Van Zandt County, Texas: 2026 Voter Guide

✅ Checked against the official county sample ballot (Oct 18, 2026). Coverage confirmed: the county posts a single sample ballot titled "All Races and Special Elections" listing every contest on the Nov. 3 ballot, and it matches the county's posted election orders (county general election, County Assistance Districts 1-8, ESD No. 2, Brownsboro ISD, Martin's Mill ISD). Each district measure and school board race appears only on ballots for voters in that district. See your exact ballot on Texas My Voter Portal.

Official sample ballot · Van Zandt County Elections Administration: (903) 567-3895

Statewide races (every Texas voter)

U.S. SenateJames Talarico D Donors1% from progressive-cause donorsKen Paxton R Donors<1% from progressive-cause donorsTed Brown L Donors0% from progressive-cause donors

GovernorGina Hinojosa D Donors<1% from progressive-cause donorsGreg Abbott R Donors0% from progressive-cause donorsPat Dixon L Donors0% from progressive-cause donors

Lieutenant GovernorVikki Goodwin D Donors<1% from progressive-cause donorsDan Patrick R Donors0% from progressive-cause donorsAnthony Cristo L Donors0% from progressive-cause donorsKevin McCormick G Donors

Attorney GeneralMayes Middleton R Donors0% from progressive-cause donorsNathan Johnson D Donors<1% from progressive-cause donorsTom Oxford L Donors

Comptroller of Public AccountsDon Huffines R Donors0% from progressive-cause donorsSarah Eckhardt D Donors<1% from progressive-cause donorsVAV. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza L DonorsShehla Faizi G Donors0% from progressive-cause donors

Commissioner of the General Land OfficeDawn Buckingham R Donors2% from progressive-cause donorsBenjamin Flores D Donors0% from progressive-cause donorsNSNeill Snider L Donors

Commissioner of AgricultureNate Sheets R Donors0% from progressive-cause donorsClayton Tucker D Donors<1% from progressive-cause donorsAustin R. Kelly L Donors

Railroad CommissionerBo French R Donors0% from progressive-cause donorsJon Rosenthal D Donors<1% from progressive-cause donorsArthur DiBianca L Donors

Chief Justice, Supreme CourtJimmy Blacklock R Donors0% from progressive-cause donorsMaggie Ellis D Donors<1% from progressive-cause donors

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2 (Unexpired Term)James P. Sullivan R Donors0% from progressive-cause donorsChari Kelly D Donors0% from progressive-cause donors

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 7Kyle Hawkins R DonorsKristen Hawkins D Donors0% from progressive-cause donors

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 8Brett Busby R DonorsGisela D. Triana D Donors0% from progressive-cause donors

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3Thomas Smith R Donors0% from progressive-cause donorsOkey Anyiam D DonorsMark Ash L Donors

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4Kevin Patrick Yeary R Donors0% from progressive-cause donorsAudra Riley D Donors

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9John Messinger R Donors0% from progressive-cause donorsHolly Taylor D Donors0% from progressive-cause donors

Chief Justice, 15th Court of Appeals DistrictSBScott Brister R DonorsJerry Zimmerer D Donors0% from progressive-cause donors

Justice, 15th Court of Appeals District, Place 2Scott K. Field R Donors0% from progressive-cause donorsTBTom Baker D Donors

Justice, 15th Court of Appeals District, Place 3AFApril Farris R Donors0% from progressive-cause donorsMMMarc M. Meyer D Donors0% from progressive-cause donors

Congress, Legislature & district races in Van Zandt County

U.S. House, District 5Lance Gooden R Donors0% from progressive-cause donorsChelsey Hockett D Donors0% from progressive-cause donors

State Board of Education, District 9Kason Huddleston R Donors0% from progressive-cause donorsEricka Ledferd D Donors0% from progressive-cause donors

Texas Senate, District 2Bob Hall R Donors0% from progressive-cause donorsKeenen Colbert D Donors<1% from progressive-cause donors

Texas House, District 2Brent A. Money R Donors0% from progressive-cause donorsFatima La'Juan Muse D Donors0% from progressive-cause donors

Uncontested: Chief Justice, 12th Court of Appeals District — Brian Hoyle; Justice, 12th Court of Appeals District, Place 3 (Unexpired Term) — Michael Davis; District Judge, 294th Judicial District — Chris Martin

County, school board & city races

Uncontested local: Criminal District Attorney Van Zandt County — Richard A. Schmidt (Republican); County Judge — Andy Reese (Republican); Judge, County Court at Law — Joshua Wintters (Republican); District Clerk — Karen Wilson (Republican); County Clerk — Susan Strickland (Republican); County Treasurer — Kenny Edwards (Republican); County Commissioner Precinct 4 — Brandon Barton (Republican); Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 — Wade McMillan (Republican); Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 — Don Ashlock (Republican); Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 — Herbert Dunn (Republican); Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 — Scott Shinn (Republican)

Ballot questions

• Van Zandt County Assistance District 1: THIS IS A TAX INCREASE Authorizing the creation of Van Zandt County Assistance District 1 and the imposition of a sales and use tax at the rate of two percent (2%) for the purpose of financing the operations of the district. (Full ballot language: official sample ballot, page 5.)
• Van Zandt County Assistance District 2: THIS IS A TAX INCREASE Authorizing the creation of Van Zandt County Assistance District 2 and the imposition of a sales and use tax at the rate of two percent (2%) for the purpose of financing the operations of the district. (Full ballot language: official sample ballot, page 5.)
• Van Zandt County Assistance District 3: THIS IS A TAX INCREASE Authorizing the creation of Van Zandt County Assistance District 3 and the imposition of a sales and use tax at the rate of two percent (2%) for the purpose of financing the operations of the district. (Full ballot language: official sample ballot, page 5.)
• Van Zandt County Assistance District 4: THIS IS A TAX INCREASE Authorizing the creation of Van Zandt County Assistance District 4 and the imposition of a sales and use tax at the rate of two percent (2%) for the purpose of financing the operations of the district. (Full ballot language: official sample ballot, page 5.)
• Van Zandt County Assistance District 5: THIS IS A TAX INCREASE Authorizing the creation of Van Zandt County Assistance District 5 and the imposition of a sales and use tax at the rate of one and three-quarter percent (1.75%) for the purpose of financing the operations of the district. (Full ballot language: official sample ballot, page 6.)
• Van Zandt County Assistance District 6: THIS IS A TAX INCREASE Authorizing the creation of Van Zandt County Assistance District 6 and the imposition of a sales and use tax at the rate of one and three-quarter percent (1.75%) for the purpose of financing the operations of the district. (Full ballot language: official sample ballot, page 6.)
• Van Zandt County Assistance District 7: THIS IS A TAX INCREASE Authorizing the creation of Van Zandt County Assistance District 7 and the imposition of a sales and use tax at the rate of one and three-quarter percent (1.75%) for the purpose of financing the operations of the district. (Full ballot language: official sample ballot, page 6.)
• Van Zandt County Assistance District 8: THIS IS A TAX INCREASE Authorizing the creation of Van Zandt County Assistance District 8 and the imposition of a sales and use tax at the rate of one and three-quarter percent (1.75%) for the purpose of financing the operations of the district. (Full ballot language: official sample ballot, page 6.)
• Van Zandt County Emergency Services District No. 2: THIS IS A TAX INCREASE The adoption of a local sales and use tax in Van Zandt County Emergency Services District No. 2 at a rate not to exceed two percent (2%) in any location in the District. (Full ballot language: official sample ballot, page 6.)

Sources: Checked against the official Van Zandt County sample ballot · Texas Secretary of State 2026 Ballot Certification (Van Zandt County section)