The date for the 2026 Primary elections has yet to be set, however several potential and announced candidates are making headlines. The statewide election is scheduled for November 3, 2026. The primary date, when El Paso candidates become the presumed winner of the November ballot, is yet to be scheduled. Nonetheless, incumbents have started to announce their intent to seek reelection, and the names of potential challengers have started to surface.
Statewide, the likely premiere race will likely be Ken Paxton’s challenge of John Cornyn’s senate seat. Paxton is in his third term as attorney general and Cornyn has held his senate seat for 22 years. The Cornyn versus Paxton is expected to be expensive.
Locally, three county commissioners: Ricardo Samaniego, David Stout and Sergio Coronado announced earlier this month that they will be seeking to keep their seats. With almost a year before the primary, the incumbents’ early announcements are a signal to campaign contributors to start funding campaigns and an attempt to make it difficult for potential contenders to raise campaign funds to challenge the incumbents.
The incumbents have the benefit of having the campaign infrastructure in place to raise campaign contributions for their candidacy. Potential contenders seeking to unseat the incumbents must first register with the Texas Ethics Commission before they can start raising funds. By registering, the potential challengers become public providing the incumbents with the ability to begin looking for weaknesses in the challengers to exploit as the election nears.
Waiting before formally announcing provides a measure of protection to the challengers but gives the incumbents the opportunity to both raise limited campaign funds and broaden their name recognition among the voters.
Campaign Funds Rolling In For Sergio Coronado
Sergio Coronado has put a notation on next Monday’s county commissioners meeting disclosing a campaign contribution of $2,500 from Paul Foster on April 9, 2025.
On the April 7, 2025 county commissioners agenda, Coronado listed five contributions totaling $13,000. The contributors were Richard Aguilar, Frederick Francis, Steve Fox and Woody Hunt each for $2,500. Javier Torresdey made a $3,000 contribution to Coronado. All the contributions were made on March 25. Coronado’s campaign contributions were first reported by Max Grossman on April 7.
The name Torresday is likely misspelled in the financial disclosures. A review of online records suggests that the campaign contributor is Javier Torresdey. Torresdey operates Torresdey Motors, a used car dealership, on Alameda and Gateway.
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In 2022, the Texas Credit Commissioner, which regulates consumer loans in Texas, issued an order to Torresdey “to file timely and accurate annual reports” on its loan activity. It ordered Torresdey to file the pending 2021 annual report by May 1, 2022. On August 2023, the Commissioner ordered Torresdey to pay an administrative penalty of $500 for failing to file its 2022 report.
Coronado’s January campaign contributions report shows that Coronado had $274.31 in campaign contributions on December 31. Publicly released campaign contribution information show that Coronado now has around $15,000 in campaign contributions.
The Ricardo Samaniego Fundraiser
As we previously reported, Ricardo Samaniego held campaign fundraiser on April 9.
The El Paso County Code of Ethics requires (Section 13) sitting county commissioners and candidates for the court to disclose campaign contributions of $2,500 within 30-days of receiving the contribution.
Because the 30-days have not passed, it is not known how much Samaniego raised during his fundraiser. However, an individual who spoke to us on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak for the Samaniego Campaign told us that Samaniego’s internal poll numbers show that he continues to face an uphill battle to keep his seat.
An El Paso News survey of likely voters in February showed that a challenge by Oscar Leeser would likely result in Samaniego’s defeat.
Leeser has not announced any intention to run for office and requests for comment remain unanswered.
Samaniego’s January 15 report shows that Samaniego had $724.51 in campaign contributions on December 31, 2024 and an outstanding loan of $3,000.
David Stout Reports Zero Dollars In Campaign Contributions
There have been no indications that David Stout has accepted any campaign contributions this year. He reported a zero balance and $15,565.49 in outstanding loans on December 31, according to his January campaign contributions report.
All three incumbents are being hampered by a proposed non-voter approved debt vote scheduled for next month.
Looming Certificates of Obligation Threatens To Derail Incumbent Reelection Bids
The three incumbents seeking to keep their seats; Coronado, Samaniego and Stout are facing uphill reelection battles because of a vote to issue $54 million in non-voter approved debt. Originally, the non-voter approved debt was to be $52 million but on March 24, the Commissioners voted to approve their intent to issue up to $54 million in non-voter approved certificates of obligation.
The County is holding five public meetings to explain to voters the need for the non-voter approved debt. Two meetings remain on May 1 and May 7. According to the county, the debt would be used for air conditioning for the Family Youth Services Center, flood control, roadway safety, water/sewer services.
The earliest the incumbents can vote on the proposed non-voter approved debt is May 8. However, because county commissioners generally hold their meetings on Monday, the earliest the non-voter approved debt may appear on the county commissioners agenda is May 12.
The next campaign contributions are due in July.
Beto O’Rourke?
Another name that has come up for the 2026 elections is Beto O’Rourke. Coming close to unseating Ted Cruz in 2018, O’Rourke’s recent public appearances have “been raising eyebrows,” according to The Dallas News. For now, O’Rourke told the newspaper that he is focused on organizing voter outreach programs across Texas.
The Powered by People Hybrid PAC created by O’Rourke reported having $3.5 million on December 31, 2024, according to the latest Federal Election Commission information.
A Hybrid federal PAC allows the PAC access to two types of political contributions, those limited on how they spend contributions and access to spending allowed by super PACs.