Primary elections are notable for the length of the ballot and the number of candidates running for various spots on the ticket. Becoming familiar with the candidates, their qualifications, positions, and character all take time. For those Hays County residents intending to vote in the Republican or Democratic Primary Election, here are the races and candidates running at each level of our government for this election.

The Texas Tribune's Voting Guide is the source of the list of the candidates in the federal and state races. The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonpartisan news organization. They list the parties and candidates in alphabetical order within their races, not the order in which they will appear on the ballot.

The candidates listed for district and county races are from the official ballot (paper version) for the Republican and Democratic Primary Elections as available on the Hays County Elections Office website. Voters will only see candidates from the primary in which they choose to vote. Candidates are shown in alphabetical order here, rather than ballot order.
Official Democratic Primary Ballot Official Republican Primary Ballot

Note: Local (city and school board elections) will be held in either early May or November, depending on the choice made by the individual cities and school districts.

President

The Texas Tribune notes that candidates may drop out of the race before the Texas Primary Election on March 5, 2024.

Democrat

D	Joseph R. BidenIncumbent
D	Gabriel Cornejo
D	Star Locke
D	Frankie Lozada
D	Armando "Mando" Perez-Serrato
D	Dean Phillips
D	Cenk Uygur
D	Marianne Williamson

Republican

R	Ryan Binkley
R	Chris Christie*
R	Ron DeSantis*
R	Nikki Haley
R	Asa Hutchinson*
R	Vivek Ramaswamy*
R	David Stuckenberg
R	Donald J. Trump
R	Uncommitted

*Christie, DeSantis, Hutchinson and Ramaswamy have dropped out of the race.

United States Senator

Democrat

D	Colin Allred
D	Meri Gomez
D	Mark Gonzalez
D	Roland Gutierrez
D	A. Robert Hassan
D	Steve Keough
D	Heli Rodriguez Prilliman
D	Carl Oscar Sherman
D	Thierry Tchenko

Republican

R	Ted CruzIncumbent
R	Holland "Redd" Gibson
R	Rufus Lopez

United States Representative, District 21

Democrat

D	Kristin Hook

Republican

R	Chip RoyIncumbent

United States Representative, District 35

Democrat

D	Greg CasarIncumbent

Republican

R	Dave Cuddy
R	Brandon Dunn
R	Rod Lingsch
R	Michael Rodriguez
R	Steven Wright

Railroad Commissioner

In Texas, the Railroad Commission regulates the oil and gas industry. Members of the three-person board are elected statewide. One seat is up for election in 2024.

Democrat

D	Bill Burch
D	Katherine Culbert

Republican

R	Christie Clark
R	Christi CraddickIncumbent
R	Corey Howell
R	James "Jim" Matlock
R	Petra Reyes

Texas Supreme Court

TheTexas Supreme Court, the state’s highest civil court, has nine justices. Three of the nine seats on the Supreme Court are up for election in 2024. Justices are elected statewide, and Republicans currently hold all the seats.

Justice, Texas Supreme Court Place 2

Democrat

D	DaSean Jones
D	Randy Sarosdy

Republican

R	Jimmy BlacklockIncumbent

Justice, Texas Supreme Court Place 4

Democrat

D	Christine Vinh Weems

Republican

R	John DevineIncumbent
R	Brian Walker

Justice, Texas Supreme Court Place 6

Democrat

D	Bonnie Lee Goldstein
D	Joe Pool

Republican

R	Jane BlandIncumbent

Presiding Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Democrat

D	Holly Taylor

Republican

R	Sharon KellerIncumbent
R	David J. Schenck

Democrat

D	Nancy Mulder

Republican

R	Barbara Parker HerveyIncumbent
R	Gina Parker

Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 8

Democrat

D	Chika Anyiam

Republican

R	Lee Finley
R	Michelle SlaughterIncumbent

State Senator, District 21

NOT ON THE BALLOT IN 2024 (Incumbent is Judith Zaffirini)

State Senator, District 35

Democrat

D	Merrie Fox

Republican

R	Donna CampbellIncumbent

State Representative, District 45

Democrat

D	Chevo Pastrano
D	Erin ZwienerIncumbent

Republican

R	Tennyson G. Moreno

State Representative, District 73

Democrat

D	Sally Duval

Republican

R	Carrie IsaacIncumbent

State Board of Education 5

Seat is not up for election this year.

Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District, Place 2

Democrat

D Maggie Ellis

D Melissa Lorber

D Edward Smith Incumbent

Republican

R	John Messinger

Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District, Place 3

Democrat

D	Chari Kelly Incumbent

Republican

The Republican primary was canceled.

Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District, Place 5

Democrat

D	Thomas Baker Incumbent
D	Karin Crump

Republican

The Republican primary was canceled.

Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District, Place 6

Democrat

D	Gisela TrianaIncumbent

Republican

The Republican primary was canceled.

District Judicial Offices

District Judge, 22nd Judicial District

Democrat

The Democratic primary was canceled.

Republican

R	R. Bruce BoyerIncumbent

District Judge, 453rd Judicial District

Democrat

D	Sherri K. TibbeIncumbent

Republican

The Republican primary was canceled.

District Judge, 483rd Judicial District

Democrat

D	Joseph Aragon
D	Sarah Brandon
D	Alicia Key

Republican

R	Tanner Neidhardt Incumbent

Judge, County Court-at-Law #3

Democrat

D	Elaine S. Brown Incumbent

Republican

R	Robert E. Updegrove

Democrat

D	Daniel Law
D	Alex Villalobos

Republican

R	Anthony Hipolito

Tax Assessor-Collector

Democrat

D	Jennifer M. Escobar
D	Vianna "Vee" Garza
D	Cynthia A. Millonzi
D	Jessica Sanchez

Republican

The Republican primary was canceled.

Commissioner, Precinct 1

Democrat

D	Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe Incumbent
D	Alyssa Ramirez

Republican

The Republican primary was canceled.

Commissioner, Precinct 3

Democrat

D	Rebecca Minnick

Republican

R	Morgan Hammer
R	Teresa Shell*

*Teresa Shell has dropped out of the race.

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 1

Democrat

D	Nicholas "Nico" Costilla
D	Jo Anne PradoIncumbent

Republican

The Republican primary was canceled.

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, Place 2

Democrat

D	Amanda K. Calvert
D	Paul Hill
D	Janie Flores
D	J.R. Mendoza Incumbent
D	Andrea "Dre" Villescaz

Republican

The Republican primary was canceled.

Primary Election 2024

Federal Races and Primary Candidates

Federal Offices

President

United States Senator

Democrat

Republican

United States Representative, District 21

United States Representative, District 35

Democrat

Republican

State Offices

Railroad Commissioner

Railroad Commissioner

Democrat

Republican

Texas Supreme Court

Texas Supreme Court

Justice, Texas Supreme Court Place 2

Democrat

Republican

Justice, Texas Supreme Court Place 4

Democrat

Republican

Justice, Texas Supreme Court Place 6

Democrat

Republican

Presiding Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Democrat

Republican

Democrat

Republican

Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 8

Democrat

Republican

State Senator, District 21

State Senator, District 35

State Representative, District 45

Democrat

Republican

State Representative, District 73

State Board of Education 5

Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District, Place 2

Democrat

Republican

Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District, Place 3

Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District, Place 3

Democrat

Republican

Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District, Place 5

Democrat

Republican

Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District, Place 6

Democrat

Republican

District Judicial Offices

District Judge, 22nd Judicial District

Democrat

Republican

District Judge, 453rd Judicial District

Democrat

Republican

District Judge, 483rd Judicial District

Democrat

Republican

County Offices

Judge, County Court-at-Law #3

Democrat

Republican

Sheriff

Democrat

Republican

Tax Assessor-Collector

Democrat

Republican

Commissioner, Precinct 1

Democrat

Republican

Commissioner, Precinct 3

Democrat