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The eyes of Texas are upon the Rio Grande Valley once again as voters prepare to head to the polls for the 2026 midterm election.
Early voting will kick off on Monday for an election that is anticipated to have widespread implications as Republicans seek to maintain control of the House of Representatives.
In what has become one of the more contentious races in the country, Democratic candidate James Talarico and Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, as well as Libertarian Ted Brown, are looking to win the U.S. Senate seat that was formerly occupied by four-term U.S. Senator John Cornyn.
Another race that has drawn national attention is the Texas gubernatorial race between three-term Republican incumbent Governor Greg Abbott and Democratic state Representative and Brownsville native, Gina Hinojosa, as well as Libertarian candidate Pat Dixon.
Some other closely watched races include congressional races for Districts 15, 28 and 34.
In District 15, U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz is seeking a third term in office. She is being challenged by Democrat newcomer Bobby Pulido, who has massive name recognition due to his career as a popular Tejano musician.
The District 28 race has 11-term U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar facing off against Republican and Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina, as well as Green Party candidate Marlón Durán.
U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez is seeking his sixth term in office, and his third in the 34th Congressional District. He is being challenged by Republican Eric Flores, Libertarian candidate Chris Royal, and Green Party candidate Eddie Espinoza.
Voters in Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties will be deciding the race for State Board of Education, District 2, between Republican candidate and U.S. Coast Guard veteran Victoria Hinojosa and Democratic candidate and former educator Thomas Ray Garcia.
HIDALGO COUNTY
Democratic incumbent State Rep. Oscar Longoria is seeking his eighth term in the Texas House of Representatives District 35. He is being challenged by Republican candidate and pharmacist Oscar Rosa.
The race for State Representative District 40 has seven-term Democratic incumbent state Rep. Terry Canales facing off against Republican candidate Celeste Cabrera-Huff.
After serving seven terms in office, State Rep. Bobby Guerra opted to not seek reelection for the District 41 state representative seat. Vying for the seat are former precinct chair in the Hidalgo County Republican Party Gary Groves and former Democrat Julio Salinas, a former legislative director.
Hidalgo County District Attorney and Democratic candidate Toribio “Terry” Palacios is looking to retain his seat as the county’s chief prosecutor. He is being challenged by Republican candidate Lydia Elizondo.
Local races include Edcouch-Elsa ISD Pl. 1 between Elena Rodriguez, Jesse Ruiz, and Roberto Garate Jr.; Pl. 4 between Fernando “Nano” Torres Jr. and Senaida Salinas; and Pl. 5 between Victor L. Hernandez and Celine Perez.
Voters will be deciding races for the city of Mission. Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza is seeking reelection. She is being challenged by Natalie “Nati” Garza, Juan Gines, Armando “Doc” Ocaña, Rick Salinas and Ruben Plata.
The Place 1 City Council incumbent Jessica Ortega is being challenged by Tim Brown. Place 3 City Council incumbent Marissa Ortega Gerlach faces off against Daniel Tijerina and Albert “Al” Perez.
There will also be a special election for City Council Place 2 between Alexis Hernandez, Ricardo “Chief” Saldaña, Linda Castañeda and Maira Salinas.
Races for Hidalgo ISD school board include Place 3 between incumbent Martin Carrasco and Pete Sanchez; Place 4 between incumbent Yesenia Ayala and Diana Garcia; and Place 5 between incumbent Ben Arjona and Steven R. Martinez.
The La Joya ISD school board races include Place 1 between J.J. Luna Jr. and Elias Macias Jr.; and Place 3 between Victor M. Garza and Mary T. Hernandez. Servando Ramirez is running unopposed for the Place 2 seat.
Voters in the city of Progreso will decide multiple races for its city commission. Mayor Hugo Gamboa is being challenged by Raul Martinez. Place 4 incumbent Ruben Abundiz will face off against Norberto Rangel; Place 5 incumbent Stephanie Alegria will face Jimmy Galvan; and Place 6 incumbent Mando Garcia will face David Hernandez.
The city of Weslaco has one race on the ballot for commissioner at-large between Israel Gonzalez Jr., Abad Morales, and Johnny J. Salinas Jr.
Four races will be on the ballot for Weslaco ISD Board of Trustees, including Place 4 between Oscar Caballero, Javi Herrera, and Andres “Andy” Arredondo; Place 5 between incumbent Benjamin “Ben” Castillo and Jeff Everitt; Place 6 between Joel Rivera and Alfredo “Duff” Castaneda; and Place 7 between incumbent Isidoro Nieto and Paula Sanchez.
The races for Donna ISD Board of Trustees include Place 5 between incumbent Eloy Avila Jr. and David R. Yanez Jr.; Place 6 between incumbent Ida M. Garcia and Juan E. Bazan Jr.; and Place 7 between incumbent Dr. Maricela Valdez and Efrain Gomez Jr.
Edinburg CISD will have four races on the ballot including Place 1 between incumbent Dominga “Minga” Vela, Gloria Alonzo, and Jesus “Jesse” Mata; Place 2 between incumbent Letty Flores and Karla Salinas De Luna; Place 3 between incumbent Leticia “Letty G” Garcia, Ronaldo J. Cavazos, and Alondra Lizeth Flores; and Place 5 between David White and Sandra M. Avila
La Villa ISD has two races for its board of trustees, including Place 5 between incumbent Yesenia Morales, Julissa Lopez, and Jose “T-Rex” Ramirez; and Place 7 between incumbent Sonia M. Lopez and Martin “Block” Hinojosa.
Voters will decide the race for Monte Alto ISD Board of Trustees Place 7 between Connie Villanueva and Anna Valdez Molina.
There will be four races on the ballot for Mercedes ISD Board of Trustees including Place 1 between Adan Vallejo and Joseph Bay Trevino; Place 2 between incumbent Marcos Joaquin Garcia IV, Horacio Jeronimo Pequeno, and Velda Garcia; Place 3 between Patti Ross Loya and Cristella Hernandez; and Place 4 between incumbent Nancy E. Vallejo and Johnny Isaac Gomez.
The Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD Board of Trustee races include Place 1 between Alexis Saenz, Dr. Norma Araceli Cabrera, Jose Angel Flores, and Aldina Santillan; Place 2 between incumbent Romeo Robles, Jose Isaac Santa Maria, Roberto F. Loredo, and Jose L. Bravo; Place 3 between incumbent Yolanda Castillo, Pete Garcia, Vittorio “Vitto” Puente, and Elizabeth” Dr. C.” Chavez.
Hidalgo County voters will have the opportunity to participate in early voting from Monday through Saturday, Oct. 24, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Monday, Oct. 26 through Friday, Oct. 30, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
There will be 33 polling locations available in Hidalgo County for early voting.
Election Day is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters will have 69 polling locations available.
CAMERON COUNTY
Republican state Rep. Janie Lopez is seeking her third term as the District 37 state representative. She will face Democratic candidate and former educator Oziel “Ozzie” Ochoa, Jr.
The race for state representative for District 38 has Democratic state Rep. Erin Elizabeth Gamez seeking her second full term against Republican candidate Laura E. Cisneros.
Cameron County voters will be choosing a new county judge after Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. was defeated by Esteban “Steve” Guerra in the May 26 primary runoff election. Guerra will face off against Republican candidate Mauro Garza.
Also on the ballot are races for Cameron County Commissioner Precinct 2 between Republican candidate Jonathan Campos and Democratic candidate Joseph L. Lucio; and Cameron County Commissioner Precinct 4 between incumbent Democratic candidate Gus Ruiz and Republican candidate Oscar Guerra.
Voters will also be deciding races for county clerk between incumbent Democratic candidate Sylvia Garza and Republican candidate Ricardo “Rick” Herrera and county treasurer between Democratic candidate Jonathan Gracia and Republican candidate Lucy Jeannette Gonzales.
Races for the Brownsville ISD Board of Trustees include Place 2 between incumbent Denise Garza, Jorge Diaz, and Victor M. Caballero; and Place 4 between incumbent Frank Ortiz and Cecy Noriega. There will also be a special election for the Place 7 unexpired term between incumbent Neida Ruth Soto-Grantland, Steve Torres, Nelda Rocha, and Marisa Franco Leal.
The city of Los Fresnos has two races on the ballot for its city council. Mayor Alejandro Flores will defend his seat against Amber Arriaga and Nataly Ramos. Place 1 Council Member Albert “Al” Escobedo is also seeking reelection against Eva Abrego Garcia.
There are two races for the city of South Padre Island City Council. Mayor Patrick McNulty is being challenged by Barry Patel; and Place 4 Council Member Rees Langston faces Beverly Skloss.
Voters will decide the race for La Feria ISD Board of Trustees Place 5 between incumbent Gloria Casas and Nancy Loredo.
The Los Fresnos CISD Board of Trustees races include the race for Place 3 between incumbent Kevin Michael Montes and Juan Sierra.
The Santa Maria ISD races for Board of Trustees include Place 1 between incumbent Andrew “Andy” DeLaRosa, Griselda Gonzales, and Maria Guabloche; Place 3 between incumbent Michele Garcia and Eva Yadira Oviedo; and Place 4 between incumbent Miguel Zavala and Belinda Lugo.
Cameron County voters will have the opportunity to participate in early voting from Monday, Oct. 19 through Friday, Oct. 23, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 24, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Monday, Oct. 26 through Friday, Oct. 30, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
There will be 21 polling locations available in Cameron County for early voting.
Election Day is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters will have 59 polling locations available.