Whether you’re new to primary voting or an old pro, this year’s March 3 ballot can be confusing to navigate.
Congressional districts have changed, droves of nontraditional voters are turning out, and even political insiders are noticing some unexpected races on their ballot.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3. Bexar County voters can choose from any of these election day vote centers.
Check your voter registration status and download a copy of your personalized sample ballot here.
Remember, only paper notes are allowed in the voting booth. Phones and tablets aren’t allowed.
Here’s what to know before you go to vote.
Congressional districts have changed
Texas redrew its congressional districts this year, and now 43% of Bexar County residents are in a different district than the last time they voted.
Even voters who remain in the same district may not have the option to reelect their current congress member.
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Dripping Springs) is running for Attorney General instead of reelection, creating a crowded race to fill his seat in the 21st Congressional District.
The 35th Congressional District changed so dramatically in redistricting that incumbent U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Austin) is now running for different seat in Austin, and many Republicans and Democrats signed up to run in the reshaped district.
The districts for state legislative seats and other offices have not changed, only Congress.
Download a copy of your personal sample ballot to figure out where you landed.
Read about all of the candidates running to represent Bexar County in Congress here.
A new 15th Court of Appeals
Texas has a new statewide court on the ballot in 2026 — throwing even some of the closest political watchers for a loop.
The 15th Court of Appeals was created by the legislature to hear challenges to cases with “statewide significance,” including those brought by and against state officials and state agencies, as well as cases challenging state statutes.
The inaugural justices were appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott, and are all running to hold their current seats in 2026.
Because they’re elected statewide — in a state that hasn’t gone blue in more than three decades — critics have called the new court a power grab by GOP leaders.
The cases it hears used to move through regional appellate courts, like the San Antonio-based Fourth Court of Appeals, where judges are elected by the voters in a multi-county region.
No incumbent status
Incumbent status isn’t marked on the ballot, and ballot order is determined through a randomized drawing, conducted by county party leaders.
That can lead to some confusion when looking at a long list of candidates.
For example, the first race on the ballot in both parties’ primary is the U.S. Senate contest. Though U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is the incumbent, he’s listed third on the Republican ballot in Bexar County, below his primary challenger, Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Candidates who are on the ballot in multiple counties — like those running for governor and or Congress — will be listed in a different order on another county’s ballot.
The San Antonio Report’s 2026 Primary Voter Guide allows you to view all of the candidates in the order they’ll appear on the ballot in Bexar County.
Some candidates chose to end their campaigns after the ballot was already set, and it was too late to remove their names.
One notable example is the Democratic gubernatorial primary, where Houston businessman Andrew White will still appear on the ballot, even though he dropped out and endorsed state Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D-Austin).
In Texas’ 21st Congressional District, healthcare executive Kyle Sinclair dropped out of the GOP primary to endorse former MLB player Mark Teixeira. Sinclair will also still appear on the ballot.
Party business
Both Republicans and Democrats both have a long list of party platform proposals at the end of their ballots.
For example, Republicans are asking their party’s primary voters whether Texas should prohibit Sharia Law and require its public schools to teach that “life begins at fertilization.” They have 10 on the ballot.
Democrats are asking questions like whether their voters support online voter registration and “humane and dignified immigration policies and pathways to citizenship.” They have 13 total on the ballot.
Parties use these questions to gauge support for various policy proposals they could take up in the next legislative session. But unlike the referendums on a general election ballot, approving them doesn’t ratify them into law and Save time in the voting booth by reviewing the party platform proposals early on Bexar County’s generic Republican and Democratic sample ballots.
You’ll also be voting on a county party chair and local precinct chair. Unlike any other races, these positions are elected on the primary ballot instead of the general election, because it’s the party choosing its own leaders.
County party chairs serve two-year terms and manage local party business, like overseeing the primary process. These are often heated races, but this year Republican Party of Bexar County Chair Kris Coons and Bexar County Democratic Party Chair Michelle Lowe Solis are both running unopposed for reelection.
Some primary voters will also elect a precinct chair on the March 3 ballot. These positions manage party business for their voting precinct, such as voter outreach efforts on behalf.
Every voting precinct should have a Republican and Democratic precinct chair, but not all of them have a candidate signed up to run.
You’re choosing your runoff ballot, too
Texas has an open primary, meaning anyone can participate, even if you don’t have any affiliation with the Republican or Democratic parties.
Voters can only choose one, the Republican primary ballot or the Democratic primary ballot. Election officials which simply ask which party’s ballot you’d like before entering the voting booth.
After you make your selection, however, you’re locked into that party’s ballot through the runoff.
Races where no candidate takes at least 50% of the vote will advance to a May 26 primary runoff between the top two vote-takers.
In the runoff, people who didn’t vote in the March 3 election can choose either party’s ballot. But those who did vote in the first round are only eligible to vote in runoff elections for that same party.
For example, Republicans are likely to see a runoff in their U.S. Senate race, where polling indicates no candidate is currently taking 50% support. There could also be runoffs in some statewide contests, like the four-way Attorney General primary.
Here are all of the Republicans and Democrats running for U.S. Senate.
Democrats also have some crowded races with runoff potential, but most of the high-profile contests will likely be decided in the first round.
In the U.S. Senate race, there are three Democratic candidates, but polling suggests either U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas) or state Rep. James Talarico (D-Round Rock) could make it to 50%.
Democrats’ Bexar County Judge primary between incumbent Peter Sakai and former Mayor Ron Nirenberg will be decided on March 3, because there are only two candidates on the ballot.
