Houston-area voters will return to the polls in late Could to resolve a number of intently watched races that remained unresolved after the March 3 Texas major elections.
With no candidate receiving greater than 50% of the vote in a number of contests, the highest two finishers in these races will compete in a runoff election scheduled for Could 26, 2026.
Listed here are the important thing dates for the runoffs:
Final day to register to vote: April 27, 2026
Final day to use by mail (acquired, not postmarked): Could 15
Early voting: Could 18 – Could 22
Final day to obtain poll by mail: Could 26 (Election Day) at 7:00 p.m. if service envelope is just not postmarked, or Could 27 at 5:00 p.m. if service envelope is postmarked by 7:00 p.m. on the location of the election on Election Day (except abroad or navy voter deadlines apply)
Runoff elections are an ordinary a part of Texas’ electoral system. It is without doubt one of the seven states that requires a candidate to win a major nomination with a majority of the votes. If no candidate crosses that threshold, the race strikes to a runoff between the highest two vote-getters.
Within the Houston area and throughout Harris County, the upcoming runoff elections will decide nominees in a number of high-profile races, together with the Democratic major for Texas’ 18th Congressional District, the race for Harris County decide, and different contests tied to the broader 2026 election cycle.
The winners of those races will resolve who seems on the poll within the November normal election.
Congressional runoff in a historic Houston district
A significant runoff affecting Houston voters will happen within the Democratic major for Texas’ 18th Congressional District, a seat traditionally related to Black political management within the metropolis.
The district has skilled uncommon political turbulence in recent times following the deaths of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and her successor, former Houston Mayor and Congressman Sylvester Turner. The Could runoff would be the fourth election within the district inside seven months, highlighting the weird circumstances surrounding the seat.
Turner’s loss of life prompted a particular election, which Gov. Greg Abbott scheduled in November 2025, leading to a runoff between the brand new CD-18 Congressman Christian Menefee and former Metropolis Council Member Amanda Edwards. Menefee gained the runoff election in January.
Candidates have been additionally competing within the March occasion primaries for the subsequent full congressional time period. That major contest, held in March, has produced one other runoff, this time between Menefee, who’s now serving the district, and longtime ninth Congressional District Consultant Al Inexperienced, one of the vital senior members of Texas’ congressional delegation.
Political specialists say runoff turnout is anticipated to be comparatively low, which suggests the result may rely closely on which marketing campaign is ready to mobilize supporters to return to the polls.
“What would be the problem for each the Menifee and Inexperienced campaigns is to precisely goal their voters after which be sure that their voters end up to vote in a runoff the place theirs gained’t be the marquee race for U.S.,” stated Mark Jones, a professor within the Division of Political Science at Rice College.
Harris County decide race heads to runoff
One of many native contests heading into the Could runoff is the race for Harris County decide, the county’s prime govt place. The seat is open after incumbent Democrat Lina Hidalgo introduced she wouldn’t search reelection.
Within the Democratic major, former Houston mayor Annise Parker completed first with about 46.6% of the vote, adopted by former Metropolis Council member Letitia Plummer, who acquired roughly 37.3%. As a result of neither candidate surpassed the 50% threshold, the 2 will face one another within the Could runoff.
The county decide oversees a multibillion-dollar price range and performs a central function in catastrophe response, infrastructure planning and public well being coverage.
On the Republican aspect of the race, Orlando Sanchez and Warren Howell superior to a separate GOP runoff after ending first and second of their major, with about 26.5% and 20.8% of the vote, respectively.
The winners of the Democratic and Republican runoffs will face off within the November normal election.
Different statewide runoffs may affect Houston voters
Houston voters may also weigh in on a number of statewide and federal runoffs occurring on the identical day.
Considered one of them is the Republican runoff for the U.S. Senate, the place incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Legal professional Basic Ken Paxton are competing after neither candidate secured a majority within the major. Each candidates are awaiting an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
“We’re headed to a runoff with the need of getting Donald Trump referee the combat,” stated Brandon Rottinghaus, a professor within the Division of Political Science on the College of Houston. “You might have seen simply now that Trump stated he would endorse one of many two Republicans and that the opposite one he was going to name to drop out. As soon as once more, Donald Trump can be kingmaker for the Republican Occasion in Texas.”
One other Republican contest heading to a runoff options U.S. Rep. Chip Roy and State Senator Mayes Middleton, who’re battling for the GOP nomination for the Texas legal professional normal seat.
Though these races are statewide, they’ll seem on ballots throughout Harris County and will have an effect on turnout ranges within the Houston area.
