Welcome to the Monday, Dec. 8, Brew. 

By: Briana Ryan

Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:

1. Texas filing deadline today—here's what we're watching
2. Incumbent Tim Keller and Darren White are in a runoff for mayor of Albuquerque
3. One justice was sworn into a state supreme court in November

Texas filing deadline today—here's what we're watching

Texas' candidate filing deadline is today, Dec. 8. This is the third statewide filing deadline for the 2026 elections, behind Arkansas and Illinois. This filing deadline is only for candidates wanting to run in partisan primaries. The filing deadline for independent candidates is June 25.

In 2026, elections will be held for several offices throughout the “Lone Star State.” Those offices include:

• The following state executive offices: governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, agriculture commissioner, comptroller, land commissioner, railroad commissioner, and eight seats on the state board of education
• Sixteen of the 31 seats in the Texas Senate and all 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives
• One of the state’s two U.S. Senate seats and all 38 of the state’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives

Texas' statewide primary will be March 3. In those primaries, if no candidate receives a majority, the top two vote-getters will advance to a primary runoff on May 26. Here are some of the noteworthy primaries we're watching:

• U.S. Senate: Sen. John Cornyn faces U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and 10 other candidates in the Republican primary. The Democratic field includes 2024 U.S. Senate nominee Colin Allred, Texas Rep. James Talrico, and two other candidates.
• Texas Attorney General: With Paxton running for the U.S. Senate, several candidates are running for the Republican nomination to succeed him: Texas Sen. Joan Huffman, Texas Sen. Mayes Middleton, Paxton's former Deputy Attorney General for Legal Strategy Aaron Reitz, and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy.
• U.S. House: We're keeping an eye on 16 primaries—12 Republican and four Democratic—right now across both political parties as district lines have shifted between the 2024 and 2026 elections. Click here to check all 16 primaries.

On Dec. 4, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Texas would be allowed to use the new U.S. House district map that the state passed in August. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision lifts a U.S. district court’s decision in November that struck down the new map. Applying the 2024 presidential election results to the new districts, Republicans are favored in five additional districts.

There may also be some last-minute retirement announcements. Several incumbents have not yet stated their intentions, citing the new district lines. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D) is one such name to watch. Crockett—who is expected to make an announcement today—has said she is considering a U.S. Senate run.

As of Dec. 5, seven members of the state's U.S. House delegation are retiring in January 2027. That’s tied with 2018 for the most congressional retirements in the state. As of Dec. 5, a total of 40 U.S. House incumbents across the U.S.—17 Democrats and 23 Republicans—are not seeking re-election in 2026. Here are the retiring Texas representatives:

• Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D) is retiring from public office.
• Rep. Jodey Arrington (R) is retiring from public office.
• Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R) is retiring from public office.
• Rep. Michael McCaul (R) is retiring from public office.
• Rep. Troy Nehls (R) is retiring from public office.
• Rep. Wesley Hunt (R) is running for U.S. Senate.
• Rep. Chip Roy (R) is running for attorney general of Texas.

Here are a few more filing deadlines to watch for as we roll over into the next calendar year:

• North Carolina: December 19
• Kentucky: January 9
• Alabama: January 23

Click here for more information about the elections happening in Texas in 2026.

Incumbent Tim Keller and Darren White are in a runoff for mayor of Albuquerque

Incumbent Mayor Tim Keller and Darren White advanced from the nonpartisan mayoral election in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to a runoff election on Dec. 9. Keller earned 36.6% of the vote in the general election, and White earned 31.3%.

Keller was first elected mayor in 2017. White was head of the New Mexico State Police and sheriff of Bernalillo County. While the position is officially nonpartisan, Keller identified himself as a Democrat on his campaign website, and White identified himself as a Republican in a campaign advertisement.

Albuquerque Journal's Nakayla McClelland and Colleen Heild wrote, "There’s a stark contrast between the plans proposed by incumbent and challenger in the lead-up to the Dec. 9 runoff election" about public safety. According to McClelland and Heild, Keller "wants to expand the Albuquerque Police Department’s burgeoning 'crime fighting shield' of advanced technology," and White "would instead pursue past strategies like sending officers to patrol the streets, writing more traffic tickets and serving warrants."

Keller and White participated in a Nov. 11 debate hosted by KOB-TV. The candidates disagreed on crime, with Keller saying that crime was decreasing and White saying that "nobody believes that." On homelessness, White said, "When I’m elected, the homeless tent cities will come down on day one," while Keller said White's approach to homelessness would be "Trump-like roundups and chaos and violence." Keller also defended the city's immigration policies, while White said he would allow city police to cooperate with federal immigration officers.

Twenty-seven of the 100 most populous U.S. cities, including Albuquerque, held mayoral elections this year. So far, voters in 25 cities have decided their mayoral elections, with two elections—in Omaha, Nebraska, and Garland, Texas—resulting in a partisan change. In addition to Albuquerque, voters in Miami, Florida will also decide a runoff for mayor.

Click here for a deep dive into the election happening in Albuquerque.

One justice was sworn into a state supreme court in November

In this month's state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia followed announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearing-in of justices from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30. Ballotpedia follows court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. 

Justices sworn in/out

One justice was sworn into office.

• Gerald Titus III was sworn into the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.

Candidates nominated, appointed, and confirmed

Four candidates were appointed to state supreme courts, and finalists for one vacancy were announced.

• South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden (R) appointed Judge Robert Gusinsky to the South Dakota Supreme Court on Nov. 4. Gusinsky will replace Justice Janine M. Kern, who is retiring in December 2025. Gusinsky is Rhoden's first appointment to the Court.
• Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) appointed Judge Derek Vaughn to the Nebraska Supreme Court on Nov. 10. Vaughn will replace Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman, who retired on Oct. 31. Vaughn is Pillen's third nominee to the Court.
• West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) appointed Gerald Titus III to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia on Nov. 21. Titus replaced Justice Tim Armstead, who died on Aug. 26. Titus is Morrisey's second appointment to the Court.
• Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) appointed Colleen Melody to the Washington State Supreme Court on Nov. 24. Melody will replace Justice Mary Yu after she retires on Dec. 31. Melody is Ferguson's first appointment to the Court.
• The Tennessee Governor's Council for Judicial Appointments released a list of three finalists who passed the interview phase of the selection process. The finalists will be sent to Gov. Bill Lee (R), who will make his fourth nomination to the Court. After Lee nominates a candidate, the Tennessee General Assembly must confirm the nominee, who will then stand for retention in November 2026.

Announced retirements

Two justices announced their retirement from their respective state supreme courts.

• Florida Supreme Court Justice Charles Canady announced on Nov. 17 that he would retire. In Canady’s retirement announcement, he did not specify when he would step down but he said he will start a position at the University of Florida in early 2026. Canady's retirement gives Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) his eighth opportunity to appoint a justice to the Court.
• North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Daniel Crothers announced on Nov. 26 that he would retire at the end of February 2026. Crothers' vacancy gives Gov. Kelly Armstrong (R) his first opportunity to appoint a justice to the Court.

Click here to learn more about the November 2025 state supreme court vacancies.