(Sample ballot images can be found on the Canadian Record News site.)
Early voting begins Tuesday, February 17, in the March 3, 2026 Texas Primary Election. This state’s Republican and Democrat voters have the opportunity to choose which candidates will represent their party on November’s general election ballot.
Several federal and statewide offices are heavily-contested this year in both the Democratic and Republican primaries. Texas primary voters will determine which candidates make the cut on November’s general election ballots for the offices of U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative (District 13), Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General, as well as Comptroller of Public Accounts, General Land Office Commissioner, Commissioner of Agriculture, and Railroad Commissioner. Voters will also choose their party’s candidates for the Texas Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeals, Court of Appeals, and the State Board of Education.
Republican U.S. Senator John Cornyn faces a long list of challengers in his own party—including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The GOP winner will still have a fight this November from the Democratic victor in a three-way race between Ahmad R. Hassan, James Talarico and Jasmine Crockett. District 13 U.S.
Representative Ronny Jackson must also win a two-way race versus Chastity Wedgeworth for the GOP nomination before taking on Democratic challenger Mark Nair in the fall.
Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott will confront ten challengers in his own primary race before he vies for re-election against the winner of a nine-way Democratic primary tussle. There are also strongly-contested races in both parties for Texas’ Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General.
District 31 State Senator Kevin Sparks’ re-election bid is uncontested in the Republican primary, but he will face Democratic challenger John Betancourt in November. District 88 State Representative Ken King (R-Canadian) has drawn a GOP challenger in Plainview rancher John Browning. The winner of that bout will take on presumed Democratic nominee Heather Wallace.
Hemphill County voters in the Republican Primary will determine their party’s nominees in two contested races. County Judge Lisa Johnson is seeking her second term in office, and faces a challenge from Beth Ramp. County Treasurer Kay Smallwood, who has served in that office for twelve years now, will face Courtney Kendall in her bid for a fourth term.
Hemphill County voters in the GOP Primary will also mark their ballots in a handful of uncontested re-election bids, including 31st District Judge Steven R. Emmert, Hemphill County Clerk Sylvia Guerrero, Justice of the Peace Jay Moseley, and Hemphill County Republican Chairman Kyle Barnett. Voters in Hemphill County Precincts 2 and 4 may also cast ballots for Commissioners Tim Alexander (Pct 2) and Nicholas Thomas (Pct 4).
None of these local candidates have attracted challengers in the Democratic Party, and barring the appearance of a declared write-in candidate in the General Election, will have a clear path ahead in November.
In addition, both the Republican and Democratic Primary ballots ask voters to weigh in on a series of non-binding propositions to gauge voter sentiment on issues ranging from healthcare, housing, public education and property taxes to groundwater and term limits, and to help shape future party and legislative priorities.
[See links to Republican and Democratic Sample Ballots for each Hemphill County Precinct above]
HOW TEXAS PRIMARIES WORK
Texas runs a party primary election to determine which candidates will appear on the general election ballot. Texas has an open primary, which means:
• You do not register by party in Texas.
• You can choose to vote in either party’s primary on Primary Election Day.
• You can only vote in one party’s primary per election cycle (you can’t vote in both Republican and Democrat).
• When you show up to vote during the primary, you’ll be asked which primary you want to participate in, and you’ll receive that party’s ballot.
EARLY VOTING
Early voting begins in the March 3 Primary Election begins on Tuesday, February 17, and ends on Friday, February 27. Early ballots in all precincts may be cast at the Hemphill County Courthouse, Room 202, at the following times:
Tuesday-Friday, February 17-20: 8 am-5 pm
Saturday, February 21: 7 am-7 pm
Sunday, February 22: 12 pm-6 pm
Monday-Friday, February 23-27: 7 am-7 pm
ELECTION DAY VOTING
Hemphill County Polling Locations
Polling places will be open on Primary Election Day—Tuesday, March 3, 2026—from 7 am to 7 pm, in these locations:
Precinct 101: Hemphill County Courthouse, Room 202, 400 Main Street
Precinct 202, 202: Canadian Fire Station, 2 Main Street
Precinct 301, 303: Mesa View Senior Living, Heritage Community Center, 106 Teas Circle
Precinct 401, 402: Hemphill County Exhibition Center, Sand Sage Room, 10965 Exhibition Center Road
Where do I vote?
A note from the Office of Texas Secretary of State:
If you haven't received a new voter registration card in the mail yet, don't worry. Due to legal challenges of the redistricted Congressional maps, counties were delayed in being able to assign precincts and print cards in the usual time frame. Most counties have recently sent or will be sending the cards soon. You do not need to present your card in order to cast a ballot.
Hemphill County residents may check their registration status by contacting Hemphill County Clerk Sylvia Guerrero’s office by calling 806.323.6212, or emailing SylviaG@hemphill-clerk.comcounty, or going online to https://www.votetexas.gov/ to connect with the Am I Registered (https://goelect.txelections.civixapps.com/ivis-mvp-ui/#/login) feature.
TO LEARN MORE
The Canadian Record's Candidate Q&As for contested elections in Hemphill County
https://www.canadianrecord.com/news/2026-primary-election-hemphill-county-judge-qa
https://www.canadianrecord.com/news/2026-primary-election-hemphill-county-treasurer-qa
League of Women Voters of Texas Guide to the March 3 Primary Election
The League of Women Voters of Texas has published its annual nonpartisan Guide to Voters which provides information about candidates in the March 3 Texas Primary Election. The Guide includes information about both the Republican and Democratic candidates’ qualifications for office, and their responses to a series of questions pertaining to the responsibilities of the office they seek.
To view the online Guide in English, Spanish, Chinese or Vietnamese versions go to lwvtexas.org. We encourage those who find this resource beneficial in making their voting decisions to contribute to their efforts by making a secure donation online at lwvtexas.org, or by mailing a donation to the League of Women Voters of Texas, 1212 Guadalupe #107, Austin, TX 78701.
If you would like a printed copy of the Guide, please contact The Record at 806.570.3033, specify which language version you need, and we will print a copy for $10.00. All proceeds will be donated to the League of Women Voters of Texas.
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