Candidates & Elected Officials

Bell County and Central Texas races. Sample data rows are placeholders. FEC finance report

Federal

November 3, 2026 General election: Confirm matchups with the Secretary of State and FEC.

U.S. Senate

U.S. Senator from Texas (Class II)

Up for election Primary March 3, 2026

One of two senators representing Texas in the U.S. Senate. Votes on federal legislation, confirms presidential nominations, and ratifies treaties. Class II seat up for election in 2026.

Term
6 years
Election cycle
Class II; this seat contested 2026
Jurisdiction
State of Texas
Current holder
John Cornyn (R)
How filled
Elected
Previous / current holder
John Cornyn (R) — serving since 2002; in 2026 primary runoff with Ken Paxton
Salary
$174,000/year
Incumbent
J
Incumbent REP Sample data

John Cornyn

U.S. Senator from Texas (Class II)

Term expires: January 3, 2027

Status: Incumbent

Election: Primary runoff 2026

In May 2026 primary runoff against Ken Paxton for the Republican nomination.

Also running

K
REP Sample data

Ken Paxton

Candidate for U.S. Senate, Texas (R)

Term expires: If elected — January 2033

Status: Candidate

Election: Primary runoff 2026

Texas Attorney General; in primary runoff against Cornyn (May 26, 2026).

J
DEM Sample data

James Talarico

Candidate for U.S. Senate, Texas (D)

Term expires: If elected — January 2033

Status: Candidate

Election: General 2026

State representative and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in November 2026.

U.S. Senator from Texas (Class I)

Primary March 3, 2026

One of two senators representing Texas in the U.S. Senate. Votes on federal legislation, confirms presidential nominations, and ratifies treaties.

Term
6 years
Election cycle
Class I; next election 2030
Jurisdiction
State of Texas
Current holder
Ted Cruz (R)
How filled
Elected
Previous / current holder
Ted Cruz (R) — reelected November 2024, serving since 2013
Salary
$174,000/year
Incumbent
T
Incumbent REP Sample data

Ted Cruz

U.S. Senator from Texas (Class I)

Term expires: January 3, 2031

Status: Incumbent

Election: Seated

Reelected November 2024 for a third term. Not up for reelection until 2030.

U.S. House

U.S. Representative, Texas 31st Congressional District

General November 3, 2026

Represents Central Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives, including Bell and Williamson counties and surrounding areas. Votes on federal legislation, appropriations, and oversight.

Term
2 years
Election cycle
Every even-numbered year
Jurisdiction
Bell, Williamson, and portions of surrounding counties
Current holder
John Carter (R)
How filled
Elected
Previous / current holder
John Carter (R) — serving since 2003
Salary
$174,000/year

No candidates registered for this race yet.

TX-31: March 2026 primaries & November matchup (sources)

TX-31: after the March 2026 primaries

Sources: NBC News 2026 TX-31 results, KTEN (Carter, GOP), Texas Secretary of State (official certification).

The March 2026 primaries narrowed each party to one nominee for U.S. House District 31. Republican: Incumbent John Carter won the GOP nomination with a majority in a large field (reported near 60%). Democratic: Justin Early won the nomination over Stuart Whitlow (reported ~57.6% / ~42.4%). The November 3, 2026 general is between those two nominees. This page lists only that incumbent and challenger; primary also-rans were removed from the data.

State

Statewide executive

Governor of Texas

Up for election Primary March 3, 2026

Chief executive of the State of Texas. Signs or vetoes legislation, commands the Texas National Guard, appoints agency heads and judges, and sets the legislative agenda through the State of the State address.

Term
4 years
Election cycle
Midterm years (2026, 2030, etc.); no term limits
Jurisdiction
State of Texas
Current holder
Greg Abbott (R)
How filled
Elected
Previous / current holder
Greg Abbott (R) — serving since January 2015
Salary
$153,750/year
Incumbent
G
Incumbent REP Sample data

Greg Abbott

Governor of Texas

Term expires: January 2027

Status: Incumbent

Election: Primary 2026

Serving third term as Governor. Up for reelection in 2026.

Attorney General of Texas

Up for election Primary runoff May 26, 2026 · General Nov 3, 2026

Chief legal officer of Texas. Represents the state in litigation, issues advisory opinions on state law, enforces consumer-protection and antitrust statutes, and oversees the Crime Victims' Compensation program. Incumbent Ken Paxton is not seeking re-election (running for U.S. Senate); March 3, 2026 primaries sent both parties to a May 26 runoff before the November 3 general.

Term
4 years
Election cycle
Midterm years (2026, 2030, etc.); 2026 open seat with May 26 primary runoff
Jurisdiction
State of Texas
Current holder
Ken Paxton (R) — through end of term; successor takes office after Nov. 2026 general
How filled
Elected
Previous / current holder
Ken Paxton (R) — serving since January 2015; not on the 2026 AG ballot
Salary
$153,750/year
Mayes Middleton
REP Sample data

Mayes Middleton

Candidate for Attorney General (R); Texas State Senator, SD 11

Term expires: If elected — January 2031

Status: Candidate

Election: Primary runoff 2026

Oil-and-gas executive and attorney; former Texas House member (2019–2022) and current senator from SD 11 (Galveston-area counties). Finished first in the March 3, 2026 Republican primary (about 39%) and faces Chip Roy in the May 26 runoff. Headshot from Texas Senate official photo.

Also running

Chip Roy
REP Sample data

Chip Roy

Candidate for Attorney General (R); U.S. Representative, TX-21

Term expires: If elected — January 2031

Status: Candidate

Election: Primary runoff 2026

U.S. House member since 2019; former First Assistant Texas Attorney General and chief of staff to Sen. Ted Cruz. Finished second in the March 3, 2026 Republican primary (about 32%) and faces Mayes Middleton in the May 26 runoff. Congressional portrait via Wikimedia Commons (U.S. House work).

Nathan Johnson
DEM Sample data

Nathan Johnson

Candidate for Attorney General (D); Texas State Senator, SD 16

Term expires: If elected — January 2031

Status: Candidate

Election: Primary runoff 2026

Dallas County–based senator since 2019; commercial litigator (Thompson Coburn), UT Law graduate, physics undergraduate. Led on grid, health care, and transparency issues. Led the March 3 Democratic field with about 48% and meets Joe Jaworski in the May 26 runoff. Headshot from Texas Senate official photo.

Joe Jaworski
DEM Sample data

Joe Jaworski

Candidate for Attorney General (D); attorney, former Mayor of Galveston

Term expires: If elected — January 2031

Status: Candidate

Election: Primary runoff 2026

Trial lawyer and mediator; former Galveston mayor (2010–2012) and city councilmember; grandson of Watergate special prosecutor Leon Jaworski. Placed second in the March 3 Democratic primary (about 26%) and faces Nathan Johnson in the May 26 runoff. Headshot from campaign site.

Eliminated in primary (3)
Joan Huffman
Eliminated REP Sample data

Joan Huffman

Former candidate for Attorney General (R); Texas State Senator, SD 17

Term expires: —

Status: Eliminated

Election: Primary 2026

Longtime Houston-area senator and former Harris County felony court judge; former chair of Senate Redistricting. Eliminated in the March 3, 2026 Republican primary (about 15%). Headshot from Texas Senate official photo.

Aaron Reitz
Eliminated REP Sample data

Aaron Reitz

Former candidate for Attorney General (R); attorney

Term expires: —

Status: Eliminated

Election: Primary 2026

Former deputy AG for legal strategy under Ken Paxton, Ted Cruz chief of staff, Marine veteran, and former Assistant Attorney General (Office of Legal Policy) at the U.S. Department of Justice. Eliminated in the March 3, 2026 Republican primary (about 14%). Photo from campaign site.

Tony Box
Eliminated DEM Sample data

Tony Box

Former candidate for Attorney General (D); attorney

Term expires: —

Status: Eliminated

Election: Primary 2026

Dallas attorney; Army veteran (airborne), former FBI agent and assistant U.S. attorney, JAG officer deployed to Iraq, and former congressional investigator. Finished third in the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary (about 25.5%). Image from campaign site meta/hero asset.

Comptroller of Public Accounts of Texas

Primary March 3, 2026

Texas's chief financial officer. Collects state taxes and fees, estimates revenue for the biennial budget (the Biennial Revenue Estimate), manages state investments, and certifies the state budget to ensure it is balanced. March 2026 Republican primary was won outright by Don Huffines; he faces Democratic nominee Sarah Eckhardt in the November 3, 2026 general election.

Term
4 years
Election cycle
General Nov. 3, 2026 — Don Huffines (R) vs. Sarah Eckhardt (D); acting Comptroller Hancock serves until the winner is sworn in
Jurisdiction
State of Texas
Current holder
Kelly Hancock (R) — acting Comptroller since Glenn Hegar resigned July 1, 2025 (Hegar became Texas A&M System chancellor)
How filled
Elected
Previous / current holder
Glenn Hegar (R) — elected comptroller 2015–2025; succeeded in day-to-day duties by Kelly Hancock as acting Comptroller after resignation
Salary
$153,750/year

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Texas Senate

Texas State Senator, District 24

Primary March 3, 2026

Represents Central Texas in the 31-member Texas Senate. Votes on state legislation, the biennial budget, and gubernatorial confirmations.

Term
4 years
Election cycle
Staggered; this seat next contested 2026
Jurisdiction
Bell County and surrounding counties
Current holder
Pete Flores (R)
How filled
Elected
Previous / current holder
Pete Flores (R)
Salary
$7,200/year + per diem

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Texas House

Texas State Representative, District 54

Primary March 3, 2026

Represents the district in the 150-member Texas House. Authors and votes on state legislation during biennial sessions.

Term
2 years
Election cycle
Every even-numbered year
Jurisdiction
Bell County
Current holder
Brad Buckley (R)
How filled
Elected
Previous / current holder
Brad Buckley (R)
Salary
$7,200/year + per diem

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Comptroller 2026 primary — full notes & tables

Comptroller primary (what deep-search would have synthesized)

Sources: 2026 Texas Comptroller election (Wikipedia), Texas Tribune — Huffines wins GOP primary, Austin American-Statesman / general matchup.

Office (why it mattered in 2026)

The Comptroller of Public Accounts is Texas’s chief financial officer: tax collection, revenue estimating (drives the Legislature’s budget process), disbursements, and oversight of large state spending. Texas Tribune notes the comptroller helps oversee execution of a very large biennial budget.

Why the seat was open

Glenn Hegar was elected comptroller in 2014 and reelected (including 2022). He resigned effective July 1, 2025 to become chancellor of the Texas A&M University System (Wikipedia, Tribune).

Kelly Hancock (former state senator) became acting comptroller after being positioned as chief clerk and taking office in July 2025; the appointment followed a path around limits on appointing sitting legislators (Wikipedia, Tribune).

Republican primary — candidates and result

Candidates: Don Huffines, Kelly Hancock (acting), Christi Craddick (Railroad Commissioner), Michael Berlanga.

March 2026 primary vote totals (Wikipedia):

CandidateVotes%
Don Huffines1,191,83057.4
Kelly Hancock491,35823.7
Christi Craddick312,62615.1
Michael Berlanga80,9853.9

No runoff — Huffines won outright.

Themes / money / endorsements (high level)

  • Texas Tribune: Huffines cast himself as “DOGE-ing” state government, self-funded heavily, late Trump endorsement, plus Cruz and other MAGA-aligned figures; Abbott spent heavily for Hancock in the final stretch (~two-thirds of Hancock’s late spend from Abbott’s war chest in one cited report). Total spend among the top three was on the order of $16M vs. much less for Hegar’s 2022 primary at the same point.
  • Hancock pitched implementation of school vouchers, ICE collaboration grants, and DEI-related contracting changes; Craddick also emphasized audits/waste and culture-war touchpoints. Tribune also notes legislature has narrowed some comptroller audit authority over time.

Democratic primary

Candidates: Sarah Eckhardt (state senator, SD-14), Savant Moore, Michael Lange.

Results (Wikipedia):

CandidateVotes%
Sarah Eckhardt1,317,02464.1
Savant Moore392,04319.1
Michael Lange346,48416.9

Eckhardt switched from a congressional path to comptroller near the filing deadline (Wikipedia).

General election (November 3, 2026)

Don Huffines (R), Republican nominee after winning the March primary outright, faces Democratic nominee Sarah Eckhardt (D). Kelly Hancock remains acting Comptroller until the elected successor takes office. Texas has not elected a Democratic comptroller since the 1990s (Tribune).

Libertarian line

Wikipedia lists Alonzo Echavarria-Garza as a declared Libertarian convention candidate.

County

District Attorney, 27th Judicial District

Up for election Primary March 3, 2026

Prosecutes felony criminal cases in Bell County. The 27th Judicial District encompasses Bell County. The DA's office works with law enforcement, presents cases to grand juries, and represents the state in district court proceedings.

Term
4 years
Election cycle
Partisan general election, even years
Jurisdiction
Bell County (27th Judicial District)
Current holder
Stephanie Newell
How filled
Elected
Previous / current holder
Henry Garza (R) — preceded current DA
Salary
Set by state; supplemented by county
Incumbent
H
Incumbent REP Sample data

Henry Garza

District Attorney, 27th Judicial District

Term expires: January 2027

Status: Incumbent

Election: Primary 2026

Serving since 2013. Prosecutes felony cases in Bell County.

Bell County Commissioner, Precinct 4

Primary March 3, 2026

Oversees roads, bridges, and county services in Precinct 4. Sits on the Commissioners Court.

Term
4 years
Election cycle
Partisan election, staggered
Jurisdiction
Bell County Precinct 4
Current holder
Louie Minor
How filled
Elected
Previous / current holder
Louie Minor (current incumbent)

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Place 1

Primary March 3, 2026

Small claims, Class C misdemeanors, truancy, evictions, and inquests for Precinct 4. Place 1 is one of two JP seats in this precinct.

Term
4 years
Election cycle
Partisan general election
Jurisdiction
Bell County Precinct 4
Current holder
Gregory Johnson
How filled
Elected
Previous / current holder
Gregory Johnson (current incumbent)

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Place 2

Primary March 3, 2026

Small claims, Class C misdemeanors, truancy, evictions, and inquests for Precinct 4. Place 2 is one of two JP seats in this precinct.

Term
4 years
Election cycle
Partisan general election
Jurisdiction
Bell County Precinct 4
Current holder
Nicola J. James
How filled
Elected
Previous / current holder
Nicola J. James (current incumbent)

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Municipal

Belton

Mayor and council or aldermen — roster from the Bell County city directory (project _cities folder).

Belton Municipal

Primary March 3, 2026

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Harker Heights

Mayor and council or aldermen — roster from the Bell County city directory (project _cities folder).

Harker Heights Municipal

Primary March 3, 2026

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Temple

Mayor and council or aldermen — roster from the Bell County city directory (project _cities folder).

Temple Municipal

Primary March 3, 2026

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Killeen

Mayor and council or aldermen — roster from the Bell County city directory (project _cities folder).

Killeen Municipal

Primary March 3, 2026

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Nolanville

Mayor and council or aldermen — roster from the Bell County city directory (project _cities folder).

Nolanville Municipal

Primary March 3, 2026

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Salado

Mayor and council or aldermen — roster from the Bell County city directory (project _cities folder).

Salado Municipal

Primary March 3, 2026

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Moody

Mayor and council or aldermen — roster from the Bell County city directory (project _cities folder).

Moody Municipal

Primary March 3, 2026

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Troy

Mayor and council or aldermen — roster from the Bell County city directory (project _cities folder).

Troy Municipal

Primary March 3, 2026

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Bartlett

Mayor and council or aldermen — roster from the Bell County city directory (project _cities folder).

Bartlett Municipal

Primary March 3, 2026

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Holland

Mayor and council or aldermen — roster from the Bell County city directory (project _cities folder).

Holland Municipal

Primary March 3, 2026

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Little River-Academy

Mayor and council or aldermen — roster from the Bell County city directory (project _cities folder).

Little River-Academy Municipal

Primary March 3, 2026

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Rogers

Mayor and council or aldermen — roster from the Bell County city directory (project _cities folder).

Rogers Municipal

Primary March 3, 2026

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Morgan's Point Resort

Mayor and council or aldermen — roster from the Bell County city directory (project _cities folder).

Morgans Point Resort Municipal

Primary March 3, 2026

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Education

State Board of Education, District 10

Primary March 3, 2026

Sets curriculum standards, selects textbooks, and manages the Permanent School Fund for public schools across the district.

Term
4 years
Election cycle
Partisan general election; next for this seat typically 2028
Jurisdiction
Multiple Central Texas counties
Current holder
Tom Maynard (R)
How filled
Elected
Previous / current holder
Tom Maynard (current incumbent)

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Central Texas College Board of Trustees, Place 1

Primary March 3, 2026

Governs CTC, a community college serving the Killeen-Fort Cavazos area. Sets tuition, approves budgets, and oversees academic programs.

Term
6 years
Election cycle
Nonpartisan; major elections in odd years
Jurisdiction
CTC taxing district
Current holder
Jimmy D. Towers
How filled
Elected
Previous / current holder
Jimmy D. Towers (current incumbent)

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Central Texas College Board of Trustees, Place 2

Primary March 3, 2026

Governs CTC. Sets tuition, approves budgets, and oversees academic programs.

Term
6 years
Election cycle
Nonpartisan; major elections in odd years
Jurisdiction
CTC taxing district
Current holder
Charles Hollinger
How filled
Elected
Previous / current holder
Charles Hollinger (current incumbent)

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Central Texas College Board of Trustees, Place 3

Primary March 3, 2026

Governs CTC. Sets tuition, approves budgets, and oversees academic programs.

Term
6 years
Election cycle
Nonpartisan; major elections in odd years
Jurisdiction
CTC taxing district
Current holder
James A. Pierce Jr.
How filled
Elected
Previous / current holder
James A. Pierce Jr. (current incumbent)

No candidates registered for this race yet.

Central Texas College Board of Trustees, Place 4

Primary March 3, 2026

Governs CTC. Sets tuition, approves budgets, and oversees academic programs.

Term
6 years
Election cycle
Nonpartisan; major elections in odd years
Jurisdiction
CTC taxing district
Current holder
Eric R. Armstrong
How filled
Elected
Previous / current holder
Eric R. Armstrong (current incumbent)

No candidates registered for this race yet.