Texas Primaries: Which Texas Legislature races could head to runoffs in the San Antonio area?

SAN ANTONIO — Democrats Barbara Gervin Hawkins, Elizabeth Campos and Philip Cortez along with Republicans Marc LaHood and Mark Dorazio, are among the incumbents hoping to continue representing portions of the San Antonio region in the Texas Legislature. 

But they must first win their respective nominations, and some have an easier path than others. Meanwhile, voters will also narrow down the field of candidates running for Texas House Districts 125 and 118, both of which are open races this year. 

Read on for the latest updates in each race and check back for results after polls close at 7 p.m. 

Roland Gutierrez is running unopposed in the Democratic primary as he seeks to continue representing a district that includes south San Antonio, Uvalde, Eagle Pass and Del Rio. On the Republican ballot, Marcus Cardenas, Adam Ernest Salyer and Robert Marks Jr. are looking to unseat him. 

The district includes more than 950,000 Texans and covers nearly 23,000 square miles. 

Judith Zaffirini has represented this district since 1987 and is again running for reelection. She could secure the Democratic nomination as early as Tuesday night; her lone primary challenger is Cortney Jones. 

Julie Dahlberg is running unopposed in the Republican primary. 

District 21 stretches from Austin down through communities east of San Antonio and all the way to Nuevo Laredo and Rio Grande City. More than 930,000 Texans live in the district, which covers 16,509 square miles; 69% of that population is Hispanic, according to U.S. Census data. The median per-capita income is about 32,600. 

Democrat Philip Cortez is seeking reelection to a sixth term representing this district, which covers about 91 square miles in southwestern Bexar county. Either Cortez or challenger Robert Mihara will win the nomination on Tuesday night and go on to face Ben Mostyn, who is running unopposed in the Republican Primary, in November. 

Three Republicans and a lone Democrat are running for this district, which is an open contest in 2026. 

Kristian Carranza will go on to face either Joe Shellhart, Jorge Borrego or Desi Martinez in November. If none of those three Republicans win 50% of the vote Tuesday, the top two vote-getters will meet in the May runoff. 

The district includes about 215,000 Bexar County residents on the far southwest, south, southeast and east sides. 

Democrat Elizabeth “Liz” Campos is seeking a fourth term representing portions of Bexar County, including Converse and China Grove, in the Texas Legislature. Ryan Ayala is challenging her in the primary round; the winner will go on to face Republican Melva Perez in November. 

Democrat Barbara Gervin Hawkins hopes to fend off Jordan Brown and Bently Paiz in her bid to win the nomination Tuesday; she has represented Kirby, Windcrest and other areas of east and northeast Bexar County since  2017. 

No Republicans are running in the primary round, so the winner of the Democratic primary will secure the seat outright. 

Marc LaHood is seeking a second term representing a slide of north San Antonio, including Alamo Heights, in the Texas Legislature. His lone Republican Primary challenger is David McArthur; one of the two will secure the GOP nomination Tuesday night and go on to face Democrat Zack Dunn in November. 

Mark Dorazio is seeking a third term representing a portion of northwest Bexar County in the Texas Legislature. The Republican’s lone primary opponent is Willie Ng; the winner will go on to face Democrat Shelly Nickels in November. 

Ray Lopez, the San Antonio Democrat, opted against seeking a fifth term representing Leon Valley and other areas of northwest Bexar County in the Texas Legislature, making this an open race in 2026. 

Four Democrats are running to succeed Lopez; the top two vote-getters will advance to the May runoff if none reach the 50% threshold to win outright. One of two Republicans, Chuck Mercer IV and Ricardo “Rick” Martinez, will win their party’s nomination Tuesday night. 

About 207,000 Texans live in the district, according to U.S. Census data.