Primary Election Runoff Day is Tuesday, May 26th!
Early voting for March 2026 primary runoff elections begins Monday, May 18 and runs through Friday, May 22.
Primary season is not over! Several races moved to a runoff because there was no candidate who got the majority of the votes cast. The runoff election will be held in late May 2026 to finally determine the candidates for those offices.
How do runoff elections work?
Texas elections happen in three rounds. Think of it like a tournament where candidates have to advance through the early rounds before the final. The runoff is round two—and it’s often the one that decides who wins.
Step 1: March 3 Primary Elections
Multiple candidates competed within each party. To win outright, a candidate needed more than 50% of the vote. If no one cleared that bar, the top two moved on to a May runoff.
Step 2: May 26 Primary Runoff Elections
The top two candidates from March face off again. This time, whoever gets the most votes wins the party’s nomination. Turnout drops—so every vote carries more weight.
Step 3: November 3 General Election
The runoff winners from each party face off in the general election. In many Texas districts, the party primary winner almost always wins in November—making the runoff the election that counts most.
FAQ
Q: Can I vote in a runoff election if I did not vote in the primary?
A: Yes, you did not have to participate in the primary election in order to vote in the primary runoff election.
Q: What if I voted in March but want to vote in the other party’s runoff?
A: Texas law allows you to vote only in the same party’s runoff in which you participated in the March primary. You can’t vote in another party’s runoff if you’ve already voted in a different party’s primary.
Q: Is early voting available for the runoff?
A: Yes. Early voting for the May 26 runoff runs May 18-22. You can vote at any polling place within your county of residence and you can find your early voting location and hours on the poll location map above.
Q: Does every race have a runoff?
A: No. A runoff only happens when no candidate in a primary race receives more than 50 percent of the vote. Some races are decided in March. Others go to a runoff in May. In 2026, over 30 state and federal races are headed to a May runoff.
These runoffs include some of the following races:
| Democratic Primary: | |
| US Representative, District 17 | Casey Shephard v. Milah Flores |
| Lieutenant Governor | Vikki Goodwin v. Marcos Isaias Velez |
| Attorney General | Nathan Johnson v. Joe Jaworski |
| State Board of Education, District 5 | Allison Bush v. Stephanie Limon Bazan |
| State Representative, District 49 | Monserrat Garibay v. Kathie Tovo |
| Travis County Commissioner, Precinct 4 | Susanna Ledesma-Woody v. George Morales III |
| Republican Primary: | |
| United States Senator | John Cornyn v. Ken Paxton |
| US Representative, District 37 | Ge’Nell Gary v. Lauren B. Peña |
| Attorney General | Mayes Middleton v. Chip Roy |
| Railroad Commissioner | Bo French v. Jim Wright |
| Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3 | Alison Fox v. Thomas Smith |
| Williamson County Commissioner, Precinct 2 | Jeff Mayes v. David McDonald |
It’s too late to register to vote in the May 26, 2026 election, but you can still register in time for future elections! Learn more about voter registration here.
Find Your Polling Place
Use this interactive map of ACC campuses and Early Voting sites to make your plan to vote!
Voter Information by County
To search for sample ballots, Early Voting locations, and Election Day polling locations in your county of residence, visit the links below for each county in the ACC service area.
Not sure what county you are in? This tool helps you figure out what US county you’re in by doing a search of your address: What County Am I In?
| County | Cities | Polling Locations | Sample Ballot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Map |
Austin, Del Valle, Leander, Manor, Pflugerville, Spicewood | View | View (scroll down and click the “Sample Ballots” tab) |
| Williamson Map |
Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Liberty Hill, Georgetown, Hutto, Taylor | View (Early Voting) View (Election Day) |
View (scroll down) |
| Hays Map |
Kyle, Buda, Dripping Springs, Wimberly, Driftwood, Hays, Woodcreek | View | View |
| Bastrop Map |
Bastrop, McDade, Cedar Creek, Elgin, Paige, Red Rock, Rosanky, Smithville | View | View |
| Caldwell Map |
Dale, Lockhart, Luling, Martindale, Prairie Lea | View (Early Voting) View (Election Day) |
View (scroll down) |
| Lee Map |
Giddings, Lexington, Lincoln | View (scroll down) | View (scroll down) |
Additional Resources
Want to learn more about the candidates on your ballot, or need assistance with your registration for future elections? There are many organizations that provide nonpartisan resources and can help you register to vote, including:
