With just over a week to go until deadline, only a handful of local candidates have filed to run for offices in the March 3 party primaries in Texas.
Those ballots will carry races for most major statewide offices and about half the elective offices in counties across the state.
Although former Wichita Falls city councilor Rick Hatcher announced he will run for Wichita County Judge, no one had officially filed with either party for that office as of Tuesday morning. Incumbent Jim Johnson has said he will not run for re-election.
William Norris III, a Clay County deputy, has filed to run as a Republican for Wichita County Sheriff. Incumbent Will Rutledge has announced he’ll run in the GOP primary but had not officially filed as of Tuesday morning.
A handful of Wichita County Republican incumbents had formally filed with the party by Tuesday morning, as registered with the Texas Secretary of State’s office. They are:
Charles Perry of Lubbock, incumbent in the District 28 State Senate seat, has filed for the GOP nomination for another term. His district includes portions of Wichita County and Wichita Falls. Riley Rodriquez of Abilene has filed for the Democratic nomination.
James Frank has filed to run as a Republican for re-election as Dist. 69 Texas State Representative, which includes Wichita County.
Incumbent 13th Dist. U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson has also filed for the GOP primary.
In the Democratic Party, Mark Nair, a former Amarillo city councilor, has filed for the Texas 13th Representative nomination.
Candidates have until 6 p.m. on Dec. 8 to file in the primaries. Early voting will be from Feb. 17 to Feb. 27. Winners in the primaries will face off in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: As the filing deadline nears, here’s who’s running in Wichita County
Reporting by Lynn Walker, Wichita Falls Times Record News / Wichita Falls Times Record News
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