The general election in the 2026 Texas governor’s race may be several months away, but primary season is already underway.
While Democratic and Republican voters trim down the field, many are already looking forward to the primary election, which will be held on Saturday, March 3. The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Who is the governor of Texas?
Gov. Greg Abbott. He is seeking his fourth term as governor, having last been elected in 2022.
Texas GOP Primary: Texas governor
Gov. Greg Abbott
Incumbent Greg Abbott is seeking his fourth term as governor
R.F. Achgill
The mechanical engineer is from the Houstin areas.
Evelyn Brooks
Brooks serves as the State Board of Education Representative for District 14 and as Vice Chair on the Committee on Instruction.
Pete Chambers
Dr. Pete Chambers is a decorated U.S. Army veteran whose career includes service in the Active Duty, Reserves, and the National Guard. He began his service as an enlisted infantryman and became a Senior Green Beret Officer and Special Operations Flight Surgeon.
Charles Crouch
He is a former Navy SEAL and has been deployed to Iraq and around the world in the War on Terror.
Arturo Espinosa
Espinosa is a chemical engineer from San Antonio who ran unsuccessfully for a City Council seat in 2022 and for mayor in 2025.
Mark Gology
Mark serves as Treasurer for Cherry Tree Republican political action committee.
Kenneth Hyde
Originally from the San Antonio area, he is running as a strong fiscal conservative.
Stephen Samuelson
Samuelson is a medically retired veteran who has spent the past decade working in trauma advocacy and peer support.
Ronnie Tullos
He served in the Texas State Guard and as a patrol officer and captain with the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office.
Nathaniel Welch
Welch is a businessman with no prior experience in elected office.
Texas Democratic Primary: Texas governor
Gina Hinojosa
The state representative has worked as a civil rights attorney and is the frontrunner to challenge Abbott in the general election in November.
Patricia Abrego
She supervises the Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services staff, including the instructional technology coordinators and the media services groups.
Chris Bell
Bell previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Houston’s 25th Congressional District.
Bobby Cole
Cole is a retired firefighter, cattleman and poultry producer.
Carlton Hart
Hart is a retired events specialist from Houston.
Jose Navarro Balbuena
Balbuena is a tax strategist and software and infrastructure technical engineer.
Zach Vance
Vance is a medically retired Marine and Purple Heart recipient.
Angela Villescaz
Villescaz is an education advocate at a law firm. She lives in Uvalde. She previously ran for the Democratic nomination in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District in 2018 and a Texas House seat in 2022.
Andrew White
White is a Houston-based businessman and former Democratic candidate for Texas Governor, best known for positioning himself as an “independent Democrat.”
Important dates for 2026 primary election
The voter registration deadline is Feb. 2, and voters must be registered to vote by this date to participate in the primary. Early in-person voting begins Feb. 17, through Feb. 27.
Should a Runoff election be needed, it will take place May 26. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the primary, the top two vote-getters will face off in a runoff.
Important dates for 2026 general election
Aside from Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3, other key dates include:
The last day to register to vote for the general election is Oct. 5, either online, by mail or in-person.
Early voting starts Oct. 19 and runs through Oct. 30. The absentee ballot request deadline is Oct. 23, by mail or Oct. 19, in person. The absentee ballot return deadline is scheduled for Nov. 3, either by mail or in person on Election Day.
Kristian Jaime is the Top Story Reporter for the El Paso Times and is reachable at kjaime@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Who is running for Texas governor in the 2026 election? See the list
Reporting by Kristian Jaime, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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