One of the first things I was taught when I started working on political campaigns 13 years ago was that the Labor Day before the primaries signals the start of the political season. It may not mark the kickoff the way it once did — or the way some pretended it did — but it’s still an important marker on the political calendar. In El Paso, that means the Labor Day Breakfast.
It was casually noted to me that this year’s breakfast felt different. The room was full of elected officials, nearly everyone you’d expect, but fewer candidates looking to make a splash. In years past, there was more pressure to buy a table and use the event as a launchpad. That pressure isn’t the same anymore. And even when candidates do buy a table, it doesn’t mean much if their opponent has already spent years building the networks and relationships that really matter.
So for our purposes, we’ll use Labor Day 2025 as the kickoff to the 2026 election season, with our eyes on the primary prize of winning your party’s nomination.
The Real Contest
Here in El Paso, the Democratic primary is always the main event. Every office draws at least one Democrat. Republicans file for a few spots, often unopposed in their own primary, and then head straight to November where history shows they almost always lose. In that sense, Republicans here are often the sacrificial lambs. Statewide it’s the opposite, with Democrats carrying that role.
As an Independent, I have to admit: I love seeing the Democrat-on-Democrat and Republican-on-Republican violence that comes with the primaries. But if you look at my voting record, you’ll see I always participate in the Democratic primary. And I’m not alone.
In El Paso, plenty of independents, conservatives, and even folks who proudly call themselves Republicans choose to cast their vote in the Democratic primary. Why? Because Republican primaries here rarely have two candidates vying for the same seat, and in November most local races feature unopposed Democrats. From the Independent perspective, the only real way to have a say in who gets elected locally is by voting in the Democratic primary. If the El Paso Republican Party ever wants to see this change, they need to fill out the ballot and make some of their primary races competitive.
The winners of those primaries will see their journey continue to November 2026, where they’ll face the candidate from the other party, should there be one. Texas has open primaries — no party registration. On election day, you pick one ballot, but you can only pick one.
What’s on the Ballot
County Judge Ricardo Samaniego is seeking a third term. On the Republican side, Guadalupe Giner has already announced, looking to rewrite history as the first Republican to win a countywide race in more than four decades. No Democrat has filed against Samaniego yet, but the deadline isn’t until December 8.
County Commissioners David Stout (Pct. 2) and Sergio Coronado (Pct. 4) are also up for re-election. So far, no challengers have announced.
As always, all of El Paso’s State Representatives will be on the ballot, along with our congressional seat. Unless an incumbent bows out, those races are rarely competitive — but the filing window is open.
And then there are the courts. District courts, County Courts at Law, probate court, and Justice of the Peace seats are all up. These races usually fly under the radar — most voters couldn’t name a judge on their ballot if you asked. But these courts handle the things that hit closest to home: felony trials, evictions, family disputes, estates. They deserve more attention than they get. Judges in El Paso usually run unopposed and coast to another term, until a retirement or controversy changes the equation. That’s when races suddenly become competitive.
Closing
Labor Day might not launch campaigns the way it once did, but it still sets the tone. The players are starting to take their positions, and the road to March — and eventually November — is underway. Next time, we’ll take a closer look at the judicial races — the ones already drawing challengers and reminding us why these low-profile contests matter.
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The post Civic Sense: Labor Day and the Start of Campaign Season appeared first on El Paso Herald Post.
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