Harris County is one of the most populous in the U.S. and increasingly influential in Texas politics.
For Black communities in Houston and the surrounding region, local and county-level offices often carry more immediate impact on housing, schools, disaster recovery, public health, and business equity than statewide races alone.
Tracking key contests in 2026 is therefore essential. Here are the primary elections to watch in 2026.
1. Governor
The upcoming race for Texas governor in November 2026 is already shaping up as one of the most consequential in state history.
Current Governor Greg Abbott formally announced his bid for a fourth consecutive term in November 2025, highlighting his aim to become Texas’s longest-serving governor. His decision to run again guarantees high stakes not only for statewide policy but also for communities in Harris County and across Texas, who are keenly watching issues such as education funding, infrastructure investment, and disaster recovery.
Several candidates are vying to challenge Abbott, including former U.S. Rep. Chris Bell, State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, Bobby Cole, a rancher and retired firefighter, and Andrew White, a Houston-based businessman and son of former Gov. Mark White. The primary election is scheduled for March 3, with the general election on Nov. 3.
2. County Judge: Harris County
The office of county judge is the most critical executive position at the county level in Texas, overseeing budget, disaster response, and the county court system.
Incumbent Democrat Lina Hidalgo announced she will not seek re-election in 2026, opening up a competitive race.
The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026, with the primaries on March 3.
Former Houston mayor Annise Parker and Houston City Council member Letitia Plummer are the declared Democratic candidates.
The county judge is the head of Harris County’s governing body, overseeing the third-largest county in the U.S. with a population of more than 4.5 million people and a budget of more than $2.7 billion.
The judge is also the presiding officer on the Commissioners Court, which plays a critical role encompassing administrative, legislative, and judicial duties. Their many responsibilities include adopting a budget, setting tax rates, calling for bond elections, building and maintaining roads and bridges, and overseeing county courthouses, jails, libraries, parks, and the Harris County Flood Control District.
By state law, the County Judge is also the county’s director of emergency management, leading the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
3. U.S. House of Representatives: Texas seats
All 38 Texas congressional seats will be on the ballot in 2026.
These seats are significant, especially after the redistricting saga that set off a national trend. Initially, Republicans explicitly aimed to pick up to five additional U.S. House seats in the 2026 elections through newly redistricted maps. A lower court blocked the implementation of the new congressional maps. However, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito put a temporary hold on the lower court order.
In August 2025, the Texas Legislature redrew the state’s congressional map mid-cycle, a rare move outside the standard post-census process. Dozens of House Democrats fled the state to block the plan, returning only after fines and arrest threats. The GOP-backed map, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, reshapes minority-heavy districts in ways critics say dilute Black and Hispanic voting power.
The new maps redraw several districts held by Democrats, impact minority‐heavy districts and shift district boundaries in ways that critics say will weaken the electoral power of Black and Hispanic voters.
This election is controversial because of mid-cycle redistricting. Redrawing districts in between the decennial census is rare in modern U.S. politics. Civil rights groups argue that the map reduces the ability of Black and Hispanic communities to elect their preferred candidates.
4. U.S. Senate: Texas seats
The U.S. Senate election in Texas will be held on Nov. 3, 2026, to elect a member to represent the state of Texas. Primary elections will be held on March 3, 2026, with a runoff election held on May 26 if no candidate receives a majority in their respective primaries.
The statewide Senate race features incumbent four-term Republican Senator John Cornyn, who was re-elected in 2020, and is now running for re-election to a fifth term in office. Cornyn is facing a primary challenge from Rep. Wesley Hunt and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Democratic candidates include Texas State Representative James Talarico and former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred.
Republicans have won every U.S. Senate election in Texas since 1990, and an incumbent senator has not lost a primary since 1970.
5. Texas Senate and House races
16 Texas State Senate seats and all 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives will be on the ballot in 2026, setting the stage for significant shifts in state policymaking.
State Senators serve four-year terms, while House representatives serve two.
With the entire Texas House also up for election, 2026 presents an opportunity to influence the direction of the state legislature on key issues, including property-tax reform, school funding, criminal justice, and voting rights. Local turnout will determine whether urban, suburban, and rural priorities align or collide inside the Capitol next session.
6. Notable races
Other notable races include those for the Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller of Public Accounts, Commissioner of the General Land Office, and Commissioner of Agriculture, all of which have four-year terms.
Meanwhile, the Railroad Commissioner’s term lasts six years, which will also be on the ballot.
7. Judicial and local offices
The Texas Secretary of State’s guide shows that 2026 will include judicial offices (district and county courts) on the ballot.
Four members of the Texas Supreme Court will be on the ballot, including Chief Justice (Places 1, 2, 7, and 8), three Members of the Court of Criminal Appeals (3, 4, and 9), and three Members of the 15th Court of Appeals (Places 1, 2, and 3).
8. State Board of Education
Eight of the 15 seats on the Texas State Board of Education will also be on the ballot in 2026, influencing how curriculum standards, textbook approvals, and graduation requirements are determined for the state’s five million public school students.
The districts up for election include Districts 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,13, and 14. These members collectively represent diverse regions from the Gulf Coast through Central and East Texas, including large parts of the Houston metro area and surrounding counties.
For Harris County residents, especially parents and educators, the 2026 State Board of Education races mean representation on a body that determines what knowledge future generations of Texans encounter in the classroom.
9. Judicial and County Offices
Beyond statewide and legislative contests, Harris County voters will help decide the outcome of dozens of judicial and county-level offices in 2026.
On the judicial side, seven Chief Justices of the Courts of Appeals are up for re-election, all serving six-year terms. These courts handle appeals from trial courts across Texas, shaping interpretations of state law in criminal, civil, and family cases.
Voters will also choose various Court of Appeals and District Judges, Criminal District Judges and Family District Judges, alongside an array of county offices with four-year terms, including those of County Judge, County Commissioners for Precincts 2 and 4, County and District Clerks, County Treasurer, County Surveyors and Justices of the Peace.
These races have a direct impact on everything from court access to family law.
What’s next?
The 2026 election cycle will be one of the most pivotal in Harris County and Texas history, providing voters with an opportunity to shape the state’s political and social trajectory for years to come.
For residents, particularly within Houston’s Black communities, these elections significantly impact how schools are funded, how neighborhoods recover from disasters, and how justice and opportunity are distributed throughout the county.
