This year’s filing deadline for candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Texas was Dec. 8, 2025.

Two hundred fifty-two candidates — 98 Democrats and 154 Republicans — are running for Texas’ 38 U.S. House districts. That’s 6.6 candidates per district. There were 4.2 candidates per district in 2024, 5.8 in 2022, 6.4 in 2020, 5.9 in 2018, 3.5 in 2016, and 2.8 in 2014.

Here are some other highlights from this year’s filings:

• These are the first elections to take place since the Texas Legislature passed a new congressional map. The Texas House of Representatives passed it on Aug. 20, 2025, and the Texas Senate passed it on Aug. 23, 2025. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed the new congressional map into law on Aug. 29, 2025.
• This is the highest total number of candidates who are running for the U.S. House since 2014.

• Ten districts are open this year. There were three districts open in 2024, six in 2022, six in 2020, eight in 2018, two in 2016, and one in 2014. 
• Reps. Morgan Luttrell (R-8th), Michael McCaul (R-10th), Jodey Arrington (R-19th), Troy Nehls (R-22nd), Marc Veasey (D-33rd), and Lloyd Doggett (D-37th) are retiring from public office. Reps. Jasmine Crockett (D-30th) and Wesley Hunt (R-38th) are running for the U.S. Senate. Rep. Chip Roy (R-21st) is running for attorney general of Texas.
• Two incumbents — Reps. Christian Menefee (D) and Al Green (D) — are running against each other in the redrawn 18th district. Menefee is the incumbent in the current 18th district, and Green is the incumbent in the 9th district.
• Fifty-nine primaries — 32 Democratic and 28 Republican — are contested this year. In total, there were 39 contested primaries in 2024, 44 in 2022, 50 in 2020, 46 in 2018, 33 in 2016, and 19 in 2014.
• Fifteen candidates are running for the open 9th district, 21st district, and 35th district, tying for the most candidates running for a district this year.
• Nineteen incumbents — eight Democrats and 11 Republicans — are facing primary challengers this year. There were 19 incumbents in a contested primary in 2024, 19 in 2022, 18 in 2020, 15 in 2018, 19 in 2016, and 12 in 2014.
• Candidates filed to run in the Republican and Democratic primaries in all 38 districts, meaning no districts are guaranteed to either party.

Texas and two other states — Arkansas and North Carolina — are holding U.S. House primaries on March 3, 2026. If needed, Texas will hold runoff elections on May 26, 2026.

In Texas, primary winners are determined by majority vote. In the case that no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes cast, the top two candidates proceed to a runoff election.