Candidates locked in for 2026 Highland Lakes area primaries
There are several major contested races on the line in Burnet and Llano counties heading into the 2026 primaries. The window to file for party nominations closed at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 8 and voters will have big decisions to make come Election Day in March 2026.
Republicans will duke it out in the primary, with multiple contenders arising for the county judges’ seats and county commissioners’ seats in both counties.
Normally the Republican nominee scores an automatic win in the General Election in local Highland Lakes area races, but this year there is a lone Democratic challenger throwing their hat in the ring for the Llano County Precinct 4 commissioner’s seat.
Important dates for 2026 primaries
-Last day to register to vote, Feb. 2, 2026
-First day of early voting, Feb. 17, 2026
-Last day of early voting, Feb. 27, 2026
-Election Day, March 3, 2026
Burnet County
Contested races
County judge
The Burnet County judge serves as the chair of the Burnet County Commissioners Court and as the chief budget officer for the county. They are one of five voting members of the Commissioners Court that decide on county policies; determine the county’s budget; and represent the county at the local, state, and federal levels.
The Burnet County judge serves a four-year term and, as of 2025, has an annual salary of $113,337.88. There are no term limits for serving as county judge.
- Republican Bryan Wilson, incumbent Burnet County judge. Wilson was appointed to the county judge’s seat in March 2025 following a lengthy selection process that was created by the Burnet County Commissioners Court to fill the position following the resignation of former Burnet County Judge James Oakley in December 2024.
- Republican Alan Trevino, Burnet County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy. Trevino announced his bid for Burnet County judge immediately after the resignation of former Burnet County Judge James Oakley in December 2024. He also lobbied for an appointment to the judge position during the Commissioners Court’s selection process, but the court ultimately chose Bryan Wilson for the appointment.
Precinct 2 commissioner
The Burnet County Precinct 2 commissioner is one of five voting members of the Burnet County Commissioners Court. The court is the governing body of the county and responsible for determining county policy; setting the budget; and representing the county at the local, state, and federal levels. The Precinct 2 commissioner represents one of the four precincts in the county and is also responsible for maintaining the roads, bridges, and public infrastructure within that precinct, which covers most of northeast Burnet County.
Burnet County commissioners serve four-year terms and, as of 2025, earn an annual salary of $95,742.83. There are no term limits for serving as a county commissioner.
- Republican Damon Beierle, incumbent Precinct 2 commissioner. Beierle is in the midst of his second term as Precinct 2 commissioner, having first been elected in 2019.
- Republican Leonard Guenter, Burnet County resident. Guenter is from Burnet County and this appears to be his first time entering the local political arena according to his campaign page biography.
Uncontested races
- Precinct 4 commissioner- Republican Joe Don Dockery, incumbent
- County clerk- Republican Vicinta Stafford, incumbent
- District clerk- Republican Casie Walker, incumbent
- Court at law judge- Republican Cody Henson, incumbent
- Precinct 1 justice of the peace- Republican Roxanne Nelson, incumbent
- Precinct 2 justice of the peace- Republican Lisa Whitehead, incumbent
- Precinct 3 justice of the peace- Republican Jane Marie Hurst, incumbent
- Precinct 4 justice of the peace- Republican Frank Reilly, incumbent
- County treasurer- Karrie Crownover, incumbent
Llano County
Contested races
County judge
The Llano County judge serves as the chair of the Llano County Commissioners Court and as the chief budget officer for the county. They are one of five voting members of the Commissioners Court that decide on county policies, determine the county’s budget, and represent the county at the local, state, and federal levels.
The Llano County judge serves a four-year term and, as of 2025, earns an annual salary of $80,009. There are no term limits for serving as county judge.
Incumbent Llano County Judge Ron Cunningham did not file for reelection.
- Republican Rob Hardy, mayor of Sunrise Beach Village. Hardy has a background in healthcare and also serves as the vice chair of the Llano Regional Hospital Board of Directors.
- Republican Richard Kepp, Llano County resident. Kepp has a background in safety and risk management. He is also an active member of the city of Llano community as a volunteer, but this appears to be his first step into the political arena according to his campaign page biography.
Precinct 4 commissioner
The Llano County Precinct 4 commissioner is one of five voting members of the Llano County Commissioners Court. The court is the governing body of the county and responsible for determining county policy; setting the budget; and representing the county at the local, state, and federal levels. The Precinct 4 commissioner represents one of the four precincts in the county and is also responsible for maintaining the roads, bridges, and county-owned infrastructure within that precinct that is outside of city limits. Precinct 4 includes the city of Llano and much of western Llano County.
Llano County commissioners serve four-year terms and, as of 2025, earn an annual salary of $73,786. There are no term limits for serving as a county commissioner.
- Republican Jerry Don Moss, incumbent Precinct 4 commissioner. Moss is the senior member of the Llano County Commissioners Court, having served as the Llano County Precinct 4 commissioner since 2007.
- Republican Robert Little, Llano County resident. Little has a background in finance and this appears to be his first time stepping into the local political arena. He is also married to Leila Green Little, who is running for the Precinct 4 commissioner seat as a Democrat.
- Democrat Leila Green Little, Llano County resident. Little received local, state, and national attention for spearheading the Llano County library lawsuit from 2022 to 2025. She is running for the Llano County Democratic Party nomination unopposed and will likely face the Republican nominee in the November general election. Her husband, Robert Little, is running for the Republican nomination.
Precinct 3 justice of the peace
The Llano County Precinct 3 justice of the peace is an elected official that handles small claims, Class C misdemeanors, truancy cases, landlord and tenant disputes, marriages, and other legal matters within their precinct, which covers the Kingsland area.
Llano County justices of the peace serve four-year terms and, as of 2025, earn an annual salary of $65,438. There are no term limits for serving as a Llano County justice of the peace.
Incumbent Llano County Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Deb Edwards did not file for reelection.
- Republican Kerri Laffoon, Llano County resident. Laffoon has worked in the Llano County Attorney’s Office as a legal assistant for eight years and has 16 years of experience working in probation.
- Republican Elizabeth Harvey, Llano County resident. DailyTrib could not find any information on Harvey by the time of this article’s publication.
Uncontested races
- Precinct 2 commissioner- Republican Linda Raschke, incumbent
- Precinct 1 justice of the peace- Republican Sam Silver, incumbent
- Precinct 2 justice of the peace- Republican Maureen Riggs, incumbent
- Precinct 4 justice of the peace- Republican Lisa Simpson, incumbent
- County clerk- Republican Cecilia McClintock, incumbent
- District clerk- Republican Ashley Inge, incumbent
- County treasurer- Republican Cheryl Regmund, incumbent