The 2026 primaries allow Texas Republican and Democrat voters to pick which candidate will represent their interests and party in the November general election. While the primaries give Texans more of a say over who their elected officials will be, less than one fifth of registered Texas voters participated in recent primary elections, according to data from the secretary of state’s office.
Federal, state and local county offices will appear on the ballot. County elections are partisan races, while school board and city council races are typically nonpartisan, though some candidates may identify with a party. County leaders run local elections, implement state and federal laws and provide public services, especially for residents who live outside of incorporated city boundaries. All elected county offices are held for four-year terms.
With so many names on the ballot, keeping up with the primaries may be overwhelming, so here’s a breakdown of what most county offices do, as well as some local voter guides with region-specific voting information.
