Who is running in Williamson County, Texas in 2026
- County Judge
- Heather Jefts and Steve Snell
- County Clerk
- Erin Block and Bill Fairbrother
- Tax Assessor-Collector (unexpired term)
- Eric Hanke and Catherine Totty
- County Commissioner, Precinct 4
- Harmon Rhea and Russ Boles
- District Judge, 512th District
- Leslie Booker and Sarah Moore
- ACC Board of Trustees, Place 1
- Gloria Gonzales-Dholakia and Dana Walker
- ACC Board of Trustees, Place 3
- Nan McRaven and Trevor Hale
- Leander ISD Board of Trustees, Place 1
- Serenity Coats and Gerald Prater
- Leander ISD Board of Trustees, Place 2
- Chitra Nedun, Meg Dean and Perla Muñoz Hopkins
- Leander ISD Board of Trustees, Place 7
- Jason Embry and Paul Gauthier
- Pflugerville ISD Board of Trustees, Place 6
- Jean Mayer and Nicole Toran
- Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees, Place 3
- Ayaan Moledina, Amber Feller Landrum, Vera Southwell and Gregory Andrew
- Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees, Place 5
- Meghna Roy and Miriam Arora
- Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees, Place 6
- Fabian Cuero and Troy J. Evanovich
- Pflugerville City Council, Place 2
- David Rogers and Ceasar Ruiz
- Pflugerville City Council, Place 4
- Gregory L. Harrington, De Juana "De J." Lozada and Trent Barlow
- Jarrell Alderman, Place 1
- Daniel J. Klepac and Frederick Coy
- U.S. Senator
- James Talarico and Ken Paxton
- Governor
- Gina Hinojosa and Greg Abbott
- Lieutenant Governor
- Vikki Goodwin and Dan Patrick
- Attorney General
- Nathan Johnson and Mayes Middleton
- U.S. Representative, District 11
- Claire Reynolds and August Pfluger
- U.S. Representative, District 17
- Casey Shepard and Pete Sessions
- U.S. Representative, District 31
- Justin Early, Greg Stoker and John Carter
- State Senator, District 5
- Paul Thomasson and Charles Schwertner
- State Senator, District 24
- Joe Paz Herrera and Pete Flores
- State Representative, District 20
- Matthias-Jonah Early and Terry M. Wilson
- State Representative, District 52
- Chris Jimenez and Caroline Harris Davila
- State Representative, District 136
- John H. Bucy III and Theodore Schramm
Williamson County
These races are partisan. The county judge and commissioners set the jail and sheriff's budgets, pay for roads, and plan for water and power as the county grows around the Samsung chip plant in Taylor.
County Judge
Vote for oneSteve Snell was appointed in 2025 after Judge Bill Gravell resigned. This is his first time on the ballot for the job.
Heather Jefts
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratHelped create Cedar Park's first homestead exemption, and is running on real public notice for county business, water and grid protection, and regional transit. Endorsed by the county Democratic Party, Planned Parenthood Texas Votes and Rep. John Bucy.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Williamson Reporter, Ballotpedia
Steve Snell
Not enough info RepublicanLists public safety, roads, water planning and "keeping taxes low" as priorities. We found little else on how he has run the court in his year and a half.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Community Impact
County Clerk
Vote for oneOpen seat. Clerk Nancy Rister is retiring.
Erin Block
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratWants posted timelines for processing documents and modern records systems. Endorsed by Planned Parenthood Texas Votes and Rep. John Bucy; she first filed for commissioner, then switched to this race.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Ballotpedia, Campaign site
Bill Fairbrother
Not good people RepublicanKnows the office from the inside and wants better deed-fraud protection. He is a former county Republican chair, and his endorsers include the sheriff, the DA and the county attorney.
Sources: Campaign site, Williamson Reporter, Community Impact Q&A
Tax Assessor-Collector (unexpired term)
Vote for oneLarry Gaddes resigned. Commissioners appointed Catherine Totty in July 2026.
Eric Hanke
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratHas spent 12 years explaining retirement benefits to county employees across Texas, and is running on patient, respectful service for working families. Won the Democratic nomination in August.
Sources: Williamson Reporter, Williamson County Sun
Catherine Totty
Compromised RepublicanHas relevant banking and compliance experience. Her endorsements come almost entirely from party groups: the county Young Republicans, three Republican women's clubs and Commissioner Cynthia Long.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Community Impact
County Commissioner, Precinct 4
Vote for oneEastern Williamson County, including Hutto and Taylor.
Harmon Rhea
Not enough info DemocratRunning on managed growth, roads, housing costs and first responders, with the county Democratic Party's endorsement. No public record we could find beyond his campaign site.
Sources: Campaign site, Ballotpedia
Russ Boles
Not good people RepublicanHelped bring the Samsung plant to Taylor and says the county is "a higher education desert." He is also a commercial real estate broker voting on the roads and growth that move land values, and sat on the county GOP's executive committee.
Sources: Williamson Reporter, Community Impact Q&A, Ballotpedia
District Judge, 512th District
Vote for oneLeslie Booker
Not enough info DemocratWe haven't profiled judicial races yet.
Sarah Moore
Not enough info RepublicanWe haven't profiled judicial races yet.
Unopposed county races
No contestCommissioner, Precinct 2 (David McDonald), County Courts at Law No. 1 (Brandy Hallford), No. 2 (Laura Barker), No. 3 (Kathryn Fowler) and No. 4 (David Oliver), District Clerk (Cathy Mendoza), County Treasurer (Carole Callahan), Justices of the Peace in Precincts 1 (KT Musselman), 2 (Angela Williams), 3 (Evelyn McLean) and 4 (Rhonda Redden), 277th District Judge (Stacey Mathews), 368th District Judge (Sarah Bruchmiller) and 480th District Judge, unexpired term (Terence Davis).
School boards and ACC
These races are nonpartisan, but party groups and Moms for Liberty are endorsing anyway. Leander and Pflugerville ISDs are closing schools, and Round Rock and Leander are asking voters to ratify tax rates to pay teachers.
ACC Board of Trustees, Place 1
Vote for oneGloria Gonzales-Dholakia
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Center-leftWants to raise completion and transfer rates and help student parents with child care and living costs. Endorsed by ACC's own faculty union (ACC AFT) and Texas AFT.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Leander Dems, Leander ISD
Dana Walker
Seems like good peopleWants to make ACC's free tuition program permanent and teach students AI and tech skills. A sound record; the faculty union backed her challenger.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, ACC
ACC Board of Trustees, Place 3
Vote for oneNan McRaven
Seems like good people (best choice in this race)Has backed the free tuition pilot and wants programs matched to local jobs. On the board 24 years, and once a vice president of the Austin Chamber of Commerce.
Sources: ACC, Elections Simplified
Trevor Hale
Not enough infoWants a bigger career center and term limits for trustees. Ran for the Pearland ISD board in 2017; little local record.
Sources: Elections Simplified, Ballotpedia
Leander ISD Board of Trustees, Place 1
Vote for oneOpen seat. Board President Trish Bode isn't running. Gerald Prater died September 28, but his name stays on the ballot.
Serenity Coats
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Center-leftHas served on the district's improvement council and accountability committee, and is running on teacher support and pressing legislators for school funding. Endorsed by the Williamson and Travis County Democratic parties.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Ballotpedia, Campaign site
Gerald Prater
CompromisedDied September 28, during the campaign; his name remains on the ballot. In his 2024 run he was backed by the county GOP and Moms for Liberty.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Franklin Strong
Leander ISD Board of Trustees, Place 2
Vote for oneOpen seat. Gloria Gonzales-Dholakia is running for the ACC board instead.
Chitra Nedun
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Center-leftA district parent who has reviewed instructional materials on the curriculum committee, running on special education, bilingual programs and protecting classroom money. Endorsed by both county Democratic parties.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Campaign site, Leander Dems
Meg Dean
Not enough infoEntered the race to "prevent school closures" and plan finances so older, smaller schools stay open. No other record we could find.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Campaign site
Perla Muñoz Hopkins
Not good people ConservativeWants the district to rely less on its own police and more on city departments. Endorsed by Moms for Liberty, the Travis County GOP and Veterans for America First.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, BallotReady, Veterans for America First
Leander ISD Board of Trustees, Place 7
Vote for oneJason Embry
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Center-leftSays public education is "a promise to our kids" regardless of family income or learning challenges, and is running on special education and teacher pay. Endorsed by both county Democratic parties.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Leander Dems
Paul Gauthier
Compromised ConservativeIn May 2024 the board tightened its rules after district officials said he made repeated unannounced campus visits without permission. Endorsed by Moms for Liberty, and now calls the administration a "petulant spoiled child away at college."
Sources: Community Impact, Community Impact Q&A, iVoterGuide
Pflugerville ISD Board of Trustees, Place 6
Vote for oneJean Mayer
Seems like good people (best choice in this race)Voted against closing Windermere Elementary in May (it passed 4-3) and questioned how the closures were handled. Trains medical residents to support kids with complex medical needs.
Sources: Community Impact, Pflugerville ISD, Community Impact Q&A
Nicole Toran
Not enough infoWants to turn closed school buildings into enrichment centers with groups like the Boys & Girls Clubs. First run for office; no other record.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Campaign site
Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees, Place 3
Vote for oneFour candidates, including the incumbent.
Ayaan Moledina
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) ProgressiveRunning on student mental health and suicide prevention, protecting inclusion programs and "keeping Christian nationalism out of the classroom." Endorsed by Access Education RRISD and the local Democrats.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Campaign site
Amber Feller Landrum
Seems like good people ModerateIn August voted to call the tax rate election that would fund a 2% raise and a $58,000 starting teacher salary. Endorsed by the Texas Forward Party.
Sources: Community Impact, Texas Forward Party
Vera Southwell
Not enough infoShe and her husband publicly fought the district after their 10-year-old was sent to a disciplinary campus over an alleged marker-sniffing incident. Platform is about data and accountability.
Sources: News From The States, Community Impact Q&A, Campaign site
Gregory Andrew
Not enough infoHas taught clinical nursing at Concordia and ACC. We found nothing on his positions.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A
Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees, Place 5
Vote for oneOpen seat. Trustee Amy Weir isn't running.
Meghna Roy
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) ProgressiveWants line-item budget transparency, better pay for teachers and support staff, and to trust librarians over outside censorship. Endorsed by outgoing trustee Amy Weir, Access Education RRISD, Sen. Sarah Eckhardt and Rep. John Bucy.
Sources: Campaign site, Ballotpedia, Western WilCo Dems
Miriam Arora
Not enough infoWants to close a projected $23.6 million shortfall by auditing overtime, stipends and vendor contracts, and to keep teacher pay competitive. No public record beyond her platform.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Campaign site
Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees, Place 6
Vote for oneFabian Cuero was appointed in September 2025 after Tiffanie Harrison left the seat.
Fabian Cuero
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Center-leftWants fewer disciplinary referrals for underserved students and to push the Legislature for school funding. Endorsed by Access Education RRISD and the Western WilCo Dems.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Access Education RRISD
Troy J. Evanovich
Not good people ConservativeA former RRISD substitute teacher running on achievement and safe schools. He is also a Republican precinct chair, running for a nonpartisan board.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Williamson County Sun
Unopposed trustees
No contestACC Place 2 (Gigi Edwards Bryant), Leander ISD Place 6 (Laura Marques), Pflugerville ISD Place 7 (Chevonne Lorigo-Johst) and Round Rock ISD Place 4 (Alicia Markum).
Pflugerville elections
Council seats are at-large and nonpartisan. Place 6 (Oscar R. Mitchell) is unopposed. Pflugerville voters also face 14 charter propositions, A to N, listed in the propositions section.
City Council, Place 2
Vote for oneTwo sitting council members. David Rogers holds Place 6 and is challenging Ceasar Ruiz instead of running again there.
David Rogers
Not enough infoSays he was the only council member to vote against issuing city debt without voter approval. Running on affordability and accountability; we found little else on his record.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A
Ceasar Ruiz
Not enough infoA former planning and zoning commissioner who says "public safety is paramount for me, alongside affordability and economic development." Not much else on record.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Community Impact
City Council, Place 4
Vote for oneOpen seat. Rudy Metayer is term-limited.
Gregory L. Harrington
Not enough infoWants an affordable 24/7 city shuttle and to bring Pflugerville into the ACC district (Prop A on the ACC ballot). No council or board votes to judge.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Campaign site
De Juana "De J." Lozada
Not enough infoSpoke up at council about the city leasing the new City Hall cafe space without competitive bids. She also helps run the city's economic development board.
Sources: Community Impact, Community Impact Q&A
Trent Barlow
Not enough infoWants lower water bills for low-volume users, infrastructure ahead of growth and less city debt. No public record beyond his platform.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Campaign site
Jarrell elections
Mayor (Lori Allen) and Alderman Place 2 (Tim Jordan) have one candidate each, so the only contest is Place 1.
Alderman, Place 1
Vote for oneDaniel J. Klepac
Not enough infoWon this seat unopposed in 2020 and 2022, so he has never had to campaign on his record. We found nothing on his votes.
Sources: City of Jarrell, Williamson County Elections
Frederick Coy
Not enough infoWe couldn't find anything about him: no website, questionnaire or news coverage.
City and school propositions
We describe what each proposition does and don't make recommendations. Several new MUD (municipal utility district) bond and tax propositions are also on ballots in those developments. Statewide races (U.S. Senate, governor and so on) are in the State and federal section below.
Pflugerville, Propositions A to N
Propositions- Prop A: Lets the city pay council members a monthly salary.
- Prop B: Adds data, facial recognition and surveillance technology protections to the city charter.
- Prop C: Changes the procedure for adopting ordinances.
- Prop D: Lowers the signatures needed on a citizen petition from 15% to 10% of voters.
- Prop E: Changes council meeting and agenda procedures.
- Prop F: Makes the charter's petition rules follow state law.
- Prop G: Changes annual budget requirements and reporting.
- Prop H: Lets the mayor alone excuse the city manager from attending meetings.
- Prop I: Lets council appoint residents of the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) as non-voting advisers.
- Prop J: States that the mayor and council set the city's strategic direction and policy.
- Prop K: Allows public comment during proceedings to remove an official, without council approval.
- Prop L: Drops the rule that the municipal judge must live in the city.
- Prop M: Adds a charter section spelling out public participation in council meetings.
- Prop N: Fixes typos and makes technical, non-substantive corrections.
Hutto, Proposition A
Propositions- Prop A: $48 million in bonds for a new Justice Center to serve as police headquarters. Includes a tax increase.
Georgetown, Proposition A
Propositions- Prop A: Renews the quarter-cent local sales tax that pays for street maintenance and repair.
Taylor, Propositions A to G
Propositions- Prop A: Deletes redundant language in charter Section 4.1.
- Prop B: Removes the rule that a council member can't owe money to the city.
- Prop C: Changes how vacancies are filled when 12 months or less remain in the term.
- Prop D: Limits the mayor and council members to four terms.
- Prop E: Gives every council member an equal right to put items on the agenda.
- Prop F: Requires specific information on executive (closed) session agenda items.
- Prop G: Requires council to appoint a charter review commission every 10 years.
School district tax and bond elections
PropositionsA tax ratification election asks voters to approve a rate the school board already adopted. If it fails, the rate drops to the lower limit allowed without voter approval. Refunding bonds refinance existing debt.
- Round Rock ISD, Prop A: Ratifies a $0.9484 tax rate, a 3.09% increase in operating revenue. The board says it pays for a 2% raise and a $58,000 starting teacher salary.
- Leander ISD, Prop A: Ratifies a $1.1169 tax rate, a 3.72% increase in operating revenue.
- Georgetown ISD, Prop A: Ratifies a $1.1106 tax rate, a 12.80% increase in operating revenue.
- Bartlett ISD, Prop A: Ratifies a $1.2804 tax rate, an 18.17% increase in operating revenue.
- Bartlett ISD, Props B and C: Up to $3.3 million and $1 million in refunding bonds for existing maintenance tax notes and time warrants.
- Coupland ISD, Prop A: Ratifies a $1.1922 tax rate, a 4.14% increase in operating revenue.
- Florence ISD, Prop A: Ratifies a $1.0182 tax rate, a 9.07% increase in operating revenue.
- Florence ISD, Prop B: $1.45 million in refunding bonds for an existing maintenance tax and revenue note.
Austin Community College, Proposition A (annexation)
Propositions- Prop A: Adds Pflugerville ISD territory to the ACC district and lets ACC levy its tax there, $0.1034 per $100 of value.
Austin, Propositions A to J
PropositionsFor Williamson County residents who live inside Austin city limits.
- Prop A: $260 million in bonds for parks, recreation centers, pools and open space. Includes a tax increase.
- Prop B: $35 million in bonds for libraries. Includes a tax increase.
- Prop C: Changes the independence and procedures of the citizens redistricting commission.
- Prop D: Removes the requirement that council meet at least once a week.
- Prop E: Removes the requirement that council set its rules by ordinance.
- Prop F: Clarifies what counts as an "election" and adjusts campaign contribution limits each year.
- Prop G: Holds citizen initiative and charter amendment elections only in November of even-numbered years.
- Prop H: Has the council, not the city manager, appoint and remove the city attorney.
- Prop I: Requires an independent affordability and efficiency review before any tax rate increase.
- Prop J: Fixes typos and structural errors in the charter.
State and federal
Williamson is split among three congressional districts, two state senate districts and three state house districts, so check the county sample ballot to see which are yours.
U.S. Senator
Vote for oneAlso on the ballot: Ted Brown (Libertarian).
James Talarico
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratA former teacher who wrote the Texas law capping insulin at $25 a month and co-wrote a ban on police chokeholds.
Sources: Wikipedia
Ken Paxton
Not good people RepublicanSued to throw out four states' 2020 votes and spoke at the January 6 rally. The Republican-led Texas House impeached him for corruption 121 to 23.
Sources: Wikipedia
Governor
Vote for oneAlso on the ballot: Pat Dixon (Libertarian).
Gina Hinojosa
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratA public school advocate who ran the Austin school board before the Legislature.
Sources: Texas Tribune
Greg Abbott
Not good people RepublicanSigned SB 4, which lets state police arrest and deport people on suspicion of illegal entry, and bused more than 100,000 migrants to other cities as a stunt. Also signed the school voucher law.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Wikipedia
Lieutenant Governor
Vote for oneAlso on the ballot: Anthony Cristo (Libertarian), Kevin McCormick (Green).
Vikki Goodwin
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratRunning on school funding and against vouchers.
Sources: Texas Tribune
Attorney General
Vote for oneAlso on the ballot: Tom Oxford (Libertarian).
Nathan Johnson
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratHas passed about 134 bills since 2019 and promises to run the AG's office as a law office again instead of a political shop.
Sources: Texas Tribune
Mayes Middleton
Not good people RepublicanCalls himself "MAGA Mayes" and has called 2020 "a stolen election." Beat Chip Roy by attacking him for certifying the 2020 results.
Sources: Texas Tribune, KSAT
Everything else on the statewide ballot
Not profiledComptroller, Land Commissioner, Agriculture Commissioner, Railroad Commissioner, the State Board of Education, and the Supreme Court and appeals court seats. We haven't profiled these yet.
U.S. Representative, District 11
Vote for oneClaire Reynolds
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratSays "it is possible to have a secure border without treating immigrants as if they were an invading force" and wants to abolish ICE. Running to check presidential power and on Medicare for All.
Sources: Lone Star Left, Progress Texas, Community Impact Q&A
August Pfluger
Not good people RepublicanDays after taking office, voted against certifying the 2020 election results. Endorsed by Trump.
Sources: Austin Chronicle, Campaign site
U.S. Representative, District 17
Vote for oneCasey Shepard
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratSays his top priority is "restoring the rule of law by pushing back on the Trump Administration's use of executive power." Has voted in local Republican primaries, which he says was because only Republicans ran for DA.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Baylor Lariat
Pete Sessions
Not good people RepublicanOn January 7, 2021, voted to object to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's electoral votes.
Sources: Texas Tribune, KSAT
U.S. Representative, District 31
Vote for oneJustin Early
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratRunning on costs and health care, saying "working families are getting left behind." Was a Democratic precinct chair in Tarrant County and an Obama delegate in 2008.
Sources: Williamson County Sun, Ballotpedia
Greg Stoker
Not enough info GreenWants to stop sending aid overseas, "including Israel," overturn Citizens United and end the federal ban on THC. Has made fighting Central Texas data centers a centerpiece.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Campaign site
John Carter
Not good people RepublicanOn January 6, 2021, voted to sustain objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's electoral votes. Endorsed by Trump and Ted Cruz.
Sources: KSAT, Ballotpedia
State Senator, District 5
Vote for onePaul Thomasson
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratWants a minimum wage above $7.25, reopened rural hospitals, and school standards built on "facts and data, not political opinion." Endorsed by the Austin Chronicle.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Austin Chronicle
Charles Schwertner
Compromised RepublicanWrote the 2021 permitless carry law. Arrested for DWI in Austin in 2023; prosecutors dropped the charge.
Sources: Campaign site, Texas Tribune
State Senator, District 24
Vote for oneJoe Paz Herrera
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratRunning on rural health care, public school funding, and protecting groundwater and rivers. Backed by Democratic parties across the district, including Williamson's.
Sources: Campaign site, Leander Dems
Pete Flores
Not good people RepublicanWrote the 2025 law banning AI-generated child sexual abuse images and voted for tighter bail rules. A career law enforcement officer endorsed by Abbott, Patrick and Cruz.
Sources: Wikipedia, Texas Taxpayers, Texas Alliance for Life
State Representative, District 20
Vote for oneMatthias-Jonah Early
Not enough info DemocratWants to "restore investment in public education" after years of cuts. Young, with no public record yet; his father Justin Early is running for Congress.
Sources: BallotReady
Terry M. Wilson
Compromised RepublicanTo his credit, voted in 2023 to impeach Ken Paxton and took a primary challenge for it. Otherwise a reliable party vote for permitless carry and state border wall money.
Sources: Texas Scorecard, Campaign site
State Representative, District 52
Vote for oneChris Jimenez
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratRunning on health care, housing costs and limits on data centers near neighborhoods. Endorsed by Texas AFT, the Communications Workers of America and VoteVets.
Sources: DLCC, Campaign site, Texas AFT
Caroline Harris Davila
Not good people RepublicanEndorsed by Trump, Abbott, Patrick and Americans for Prosperity and the Texas State Rifle Association.
Sources: Campaign site, Wikipedia
State Representative, District 136
Vote for oneJohn H. Bucy III
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratSays his priorities are "fully funding our public schools, increasing access to high-quality healthcare, and lowering costs," plus voting rights and Medicaid expansion. Endorsed by the Texas AFL-CIO, Texas AFT and TSTA.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Texas AFL-CIO
Theodore Schramm
Compromised RepublicanRunning on "parental rights and classical education" and property tax relief, with the Young Conservatives of Texas behind him. Little else on record.