The fate of El Paso's political landscape for 2026 is beginning to take shape! As the March primaries unfold, we're getting our first glimpse at who the voters are backing in crucial local and statewide races. It's Election Day, and the initial results are in, offering a fascinating look at the early voting numbers that will guide us toward the general election.
But here's where it gets interesting: While many races have clear projected nominees, some key contests are headed to a runoff in May. This means the battle for these nominations is far from over, and voters will have another chance to make their voices heard.
Let's dive into the numbers for El Paso and beyond:
Texas Governor
- Republican: The incumbent, Greg Abbott, is projected to secure the Republican nomination with a commanding 82% of the vote. It appears he's on a strong path for re-election.
- Democrat: On the Democratic side, Gina Hinojosa is leading, projected to be the nominee with 60.7%. This sets up a potentially significant matchup for the governor's mansion.
Lieutenant Governor
- Republican: Dan Patrick is also poised for a strong showing, projected to win the Republican nomination with a substantial 85%.
- Democrat: The Democratic race for Lieutenant Governor is tighter. Vikki Goodwin has secured 48%, while Marcos Isaias Velez is close behind with 28%. This race might also see further developments.
Attorney General
And this is the part most people miss: The race for Texas Attorney General is so competitive that The Associated Press has projected a runoff for both parties! This means the top two candidates in each primary will face off again in May because no single candidate managed to capture over 50% of the vote.
- Republican: The runoff will feature Mayes Middleton at 41.4% and Chip Roy at 30.3%. A very close contest indeed!
- Democrat: Similarly, the Democratic runoff will be between Nathan Johnson with 47% and Joe Jaworski at 29%.
U.S. Senator
Another high-stakes race heading to a runoff is for the U.S. Senate seat! Once again, The Associated Press has called for a runoff in May as no candidate reached the 50% threshold.
- Republican: The Republican runoff will see John Cornyn leading with 41%, closely followed by Ken Paxton at 40%. This is going to be a nail-biter!
- Democrat: James Talarico is projected to win the Democratic nomination with an impressive 73%, while Jasmine Crockett has 25%.
U.S. Representative, District 23
- Republican: In a surprising turn, Brandon Herrera is projected to win with 48%, while incumbent Tony Gonzales has 40%. This is a significant upset!
- Democrat: Bruce Richardson is projected as the Democratic nominee with 50%, followed by Gretel Enck at 33%.
U.S. Representative, District 16
- Republican: The Republican primary for this district is quite crowded, with Adan Bauman leading the pack at 25%, followed by Hector Calbido at 15%, and Manuel J. Barraza at 16%. It's a multi-candidate race with no clear runaway winner yet.
- Democrat: Veronica Escobar is running unopposed and is projected to be the Democratic nominee with 56%.
State Representative Races
Several State Representative races in El Paso have clear unopposed nominees:
- State Rep. 74: Robert Garza and John McLeon are the Republican candidates, while Eddie Morales Jr. is the unopposed Democrat.
- State Rep. 75: Mary Gonzalez is the unopposed Democrat.
- State Rep. 77: Humberto Perez is the unopposed Republican, and Vince Perez is the unopposed Democrat.
- State Rep. 78: There are no Republican candidates, and Joe Moody is the unopposed Democrat.
- State Rep. 79: Jesse Romero is the unopposed Republican, and Claudia Ordaz is the unopposed Democrat.
El Paso County Judge
- Republican: Minerva Torres Shelton is projected to win with 62%, defeating Guadalupe “Lupe” Giner who received 37%.
- Democrat: Ricardo Samaniego is running unopposed and is the projected nominee.
El Paso County Commissioner, Precinct 2
- Republican: Matt Sistrunk is unopposed and the projected nominee.
- Democrat: In a very close race, Miguel “Mike” Teran is projected to win with 51%, narrowly beating incumbent David Stout who received 48%.
El Paso County Commissioner, Precinct 4
- Republican: Leo Arcos is unopposed and the projected nominee.
- Democrat: Annette Griego is projected to win with 56%, defeating incumbent Sergio Coronado who received 43%.
So, what do these early results tell us about the political climate in El Paso and Texas? Are the projected winners on a clear path to victory in November, or will the upcoming runoffs and general election bring more surprises? What are your thoughts on the tight races and the unexpected outcomes? Let us know in the comments below!
