The Decent Ballot Chip in

The Decent Ballot  /  Denton County  /  Denton  /  Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Denton, TX

Who on your ballot seems like good people, in a sentence or two each, with sources. Fill out your ballot in ten minutes.

best choice in the race Seems like good people Compromised Not good people Not enough info

Who is running in Denton, Texas in 2026

Denton City Council, District 1 (unexpired term)
Sunny Busby, Kris Cox, Michael Herron and Ward Franz

Denton elections

Council seats are nonpartisan. This special election fills the rest of the District 1 term.

City Council, District 1 (unexpired term)

Vote for one

Four candidates. Michael Herron and Kris Cox also ran for this seat in May. Busby and Cox both look like good people; the pick goes to Cox, the more progressive of the two.

Sunny Busby

Seems like good people

Clinical nutritionist; parent; first run for office

Says she is running "as a mom who has experienced Denton's programs and services firsthand." Names data center growth and a second look at automated license plate readers as the big issues.

Sources: Community Impact, Ballotpedia, City application

Kris Cox

Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Progressive

After-school program counselor for Denton parks and rec; co-founder of Denton Left

Calls himself a socialist running for renters and homeless residents, and wants city-built housing, tenant protections and a union advisory council. Endorsed by Run for Something.

Sources: Branch, Community Impact, Ballotpedia

Michael Herron

Not enough info

Pastor of Purpose Church of Denton; owns Rhema Tax Services; Army Reserve veteran

Placed second for this seat in May. Wants a pause on new apartment permits, a police K-9 program and EMS shift lieutenants.

Sources: Community Impact, Campaign site

Ward Franz

Not enough info Republican

Former Republican Missouri state representative (2005 to 2013); former chief of staff to Missouri's lieutenant governor

Wants better care of District 1's streets and sidewalks and support for city employees. New to Denton politics.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Campaign site, Community Impact

Also on your ballot

Every Denton County voter also picks in these races. Full write-ups on the Denton County page.

When and where to vote

Register by
Monday, October 5. Check or register at votetexas.gov.
Early voting
October 19 to 30. Weekdays October 19 to 23, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, October 24, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, October 25, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; October 26 to 30, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sites are on the county list of early voting locations (PDF).
Election Day
Tuesday, November 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Denton County doesn't use countywide vote centers, so you vote at your own precinct's polling place. Find it on the Election Day locations list (PDF).
Mail ballot
Application must be received by Friday, October 23. Ballots must be back by 7 p.m. on Election Day, or postmarked by then and received by 5 p.m. the next day. Details.
Bring
A Texas driver license or ID, election ID certificate, handgun license, passport, military ID or citizenship certificate with photo. No ID? You can still vote by signing a reasonable impediment form and showing a utility bill, bank statement or voter card. Details.
Your ballot
See every race on the county's all-race ballot preview (PDF). The county's personal sample ballot lookup is coming soon on its election page.

Keep it free and independent

Researching every race in a county, checking the sources and keeping the site online all cost money. We take no ads and no money from candidates, parties or PACs, so readers are what keep it going. If this saved you time, a few dollars helps us cover the next county.

Chip in on Ko-fi Or ask us to cover your county

Contributions aren't tax-deductible.

We rate people, not parties. Here's how. Every claim links to where we found it. See something wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.

Last updated October 4, 2026.