What’s on the Ballot: Inside the 2026 Democratic Primary in Bexar County

Democrats Face Crowded Primary on Sample Ballot Across Federal, State, and Local Races

Voters heading into the Democratic primary in Bexar County will encounter one of the most expansive ballots in recent cycles, with contested races spanning from the U.S. Senate to precinct-level party leadership and 13 statewide Democratic Party propositions.

According to the official sample ballot released by the Bexar County Elections Department, Democrats will vote on dozens of offices across federal, state, judicial, and county government.

Winners of these Democratic primary contests will, if Republicans also field nominees, face Republican opponents in the November general election, which determines the officeholders for the next term.

For voters who want to review the Republican primary ballot you can visit the Bexar County Elections Department website to view the GOP sample ballot.

To see the complete Texas 2026 March primary ballot, click here.

Here’s What Bexar County Residents will see On The Democratic Ballot:

Federal Races

United States Senator

Voters may choose one candidate:

• Ahmad R. Hassan
• James Talarico
• Jasmine Crockett

Talarico and Crockett, the two high-profile contenders, are scheduled to square off in a debate on January 24 at the Texas AFL-CIO’s COPE Convention in Georgetown, giving primary voters a first substantive head-to-head look ahead of the March 3 primary.

The eventual Democratic nominee is expected to face the Republican winner of a crowded GOP primary, currently led by incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who could head to a runoff if no one clears 50 percent, in the November general election for this high-stakes Senate seat.

U.S. House of Representatives

District 21

• Kristin Hook
• Regina Vanburg
• Gary Taylor

Statewide Offices

Governor

• Angela “TíaAngie” Villescaz
• Jose Navarro Balbuena
• Chris Bell
• Bobby Cole
• Andrew White
• Patricia Abrego
• Zach Vance
• Gina Hinojosa
• Carlton W. Hart

The Democratic primary for Governor is a crowded contest with nine candidates all vying for the chance to challenge incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in the November 3, 2026 general election.

Abbott’s long record in office and substantial campaign resources have made the gubernatorial contest one of the most difficult and closely watched statewide races this cycle. The Democratic nominee will head into November seeking to flip a seat Texas hasn’t held since 1995.

Lieutenant Governor

• Marcos Isaias Velez
• Courtney Head
• Vikki Goodwin

Attorney General

• Nathan Johnson
• Anthony “Tony” Box
• Joe Jaworski

Comptroller of Public Accounts

• Savant Moore
• Sarah Eckhardt
• Michael Lange

General Land Office Commissioner

• Jose Loya
• Benjamin Flores

Agriculture Commissioner

• Clayton Tucker

Railroad Commissioner

• Jon Rosenthal

Texas Supreme Court & Court of Criminal Appeals

Chief Justice, Supreme Court

• Cory L. Carlyle
• Maggie Ellis

Court of Criminal Appeals

• Place 3: Okey Anyiam
• Place 4: Audra Riley
• Place 9: Holly Taylor

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Texas Legislature

State House of Representatives

• District 116: Trey Martinez Fischer
• District 117: Philip Cortez, Robert Mihara
• District 118: Kristian Carranza
• District 119: Elizabeth “Liz” Campos, Ryan Ayala

• District 120: Jordan Brown, Bently Paiz, Barbara Gervin Hawkins
• District 121: Zack Dunn
• District 122: Shelly Nickels
• District 123: Diego Bernal
• District 124: Josey Garcia

• District 125: Michelle Barrientes Vela, Carlos Antonio Raymond, Adrian Reyna, Donovon Rodriguez

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Courts of Appeals & District Courts

Courts of Appeals

• 15th Court, Chief Justice: Jerry Zimmerer
• 15th Court, Place 2: Tom Baker
• 15th Court, Place 3: Marc M. Meyer

• 4th Court, Chief Justice: Velia J. Meza, Antonia “Toni” Arteaga

District Judges

• 45th: Dinorah Diaz, Mary Lou Alvarez
• 144th: Michael Mery, Michael De Leon
• 150th: Monique Diaz
• 186th: Kristina Escalona

• 187th: Stephanie R. Boyd, Stephanie Franco
• 224th: Marisa Flores, Grace M. Uzomba
• 225th: Christine Vasquez Hortick

• 226th: Marissa Giovenco, Anastacia “Ana” Ochoa Nelson
• 227th: Christine Del Prado
• 285th: Nadine Melissa Nieto
• 288th: Cynthia Marie Chapa
• 289th: Rose Sosa
• 290th: Jennifer Peña
• 436th: William “Cruz” Shaw, Raymond A. Villareal
• 437th: Joel Perez

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Countywide Offices

County Judge

• Peter Sakai
• Ron Nirenberg

Incumbent Peter Sakai and former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg will participate in “The Great Debate” on February 10 at Stable Hall giving voters a substantive look at each candidate’s vision for Bexar County ahead of early voting.

The Democratic nominee will go on to face Republican Patrick Von Dohlen in the November general election.

Criminal District Attorney

• Jane Davis
• Meli Carrion Powers
• Shannon Locke
• Veronica I. Legarreta
• Luz Elena Chapa
• Meredith M. Chacon
• James “Jim” Bethke
• Oscar Salinas

All eight Democratic candidates are scheduled to face off in a debate on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at the Carver Community Cultural Center. The winner of the Democratic primary, which will will advance to face Ashley Foster in the November general election.

County Courts at Law

Judicial contests span Courts at Law Nos. 1 through 15, with multiple contested benches, including races featuring Cleophus “Cleo” Marshall III, Victoria Cruz, Maritza Perez-Stewart, Jessica A. Gonzalez, Lauren Zamora, Cesar Garcia, Erica Peña, Yolanda Huff, Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez, and others.

Probate Courts

• Probate Court No. 1: Oscar J. Kazen
• Probate Court No. 2: Veronica Vasquez

District Clerk

• Gloria A. Martinez
• Raul Davila
• Elva Abundis Esparza
• Christine “Chris” Castillo
• Monica Ramirez Alcántara

County Clerk

• Lucy Adame-Clark
• Mari Sanchez Belew
• Cynthia Castro

Incumbent Lucy Adame-Clark is seeking re-election for Bexar County Clerk, a role she has held since 2019 and built on with efforts to modernize records access and expand public services through initiatives such as mobile “Records on the Run” and digital records management.

She is being challenged in the Democratic primary by Mari Sanchez Belew and Cynthia Castro. No Republican candidate filed for county clerk on the Bexar County Elections Department sample ballot, which would leave the Democratic primary winner all.

County Commissioners

• Precinct 2: Justin Rodriguez
• Precinct 4: Tommy Calvert Jr.

Justices of the Peace

• Precinct 1: Armando Cruz Jr., Carlos Quezada
• Precinct 4: Anna Campos, Christopher “Chris” McKnight, Erasmo Raz Hernandez

Democrat Party Leadership & Precinct Chairs

Democrats will also select a County Chair, Michelle Lowe Solis, and vote in multiple precinct chair races across Bexar County, including competitive contests in Precincts 1021, 2095, 2122, 2136, 3094, and 3181. Click here, to view the candidates in each precinct.

Democratic Party Propositions

Voters will also be asked to weigh in on 13 nonbinding Democratic Party propositions that help shape the party’s platform heading into the general election.

The propositions cover a broad range of policy priorities, including:

• Expanding Medicaid and healthcare access
• Immigration reform and pathways to citizenship
• Reproductive rights
• Housing affordability
• Public school funding
• Online voter registration
• Environmental protections
• Cannabis legalization and record expungement
• Cost-of-living adjustments for public employees
• Redistricting reform
• Tax relief for working-class Texans
• Expanded public transportation
• Red flag gun laws

Early voting period starts, Tuesday, February 17 through Friday, February 27, 2026.

Primary Election Day is March 3, 2026.