By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews
COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — The filing deadline for the 2026 Republican and Democratic primaries closed this week, finalizing the candidate landscape for federal, state, and county offices across Collin County. For voters in Texas’ 3rd Congressional District and surrounding communities, the filings confirm several competitive primaries, a handful of uncontested nominations, and a ballot that spans everything from Congress to county courtrooms. While the 2026 election cycle is still months away, the completion of the filing period offers the first clear look at how each race will take shape and which contests may drive turnout in one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas.
TX-03: Self Draws a Challenger as Democrats Unite Behind Hunt
In U.S. House District 3, incumbent Rep. Keith Self filed for reelection on November 24. He will face Mark Newgent, a retired U.S. Army veteran who filed on December 8, creating a contested Republican primary.
On the Democratic side, Evan Hunt is the sole filer and will advance directly to the November general election. His uncontested primary gives him additional time to organize, fundraise, and build out districtwide infrastructure ahead of the general election campaign.
TX-03 continues to draw attention following recent redistricting, which expanded the district into additional counties and altered its geographic makeup. Although Self won comfortably under the updated map in 2024, the district’s fast-growing population and shifting suburban landscape have kept it on the radar for both parties as they prepare for 2026.
Texas House: Competitive Primaries Take Shape Across Collin County
Several Texas House districts overlapping Collin County communities within TX-03 will see competitive primaries this cycle.
In House District 61, incumbent Republican Keresa Richardson faces a primary challenge from Frederick Frazier, while Democrats Jackie Bescherer and Britany Black will compete for their party’s nomination.
House District 66 will feature a November matchup between incumbent Republican Matt Shaheen, who is unopposed in his primary, and Democrat Sandeep Srivastava.
In House District 67, Republican incumbent Jeff Leach is being challenged by Matt Thorsen, with Democrats Emeka Eluka and Jordan Wheatley also filing.
House District 70 remains one of the region’s most competitive districts. Democratic incumbent Mihaela Plesa is unopposed in her primary, while Republicans George Flint, Jack Ryan Gallagher, and Michael Hewitt will compete for the nomination.
These filings signal an unusually active primary season, with contested races across multiple state House districts in Collin County.
County-Level Filings: Judge, Clerk, and Justice of the Peace Contests Take Shape
Multiple Collin County offices will also feature competitive primaries, particularly on the Republican side. The County Judge race is among the most prominent, with incumbent Chris Hill facing former Plano councilmember Rick Grady in the GOP primary. Democrat John R. “Buster” Brown is unopposed and will advance to November.
In the County Clerk race, longtime incumbent Stacey Kemp filed for reelection and will face Democrat John Russell in the general election.
Three Justice of the Peace seats will appear on the ballot. In Precinct 2, incumbent Ellen Kinnebrew is unopposed in the Republican primary and will meet Democrat Darsell E. Johnson in November. Precinct 3 features a Republican primary between incumbent Mike Missildine and Danielle Sposito, with Democrat Irvin Lynn Barrett awaiting the winner. Precinct 4 has the most crowded field, with incumbent Vincent Venegoni challenged by Randy Farrar and Stephen Kallas. Democrat Eli Worthy will face the GOP nominee in November.
The County Commissioner, Precinct 4 race will also be contested. Democrat Julie Holmer filed and will face the winner of the Republican primary between Woody Huffines and Shelby Williams. With no incumbent running, the seat is expected to draw heightened interest through both the primary and general election.
What Voters Can Expect Next
County election offices and party organizations will now move into ballot preparation and certification ahead of the 2026 primaries. Early voting begins in February, with Election Day set for March. With competitive fields in key state and county contests—including HD-61, HD-67, HD-70, multiple Justice of the Peace races, and the County Judge primary—the first phase of the 2026 cycle is poised to draw significant attention from campaigns and voters.
As the season progresses, TX3DNews will continue to monitor each race, track filings and withdrawals, follow campaign finance disclosures, and cover public forums and candidate issue statements. The months ahead will offer a clearer picture of how Collin County’s political landscape is taking shape heading into November 2026.
Editor’s Note:
TX3DNews welcomes all candidates running in 2026 to submit a campaign profile for inclusion on our Elections page. Profiles help voters access clear, consistent information about every race on the ballot. Candidates may email materials, photos, and contact information to candidates@tx3dnews.com for publication consideration.