Texas's 2026 primary elections are scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, 2026. This date marks Election Day, when voters decide party nominees for the November general election, including key statewide races like governor and congressional seats.

Key Dates

Here's a breakdown of critical timelines leading up to the primaries, drawn from official sources and recent coverage:

Event| Date
---|---
Last day to register to vote| Monday, Feb. 2, 2026 1
Last day to apply for mail ballot (received, not postmarked)| Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 13
Early voting begins (in-person)| Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026 123
Early voting ends| Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 123
Primary Election Day| Tuesday, March 3, 2026 1235
Primary Runoff (if needed)| Tuesday, May 26, 2026 35

These align across Texas GOP calendars, Secretary of State advisories, and news outlets like Texas 2036 and KXAN.

Voter Prep Tips

  • Check your ballot : Use tools like the Texas Tribune's sample ballot lookup to see local races by address—contested primaries often feature U.S. House, state legislature, and judicial spots.
  • Open primary rules : Texas allows crossover voting; pick Republican or Democratic ballot on site (no switching later).
  • High stakes : With President Trump's 2025 inauguration reshaping politics, expect turnout focus on GOP primaries for governor and Congress, per recent guides.

Early voting is already underway as of mid-February 2026, so act fast if unregistered—deadlines are tight.

TL;DR : Primaries on March 3, 2026; early vote Feb. 17-27. Verify registration now.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.