field for this Houston congressional seat includes Marvalette Hunter, who worked as chief of staff for former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, along with school counselor Theresa Courts and Melissa McDonough, a real estate from professional from Tomball.
Republicans: Seeking to succeed U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, who is running for the U.S. Senate, are Avery Ayers, Jon Bonck, Shelly DeZevallos, Barrett McNabb, Michael Pratt and Jeffrey Yuna.