-
(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Voters have less than one month left to register to vote in the March primaries, with the deadline set for Monday, Feb. 2. Young County will have a number of contested elections this year, including Young County Judge as well as the Precinct 2 and 4 Commissioner seats.
Local candidates have begun their campaign races as the new year is upon us and the March primaries are on the horizon.
Those who wish to vote in the Republican and Democratic primaries have one month left to register to vote in Young County. The last day to register will be Monday, Feb. 2.
To register, a voter can complete a registration application and return it to the Young County election office at the Young County Annex at 417 Second St.
To be eligible to register, a potential voter must be a U.S. citizen, resident of Young County, not a convicted felon, at least 17 years and 10 months old on the date of registration and not been declared to be either totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.
To check your registration status, visit votetexas.gov, or contact the Young County elections office at 940-521-9483.
The primary election will be held March 3, 2026, with early voting running from Feb. 17-27. The winners of each party’s primary elections will be that party’s nominee in the upcoming general election Nov. 3, 2026.
Per state law, those who vote with one political party in the primary election must vote in the same political party for the runoff election. If a runoff election is required for any candidates, the date for that election will be May 26, 2026, with early voting from May 18-22.
Young County is set to have several contested races in the upcoming primaries, with candidates filing for a place on the ballot.
The filing period ran from Saturday, Nov. 8 through Monday, Dec. 8. In order to become a Republican or Democratic nominee for an office, an application for a place on the ballot must have been filed with the county or state party chair.
Republican candidates that filed for the position of Young County Judge are incumbent Win Graham, along with candidates Donald Sexton and former Young County Judge John Bullock.
Republican candidate Travis Kunkel and incumbent Scott Shook filed for the Young County Precinct 2 Commissioner seat.
Candidates Charlotte King, Cooper Dodd and Bobby Swetnam filed to run for the Young County Precinct 4 Commissioner seat in the Republican primary.
Incumbent Jimmy Wiley said he will not be filing for reelection. Wiley took office in 2007 and shared a message on social media announcing his intention not to file for reelection.
“It has been challenging and rewarding to serve the constituents of my precinct and this great county. My family is generational locally, landowners and business owners in various industries,” Wiley said. “I have always been led by the good Lord to use my knowledge of being first, a local citizen and second, a local business owner to express what I feel has been best for our county, through the decades.”
Incumbent Tina Gilliam and candidate Timi Boucher-Hall filed to run for the seat of county clerk in the Republican primary.
Other incumbents that filed for reelection in the Republican primary are Country Treasurer Kyle Milam, Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Jason Hearne, Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Joey Stewart, District Clerk Stacey Beller Mallory and Young County Republican Chair Lane Burgess.
The sole democratic candidate that filed for a seat was Jeff French to retain his position as the Young County Democratic Chair.
Along with the races for each seat will be 13 propositions on the Democratic ballot and 10 propositions on the Republican ballot.
Offices up for election in 2026
• U.S. Senator (six-year term)
Current officeholder - John Cornyn
• 25th U.S. District Representative (two-year term)
Current officeholder - Roger Williams
• Governor (four-year term)
Current officeholder - Greg Abbott
• Lieutenant Governor (four-year term)
Current officeholder - Dan Patrick
• Attorney General (four-year term)
Current officeholder - Ken Paxton
• Comptroller of Public Accounts (four-year term)
Current officeholder - Kelly Hancock
• Commissioner of General Land Office (four-year term)
Current officeholder - Dawn Buckingham
• Commissioner of Agriculture (four-year term)
Current officeholder - Sid Miller
• Railroad Commissioner (six-year term)
Current officeholder - Jim Wright
• Supreme Court Place 1, 2, 7, 8 (six-year terms)
Current officeholders - Jimmy Blacklock, James Sullivan, Jeffrey Boyd, Brett Busby
• Court of Criminal Appeals Place 3, 4, 9 (six-year terms)
Current officeholders - Bert Richardson, Bert Richardson, David Newell
• District 68 State Representative (two-year term)
Current officeholder - David Spiller
• County Judge (four-year term)
Current officeholder - Win Graham
• District Clerk (four-year term)
Current officeholder - Stacey Beller Mallory
• County Clerk (four-year term)
Current officeholder - Tina Gilliam
• County Treasurer (four-year term)
Current officeholder - Kyle Milam
• Precinct 2 County Commissioner (four-year term)
Current officeholder - Scott Shook
• Precinct 4 County Commissioner (four-year term)
Current officeholder - Jimmy Wiley
• Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace (four-year term)
Current officeholder - Jason Hearne
• Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace (four-year term)
Current officeholder - Joey Stewart
• Republican Chair (two-year term)
Current officeholder - Lane Burgess
• Democratic Chair (two-year term)
Current officeholder - Jeff French
