The midterms are just around the corner. Harris County voters will cast their ballots for dozens of races during the early voting period beginning Oct. 19 to Oct. 30, and on Election Day on Nov. 3.
The races range from the closely watched U.S. Senate race to local court races.
Since Texas underwent redistricting in 2025, which changed its legislative maps, and Harris County holds its court elections on a county-wide basis, the ballot is expected to be long.
But here is a rundown, organized the way it appears on a typical ballot, along with the candidates, so that you are prepared to vote.
Offices that include congressional districts or commissioners depend on the address. Harrisvotes.com is a resource to confirm personal ballots.
Federal races
U.S. Senate
Ken Paxton (R) vs. James Talarico (D), plus several minor-party candidates.
U.S. Senator John Cornyn lost the Republican nomination to Paxton in a May runoff after President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton late in the race. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett lost the primary race to Talarico.
U.S. House, District 18 (central and north Houston):
Congressman Christian Menefee (D), the incumbent who won a January special election and then a primary runoff against fellow Rep. Al Green, faces Ronald Whitfield (R).
Statewide executive offices
- Governor: Greg Abbott (R, incumbent, seeking a fourth term) vs. Gina Hinojosa (D), plus Libertarian Pat Dixon and four independent candidates
- Lieutenant Governor: Dan Patrick (R, incumbent) vs. Vikki Goodwin (D)
- Attorney General: Mayes Middleton (R) vs. Nathan Johnson (D) and Tom Oxford from the Libertarian Party, an open seat since Paxton ran for Senate
- Comptroller of Public Accounts: Don Huffines (R) vs. Sarah Eckhardt (D)
- Land Commissioner: Dawn Buckingham (R, incumbent) vs. Benjamin Flores (D)
- Agriculture Commissioner: Nate Sheets (R), who upset longtime incumbent Sid Miller in the primary, vs. Clayton Tucker (D)
- Railroad Commissioner: Bo French (R) vs. Jon Rosenthal (D)
- State Board of Education, District 4 (special election for an unexpired term): Tammie Nielsen (R, incumbent by appointment) vs. Coretta Mallet-Fontenot (D)
State legislature
Texas House, District 147: Jolanda Jones (D, incumbent) vs. Theodis Daniel (R)
Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals:
- Supreme Court, Place 1 (Chief Justice): Jimmy Blacklock (R, incumbent) vs. Maggie Ellis (D)
- Supreme Court, Place 2 (special, unexpired term): James Sullivan (R, incumbent) vs. Chari Kelly (D)
- Supreme Court, Place 7: Kyle Hawkins (R, incumbent) vs. Kristen Hawkins (D)
- Supreme Court, Place 8: Brett Busby (R, incumbent) vs. Gisela Triana (D)
- Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3: Thomas Smith (R) vs. Okey Anyiam (D)
- Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4: Kevin Patrick Yeary (R, incumbent) vs. Audra Riley (D)
- Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9: John Messinger (R) vs. Holly Taylor (D)
Courts of Appeals serving Harris County
15th Court of Appeals (a new statewide civil court created in 2023, based in Austin):
- Chief Justice: Scott Brister (R, incumbent) vs. Jerry Zimmerer (D)
- Place 2: Scott Field (R, incumbent) vs. Tom Baker (D)
- Place 3: April Farris (R, incumbent) vs. Marc Meyer (D)
First Court of Appeals (Houston-based):
- Place 3: Veronica Rivas-Molloy (D, incumbent) vs. Todd Frankfort (R)
- Place 4 (special, unexpired term): David Gunn (R, incumbent) vs. Julie Countiss (D)
- Place 5: Amparo Guerra (D, incumbent) vs. Jessica Caird (R)
14th Court of Appeals (Houston-based):
- Chief Justice: Kevin Jewell (R) vs. Sarah Beth Landau (D)
- Place 7: Ken Wise (R, incumbent) vs. William Demond (D)
Harris County executive offices
- County Judge: Letitia Plummer (D), a former Houston city council member who won a close Democratic runoff over Annise Parker, vs. Orlando Sanchez (R), a former county treasurer and Houston mayoral candidate. Incumbent Lina Hidalgo is not seeking a third term.
- County Attorney (special election): Abbie Kamin (D), a Houston city council member, vs. Jacqueline Lucci Smith (R). This seat opened when Christian Menefee left to run for Congress.
- County Clerk: Teneshia Hudspeth (D, incumbent) vs. Mike Wolfe (R)
- District Clerk: Darrell Jordan Jr. (D) vs. Chris Daniel (R). Incumbent Marilyn Burgess is not seeking re-election.
- County Treasurer: Carla Wyatt (D, incumbent) vs. Marc Cowart (R)
Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees
- Position 7, At-Large: Silky Joshi-Malik (D, incumbent) vs. Denise Dick (R)
- Position 5, At-Large: Erica Davis (D) vs. Satraj Bal (R)
Other races
Harris County elects most of its trial judges on the same cycle, so this ballot also includes a long list of local benches and districts:
- Harris County Civil Courts at Law No. 1-4
- Harris County Criminal Courts at Law No. 1-15
- Harris County Probate Courts No. 1-4
- Harris County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 2
- Dozens of Texas District Courts serving Harris County (55th, 113th, 157th, 180th, 182nd-185th, 189th, 190th, 208th, 209th, 228th, 230th, 232nd, 234th, 245th-248th, 257th, 262nd, 263rd, 269th, 270th, 280th, 281st, 295th, and 308th-315th, 482nd, 495th-497th)
- Harris Central Appraisal District, Place 2
- Harris County Municipal Utility Districts 127 and 585 (board seats)
- Old Town Spring Improvement District Board (Positions 4 and 5)
