Editor’s note: You can find a complete guide to voting in the primaries, with an interactive guide to state elections here.
On March 3, McLennan County voters will help decide the party candidates in 12 contested state and county primary races, with winners heading on to the Nov. 3 general election.
Below are some highlights of the contested races relevant to McLennan County voters, plus a master list of county, state and federal candidates who have filed to represent McLennan County residents.
4 races to watch
Texas Senate District 22
Texas Senate District 22, which represents McLennan County, is up for grabs with State Sen. Brian Birdwell’s impending retirement. Two of the three Republican primary contenders for Birdwell’s seat have Waco-area connections.
Jon Gimble of Waco served as McLennan County District Clerk, while his competitor, State Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield), is endorsed by Waco State Rep. Pat Curry as well as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump. Rena Schroeder, a rancher from Lott, rounds out the trifecta of Republican challengers for District 22.
Whoever wins will face Democrat Amy Martinez-Salas of Arlington in November.
Texas House District 56
Curry, first elected in 2024, will face Ralph Patterson of Waco, a “conservative leader and grassroots activist” who previously served as chairman for the McLennan County Republican Party, according to his campaign website.
Democrats also have competition in their District 56 primary matchup. Waco attorney Janessa Givens, who serves on the Waco City Plan Commission, will face Ashley Bean Thornton, a civic leader and founder of McLennan County Talks, Waco Walks and Act Locally Waco.
McLennan County Commissioner, Precinct 2
The Democratic primary race for County Commissioner Precinct 2 seat is set to be a rematch between Waco ISD board trustee Jeremy Davis and Travis Gibson, a Bellmead City Council member and son of former Precinct 2 commissioner Lester Gibson.
In 2024, Gibson ran as a write-in candidate for Precinct 2, drawing criticism from local Democratic leadership for complicating Davis’ run against Republican candidate D.L. Wilson, who went on to win the election by a razor-thin margin.
The victor in the Democratic primary will challenge Wilson in November, but on less favorable terrain this time around. The precinct now heavily favors Republicans following an unusual mid-decade redistricting by the McLennan County Commissioners Court last year.
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1
Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Dianne Hensley, a Republican, made national headlines by refusing to marry same-sex couples, and again last year when she declared her intent to challenge Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling validating same-sex marriages across the county.
Hensley will face three Republican primary challengers in March. One of those opponents, Adriana Bost, is promoting a competing philosophy as much as a competing political campaign.
“I’m running to ensure every person who comes before The People’s Court is treated with dignity, respect, and understanding — and to build a justice system that truly reflects the values of our community,” Bost wrote on her campaign Facebook page.
Below are all Democratic and Republican candidates in races specific to McLennan County. Incumbents are shown in italics.
State and federal races
U.S. Rep. District 17
Pete Sessions (R)
Milah Flores (D)
J. Gordon Mitchell (D)
Casey Sheppard (D)
Texas Senate District 22
David Cook (R)
Jon Gimble (R)
Rena Schroeder (R)
Amy Martinez-Salas (D)
State Rep. District 13
Angelia Orr (R)
Kathaleen ‘Kat’ Wall (R)
Albert Hunter (D)
State Rep. District 56
Pat Curry (R)
Ralph Patterson (R)
Janessa Givens (D)
Ashley Bean Thornton (D)
State Board of Education, District 14
Mindy Bumgarner (R)
Amy Taylor (D)
McLennan County races
County Judge
Rick Tullis (R)
County Commissioner, Pct. 2
Donis “D.L.” Wilson (R)
Jeremy Davis (D)
Travis Gibson (D)
County Commissioner, Pct. 4
Perry Felton (R)
County Treasurer
Bill Helton (R)
County Clerk
Andy Harwell (R)
County Court-at-Law Judge No. 1
Vikram “Vik” Deivanayagam (R)
County Court-at-Law No. 1 Judge
Brad Cates (R)
County Court-at-Law No.1 Judge
Pat Atkins (R)
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Place 1
Dianne Hensley (R)
Adriana Bost (R)
Sterling Shepperd (R)
Anthony Luevanos (R)
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Place 2
Gary “Bull” Durham (R)
Aubrey “Robbie” Robertson III (R)
Will Hutson (R)
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2
James E. Lee, Jr. (D)
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 3
David W. Pareya (R)
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 4
Brian Richardson (R)
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 5
Lucyann Sanchez-Miramontez (D)
Leslie Edwards (D)
Steve Romero (D)
Constable, Pct. 1
Walt Strickland (R)
Constable, Pct. 2
Alfred Freeman (D)
Reggie Jackson (D)
Constable, Pct. 3
David A. Maler (R)
Constable, Pct. 4
Charlie Guerrero (R)
Constable, Pct. 5
Freddie Cantu (D)
District Clerk
Rebecca Eubank (R)
Connley Litton (R)
District Attorney
Josh Tetens (R)
54th District Court Judge
Susan Kelly (R)
74th District Court Judge
Pete Rusek (R)
170th District Court Judge
Barrett Thomas (R)
Gina Long (R)
414th District Court Judge
Ryan Luna (R)
