49 candidates are tracked across 11 Houston races for the 2026 election, led by the City council contest. Preview your Houston, Texas sample ballot for 2026: browse tracked local races, then enter your ZIP code to confirm which districts and offices appear on your exact ballot.
These race previews show candidates we’re tracking now. A ZIP code shows your statewide and congressional races; a street address adds county and city contests.
Enter your ZIP code at theballotbrief.com to see your exact 2026 ballot.
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Local Snapshot
Election DayNov. 3, 2026
StateTexas
Races Listed11
Profiles49
Houston Sample Ballot 2026: Races We’re Tracking
Local races are address-specific. This guide previews tracked contests, while the lookup tool narrows the list to a voter’s exact address. Tap any name to see the race, full candidate profiles, and everything else on your exact ballot. Texas nominees were set by the March 3 primary and May 26 runoffs; unopposed nominees still print on the November 3 ballot, a plurality wins, and declared write-in votes count but write-in names do not print, per the Secretary of State.
Hand-curated profiles for Houston are on the way.
The previews below come from our automated tracker and may not expand into full profiles yet. Your exact ballot, including statewide and congressional races, is one ZIP code away.
Nick Hellyar is listed as a candidate for City council in the 2026 election serving Houston.
Laura C. Gallier▾
Laura C. Gallier is listed as a candidate for City council in the 2026 election serving Houston.
Audrey Nath▾
Audrey Nath is listed as a candidate for City council in the 2026 election serving Houston.
Angelica Luna Kaufman▾
Angelica Luna Kaufman is listed as a candidate for City council in the 2026 election serving Houston.
Sophia Campos▾
Sophia Campos is listed as a candidate for City council in the 2026 election serving Houston.
Patrick Oathout▾
Patrick Oathout is listed as a candidate for City council in the 2026 election serving Houston.
Joe Panzarella▾
Joe Panzarella is listed as a candidate for City council in the 2026 election serving Houston.
School Board Houston
Local
Jesus Nieto▾
Jesus Nieto is a nonprofit leader and community organizer running for the Position 5 seat on the Katy ISD Board of Trustees. Making his first bid for public office, Nieto is motivated by his background as the son of an educator and aims to represent students, families, and educators across the district.
Nathan Shipley is a candidate for the Katy ISD Board of Trustees Position 5, making his first run for public office. He is an executive director at Circana, a data analytics firm, with a business degree from the University of Houston. Shipley's professional background includes over 15 years in consumer analytics, advising major retailers and manufacturers on trends and strategic planning.
Ernest A. Hallman II is running for election to the Clear Creek Independent School District, representing District 2 in Texas. He has declared candidacy for the general election scheduled for May 2, 2026.
Sally Cone▾
Sally Cone is an executive running for election to the Spring Branch Independent School District school board to represent Position 2 in Texas. She is on the ballot as a nonpartisan candidate in the general election on May 2, 2026.
Jim Davidson▾
Jim Davidson is a candidate for Katy Independent School District, Position 4, in Texas. His campaign emphasizes respect for educators and achieving results for all students. Davidson advocates for fair compensation for educators and staff, alongside providing high-quality academic instruction and robust career and technical programs for students.
Jeri Spence is a non-partisan candidate running for the Spring Branch Independent School District Board of Trustees, Position 2, in Texas. She earned an MA from the University of Texas at Austin and has a professional background in the tech industry, including sales and marketing roles at companies such as Dell and Microsoft. Spence is also affiliated with the Boys and Girls Club of America and the Community Partners
Sean Hesterly▾
Sean Hesterly is a lifelong educator, husband, and father who has proudly called Katy home for over 30 years. He has worked directly in Katy ISD classrooms as a paraprofessional, in-class support teacher, case manager, and reading interventionist, supporting diverse student populations. His campaign for Katy ISD Position 3 emphasizes his firsthand experience in education and his commitment to supporting students, fam
Priorities: Restore dignity to teaching by reducing workloads and ending unpaid after-hours labor. · Remove politics, focusing solely on academics and facts. · Promote safety through unobtrusive security that protects students without overreaching into families' private lives.
Gabriel F. Gonzales II is a classroom educator with daily experience working with students, families, and curriculum. He holds a degree in Business and Human Resources, is completing a master’s degree in History, and serves as a U.S. History teacher. His background in education and the private sector provides practical experience in leadership, accountability, and problem-solving.
Priorities: Ensuring student safety and academic excellence · Supporting and retaining high-quality teachers · Practicing responsible financial stewardship and district resource management
As a board certified neurologist, staunch advocate, and parent of two HISD students, Dr. Audrey Nath understands the needs of Houston families and is ready to find solutions for residents across District C and the City of Houston.
Priorities: Healthy District C · Safe District C · Affordable District C
Information regarding Laura Gallier's professional background, education, and experience is not available in the provided research text. She is running in a special election for Houston City Council, District C, on April 4, 2026. Voters should review official campaign and election office sources for the latest updates.
Priorities: priority one · priority two · priority three
Angelica Luna Kaufman▾
Angelica Luna Kaufman is a longtime Houston leader with over two decades of experience in public service, government operations, and executive leadership, including serving as Chief of Staff to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo.
Patrick Oathout is an openly gay Army veteran, AI safety leader, and Houston native who grew up in District C. He served as a tank platoon leader on NATO’s Russian border and was the first openly gay student body vice president at Duke University.
Priorities: Affordability · Public safety · Infrastructure
Joe Panzarella is a community organizer, renewable energy developer, and president of the Freedmen's Town Super Neighborhood. He co-organized No Higher No Wider I-10, an advocacy group, and previously volunteered with BikeHouston.
Priorities: Safer Streets · Affordable Homes · Smart Urbanism
Sophia Campos is an elementary school teacher and labor organizer with a bachelor's degree from St. Edward's University and graduate degrees from the University of Houston and Rice University. She is running for Houston City Council District C to protect communities, ensure accountability, and provide steady stewardship.
Priorities: Protection of Houston communities · Accountability in City Hall · Stewardship of District C
Laura Gallier is a Certified Public Accountant with 40 years of accounting experience and a graduate of Houston Baptist University. She has over 10 years of community work, including serving on the Finance Committee of the Houston Area Women’s Center and co-facilitating programs at the Center for the Healing of Racism.
Priorities: Provide sorely-needed financial oversight to the city · Reimagine safety for Houstonians with data-driven, community-centered approaches · Advocate for improved disaster response
Nick Hellyar▾
Nick Hellyar is a Houston native and CEO/real estate broker for Hellyar Group. He brings private sector real estate experience and a City Hall background, having served as a district director and field staffer on Houston campaigns.
Priorities: constituent services · infrastructure · public safety
Gina Hinojosa is a civil rights and union lawyer, and a former Austin ISD School Board President and State Representative. She is running as a Democratic candidate for Texas Governor in the 2026 election cycle. Her career has focused on advocating for families, workers, and public education.
Priorities: Quality and Accessible Healthcare for All Texans · An Affordable Texas that Works for Everyone · Back-to-Basics Education
Greg Abbott is the incumbent Governor of Texas, first elected in 2014. He is seeking re-election for a historic fourth term in the 2026 gubernatorial race. Governor Abbott is focused on preserving Texas values and building a stronger state.
Priorities: Property tax reform and relief · Creating jobs and economic opportunity · Securing the southern border
Alejandra Salinas is a nationally recognized attorney and partner at Susman Godfrey, one of the nation’s top litigation firms, who has advocated for individuals and businesses in the courtroom for nearly a decade. She is the first openly LGBTQ+ Latina ever elected to Houston City Council and the youngest member.
Priorities: safer neighborhoods · affordable and reliable city services · a strong infrastructure that keeps the lights on and keeps floodwaters out of our homes and cars
Dwight Boykins is a lobbyist, founder of DBoykins Consulting, LLC, and former Houston City Council member for District D from 2013 to 2019, holding a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing from Texas Southern University.
Mayor
City
Letitia Plummer▾
Letitia Plummer is listed as a candidate for Mayor in the 2026 election serving Houston.
Warren Howell▾
Warren Howell is listed as a candidate for Mayor in the 2026 election serving Houston.
Orlando Sanchez▾
Orlando Sanchez is listed as a candidate for Mayor in the 2026 election serving Houston.
Houston Mayor Annise Parker▾
Houston Mayor Annise Parker is listed as a candidate for Mayor in the 2026 election serving Houston.
U.S. Senate - TX-SEN
Federal
John Cornyn · Republican▾
John Cornyn is the senior United States Senator from Texas, first elected in 2002 and currently serving his fourth term. He is seeking re-election for a fifth term in the 2026 U.S. Senate race, having advanced to a runoff in the Republican primary.
Priorities: Securing the border and reforming the immigration system · Fostering economic development by keeping taxes low, reducing federal spending, and fighting job-killing regulations · Protecting the Second Amendment and defending the unborn
James Talarico is an eighth-generation Texan, former middle school teacher, and Presbyterian seminarian. As a state representative, he led fights against corruption and for working people. He is now running for U.S. Senate in 2026 to continue this fight in Washington.
Priorities: Create a fairer tax system by making corporations and the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share, allowing for tax cuts for working families and small businesses. · Raise wages and protect retirement benefits by increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and fighting against attacks on Social Security and Medicare. · Lower the cost of living by reducing prescription drug, housing, and childcare costs.
Sophia Campos is a candidate for the Houston City Council, District C, in a special election on April 4, 2026. The provided research text does not contain details regarding her professional background, education, or prior experience. Voters should review official campaign and election office sources for the latest updates.
Priorities: Not available · Not available · Not available
Nick Hellyar▾
Nick Hellyar is a former district director who worked for Council Member James Rodriguez and served as Council Member Twila Carter's interim chief of staff. He also worked on campaigns for former Mayor Annise Parker. Voters should review official campaign and election office sources for the latest updates.
Priorities: Constituent services · Public safety · Infrastructure
Al Green is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, seeking to represent Texas' 18th Congressional District in the 2026 election cycle. He has served in the U.S. House since 2005, currently representing Texas' 9th Congressional District, and is running in the newly redrawn 18th District due to redistricting.
Priorities: Safeguarding essential programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. · Instilling sensible immigration policies and protecting those who come to the nation for a better life. · Protecting a woman’s right to bodily autonomy and privacy in healthcare decisions.
Christian Menefee · Democratic▾
Christian Menefee is a Democratic candidate running for U.S. House in Texas' 18th Congressional District in the 2026 election cycle. He previously served as the youngest and first Black Harris County Attorney, unseating a three-term incumbent in 2020. Menefee assumed office as the U.S. Representative for TX-18 on February 2, 2026, after winning a special election.
Priorities: Affordability and the American Dream · Guaranteeing Access to Healthcare Through Medicare for All · Protecting Abortion Rights & Reproductive Healthcare
Joe Panzarella is a community organizer who also works in renewable energy. Joe Panzarella is associated with the Nonpartisan party in available records. Voters should review official campaign and election office sources for the latest updates; this summary is based on official filings, campaign materials, and public reporting available for the 2026 cycle.
Priorities: Joe Panzarella is a community organizer who also works in renewable energy · Joe Panzarella is associated with the Nonpartisan party in available records · Voters should review official campaign and election office sources for the latest updates
Patrick Oathout is an Army veteran and safety leader for an AI company. Patrick Oathout is associated with the Nonpartisan party in available records. Voters should review official campaign and election office sources for the latest updates; this summary is based on official filings, campaign materials, and public reporting available for the 2026 cycle.
Priorities: Patrick Oathout is an Army veteran and safety leader for an AI company · Patrick Oathout is associated with the Nonpartisan party in available records · Voters should review official campaign and election office sources for the latest updates
Note: Use address lookup for your exact ballot; local pages preview tracked races.Profiles: Hand-verified profiles are added race by race; always confirm with the official election office linked above.
