The upcoming primary elections in Texas, slated for March 5th, 2024, are set to be a pivotal moment in shaping the state’s political future. This comprehensive election will encompass races for U.S. President, U.S. Senate, congressional and legislative offices, the State Board of Education, the Railroad Commission, and judicial seats.
Key Dates and Details:
- Early Voting Begins: February 20th
- Primary Election Day: March 5th, 7 am – 7 pm
- Runoff Election (if needed): May 28th
Texas operates as an open-primary state, meaning voters can choose to participate in either the Republican or Democratic primaries, regardless of their registered party affiliation. However, they must stick to the same party for any potential runoffs. In the general election, voters are free to select candidates from any party.
Presidential Race:
- The Texas primary, a crucial part of Super Tuesday, will play a significant role in the presidential race. President Joe Biden faces little competition in the Democratic primary, while former President Donald Trump leads among Republican candidates.
Democrat | Republican |
---|---|
Joseph R. Biden (Incumbent) | Ryan Binkley |
Gabriel Cornejo | Chris Christie |
Star Locke | Ron DeSantis |
Frankie Lozada | Nikki Haley |
Armando “Mando” Perez-Serrato | Asa Hutchinson |
Dean Phillips | Vivek Ramaswamy |
Cenk Uygur | David Stuckenberg |
Marianne Williamson | Donald J. Trump |
U.S. Senate:
- Incumbent Ted Cruz is seeking a third term in the Senate, facing challenges within the Republican party. The Democratic primary features several candidates, including U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, leading in fundraising efforts.
Democrat | Republican |
---|---|
Colin Allred | Ted Cruz (Incumbent) |
Meri Gomez | Holland “Redd” Gibson |
Mark Gonzalez | Rufus Lopez |
Roland Gutierrez | |
A. Robert Hassan | |
Steve Keough | |
Heli Rodriguez Prilliman | |
Carl Oscar Sherman | |
Thierry Tchenko |
U.S. House:
- All 38 congressional seats in Texas are up for election, with three open seats garnering particular attention. These include replacements for U.S. Reps. Kay Granger (District 12) and Michael Burgess (District 26), who are not seeking reelection, and the seat vacated by Colin Allred (District 32), who is running for the Senate.
U.S. House District 4
Democrat | Republican |
---|---|
Simon Cardell | Pat Fallon (Incumbent) |
Don Horn |
U.S. House District 13
Democrat | Republican |
---|---|
(None) | Ronny Jackson (Incumbent) |
U.S. House District 26
Democrat | Republican |
---|---|
Ernest Lineberger III | Scott Armey |
Neena Biswas | |
Vlad De Franceschi | |
Luisa Del Rosal | |
Brandon Gill | |
John Huffman | |
Jason Kergosien | |
Joel Krause | |
Doug Robison | |
Mark “Big Rut” Rutledge | |
Burt Thakur |
U.S. House District 32
Democrat | Republican |
---|---|
Callie Butcher | David Blewett |
Raja Chaudhry | Darrell Day |
Alex Cornwallis | Juan Feria |
Kevin Felder | Gulrez “Gus” Khan |
Julie Johnson | |
Zachariah Manning | |
Jan McDowell | |
Justin Moore | |
Christopher Panayiotou | |
Brian Williams |
Texas Senate and House:
- Out of the 31 seats in the Texas Senate, 15 are up for election.
- The Texas House, comprising 150 members, will see elections in several districts. Notably, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Governor Greg Abbott are actively endorsing candidates reflecting their political agendas.
Texas Senate District 12
Democrat | Republican |
---|---|
Stephanie Draper | Tan Parker (Incumbent) |
Texas Senate District 30
Democrat | Republican |
---|---|
Michael Braxton | Cody Clark |
Dale Frey | Carrie de Moor |
Matthew McGhee | Brent Hagenbuch |
Jace Yarbrough |
Texas House District 57
Democrat | Republican |
---|---|
Collin Johnson | Richard Hayes (Incumbent) |
Texas House District 63
Democrat | Republican |
---|---|
Michelle Beckley | Carlos E. Andino Jr. |
H. Denise Wooten | Ben Bumgarner (Incumbent) |
Vincent Gallo |
Texas House District 64
Democrat | Republican |
---|---|
Angela Brewer | Elaine Hays |
Andy Hopper | |
Lynn Stucky (Incumbent) |
Texas House District 106
Democrat | Republican |
---|---|
Hava Johnston | Jared Patterson (Incumbent) |
State Board of Education:
- 7 of the 15 districts within the State Board of Education are up for election. This board plays a crucial role in setting the curriculum and choosing textbooks for Texas public schools.
State Board of Education District 12
Democrat | Republican |
---|---|
George King | Chad Green |
Jamie Kohlmann | |
Pam Little (Incumbent) | |
Matt Rostami |
Railroad Commission:
- One seat on the Railroad Commission, which regulates the state’s vital oil and gas industry, is open for election.
Democrat | Republican |
---|---|
Bill Burch | Christie Clark |
Katherine Culbert | Christi Craddick (Incumbent) |
Corey Howell | |
James “Jim” Matlock | |
Petra Reyes |
Supreme Court of Texas:
- Three seats on the nine-member Texas Supreme Court are up for grabs, with the current all-Republican composition potentially seeing changes based on the election results.
Place 2
Democrat | Republican |
---|---|
DaSean Jones | Jimmy Blacklock (Incumbent) |
Randy Sarosdy |
Place 4
Democrat | Republican |
---|---|
Christine Vinh Weems | John Devine (Incumbent) |
Brian Walker |
Place 6
Democrat | Republican |
---|---|
Bonnie Lee Goldstein | Jane Bland (Incumbent) |
Joe Pool |
For Denton County specifically, key races include U.S. Representatives (Districts 4, 13, 26, 32), Texas Senate (Districts 12, 30), State Representatives (Districts 57, 63, 64, 106), and the State Board of Education (Districts 12).
Residents are encouraged to visit the Texas Secretary of State’s website for more information on the ballot order and to find their nearest early voting locations, as these details will be announced soon. As the primaries approach, Texans, especially those in Denton County, are urged to participate actively in this crucial democratic process.