If you live in Hays County, here are the races that could appear on your ballot in the 2020 general election. Residents of other counties can find their voter guides here.
RELATED | Here's A Look At The Hays County Races On The Ballot This Election
You can find out which U.S. congressional, state legislative and state Board of Education districts you live in below. Then, scroll down to find the candidates in those races.
If you don't see your districts listed below, that means they're not up for election in 2020. Early voting is Oct. 13-30. Election Day is Nov. 3. You can find early voting polling locations here.
*signifies incumbent
Federal
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
The president is the head of state of the United States of America and the head of the nation’s government, as well as the Commander in Chief of military forces. The president appoints Supreme Court justices, federal judges, Cabinet members and ambassadors to other nations, all of which are subject to approval by the Senate. The president also recommends legislation to Congress.
- Republican: Donald J. Trump*
- Democrat: Joe Biden
- Libertarian: Jo Jorgensen
- Green Party: Howie Hawkins
U.S. SENATE
Every state in the U.S. elects two people to represent them in the U.S. Senate, which is the upper chamber of Congress. They are elected statewide for six-year terms. Texas Sen. John Cornyn is up for re-election this year.
- Republican: John Cornyn*
- Democrat: Mary “MJ” Hegar
- Libertarian: Kerry Douglas McKennon
- Green Party: David B. Collins
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Texas has 36 seats in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Congress. The total number of representatives is currently set at 435. The number of seats a state is given is based on population. Representatives are elected for two-year terms.
Texas’ 21st Congressional District runs from Southwest Austin down through San Marcos and New Braunfels to northern parts of San Antonio. The district also covers the Hill Country, including Boerne, Johnson City and Fredericksburg. The seat is currently held by Chip Roy, who was first elected in 2018.
- Republican: Chip Roy*
- Democrat: Wendy R. Davis
- Libertarian: Arthur DiBianca
- Green Party: Tommy Wakely
Texas’ 25th Congressional District includes all or parts of 13 counties. It runs from Tarrant County, which it grabs just a sliver of, all the way down the western halves of Travis and Hays counties. The incumbent is Republican Roger Williams, who won his first election to the office in 2012 and has served four terms.
- Republican: Roger Williams*
- Democrat: Julie Oliver
- Libertarian: Bill Kelsey
Texas’ 35th Congressional District includes parts of six counties. Running from the eastern part of Travis County down to the eastern part of Bexar County. The incumbent is Democrat Lloyd Doggett. Doggett was first elected to Congress in 1994. Because of redistricting, he’s been shuffled around to three different districts, the 10th, 25th and currently the 35th. He’s seeking a 14th term.
- Republican: Jenny Garcia Sharon
- Democrat: Lloyd Doggett*
- Libertarian: Mark Loewe
- Independent: Jason Mata Sr.
State
TEXAS SENATE
This is the upper chamber of the Texas Legislature. It consists of 31 members, each representing about 800,000 Texans. They are elected to four-year terms. Along with the Texas House of Representatives, the Texas Senate drafts and passes state laws, policies and budgets. The Legislature meets for 140 days during odd-numbered years, though the governor can call special sessions outside that time frame.
Senate District 21 runs from the Rio Grande Valley all the way up to the southeastern part of Travis County.
- Republican: Frank Pomeroy
- Democrat: Judith Zaffirini*
TEXAS HOUSE
The Texas House is the lower chamber of the state Legislature. It consists of 150 members, who are elected every two years. Along with the state Senate, the House drafts and passes state laws, policies and budgets. The Legislature meets for 140 days during odd-numbered years, though the governor can call special sessions outside that time frame.
House District 45 represents all of Blanco and Hays counties.
- Republican: Carrie Isaac
- Democrat: Erin Zweiner*
TEXAS SUPREME COURT
The Texas Supreme Court is the court of last resort for civil cases involving state law. Those are cases that deal with lawsuits between people, businesses and organizations, as opposed to criminal cases. Legal decisions made by the state Supreme Court are final and binding under state law. The court is made up of eight justices and one chief justice, who are elected to six-year terms in partisan statewide elections. Four places on the court are up for election this year.
RELATED | Hey Voter, The Texas Supreme Court Has Seats To Fill, Too
Chief Justice: While the chief justice oversees the court, each member has one equal vote in issuing decisions. The chief justice assigns the other justices administrative duties, like who will run disciplinary proceedings for lawyers and who will be the court’s liaison to the state bar. The chief justice also appoints judges to cases, if lower court judges have to recuse themselves.
- Republican: Nathan Hecht*
- Democrat: Amy Clark Meachum
- Libertarian: Mark Ash
Justice, Place 6
- Republican: Jane Bland*
- Democrat: Kathy Cheng
Justice, Place 7
- Republican: Jeff Boyd*
- Democrat: Staci Williams
- Libertarian: William Bryan Strange III
Justice, Place 8
- Republican: Brett Busby*
- Democrat: Gisela D. Triana
- Libertarian: Tom Oxford
RAILROAD COMMISSION
Don’t let the name confuse you, the Railroad Commission of Texas has nothing to do with railroads. The name is just a throwback to a time when it did. Nowadays the Railroad Commission regulates the powerful oil, gas and mining industries in Texas. It is responsible for ensuring pipeline safety, enforcing rules over drilling and production, and overseeing natural gas utilities, among other things. As such, it is often at the center of battles over public safety and the environment. The commission is overseen by a three-member Board of Railroad Commissioners who are elected statewide. One of those seats is on the 2020 ballot.
- Republican: James “Jim” Wright
- Democrat: Chrysta Castañeda
- Libertarian: Matt Sterett
- Green Party: Katija “Kat” Gruene
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
The state Board of Education oversees education policy and standards for public schools. The board’s tasks include overseeing state funding, establishing graduation requirements for high schools, choosing instructional materials and adopting curriculum standards. The 15 members of the board are elected by districts — each representing about 1.8 million people — to four-year terms.
District 5 includes Blanco, Caldwell, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Kerr, Llano, Mason, San Saba and parts of Bexar and Travis counties.
- Republican: Lani Popp
- Democrat: Rebecca Bell-Metereau
- Libertarian: Stephanie Berlin
TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
This is the highest criminal court in Texas, with ultimate say over criminal appeals, including death penalty cases. Judges on the nine-judge panel are elected statewide to six-year terms.
Place 3
- Republican: Bert Richardson*
- Democrat: Elizabeth Davis Frizell
Place 4
- Republican: Kevin Patrick Yeary*
- Democrat: Tina Clinton
Place 9
- Republican: David Newell*
- Democrat: Brandon Birmingham
THIRD COURT OF APPEALS
This is, unshockingly, an appeals court – meaning it hears cases after they've been ruled upon and one party thinks the ruling isn't right. This six-justice panel hears both civil and criminal cases from an area that covers 24 counties including Austin and surrounding areas.
The chief justice of this court is up for election this year.
- Republican: Jeff Rose*
- Democrat: Darlene Byrne
Hays County
DISTRICT JUDGES
District courts have countywide geographical jurisdiction, and the district judges are elected countywide to four-year terms. District courts are trial courts of general subject-matter jurisdiction. They hear felony criminal prosecutions, suits for divorce, election contests, juvenile cases, and civil suits with an amount in controversy of at least $200 with no ceiling.
22nd Judicial District
- Republican: Bruce Boyer*
- Democrat: None
453rd Judicial District
- Republican: David Junkin*
- Democrat: Sherri Tibbe
HAYS COUNTY COURT-AT-LAW NO. 3
This judge has jurisdiction over civil cases (involving disputes between $500 and $200,000), probate, guardianship, and class A and B misdemeanor cases. There are two other Courts at Law in Hays County, but only this one is up for election in 2020.
- Republican: Tacie Zelhart*
- Democrat: Millie Thompson
HAYS COUNTY SHERIFF
The county sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of Hays County. The sheriff enforces traffic regulations, operates the county jail, investigates crimes and makes arrests.
- Republican: Gary Cutler*
- Democrat: Alex Villalobos
HAYS COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR
- Republican: Jenifer O’Kane*
- Democrat: Daphne Tenorio
HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
County commissioners draft and pass policies for the county, much like city council members do for a city. There are four county commissioners in Hays County, plus the county judge, who is elected countywide. Three seats on the commission are up for election this year.
Precinct 1 covers most of Hays County east of I-35 from the southern county line into Kyle. It also includes much of San Marcos, including some portions west of I-35.
- Republican: None
- Democrat: Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe*
Precinct 3 includes parts of Wimberley, Woodcreek and most of the southwestern half of the county.
- Republican: Lon A. Shell*
- Democrat: Lisa Prewitt
HAYS COUNTY CONSTABLE
A constable is a commissioned peace officer, elected by county constituents every four years for a particular area or precinct of that county. A constable may enforce any criminal and civil law or motor vehicle violation and conduct criminal investigations.
Precinct 1
- Republican: Eliseo Galarza
- Democrat: David Peterson*
Precinct 2
- Republican: Steve Avalos
- Democrat: Michael Torres*
Precinct 3
- Republican: William “Don” Montague
- Democrat: Cynthia Millonzi
Precinct 4
- Republican: Ron Hood*
- Democrat: None
Precinct 5
- Republican: John Ellen*
- Democrat: None
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PRECINCT 1
Justice of the peace courts have jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal cases punishable by fine only. They can issue search and arrest warrants, conduct preliminary hearings, administer oaths and perform marriages. This court also functions as a small claims court.
Place 1
- Republican: None
- Democrat: Jo Anne Prado*
PROPOSITION A: HAYS COUNTY 2020 PARKS AND OPEN SPACES BOND
Hays County residents will also vote on Proposition A, a $75 million parks and open spaces bond. Here is the language you will see on the ballot:
The issuance of $75,000,000 of bonds for the purpose of constructing, improving, renovating, equipping and acquiring land and interests in land, buildings, and facilities for park and recreational purposes, including but not limited to constructing and improving parks and the acquisition of land and interests in land in connection therewith; acquiring open space and conservation land and acquiring conservation easements on land for any authorized purposes, including to ensure its availability for, recreational, or open-space use, or to protect wildlife habitat and water quality of creeks, rivers and springs; protecting natural resources by minimizing flood risks and improving flood safety; improving connectivity through the acquisition of land, construction and improvement of trails, sidewalks and related infrastructure; and the levying of a tax sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds.
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Correction: A previous version of this post had the incorrect coverage area for the Precinct 3 commissioner.
