Millions of voters are heading to the polls across the state to cast their deciding vote in the Texas 2026 March Republican and Democratic primaries.
From a U.S. Senate seat for Texas to the governorship to county judges, numerous seats in Texas government are on the line today, as they elect their party’s candidates for a place on the ballot in the November 2026 General Election.
With the future of Texas and Lubbock on the line, follow the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal/ USA TODAY Network staff as we bring you live updates as to what’s going on Election Day.
Lubbock County election day results are in. Who won, who goes to runoffs?
Unofficial results from election day ballots were posted around 11 p.m.
Republican primary results for contested races:
County Judge: Curtis Parrish, incumbent, dominated with 17,639 votes for 62.09%, as opposed to Wesley Houck’s 10,771.
Judge, County Court At Law No. 2: Tom W. Brummett beat Ron Sanders with 15,567 votes (62.18%) over Ron Sanders.
County Clerk: Sandy Garcia received 45.93% of the votes with 11,776, followed by Jim Baxa at 36.98%. The two will appear in a runoff election.
County Commissioner, Precinct 2: M. Trey Newton (31.07%) and Kevin Pounds (39.49%) will appear in a runoff election.
County Commissioner, Precinct 4: Jordan Rackler had 2,828 votes for 47.51%, followed by Chad W. Seay with 2,408 (40.46%) The two will return in a runoff election.
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1: Jeff Fisher took 5,616 votes for 53.10%.
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2: Susan Rowley beat Anah Menjares with 82.73% (5,997) of the votes.
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3: Runoff is expected between Mary Hernandez, who took 881 votes (37.54%), and Traci Baxa, who had 767 (32.68%) votes.
Democratic primary results for contested races:
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3: Marina Garcia took 2,355 votes for 77.85%. Garcia is expected to move to the November General Election ballot.
– Alana Edgin
Lubbock County candidates comment on early voting, absentee results
Early voting and absentee votes are in for Lubbock County, and some candidates have spoken.
Here’s what local candidates in the US Representative, District 19 race are saying:
Abraham Enriquez, one of seven Republican candidates: “This is a privilege. You know, I never thought that a grandson of farm workers would ever have the opportunity to run for Congress to represent the great people West Texas, but here we are, but that’s a testament to the American dream that’s alive in our community. I think that heading into a runoff, Lord willing, puts a lot more momentum, a lot more excitement for, you know, another two months of campaigning.”
Kyle Rable, sole Democratic candidate: “The results in this race show that the Republican candidates are uninspiring and only promise to continue the legacy of Jodey Arrington, a legacy which the voters of West Texas are fed up with. West Texas is ready for change and I am proud to be the Democratic nominee. I am ready to actually serve the working class people of this extraordinary district, something that has not been done in the 30 years this district has been controlled by Republicans.”
– Alana Edgin and Mateo Rosiles.
Early voting, mail in results are in for Lubbock County
More than 30,000 people participated in early voting for the primary in Lubbock County. Those, and the absentee ballots, have been counted. With these results, here who is leading:
US Representative, District 19:
Republican primary:
County Judge:
Republican primary:
Lubbock County Commissioners:
Precinct 2 – Republican primary:
Precinct 4 – Republican primary:
– Alana Edgin
Polls are now closed
Polls closed at 7 p.m.
When will polling centers close?
Lines have been long throughout Election Day, and are expected to continue until 7 p.m. If you are in line before the 7 p.m. cutoff, you will be allowed to cast your vote.
As of 5:28 p.m., 11,038 voters have checked into the polls.
– Alana Edgin
Over 9,000 voters check in Lubbock elections
The elections office reported that 9,043 people have checked into polls across Lubbock County as of 4:19 p.m.
Candidates, supporters gather for watch parties in Lubbock, Abilene
Candidates and supporters for some of the primary election races we’re following are getting ready for watch parties Tuesday evening around Lubbock, Amarillo and Abilene.
Of note are watch parties for candidates for the U.S. House District 19 seat.
Our reporting team in Lubbock as well as our sister paper, the Abilene Reporter News, will be covering those events and providing live coverage, including quick reaction, as the evening progresses.
Be sure to follow our social media coverage from journalists out and about, including:
@MateoRosilesLBK
@AYoungReporter
@alana_edgin
@JacobLujan_DT
– Adam D. Young
What is a primary runoff election, how does it happen in Texas?
In Texas, to become a party nominee for the general election in November, a candidate must earn 50% of the vote plus one more vote during the primaries.
If no candidate in that race can receive that coveted 50%+1 vote, then the top two head to a runoff election to hopefully secure the nomination. This year’s primary runoff election will be in May.
— Mateo Rosiles
Voting picks up in Lubbock as Election Day continues
As voters take their lunch breaks, they are using the opportunity to stop at one of the 35 voting centers in Lubbock County to cast their ballot.
Places like Broadway Church of Christ and the Catholic Diocese of Lubbock saw a steady flow of voters entering and exiting, along with supporters campaigning. But places like the Student Union Building at Texas Tech, a line of students and community members could be observed waiting to cast their ballot.
— Mateo Rosiles
Texas Senate GOP, Democratic races draw national attention
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn’s seat is up for election this round, which has drawn in a competitive primary race from both sides of the aisle.On the Republican side, Cornyn is running for reelection but is being challenged by state Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, among other candidates. However, polling shows that these three candidates are at the forefront and could send the race into a runoff in May.
On the Democratic side. U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Texas State Rep. James Talarico are also leading their primary in recent polling. There is one other Democratic candidate in the race that could draw away enough votes from both candidates and send this race into a runoff as well.
What to watch here is that each candidate represents various aspects of their parties and will signal where the parties — in at least Texas — are leaning moving forward.
— Mateo Rosiles
Lubbock Voters Cast Ballots in local Election Day photo gallery
Voters in east and north Lubbock got an early start this morning, going about their normal routines of dropping off their children and taking advantage of nearby polling locations.
— Mateo Rosiles
A calm start to a busy day full of key races in Texas and Lubbock County
An hour into polls being open in Lubbock County, it has been a calm start to what will be an eventful day as the eyes of the nation are on Texas today.
With voting continuing for the next 11 hours, here are a few key races to watch today in Texas and Lubbock County:
— Mateo Rosiles
Polls open in Lubbock County at 7 a.m.
The doors to 35 voting centers across Lubbock County are open for the next 12 hours as thousands of local voters are expected to check in at the polls today.
Due to a lack of Election Day Judges, the elections office had to close the Wolfforth Community Center to operate as a voting center today. This came after visits with the chairs for Lubbock County’s Democratic and Republican parties.
— Mateo Rosiles
How was Lubbock County’s early voting turnout?
More than 30,500 Lubbock County voters cast their ballots during the early voting period that ended Feb. 27. This is just over 15% of Lubbock County’s total registered voters for the 2026 March Primaries. And it’s also the most voters who have participated in early voting in Lubbock County going back 20 years, according to the Lubbock County Elections office.
As of Jan. 22, 2026 there were 198,865 registered voters for the 2026 March Primaries.
This is 15,641 more registered voters than in the last primaries in 2024 and 10,082 from the 2024 presidential primary.
– Adam D. Young
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This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Follow live updates on Lubbock, Texas party primary elections results
Reporting by Mateo Rosiles and Alana Edgin, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
