AUSTIN – Political hopefuls from across Texas start their races for the 2026 election season in earnest on Monday, as the window for filing their candidacies for public office draws to a close. Up for grabs in the March primaries and November general election next year are 150 seats in the Texas House and 16 in the state Senate,

All eyes are on the U.S. Senate race and Houston's 18th District as the official candidate filing period comes to a close on Monday.

Lawmakers are awaiting a Supreme Court decision on redrawn electoral maps.

The candidate filing deadline is Monday for the March 3 Republican and Democratic primaries. We're tracking the major candidates.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Texas Republican leaders, allowing the state to use new redistricting maps for the 2026 midterm elections.

Incumbent Sheila Jackson Lee defeated Amanda Edwards and Robert Slater (Unofficially withdrew) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 18 on March 5, 2024. Lana Centonze defeated Aaron Hermes in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 18 on March 5, 2024.

The opinion, handed down Thursday evening, may allow the GOP to pick up five more seats in the upcoming election, strengthening a small majority in the House.

Eligible voters in the Village of Vinton will head to the polls Saturday to decide the town’s next mayor in a runoff election after no candidate secured a majority in November. The two candidates participating in the runoff are Rachel Quintana and Juvencia Rios Ontiveros.

Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, announced that he will not run for House again and will instead run for the role of Tarrant County judge after redistricting.