Southeast Texas’ tri-county area of Orange, Hardin, and Jefferson counties will boast mostly Republican elected officials in 2026, as both Hardin and Orange counties have no reported Democrat contenders for local and state offices signed up to run for election as of the deadline Dec. 8. The Republican and Democrat party primaries are scheduled March 3, 2026, to determine which candidate will earn the right to run as the party’s nominee in the mid-term election Nov. 3, 2026.
In Hardin County, the ballot is shaping up for the Republican Primary, but was not finalized as of press time. The Hardin County Democratic Party, mostly unseen on ballots for the mostly Republican community, is gearing up for future elections. A membership drive is being held Dec. 18 to unite Hardin County Democrats, but the time and location is closely guarded intel, available only via direct connection to current membership.
In Orange County, no Democrat Primary is being conducted, according to local party officials, as no Democrat challengers for office filed for election. The Republican Primary ballot for Orange County, as reported by the county’s party, will cover the following races:
- County Judge: John Gothia
- 260th District Judge: Steven Parkhurst
- County Court at Law Judge: Mandy White-Rogers
- County Clerk: Brandy Robertson
- District Clerk: Anne Reed
- Commissioner Precinct 2: Chris Sowell and Colleen Owens
- Commissioner Precinct 4: Robert Viator
- Justice of the Peace 1: Hershel Stagner
- Justice of the Peace 2: Chad Jenkins
- Justice of the Peace 3: Joy Dubose-Simonton, Jesse Thibodeaux and Jeremiah Braneff
- Justice of the Peace 4: Rodney Price and Walter Low
- County Chair: Cheryl Warren and Patrick Rainey
A merged primary ballot, representing both Republican and Democrat candidates for elected office includes both contested races, and those with apparent de facto winners, is as follows for Jefferson County:
- District Judge, 58th Judicial District
Republican: W. Kent Walston (i)
Democrat: No candidate reported
- District Judge, 172nd Judicial District
Republican: Mitch Templeton (i)
Democrat: No candidate reported
- District Judge, 252nd Judicial District
Republican: Raquel West (i)
Democrat: No candidate reported
- District Judge, 279th Judicial District
Republican: No candidate reported
Democrat: Randy Shelton
- District Judge, 317th Judicial District
Republican: Gordon Friesz (i)
Democrat: No candidate reported
- Criminal District Judge
Republican: Luke Nichols
Democrat: John “Johnny” B. Stevens, Jr. (i)
- Criminal District Attorney
Republican: No candidate reported
Democrat: Keith Giblin (i)
- County Judge
Republican: Jeff Branick (i)
Democrat: No candidate reported
- County Clerk
Republican: Roxanne Acosta-Hellberg (i)
Democrat: Carolyn Guidry
- County Treasurer
Republican: Tim Funchess (i)
Democrat: Michael Cooper
- District Clerk
Republican: No candidate reported
Democrat: Jamie Smith (i)
- County Commissioner, Pct. No. 2
Republican: Cary Erickson (i)
Democrat: No candidate reported
- County Commissioner, Pct. No. 4
Republican: No candidate reported
Democrat: Everette “Bo” Alfred (i), Albert “AJ” Turner
- Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Pl. 2
Republican: Joe Evans
Democrat: Benjamin “Ben” Collins, Sr. (i), Stacey Lewis, Jr.
- Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2
Republican: No candidate reported
Democrat: Joseph “Joe” Guillory (i), Brandon Bartie, Jacori Narcisse
- Justice of the Peace, Pct. 4
Republican: Justin Chesson (i), Marcelo Molfino
Democrat: No candidate reported
- Justice of the Peace, Pct. 6
Republican: No candidate reported
Democrat: Judge Ransom “Duce” Jones
- Justice of the Peace, Pct. 7
Republican: Brad Burnett (i)
Democrat: No candidate reported
- Justice of the Peace, Pct. 8
Republican: No candidate reported
Democrat: Kalan Gardner (i), Melanie Ned
- County Court at Law No. 1
Republican: No candidate reported
Democrat: Gerald Eddins
- County Court at Law No. 2
Republican: No candidate reported
Democrat: Terrence Holmes
- County Court at Law No. 3
Republican: Clint Woods
Democrat: No candidate reported
Winners from each party will be on the November 2026 mid-term election ballot. Additional candidates may appear for the November ballot as independent or write-in candidates.
Also, Republican Primary party positions for Jefferson County were also reported for review in advance of the March 2026 primary election:
- Jefferson County Republican Party Chair: Bryan Markland, Shilo Platts
- Pct. Chair 69: Michael Bordelon (i), Trevor Noyola
- Pct. Chair 64: David Stone, Jr (i), Jean H. Baradar
- Pct. Chair 17: Sammy W. Moffitt (i), Kent May