Bell County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
27 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 20 Bell County races, led by the Bell County Judge contest.
County offices
JudgeDavid Blackburn (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
David Blackburn Republican
Blackburn previously served as Temple's city manager and held city manager, assistant city manager and city attorney roles in Killeen, plus city attorney posts in Texarkana and Plainview, before becoming County Judge. He holds a bachelor's degree from Hardin-Simmons University and a law degree from St. Mary's University School of Law, per the county's official biography. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
March 3 primary result: two-term incumbent Judge David Blackburn won the Republican nomination with 65.6 percent over Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Ted Duffield and is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; no Democrat filed, per the county's official March 3 primary results (Bell County Elections, results.enr.clarityelections.com) (Texas prints unopposed candidates).
Full race pageCommissioner, Precinct 2Bobby Whitson (R) · Stacey L. Wilson (D)
Bobby Whitson Republican
- Economic development for Precinct 2 and the region
- Regional partnerships with Fort Hood and neighboring counties
Per the campaign site.
About Bobby Whitson
Whitson is president and CEO of Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union and holds a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University, per the campaign site. He has been active in Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions clubs and in chamber of commerce leadership across Killeen, Harker Heights and Salado, per the campaign site. He has lived, worked and worshiped in Bell County his entire life, per the campaign site.
Stacey L. Wilson Democratic
Stacey L. Wilson appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Bell County Commissioner, Precinct 2, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Stacey L. Wilson.
March 3 primary result: Bobby Whitson (R) and Stacey L. Wilson (D) were each unopposed for their party's nomination and meet on the November 3 ballot, per the county's official March 3 primary results (Bell County Elections, results.enr.clarityelections.com).
Full race pageCommissioner, Precinct 4Curtis Emmons (R) · Ernest Wilkerson (D)
Curtis Emmons Republican
- Stronger law enforcement coordination for public safety
- A proactive, long-term road infrastructure plan
- Reducing regulation on home and business construction
Per the campaign site.
About Curtis Emmons
Emmons is a third-generation owner of B.A. Emmons Homes, a Central Texas construction company operating for more than 50 years, and holds a Master Builder certification, per the campaign site. Emmons has expanded the family business into consulting, commercial construction, and land development, and has served as president of the Central Texas Home Builders Association, per the campaign site.
Ernest Wilkerson Democratic
- Infrastructure improvements
- Economic growth and small-business support
- Funding for western Bell County community needs
Per the campaign site.
About Ernest Wilkerson
Wilkerson is a military veteran and former state employee who served four terms on the Killeen City Council beginning in 2001 and is a vice president of the Killeen Economic Development Corporation, per his campaign site.
March 3 primary result: Curtis Emmons was unopposed for the Republican nomination; Ernest Wilkerson won the Democratic nomination with 64.8 percent over incumbent Commissioner Louie Minor. Emmons and Wilkerson meet on the November 3 ballot, per the county's official March 3 primary results (Bell County Elections, results.enr.clarityelections.com).
Full race pageClerkShelley Coston (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Shelley Coston Republican
Shelley Coston is the incumbent Bell County Clerk, in office since 2007 as the first Republican elected to the post. Under her tenure the office made more than 5 million county records electronically accessible and added e-filing and e-recording, per the Killeen Daily Herald. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
Single-nominee race: Shelley Coston, unopposed in the Republican primary, is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; no Democrat filed, per the county's official March 3 primary results (Bell County Elections, results.enr.clarityelections.com) (Texas prints unopposed candidates).
Full race pageDistrict ClerkLacey Martindale (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Lacey Martindale Republican
Lacey Martindale is the Republican nominee for Bell County District Clerk and chief deputy at the office, where she has worked for 17 years, per the Killeen Daily Herald. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
March 3 primary result: Lacey Martindale won the Republican nomination with 59.2 percent over Pam Blair and is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; no Democrat filed, per the county's official March 3 primary results (Bell County Elections, results.enr.clarityelections.com) (Texas prints unopposed candidates).
Full race pageTreasurerAdriane Hodges (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Adriane Hodges Republican
- Modernize the Treasurer's office payment collection with online options
- Manage county investments through a passive, low-cost strategy
Per the campaign site.
About Adriane Hodges
Adriane Hodges is running for Bell County Treasurer in Texas. She co-owns Bold Republic Brewing and has served as treasurer for several community organizations, including the Belton Area Chamber of Commerce, per her campaign site. She previously worked as a public school teacher, per her campaign site.
March 3 primary result: Adriane Hodges won the Republican nomination with 52.5 percent over incumbent Treasurer Gaylon Evans and is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; no Democrat filed, per the county's official March 3 primary results (Bell County Elections, results.enr.clarityelections.com) (Texas prints unopposed candidates).
Full race pageJustice of the Peace, Precinct 1Patrick "Pat" Patterson (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Patrick "Pat" Patterson Republican
Patterson was raised in the Bell County Precinct 1 community, attended school there and built lifelong relationships, per the campaign site. Patterson describes a stepfather, Ted Duffield, as the current Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1. The site does not describe Patterson's occupation or professional background.
March 3 primary result: Patrick "Pat" Patterson won the Republican nomination with 56.2 percent over Joey Agee and is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; no Democrat filed, per the county's official March 3 primary results (Bell County Elections, results.enr.clarityelections.com) (Texas prints unopposed candidates).
Full race pageJustice of the Peace, Precinct 2Michael Tice (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Michael Tice Republican
Michael Tice appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Bell County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Michael Tice.
May 26 runoff result: Michael Tice won the Republican runoff with 53.6 percent over Richard Sapp after a four-way March field and is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; no Democrat filed, per the county's official May 26 runoff results (Bell County Elections, results.enr.clarityelections.com) (Texas prints unopposed candidates).
Full race pageJustice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 2Larry Wilkey (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Larry Wilkey Republican
Larry Wilkey is a retired Temple Police Department officer who currently serves as Bell County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 2, per the county's official website. He was appointed to the post and sworn in in June 2022, per the Temple Daily Telegram. Larry Wilkey appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Bell County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 2, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
Single-nominee race: Larry Wilkey, unopposed in the Republican primary, is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; no Democrat filed, per the county's official March 3 primary results (Bell County Elections, results.enr.clarityelections.com) (Texas prints unopposed candidates).
Full race pageJustice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Place 2Beatrice "Bea" Cox (R) · Jessica A. Gonzalez (D)
Beatrice "Bea" Cox Republican
Beatrice "Bea" Cox appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Bell County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Place 2, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Beatrice "Bea" Cox.
Jessica A. Gonzalez Democratic
Jessica A. Gonzalez appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Bell County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Place 2, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Jessica A. Gonzalez.
May 26 runoff result: Jessica A. Gonzalez won the Democratic runoff with 51.4 percent over LaTasha Carroway Quarles after a three-way March field and meets Republican Beatrice "Bea" Cox, unopposed in her primary, on the November 3 ballot, per the county's official May 26 runoff results (Bell County Elections, results.enr.clarityelections.com) and the county's official March 3 primary results (Bell County Elections, results.enr.clarityelections.com).
Full race pageJudges
District Judge, 169th Judicial DistrictCari Starritt-Burnett (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Cari Starritt-Burnett Republican
Cari Starritt-Burnett serves as judge of Bell County's 169th Judicial District Court, having been appointed by Governor Abbott, per the governor's office. She is a partner at Seigman, Starritt-Burnett & Sinkfield, PLLC, where she heads the family law department, and is past president of the Bell County Bar Association, per the same announcement. She holds a bachelor's degree from Angelo State University and a J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law. Cari Starritt-Burnett appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Bell County District Judge, 169th Judicial District, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
Single-nominee race: Cari Starritt-Burnett, unopposed in the Republican primary, is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; no Democrat filed, per the county's official March 3 primary results (Bell County Elections, results.enr.clarityelections.com) (Texas prints unopposed candidates).
Full race pageDistrict Judge, 264th Judicial DistrictPaul L. LePak (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Paul L. LePak Republican
Paul L. LePak serves as judge of Bell County's 264th Judicial District Court, having been appointed by Governor Abbott, per the governor's office. He practices law privately and previously served as president and treasurer of the Bell County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, per the same announcement. He holds a bachelor's degree from Marquette University and a J.D. from Villanova University School of Law. Paul L. LePak appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Bell County District Judge, 264th Judicial District, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
Single-nominee race: Paul L. LePak, unopposed in the Republican primary, is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; no Democrat filed, per the county's official March 3 primary results (Bell County Elections, results.enr.clarityelections.com) (Texas prints unopposed candidates).
Full race pageDistrict Judge, 478th Judicial DistrictWade Faulkner (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Wade Faulkner Republican
Faulkner currently serves as Judge of the 478th District Court in Bell County and previously served as a military judge, per the campaign site. Faulkner presides over the Bell County Veteran's Treatment Court, which focuses on improving outcomes for the county's veteran population. Faulkner is seeking reelection to a full term on the 478th District Court.
Single-nominee race: Wade Faulkner, unopposed in the Republican primary, is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; no Democrat filed, per the county's official March 3 primary results (Bell County Elections, results.enr.clarityelections.com) (Texas prints unopposed candidates).
Full race pageCounty Court at Law No. 1Paul Motz (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Paul Motz Republican
Paul Motz currently serves as judge of Bell County Court at Law No. 1, per the county's official website. Paul Motz appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Bell County Court at Law No. 1, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
Single-nominee race: Paul Motz, unopposed in the Republican primary, is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; no Democrat filed, per the county's official March 3 primary results (Bell County Elections, results.enr.clarityelections.com) (Texas prints unopposed candidates).
Full race pageCounty Court at Law No. 2John Mischtian (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
John Mischtian Republican
John Mischtian currently serves as judge of Bell County Court at Law No. 2, per the county's official website. John Mischtian appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Bell County Court at Law No. 2, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
Single-nominee race: John Mischtian, unopposed in the Republican primary, is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; no Democrat filed, per the county's official March 3 primary results (Bell County Elections, results.enr.clarityelections.com) (Texas prints unopposed candidates).
Full race pageCounty Court at Law No. 3John Gauntt, Jr. (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
John Gauntt, Jr. Republican
John Gauntt, Jr. appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Bell County Court at Law No. 3, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for John Gauntt, Jr.
Single-nominee race: John Gauntt, Jr., unopposed in the Republican primary, is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; no Democrat filed, per the county's official March 3 primary results (Bell County Elections, results.enr.clarityelections.com) (Texas prints unopposed candidates).
Full race pageTexas Court of Appeals, 3rd District, Chief JusticeCory Liu (R) · Darlene Byrne (D)
Cory Liu (R) and Darlene Byrne (D) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Texas Court of Appeals, 3rd District, Chief Justice.
Cory Liu Republican
Cory Liu is the Republican candidate for Chief Justice of the Third Court of Appeals. He currently serves as a district judge in Travis County and previously worked in legal roles for Texas state leaders, per his campaign site. He holds degrees from the University of Chicago and Harvard Law School.
Darlene Byrne Democrat Incumbent
Darlene Byrne is the incumbent Chief Justice of the Third Court of Appeals, elected in 2020, per the court's official biography. She previously presided for 20 years over the 126th Judicial District Court in Travis County. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.
Elected by the voters of the 3rd Court of Appeals District, which covers 24 counties, so this race is on every November 3, 2026 ballot there. District lines are set by Texas Government Code section 22.201.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Bell County is split across 2 Texas House districts.
Find your districts by addressTexas House: 2 districtsDistricts 54, 55
Texas House District 54Brad Buckley (R) · Dawn Richardson (D)
Brad Buckley Republican Incumbent
- Leading education policy affecting Texas school children as chair of House Public Education
- Economic development for the Greater Fort Hood area
Per the campaign site.
About Brad Buckley
Brad Buckley is a veterinarian who has practiced in Killeen since 1994 and holds a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Texas A&M University, according to his campaign site. He chairs the House Public Education Committee and is a former Killeen ISD school board trustee. He is the incumbent seeking reelection to House District 54.
Dawn Richardson Democratic
- Increasing funding for public schools
- Supporting women's rights
- Expanding affordable healthcare and veterans benefits
Per the Killeen Daily Herald.
About Dawn Richardson
Dawn Richardson, the Democratic nominee for Texas House District 54, is a retired educator with 39 years of service, the last 27 of them in Killeen, where she taught 7th through 12th grade science and math and coached basketball and cheerleading, according to the Killeen Daily Herald. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Brad Buckley (Republican), Dawn Richardson (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Texas House District 54; Brad Buckley is the sitting member, per the Texas House of Representatives' official roster. Nominees were chosen at the March 3 primary (or a May 26 runoff) or advanced unopposed; the field is the Texas Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageTexas House District 55Amelia Rabroker (D) · Hillary Hickland (R)
Amelia Rabroker Democratic
- Opposing school vouchers and unfunded state mandates that affect neighborhood public schools
- Supporting the economic security, healthcare and housing needs of the district's military families near Fort Cavazos
Per the candidate voter guide profile.
About Amelia Rabroker
Amelia Rabroker is the Democratic candidate for Texas House District 55 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Texas Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list. Rabroker owns The Art Space in Harker Heights and is a former public educator, artist, small-business owner and longtime Bell County community advocate, per candidate voter guide profile. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Hillary Hickland Republican Incumbent
- Border security
- Education
- Cost of living
Per the campaign site.
About Hillary Hickland
Hillary Hickland was first elected in November 2024 to represent Texas House District 55, covering central Bell County including Temple, Belton and Harker Heights, according to her official House biography. She is the incumbent seeking reelection.
Amelia Rabroker (Democratic), Hillary Hickland (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Texas House District 55; Hillary Hickland is the sitting member, per the Texas House of Representatives' official roster. Nominees were chosen at the March 3 primary (or a May 26 runoff) or advanced unopposed; the field is the Texas Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageTexas Senate District 24Joe Paz Herrera (D) · Pete Flores (R)
Joe Paz Herrera Democratic
- Addressing food affordability for Texas families
- Supporting local business owners, farmers and volunteer firefighters
- Expanding access to healthcare in rural areas and lowering property taxes
Per the campaign site.
About Joe Paz Herrera
Joe Paz Herrera is the Democratic candidate for Texas Senate District 24 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Texas Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list. Herrera has worked in the food manufacturing industry, including for The Hershey Company, Bimbo Bakeries, and Ferrara Candy, per campaign site. He holds a degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio and an MBA from Our Lady of the Lake University, and was the Democratic nominee for Texas House District 53 in 2020, 2022 and 2024, per campaign site.
Pete Flores Republican Incumbent
- Public safety
- Conservative fiscal budgeting
- Constitutional governance
Per the campaign site.
About Pete Flores
Pete Flores is the Republican incumbent for Texas Senate District 24. He is a retired Texas Game Warden who served 27 years, retiring in 2012 as the first Hispanic Texas Game Warden Colonel in history, according to his official Senate biography. He chairs the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, co-founded the Texas Hispanic Republican Caucus in 2024, and has held the seat since a 2018 special election.
Joe Paz Herrera (Democratic), Pete Flores (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Texas Senate District 24; Pete Flores is the sitting member, per the Texas Senate' official roster. Nominees were chosen at the March 3 primary (or a May 26 runoff) or advanced unopposed; the field is the Texas Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageSee your full ballot
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Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
Texas nominees were set by the March 3 primary and May 26 runoffs; unopposed nominees still print on the November 3 ballot, a plurality wins, and declared write-in votes count but write-in names do not print, per the Secretary of State.
Who is on the ballot in Bell County, Texas on November 3, 2026?
Bell County sample ballot 2026: see where the county commissioner, justice of the peace and county judge candidates stand on jobs, schools and growth. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in Texas?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Texas are listed on the Texas election hub. Texas election hub →
How do I see my exact Bell County ballot?
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Sample ballot by ZIP code in Bell County17 ZIP codes
Candidate roster last updated Oct 1, 2026 from official election sources.