Texas voters will head to the polls next month for the 2026 primary election - the vote that decides who appears on the November ballot and, in many places, effectively decides who will hold office.
In a state dominated by single-party districts, the primary often functions as the real election, with the general election confirming the outcome.
Key Dates
Voter registration deadline: Feb. 2
Early voting: Feb. 17 through Feb. 27
mail ballot request deadline: Feb. 20
Election Day: Tuesday, March 3
Primary Runoff (if no candidate reaches 50%): May 26
Texas uses open primaries, meaning voters choose either a Republican or Democratic ballot when they vote, but not both.
What offices are on the ballot
The ballot is massive and spans nearly every level of government.
Federal
U.S. Senate
All 38 U.S. House seats
Statewide offices
Governor
Lieutenant governor
Attorney general
Comptroller
Land commissioner
Agriculture commissioner
Railroad commissioner
Courts and education leadership
Texas Supreme Court
Court of Criminal Appeals
Appellate courts
State Board of Education
Local offices
County judges, district attorneys, sheriffs and commissioners will also be chosen across Texas.
The big issues shaping the races
Voters won’t see policy questions printed on the ballot — but these debates are driving candidate campaigns.
Immigration and border security
A central issue in federal and statewide Republican contests.
Criminal justice and prosecution philosophy
District attorney races could shift whether counties pursue reform-focused or tougher prosecution strategies.
Education
School funding, curriculum debates and voucher proposals dominate many legislative races.
Internal party battles
The GOP features ideological fights between factions, including a competitive U.S. Senate primary expected to go to a runoff.
Democrats face crowded primaries in urban districts and open legislative seats.
Why this election matters
Primaries determine party nominees for November — and in heavily Republican or Democratic districts, the nominee is often almost guaranteed to win the office.
That means for many Texans, March 3 will be the vote that actually decides who governs their community, writes laws and shapes policy for years to come.
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