El Paso County, Texas

County Judge

2 candidates are tracked for County Judge on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Ricardo Samaniego and Minerva Torres Shelton. Candidate information follows official El Paso County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

March 3 primary result: Ricardo Samaniego was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Republican Minerva Torres Shelton won over Guadalupe "Lupe" Giner with about 62% of the vote in the Republican primary. Samaniego and Torres Shelton meet on the November 3 ballot, per the county's official March 3 sample ballot and primary returns.

What this office does

County judge (county executive). In Texas and a few other states the county judge is the county's chief executive and presides over the commissioners court, the county's governing board. The office prepares the budget, runs county administration and emergency management and, in smaller counties, still hears some probate and misdemeanor matters. It is an administrative office more than a courtroom one.

This race. Every voter in El Paso County votes on this seat. The sitting officeholder, Ricardo Samaniego, is on the ballot.

Texas › El Paso County › County Judge

Ricardo Samaniego

Democratic Incumbent

Top priorities

Expand healthcare access, including a planned Healthcare Hub near the Reynolds entrance
Grow the aerospace and manufacturing sectors through partnerships with UTEP and industry
Support agriculture as an economic driver in rural parts of the county

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Samaniego is the incumbent El Paso County judge and previously led major industrial projects across the United States and Mexico, working with Taiwan-based companies and the Borderplex region, per the campaign site. He says his focus is on economic development that reaches everyday people, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Minerva Torres Shelton

Republican

Top priorities

Government accountability and transparency in Commissioners Court decisions
Fiscal responsibility, directing tax dollars to core services
Audit and test county emergency-response preparedness

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Torres Shelton is a retired FBI field supervisor and former El Paso police officer with 28 years in law enforcement, per her campaign site and El Paso Matters. She was the 2024 Republican nominee for El Paso County sheriff.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotCounty Commissioner, Precinct No. 2

See your full ballot

Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for County Judge in 2026?

When is the County Judge election in Texas?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Texas are on the Texas election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact El Paso County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official El Paso County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Texas election office, or see the full El Paso County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your El Paso County ballot

36 tracked races in El Paso County, Texas. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

County Commissioner, Precinct No. 4 District Judge, 120th Judicial District District Judge, 168th Judicial District See all 36 El Paso County races

Candidate profiles

Ricardo Samaniego, full profile Minerva Torres Shelton, full profile Official Texas election office