Maverick County Candidate Registration Period for March 3rd Primaries Opens
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2025
The 2026 Texas Election season commenced on Saturday, November 8, 2025 with the opening of the Democratic and Republican parties’ candidate registration period for each respective party’s March 3, 2026 Primary Election followed by the Texas General Election on November 3, 2026, announced Juanita V. Martinez, Maverick County Democratic Party Chairwoman.
Maverick County incumbents quickly took the initiative to register their candidacies for re-election on the first day of the registration period or shortly thereafter, said Martinez.
The first candidate to register on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 10 a.m. with the Maverick County Democratic Party was incumbent Maverick County Treasurer Rito Valdez, III, whom was accompanied by his lovely wife and children. Valdez turned-in his candidate application together with a check for the registration fee to Maverick County Democratic Party Chairwoman Juanita V. Martinez.
The second candidate to register early on Saturday, November 8th, was political newcomer Anilu Morales Gonzalez, a real estate agent/Realtor and entrepreneur, accompanied by her husband and lovely two daughters, for the position of Maverick County Commissioner Precinct No. 4. Incumbent County Commissioner for Precinct 4, Roberto Ruiz, announced earlier in October that he was not going to seek re-election, instead opting for retirement after a long political career and opening the position for new contenders.
Coming in third on Saturday, November 8th to register his candidacy for re-election with the Maverick County Democratic Party was incumbent Maverick County Judge Ramsey English Cantu, accompanied by his sister, Kimberly Cantu, and an entourage of supporters. County Judge Cantu tendered his candidate application and registration fee check to Juanita V. Martinez to officially register his bid for re-election in the Texas Democratic Party Primary scheduled on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
Other incumbent public representatives who took advantage of the first day of candidate registration period with the Maverick County Democratic Party include Maverick County Justice of the Peace Precinct No. 1 Kina Mancha; Maverick County Justice of the Peace Precinct No. 2 Ernie Leija, Jr.; and Maverick County Justice of the Peace Precinct No. 4 Tere Hernandez.
Eagle Pass entrepreneur Gerardo “Gera” Menchaca has posted campaign signs and billboards in Eagle Pass announcing his candidacy for Maverick County Commissioner Precinct No. 4 and is expected to officially register this week.
As of Wednesday, November 12, 2025, no candidate had yet registered for a Maverick County position with Maverick County Republican Party Chairwoman Sandy Sassano. Sassano stated one or more candidates are anticipated to register for several Maverick County positions in the immediate future.
Both Martinez and Sassano noted that any person interested in registering for a position in Maverick County may register with their respective party until December 8, 2025. Both the Democratic and Republican parties’ primaries are scheduled on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, followed by the General Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
