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Texas' 5th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Democratic primary)

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Texas redrew its congressional district boundaries in August 2025. Voters will elect representatives under the new map in 2026. Click here to read more about mid-decade redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections.


← 2024
Texas' 5th Congressional District
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: December 8, 2025
Primary: March 3, 2026
Primary runoff: May 26, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times:

7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting in Texas

Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending
Inside Elections: Solid Republican
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
Texas' 5th Congressional District
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th • 13th • 14th • 15th • 16th • 17th • 18th • 19th • 20th • 21st • 22nd • 23rd • 24th • 25th • 26th • 27th • 28th • 29th • 30th • 31st • 32nd • 33rd • 34th • 35th • 36th • 37th • 38th
Texas elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

A Democratic Party primary takes place on March 3, 2026, in Texas' 5th Congressional District to determine which Democratic candidate will run in the district's general election on November 3, 2026.

Candidate filing deadline Primary election General election
December 8, 2025
March 3, 2026
November 3, 2026



A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Texas utilizes an open primary system. State law requires voters to sign the following pledge before voting in a primary: "I am a (insert appropriate political party) and understand that I am ineligible to vote or participate in another political party's primary election or convention during this voting year."[1]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

This page focuses on Texas' 5th Congressional District Democratic primary. For more in-depth information on the district's Republican primary and the general election, see the following pages:

Candidates and election results

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 5

Chelsey Hockett, Forrest Lumpkin, and Ruth Torres are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 5 on March 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Chelsey Hockett
Chelsey Hockett Candidate Connection
Image of Forrest Lumpkin
Forrest Lumpkin Candidate Connection
Image of Ruth Torres
Ruth Torres Candidate Connection

There are no incumbents in this race.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Chelsey Hockett

Image of Chelsey Hockett

WebsiteFacebookYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "I am a progressive Texas mom who believes our communities deserve better than cruelty and corruption. I believe healthcare is a human right. I believe workers deserve power. I believe families deserve real economic stability, not lectures about personal responsibility from politicians who have never struggled a day in their lives. I believe in reproductive freedom, immigrant rights, strong unions, fully funded public schools, and a government that actually works for the people who live here. I am running because the future of this state belongs to the people, not the powerful."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

I am running because working families deserve a government that protects them instead of protecting corporations and political donors. I will fight for fair wages, affordable healthcare, and real cost of living relief so families in our district can build stable, dignified lives.

I believe in reproductive freedom, well-funded public schools, safe communities, and a humane border system that values both security and human dignity. We can protect our families without cruelty, and we can build systems that work instead of systems that punish.

I am committed to progressive values that meet people where they are. That means expanding healthcare, supporting unions, protecting civil rights, and investing in the public institutions that keep our communities strong. I will always stand up for the people who have been ignored, dismissed, or written off by those in power.

Forrest Lumpkin

Image of Forrest Lumpkin

WebsiteFacebook

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

America’s health care system needs reform. We do not focus enough on policies which promote preventative medicine such as measures to promote smoking cessation. Such policies could drastically reduce costs and improve health. The way costs of health care are determined by the industry needs to be examined and reformed. It is ridiculous that the difference between what is billed for health care services and what is paid by insurance companies (i.e. the “negotiated savings” item shown on statements of benefits) is so large. That is obvious evidence that the system is broken.

My rocket scientist career included over 35 years as a civil servant at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - mostly at Houston’s Johnson Space Center. So I know a little bit about science - and specifically government’s roll in supporting the kind of basic and applied research that provides a return over periods of time measured in years or even decades. This kind of research is so needed if we are to continue to advance as a nation but is hard for corporate America to justify when shareholders are interested how that research will provide a good rate of return over the next quarter or two. The continued health of NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility near Palestine, a key research facility, is very important to me.

The US Constitution designates the imposition of tariffs as a power bestowed to the Legislative Branch and not the Executive Branch. I would work to restore this role which has been usurped by the Executive Branch in the false claim that they are necessary because of a “national emergency”. Tariffs are essentially a hidden sales tax and are therefore regressive and inflationary in. general. They should only be used in special circumstances in situations when other methods to insure free and fair trade in certain markets have failed. A potential example is Europe’s Airbus which is subsidized by European governments providing an advantage .over US firms such as Boeing.

Ruth Torres

Image of Ruth Torres

FacebookXYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "

I’m a resilient, committed woman of faith calling Texas home for over 16 years and a bold warrior for a government that serves the people, not the 1%. I’m 3rd of 6 kids to Linda Sue, a white country girl and Andres a black Puerto Rican, both from rural farming families. Now an empty nester, I’ve raised 5 beautiful racially diverse children as a single parent: 2 from a relationship with a police officer and 3 I took as my own when their mothers died very young due to lack of adequate medical care.

My disabled siblings and I went through foster homes & homeless shelters. I was a 10th grade dropout but became the first in my family to earn a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from DCCC & Dallas Baptist University via a daily 14 mile bicycle ride, a Master’s Degree in International Management from FIU and am currently completing my law degree.
I’m a strategic process improvement and problem solving expert with over 20 years in Human Capital Strategic & Legal Compliance Consulting. I climbed the corporate ladder as a Human Resources Executive, opened a small business in 2007, was a business professor for 7 years, and Executive Director for a non-profit organization for at-risk youth."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

America is in a civil war. I have enlisted. The rigged systems perpetuating racism, inequity, oppression and corruption is destroying democracy. I’ll work to rebuild an improved democracy that better fulfills the promise of our constitution by championing reform in every branch and level for an accountable, competent government that serves the people, not the 1%.

My commitment and loyalty is to God and country, our constitution, truth and justice - not to any person or party. I will hold all accountable without favoritism for violating their oaths of office or the law.

Texas' enemy is greed and discrimination, even among democrats desperate to flip Texas but afraid a minority woman can't win in the general election so they choose to bow submitting to racism preferring to support less qualified, non-minority candidate. I am the only democratic candidate for this seat that has consistently shown up and delivered results for the people of this district and Texas since at least 2016, without bias or favoritism regardless of party, wealth, race or popularity, at great personal cost. I offer education, skills and experience to make impact on public policy that is balanced and impactful serving the people and small businesses of CD5, Texas and America while protecting our m

Voting information

See also: Voting in Texas

Election information in Texas: March 3, 2026, election.

What was the voter registration deadline?

  • In-person: Feb. 2, 2026
  • By mail: Postmarked by Feb. 2, 2026
  • Online: N/A

Is absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

No

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

  • In-person: Feb. 20, 2026
  • By mail: Received by Feb. 20, 2026
  • Online: N/A

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

  • In-person: March 3, 2026
  • By mail: Postmarked by March 3, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

Feb. 17, 2026 to Feb. 27, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When are polls open on Election Day?

7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (CT/MT)

Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Chelsey Hockett Democratic Party $4,659 $-3,647 $5,701 As of December 31, 2025
Forrest Lumpkin Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Ruth Torres Democratic Party $10,275 $1,902 $8,649 As of December 31, 2025

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

  • District map - A map of the district before and after redistricting ahead of the 2026 election.
  • Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2026 U.S. House elections in the state.
  • Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
  • State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.


Below is the district map used in the 2024 election next to the map in place for the 2026 election. Click on a map below to enlarge it.

2024

2023_01_03_tx_congressional_district_05.jpg

2026

2027_01_03_tx_congressional_district_05.jpg
See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2026
Information about competitiveness will be added here as it becomes available.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+13. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 13 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Texas' 5th the 93rd most Republican district nationally.[2]

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2024 presidential election was in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by The Downballot.

2024 presidential results in Texas' 5th Congressional District
Kamala Harris Democratic PartyDonald Trump Republican Party
39.6%58.6%

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in Texas, 2024

Texas presidential election results (1900-2024)

  • 16 Democratic wins
  • 15 Republican wins
Year 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Winning Party D D D D D D D R D D D D D R R D D D R D R R R R R R R R R R R R
See also: Party control of Texas state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of Texas' congressional delegation as of October 2025.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Texas
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 0 12 12
Republican 2 25 27
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 1 1
Total 2 38 40

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in Texas' top four state executive offices as of October 2025.

State executive officials in Texas, October 2025
OfficeOfficeholder
GovernorRepublican Party Greg Abbott
Lieutenant GovernorRepublican Party Dan Patrick
Secretary of StateRepublican Party Jane Nelson
Attorney GeneralRepublican Party Ken Paxton

State legislature

Texas State Senate

Party As of October 2025
     Democratic Party 11
     Republican Party 18
     Other 0
     Vacancies 2
Total 31

Texas House of Representatives

Party As of October 2025
     Democratic Party 62
     Republican Party 88
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 150

Trifecta control

Texas Party Control: 1992-2025
Three years of Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-three years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Senate D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
House D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Texas in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Texas, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Texas U.S. House Democratic or Republican 2% of votes cast for governor in the district in the last election, or 500, whichever is less $3,125 12/8/2025 Source
Texas U.S. House Unaffiliated 5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election, or 500, whichever is less N/A 12/8/2025 Source

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Texas Constitution and Statutes, "Tex. Election Code Ann. § 172.086," accessed December 23, 2025
  2. ↑ Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025


Texas' current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
John Cornyn (R)
Ted Cruz (R)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
Al Green (D)
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
Chip Roy (R)
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
Republican Party (27)
Democratic Party (13)


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