Harris County Flood Control District Proposition A calls for a property tax rate increase of 57 percent to support essential flood maintenance projects. If approved, the tax rate would rise from 3.1 to 4.9 cents per $100 of valuation, impacting homeowners by approximately $60 on average annually.

Houston Independent School District (HISD) has a bond proposal on the ballot, divided into two parts: Proposition A and Proposition B. The former seeks to secure $3.96 billion for the reconstruction and renovations of more than 40 aging campuses. Proposition B requests $440 million aimed at enhancing technology infrastructure and constructing new career and technical education centers. Despite the potential benefits, both propositions have faced significant opposition from community members who are expressing concerns over fiscal management and accountability since superintendent Mike Miles and the state of Texas took over HISD in June 2023.

This is shaping up to be one of the most high-profile contests in the country. Incumbent Republican senator Ted Cruz is running for a third term, and his challenger, Colin Allred, a Democratic congressman from Dallas, is giving him a run for his money. Cruz, known for his conservative policies and sharp rhetoric, is doubling down on his calls for securing the border, reducing government regulation, and supporting the oil and gas sector.

Allred, a former NFL player turned lawyer and congressman, says he’s focused on building bipartisan relationships to expand health care access and lower the cost of prescription drugs, protecting voting rights, and strengthening public schools. The last person to challenge Cruz was Beto O’Rourke in 2018, who gained support from younger Texans and Independents but lost by a narrow 2.6 percent.

Despite its misleading name, the Texas Railroad Commission has nothing to do with trains. Rather, it regulates the state’s oil and gas industry, pipelines, and mining operations. This election cycle, incumbent Republican Christi Craddick is looking to secure another term against Democratic challenger Katherine Culbert, an engineer with years of experience in the industry.

Craddick, who has held her position since 2012, faces renewed scrutiny about the commission’s close ties to the energy sector. Critics argue that it has not effectively monitored the environmental impacts of oil and gas extraction, citing increased approvals for exemptions and insufficient oversight.

Culbert is positioning herself as a candidate who can bring a more rigorous regulatory approach through enhancing safety protocols and ensuring thorough and effective inspections. She also promises to prioritize protecting public health and the environment over facilitating industry interests.

Libertarian Hawk Dunlap, another contender in this race, is also focusing on the need for reform in well management and environmental protection. And finally, Eddie Espinoza of the Green Party is advocating for a significant transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources with a call to ban hydraulic fracturing—better known as “fracking”—a controversial method of oil extraction linked to several environmental issues.

County commissioners play a vital role in the local governance that directly affects your community. These officials oversee a range of essential services, including road maintenance, public safety, and local health initiatives.

In Harris County’s Precinct 1, incumbent Rodney Ellis is running against challenger Gerry Vander-Lyn. A well-known name in Houston, Ellis is seeking his third term as a commissioner after having served on the Houston City Council and in the Texas Senate prior to that. While representing Precinct 1, he worked on bail reform, flood infrastructure investment, and a proposal for a guaranteed income program.

Republican Vander-Lyn, an accountant, has entered the race. Her campaign website lists mental health and homelessness among priority issues, stressing the importance of communication and collaboration but with few policy specifics.

In Precinct 3, incumbent Tom Ramsey, a civil engineer and business owner, faces a challenge from Saleem Malik, a police officer with the Harris County Constable’s Office. Ramsey, a Republican, is focused on infrastructure improvements, flood control, and public safety. Malik highlights the need for more officers on the streets, incorporating new technologies into the force, improving officers’ working conditions, and increasing budget allocations for flood prevention.

This position is crucial in managing the county’s legal affairs, advising the commissioners and other elected officials on juridical matters, and representing the city in civil cases. In Harris County, incumbent Christian Menefee, a Democrat, is running for reelection after his first term in office. At 36, he is the youngest person elected to this position in Texas’s largest county and has focused much of his efforts during his tenure on environmental justice, voting rights, and holding industries accountable. He is known for challenging environmental permits that disproportionately impact communities of color, such as Kashmere Gardens.

Jacqueline Lucci Smith, on the other hand, emphasizes a return to what she sees as a more neutral stance in the office. A former judge and a Republican, she argues Menefee’s activist approach has alienated certain stakeholders, particularly Republicans. Her campaign promises to provide nonpartisan legal advice and ensure that county entities are represented equitably.

Criminal court is where everything misdemeanor-related goes down. It handles cases ranging from minor offenses to domestic violence charges. The choice of who fills this seat determines the judicial philosophy that influences sentencing, bail decisions, and the overall treatment of defendants.

Democratic candidate Ashley Mayes Guice has served in various legal capacities, including as a judge in Criminal Court 3. Her approach emphasizes rehabilitation and the use of alternative sentencing methods. Her Republican opponent, Linda Garcia, also has prior judicial experience and briefly presided over the very seat being vied for in 2016. During Garcia’s time in office, she supported initiatives aimed at reforming bail practices and advocating for the use of personal recognizance bonds for low-risk defendants.

Another key race taking center stage is for the Harris County District Attorney, after incumbent Kim Ogg lost her primary by a staggering 50-point margin in March. The Democratic victor, Sean Teare, and his Republican challenger, Dan Simons, are both former prosecutors, each presenting distinct visions for the future of the office.

Teare is advocating for a series of reforms he believes will enhance the office’s transparency and efficiency, including establishing a review board to oversee new cases, addressing the staffing shortages that have plagued the office, and moving away from politicization he claims has hindered effective law enforcement.

Simons, who now owns a law firm after years of poverty and homelessness, is advocating for a more individualized approach to prosecution, arguing each case should be assessed on its unique circumstances rather than through a one-size-fits-all lens. He also plans to collaborate closely with other local agencies to build morale within the district attorney’s office and engagement between government entities.

Seeking a third term, sheriff Ed Gonzalez has significant challenges as he aims to retain his position. Crime is a top issue for voters and his office has faced public scrutiny of jail conditions. He has focused on improving the Harris County Jail, which has recently been certified by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. His campaign highlights his efforts to address the systemic issues that have contributed to a series of troubling incidents, including in-custody deaths.

Opposing him is Mike Knox, a former Houston City Council member and police officer, who is advocating for a tougher approach to crime and emphasizing the need for increased law enforcement presence. He also pledges to enhance training for deputies and establish more comprehensive community policing initiatives.

What on earth is a Tax Assessor, you ask? This person is responsible for determining the value of properties within the county, as well as overseeing the collection of property taxes, managing vehicle registration, and handling voter registration. This position holds the power to influence property tax rates and has to maintain accurate tax rolls. Current Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Ann Harris Bennett is not seeking reelection, making room for Republican Steve Radack to face off against Democrat Annette Ramirez.

Radack served as a constable and Harris County Commissioner over the course of three decades. His campaign promises to bring efficiency to the office, advocating for reduced wait times and improved communication with constituents. Ramirez, a tax attorney and assistant general counsel at Aldine ISD, is positioning herself as a reformer focused on transparency and accessibility. Her campaign emphasizes outreach efforts, particularly for underrepresented groups, to ensure that everyone understands their rights regarding property taxes and voting.