Houston-area voters will return to the polls in late May to decide several closely watched races that remained unresolved after the March 3 Texas primary elections.
With no candidate receiving more than 50% of the vote in multiple contests, the top two finishers in those races will compete in a runoff election scheduled for May 26, 2026.
Here are the key dates for the runoffs:
- Last day to register to vote: April 27, 2026
- Last day to apply by mail (received, not postmarked): May 15
- Early voting: May 18 – May 22
- Last day to receive ballot by mail: May 26 (Election Day) at 7:00 p.m. if carrier envelope is not postmarked, or May 27 at 5:00 p.m. if carrier envelope is postmarked by 7:00 p.m. at the location of the election on Election Day (unless overseas or military voter deadlines apply)
Runoff elections are a standard part of Texas’ electoral system. It is one of the seven states that requires a candidate to win a primary nomination with a majority of the votes. If no candidate crosses that threshold, the race moves to a runoff between the top two vote-getters.
In the Houston region and across Harris County, the upcoming runoff elections will determine nominees in several high-profile races, including the Democratic primary for Texas’ 18th Congressional District, the race for Harris County judge, and other contests tied to the broader 2026 election cycle.
The winners of these races will decide who appears on the ballot in the November general election.
Congressional runoff in a historic Houston district
A major runoff affecting Houston voters will take place in the Democratic primary for Texas’ 18th Congressional District, a seat historically associated with Black political leadership in the city.
The district has experienced unusual political turbulence in recent years following the deaths of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and her successor, former Houston Mayor and Congressman Sylvester Turner. The May runoff will be the fourth election in the district within seven months, highlighting the unusual circumstances surrounding the seat.
Turner’s death prompted a special election, which Gov. Greg Abbott scheduled in November 2025, resulting in a runoff between the new CD-18 Congressman Christian Menefee and former City Council Member Amanda Edwards. Menefee won the runoff election in January.
Candidates were also competing in the March party primaries for the next full congressional term. That primary contest, held in March, has produced another runoff, this time between Menefee, who is now serving the district, and longtime 9th Congressional District Representative Al Green, one of the most senior members of Texas’ congressional delegation.
Political experts say runoff turnout is expected to be relatively low, which means the outcome could depend heavily on which campaign is able to mobilize supporters to return to the polls.
“What will be the challenge for both the Menifee and Green campaigns is to accurately target their voters and then ensure that their voters turn out to vote in a runoff where theirs won’t be the marquee race for U.S.,” said Mark Jones, a professor in the Department of Political Science at Rice University.
Harris County judge race heads to runoff
One of the local contests heading into the May runoff is the race for Harris County judge, the county’s top executive position. The seat is open after incumbent Democrat Lina Hidalgo announced she would not seek reelection.
In the Democratic primary, former Houston mayor Annise Parker finished first with about 46.6% of the vote, followed by former City Council member Letitia Plummer, who received roughly 37.3%. Because neither candidate surpassed the 50% threshold, the two will face each other in the May runoff.
The county judge oversees a multibillion-dollar budget and plays a central role in disaster response, infrastructure planning and public health policy.
On the Republican side of the race, Orlando Sanchez and Warren Howell advanced to a separate GOP runoff after finishing first and second in their primary, with about 26.5% and 20.8% of the vote, respectively.
The winners of the Democratic and Republican runoffs will face off in the November general election.
Other statewide runoffs could influence Houston voters
Houston voters will also weigh in on several statewide and federal runoffs occurring on the same day.
One of them is the Republican runoff for the U.S. Senate, where incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are competing after neither candidate secured a majority in the primary. Both candidates are awaiting an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
“We’re headed to a runoff with the necessity of having Donald Trump referee the fight,” said Brandon Rottinghaus, a professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Houston. “You may have seen just now that Trump said he would endorse one of the two Republicans and that the other one he was going to call to drop out. Once again, Donald Trump will be kingmaker for the Republican Party in Texas.”
Another Republican contest heading to a runoff features U.S. Rep. Chip Roy and State Senator Mayes Middleton, who are battling for the GOP nomination for the Texas attorney general seat.
Although these races are statewide, they will appear on ballots across Harris County and could affect turnout levels in the Houston region.
