By RAY QUIROGA
publisher@sbewspaper.com
Voters are heading back to the polls on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, to decide the winners of joint primary runoff elections stemming from the March Primaries.
Runoff voters must remain with the same party they voted for in March; however, those who did not vote in the March primaries may vote in the runoffs if they are registered. They are also eligible to vote in either party’s runoff election.
Early voting for the runoffs opened on May 18 and concludes this evening, Friday, March 22.
As of Wednesday, the available voting totals for the Republicans show 2,209 ballots cast countywide.
The San Benito Community Building recorded 164 ballots, while the Rio Hondo Civic Center recorded 63 ballots. The Los Indios Community Center saw only six voters, while the Los Fresnos Community welcomed 157 voters.
The county’s highest ballot generator for the Republicans was the Brownsville Public Library, which has seen 447 voters cast ballots at its polls, while the lowest numbers thus far come from Santa Maria, which tallied only five ballots cast in that community.
Meanwhile, 6,645 voters cast their ballots in the Democratic Primary runoffs.
The San Benito Community Building recorded 563 ballots cast, with 194 on the first day of early voting, 205 on the second day, and 164 on the third day.
The Rio Hondo Civic Center recorded 104 ballots cast, with 40 on the first day of early voting, 29 on the second day, and 35 on the third day. Los Indios totaled 19, and Los Fresnos totaled 586.
The seven forms of approved photo ID needed to vote in Texas are: Texas Driver’s License issued by DPS, Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS, Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS, Texas Handgun License issued by DPS, United States Military Identification Card containing the voter’s photograph, United States Citizenship Certificate containing the voter’s photograph, and United States Passport (book or card).
Registered voters have the opportunity to use additional supporting documents to cast their ballot if they are unable to obtain an acceptable form of photo identification.
If a voter does not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of the seven forms of approved photo ID, the voter may vote by signing a declaration of impediment at the polls explaining why the voter is reasonably unable to obtain one of the seven forms of approved photo ID and providing one of several forms of supporting documentation: a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or a document confirming birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document); a current utility bill, a bank statement, a government check, a paycheck, or a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address (which may include the voter’s voter registration certificate).
In the San Benito area, polling locations include: San Benito Community Bldg., 210 E. Heywood St., San Benito; Los Indios Community Center, 309 E. Heywood St., Los Indios; Fred Booth Global Leadership Academy, 705 Zaragoza St., San Benito; La Paloma Elementary School, 35076 Padilla St., San Benito; Ed Downs Elementary School, 1302 N. Dick Dowling St., San Benito; Sullivan Environmental Science Academy, 900 Elizabeth St., San Benito; Los Fresnos Community Center, 204 N. Brazil St., Los Fresnos; Rio Hondo Municipal Center (Civic Center), 121 N. Arroyo Blvd., Rio Hondo.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. For more information, contact the Cameron County Election Administration Office at (956) 544-0809.
Key races for the Democrats include the 107th District Court, where San Benito’s Jesus T. “Chuy” Garcia is vying for the post against Now Garza; the race for Justice of the Peace Pct. 4, where incumbent Juan Mendoza is facing Gabriela Fernandez; and the race for County Judge, where challenger Steve Guerra is challenging incumbent Eddie Trevino, Jr.
For the District 37 State Representative position, Esmeralda Cantu-Castle is facing Oziel Ochoa Jr.
On the Republican side, the race for U.S. Senator between incumbent John Cornyn and Ken Paxton has drawn national attention.
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