The 2026 Texas Democratic Primaries: Part Six

Texas is closer than they want you to think.

All I wanted to do was tell you about the Congressional and Legislative Democratic primaries we have coming up in Texas in March. Who knew it would turn into a six-part series? It’s a good problem to have. If you’re just joining us for this series, you can find the previous parts here:

• Part One

• Part Two

• Part Three

• Part Four

• Part Five

I was wondering if, every election cycle, blue state Democrats look around at all their options and competitive Democratic races and feel glee at the choices they’ll have. Or if it’s something they’ve grown to take for granted. Meanwhile, here in Texas, we’re over here just excited that every seat finally has a Democrat on the ballot.

And that’s why this series exists. Not to hype one shiny race, but to map the whole battlefield, explain the math, and talk honestly about what it will actually take to win in a state where people have been trained not to vote at all.

So, let’s finish it up.

HD64

I would describe this district as the growing Denton exurbs. And I would describe the Republican incumbent Andy Hopper as an embarrassment. He once made a video saying that the Communist Manifesto was about how people should pay high property taxes. Seriously. Then, he uploaded it to the internet. It would take more than +13 points to flip this district. Not impossible, but a huge task, nonetheless.

The Democrats running in this district are Julie Evans and Christie Wood.

Voter registration is everything here. Candidates need plans for reaching new subdivisions, renters, and younger families who aren’t yet habitual voters.

HD67

Collin County. Collin County. Collin County. See, the thing about Collin County is that it may flip any day now, but they have a super active QAnon crowd working diligently trying to make that not happen. This district is about a +11 point swing away, but Republican incumbent Jeff Leach is awash in corporate cash, which will be the biggest obstacle.

The Democratic ballot includes Emeka Eluka and Jordan Wheatley.

Primary voters should look for message discipline. The winning candidate balances persuasion and turnout and understands suburban voters’ priorities.

HD76

This is a safe blue district in Fort Bend County held by Democratic incumbent Dr. Suleman Lalani. He is being challenged from the left by Marie Asher Baptiste. I’ll be on the lookout for a forum or debate in this race soon to bring you more coverage.

HD80

Some districts really stress me out, and this is one of them. I’ll tell you why. First of all, this is the district where Uvalde is, and they deserve a representative who cares about the families and does what’s right on gun violence. Secondly, Ken Paxton, Republican incumbent Don McLaughlin, and other Republicans have been involved in shady stuff down here.

The Democrats in this race are Cecilia Castellano and Julie Hilberg.

Democrats can flip this district with a +10 point swing if the base shows up. Turnout plus economic messaging. Candidates who neglect field operations or rely on national talking points will lose here.

HD85

Back in Fort Bend again. It’s a blue county; they just gerrymandered it. I want to say something nice about the Republican incumbent, Stan Kitzman, but I can’t think of anything.

On the Democratic ticket, we have Aaron Westerfield and Lawrence Brandyburg.

Primary voters should be looking for candidates already building voter registration programs, precinct captains, and door-knocking operations.

HD97

We only need like a +8 point swing to flip this Tarrant County district held by John McQueeny (R). And as hard as Tarrant Democrats have been working, I have total faith in them.

The Democrats running in this primary are Beth Llewellyn McLaughlin, Diane Symons, and Ryan Ray.

Education politics matter here. Look for candidates who can fundraise, communicate clearly with suburban parents, and run a serious field program.

HD98

This Tarrant County district may be a little more challenging to flip, but luckily, there isn’t an incumbent here after the last one went into hiding in shame after his dirty laundry was aired all over Texas. There are three Republicans fighting for this seat, they’re all weirdos.

The Democrats on the ballot are Cate Brennan and Aaron Hendley.

This is a persuasion-heavy seat. Discipline, money, and targeting matter more than rhetoric.

HD100

This is Democratic incumbent Venton Jones’ safe blue seat. He has challengers. Amanda Richardson Bjornen and Justice McFarlane.

HD101

Grand Prairie City Councilman Junior Ezeonu is challenging long-time House Democrat Chris Turner. HD101 is my district. That’s all I’m going to say for now.

HD106

Republican incumbent Jared Patterson is equally hated by Democrats and Republicans, which is probably why he has several primary challengers and two Democratic challengers.

The Dems are Kymberlee Williams and Joe Mayes.

Democrats will have to overperform by +11 points to take this seat. Candidate quality and fundraising are decisive here, along with a precinct-level strategy that actually matches the district’s geography.

HD109

Democratic incumbent Aicha Davis is in a safe blue seat, and had very little critisism during her first term in office. Will Campbell is challenging her.

HD117

We have a list of Conservative Democrats we’d like to see primaried every session. Philip Cortez is one of those Democrats. Robert Mihara is his primary challenger.

HD119

Now, Liz Campos is not on this list, but she’s definitely not known as a progressive champion. Regardless, she has a primary challenger. Ryan Ayala.

HD120

This is Democratic incumbent Barbara Gervin Hawkins’ safe blue seat. She has two challengers coming in from her left. Jordan Brown and Bently Piaz.

HD125

Ray Lopez (D) retired from this safe blue seat. Of course, that isn’t stopping three Republicans from chasing it in what will be the (hopefully) bluest election Democrats have in years. But they probably don’t have anything better to do.

The Democrats vying to be the new Representative here are Donovon Rodriguez, Adrian Reyna, Carlos Raymond, and Michelle Barrientes Vela.

Primary voters should look for someone focused on constituent service and legislative competence.

HD126

This Harris County suburban area hasn’t had a Democratic challenger in a while and might not be the strong Republican stronghold the GOP hopes for. The incumbent is retiring.

Liz Lotterhos and Stefanie Bord are on the Democratic ticket.

Primary voters should look for candidates who can credibly fund and mount a challenge focused on flood control, schools, and healthcare, issues that actually move suburban voters here.

HD130

This area of Harris County borders Montgomery County and will be a little more complicated. Maybe a +19 point swing. The incumbent, Dr. Tom Oliverson, is a leader in the doctors for the Christian Nationalist movement (I forgot the name of their group, sorry). However, he’s still widely popular with GOP voters.

The Democrats on the ballot are Brett Robinson and Joel Camann.

These candidates should be laser-focused on voter registration, field operations, and a suburban cost-of-living message.

HD131

I will do a full-length article about this race (and many others), because a lot is going on. It’s a safe blue seat; Alma Allen (D) is retiring.

Running to replace her are Lawrence Allen, Staci Childs, Erik Wilson, and TJ Baker.

The Democrats running for this seat should be focusing on accountability, competence, and local delivery.

HD139

As an ideological progressive who pays way too much attention to the Texas Legislature, I can tell you I was pleased with Charlene Ward Johnson’s votes and performance this last session.

That didn’t stop her from drawing two primary challengers, Jerry Ford and Dominique Payton. I’m expecting Ward Johnson to win re-election.

HD140

This safe blue seat is held by Armando Walle (D), who pulled in a primary challenger, Ruben Salazar. Field operations and deep relationships with community organizations can easily take away this district from Walle, who has long been criticized for not working his district enough.

HD142

They’re going after Harold Dutton (D), again. Maybe this will be the year they finally take him down. This year, his primary challengers are Danny Norris and James Joseph.

HD144

Democratic incumbent Mary Ann Perez holds this safe blue seat. She has two primary challengers. Emmanuel Guerrero and Michael Montemayor.

HD149

Democratic incumbent Hubert Vo has always been sort of a background character for this safe blue seat. That’s why it’s no surprise he’s pulled in three Democratic challengers. Darlene Breaux, Mink Jawandor, and Dave Romero.

HD150

Republican incumbent Valoree Swanson is the cappo of the Gilead Wives Club in the House, if we can get her out of office all of the Republican women in the Legislature will be lost and helpless. It won’t be easy. This district looks red on paper, but it’s the kind of suburban red that’s been softening around the edges as families get priced out of central Houston and move north.

The Democratic candidates here are R. L. Beatty and A’Yonna Kellum.

While this isn’t a top-tier flip seat yet, it’s not a write-off either. Primary voters should be looking for someone who understands that this is a registration and persuasion district, not a turnout-only play. Property taxes, public schools, flood control, and the cost of living all land here. A candidate who can talk to suburban parents without culture-war nonsense.

Whew. That’s it. We did it. Six parts. Every Congressional and Legislative Democratic primary on the board.

If you’re still here, congratulations, you now know more about the Texas political map than most cable-news producers and at least half the consultants who get paid six figures to ignore it.

And here’s the thing I hope really landed through all of this, filing candidates everywhere matters. It changes the math. It forces Republicans to spend money. It gives voters a reason to show up. It builds muscle memory in places that have been starved of it for years.

Now comes the fun part.

Because now we stop listing races and start talking strategy. What actually works in Texas. Where turnout is hiding. Which districts are ready now, which ones are long-game builds, and which ones could flip faster than anyone expects if Democrats stop chasing shiny objects and start doing the work.

So stay tuned. We’re done with the longest list ever made. Next up is how to win.

• February 2, 2026: Last Day to Register to Vote

• February 17, 2026: First Day to Early Vote

• March 3, 2026: Primary Election

• Who Will Be On The 2026 State Ballot?

• Who Will Be On The 2026 Federal Ballot?

• Click here to find out what Legislative districts you’re in.

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