7 candidates are tracked across 7 Travis County races for the 2026 election, led by the Travis County Judge contest. Preview your Travis County, 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.
Candidate roster last updated Sep 6, 2026 from official election sources. 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 Listed7
Profiles7
Travis County 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.
No Republican filed for any Travis County office in 2026; fields are single-nominee unless a third-party candidate is certified in September.
Andy Brown · DemocraticIncumbent▾
Brown is an attorney and community organizer who currently serves as Travis County Judge, per the campaign site.
Priorities: Criminal justice reform focused on serious crime and restorative justice · Expanding mental and behavioral health services and substance use treatment access · Expanding access to child care and workforce development for working families (per the campaign site)
Brigid Shea is Travis County's sitting Precinct 2 commissioner, on the court since 2015, a former Austin City Council member who led the 1992 Save Our Springs campaign and chairs the U.S. board of a global local government sustainability network, per the county's official page and her campaign site.
Priorities: Climate leadership, including water conservation and transitioning to an all-electric county fleet · Expanding affordable housing, including support for federally funded housing and homelessness relief · Criminal justice reform, including the county's Public Defender's Office and the Sobering Center treatment alternative to jail (per the campaign site)
Margaret Gomez retired in June 2026 after three decades and the runoff winner was appointed to the seat, per KUT, so he runs as the sitting commissioner.
George Morales III · DemocraticIncumbent▾
Morales previously served as a constable, where he was among the first to offer legal aid from his office lobby, per the campaign site.
Priorities: Fixing roads in the precinct · Better coordination with transit and health agencies (per the KUT)
Dyana Limon-Mercado is the Travis County Clerk, sworn in in 2023, per the Travis County Clerk's official website. She previously served as executive director of Planned Parenthood Texas Votes and chaired the Travis County Democratic Party from 2018 to 2020, per the Austin Chronicle and the county's official website. She holds degrees from Austin Community College, Texas State University, and the University of Texas at San Antonio, per the county's official website. Dyana Limon-Mercado appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Travis County Commissioner, Precinct 4, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 3, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Dyana Limon-Mercado.
Velva L. Price is Travis County's sitting district clerk, per the county's official roster; the office keeps district court records and runs jury selection. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 3, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Velva L. Price.
Dolores Ortega Carter is Travis County's sitting treasurer and chief custodian of county funds, per the treasurer's official county page. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 3, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Dolores Ortega Carter.
A special contest for the unexpired term after the prior constable resigned to run for commissioner.
Gabriel "Gabe" Padilla · DemocraticIncumbent▾
Padilla has a background in law enforcement and community service, with responsibilities that have included courtroom security, civil process service, and community response, per the campaign site.
Priorities: Community-first public safety · Training and accountability · Professional civil process and court security service (per the campaign site)
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.
