Federal, State, and Local Candidates Begin Campaigning for Val Verde County Votes

The political season has kicked off in Val Verde County. Midterm Elections, a Constitutional Amendment Election, and Municipal Elections are all being held over the next 13 months. Significant Federal, State, and Local offices are coming up for election in 2026. Midterm Primaries will take place in March, and the general election is scheduled for November. With the primaries still many months away, candidates are already campaigning in South Texas. Congressional candidate Santos Limon, originally from Val Verde County, and Lieutenant Governor candidate Vikki Goodwin, traveled to Del Rio on Saturday, October 4 for a “Listening Tour.”

Limon’s return to Del Rio is a return home; he is the first candidate from Val Verde County to ever win a primary election in a federal race. Limon won the primary but was defeated in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 23 on November 5, 2024, by the Republican incumbent, Tony Gonzales. During his speech in Del Rio for the Listening Tour, Limon shared stories about being raised in Val Verde County and his journey towards Federal Congress.

Limon was introduced as: “A proud Del Rio native who achieved an unprecedented first for Val Verde County, in 2024, despite no prior political background, no name recognition, and self funding… Mr. Limon became the first candidate from Val Verde County to ever win a primary in a federal race. Now on a second run, after over year years of non-stop campaigning, and after building strong coalitions, he continues to drove change for our community and our future.” Speaking about Del Rio, Limon said, “esta es mi casa.”

Concerns for water, veterans, education, and unemployment levels in Val Verde County (VVC) were raised. Limon said, “I blame both parties for that because it’s being going on for 80 years.” Limon continued on to say: “We change when we start getting together as a community, republican, democrat, whatever we are, we need to make a change at the ballot box… We need to get together at the ballot box for the interest of our communities, not the interest of our pockets.” Limon said he has started a water coalition, veterans coalition, and LGBT coalition for displaced youth.

The Primary election will take place on March 3, 2026, and the general election will take place November 3, 2026. Santos Limon and Vikki Goodwin are just two of the candidates campaigning for the Midterm elections. According to the Secretary of State, Offices up for Election in 2026, voters will be selecting all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, about one-third of the U.S. Senate seats, and many other state and local government positions, including Texas Governor.

Key VVC offices up for election are the County Judge with incumbent Lewis Owens, County Commissioner, Precinct 4, with incumbent Gustavo “Gus” Flores, and County Commissioner, Precinct 2, with incumbent Juan Carlos Vazquez. All three incumbents have already announced their intent to run for re-election. Also up for VVC vote in 2026 will be the County Court at Law Judge, District Clerk, County Clerk, County Treasurer, County Surveyor, and Justice of the Peace for all four precincts.

The 2026 Midterm Elections will be preceded by a separate election, the VVC Constitutional Amendment Election in November 2025. Three main items are up for vote: the $50 million SFDR-CISD Bond Election, VVC Referendum on the 2nd International Bridge, and 17 Texas Constitutional Amendments. Early voting for the Amendment Election starts October 20, with the last day to vote is November 3, 2025. No candidates are included in the amendment election, just legislation.

Within the 17 proposed amendments, legislation increasing state funding for local water infrastructure is included on the ballot, as well as numerous relevant property tax exemptions specific to border communities, farmers, families of veterans, the elderly, and more.

Adding another layer to the packed election cycle, the City of Del Rio will run a separate Municipal Election on May 2, 2026. Key offices up for election are the Mayor of Del Rio, currently held by Alvaro Arreola, Councilperson District 1, currently held by Jesus Lopez Jr, Councilperson District 2, currently held by James DeReus, and Councilperson At-large Place C, currently held by Ernestina Martinez. Other positions or referendums may also be included. City officials have yet to announce their campaigns for re-election, but notices will role out in the coming months.

With campaigns already mobilizing in Del Rio, the election season has officially begun and will maintain momentum throughout the remainder of 2025 and all of 2026. Del Rio New Network will be closely following all three upcoming election cycles: the Midterms in March/November 2026, the Amendment in November 2025, and the Municipal in May 2026.