-
(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Those who wish to run on the Republican or Democratic ballot have from Saturday, Nov. 8 until Monday, Dec. 8 to file with their party chairs. The primary elections will be held March 3, 2026, with early voting running from Feb. 17-27.
The candidate filing period for the primaries will open this weekend for those seeking a place on the Republican or Democratic ballot.
The first day to file will be Saturday, Nov. 8 to have a chance at being a party’s candidate in the upcoming general election. The filing deadline for primary candidates and independent candidates filing a declaration of intent is Monday, Dec. 8.
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.
Candidate applications may be downloaded from the Texas Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.state.tx.us, or picked up from the Young County election office located at 417 Second St., Suite 105.
In order to become a Republican or Democratic Party nominee for an office, an application for a place on the ballot must be filed with the county or state party chair.
The Young County Republican Chair is Lane Burgess and he can be contacted at lburgess@brazosnet.com. The Young County Democratic Chair is Jeff French and he can be contacted at yngcodem.chair@gmail.com.
The application for a place on the primary ballot includes either a filing fee or a petition in lieu of a filing fee that is signed by a number of qualified voters. The petition can be found online at www.sos.state.tx.us, as well as the filling fee amounts which vary for each public office.
Candidates are required to keep campaign contribution reports, appoint a campaign treasurer and file personal financial statements.
To find out more about becoming a candidate, contact the Texas Ethics Commission at 512-463-5800.
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
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
