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Primary election voting begins Feb. 17

by | Feb 12, 2026 | Area News, Latest

Polling places across Texas open Tuesday, Feb. 17, for early voting in the Republican and Democratic party primaries. Early voting ends Friday, Feb. 27, and Election Day is Tuesday, March 3. If needed, runoffs will be held Tuesday, May 26.

Winners in the primaries advance to the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election.

Voters will decide top Texas leadership, all 150 seats in the state house, 16 state senate positions and a variety of county jobs. 

At the federal level, all 38 Texas seats in Congress will be up for grabs as well as the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican John Cornyn.

After nearly 24 years in Washington, Cornyn faces GOP challenges by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Houston Congressman Wesley Hunt, Sara Canady and John O. Adefope. 

Democrats will choose between Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett of Dallas, State Rep. James Talarico of Austin and Ahmad R. Hassan.

After two terms in the U.S. House, 3rd District Congressman Keith Self faces Mark Newgent in the GOP primary. The Democratic candidate is Evan Hunt. Brittany Black is running as an independent. 

At the state level, Gov. Greg Abbott faces challengers in his GOP primary including Arturo Espinosa, Pete “Doc” Chambers, Evelyn Brooks, Kenneth Hyde, Mark V. Goloby, Ronnie Tullos, Nathaniel Welsh, Stephen Samuelson, Charles Andrew Crouch and R.F. “Bob” Achgill.

Democrats will select their own gubernatorial candidate from among Patricia Abrego, Chris Bell, Bobby Cole, Carlton W. Hart, Gina Hinojosa, Jose Navarro Balbuena, Zach Vance, Angela “Tiaangie” Villescaz and Andrew White.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is opposed by fellow Republicans Esala Wueschner, Perla Muñoz Hopkins and Timothy Mabry. Vicki Goodwin, Courtney Head and Marcos Isaias Velez have filed for the Democratic primary.

With Paxton running for the U.S. Senate, Republicans seeking to succeed him include Joan Huffman, Mayes Middleton, Aaron Reitz and 21st District Congressman Chip Roy.

Democrats seeking the nomination for attorney general are Anthony “Tony” Box, Joe Jaworski and Nathan Johnson.

District 67 State Rep. Jeff Leach is opposed in the Republican primary by Matt Thorsen. Emeka Eluka is the Democratic contender.

District 89 State Rep. Candy Noble is opposed for the GOP nomination by Freddie America and former Wylie Councilmember Jeff Forrester. The winner will face Democrat Angie Carraway.

District 112 State Rep. Angie Chen Button faces GOP opposition from Perry E. Barker Sr., Chad Carnahan and Tina Price. Zach Herbert is the Democratic candidate.  

On the Collin County Commissioners Court, incumbent Chris Hill is opposed for County Judge by fellow Republican Rick Grady, a former city councilmember from Plano. The Democratic candidate is John R. Buster Brown.

Two seats on the commissioner’s court are open with the pending retirement of Cheryl Williams from Precinct 2 and Duncan Webb in Precinct 4.

Republican Michael Slaughter, a former Parker councilmember, is running for Precinct 2 and the GOP primary for Precinct 4 is between Woody Huffines and Shelby Williams, a former Plano councilmember and Collin County Republican chair. 

Julie Holmer, a former Plano city councilmember, is the sole Democrat seeking Place 4.

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