On March 3, 2026, residents of Texas, including those in Amarillo, participated in the primaries, casting their votes at various polling locations across Potter and Randall Counties for local, state, and federal offices.
One of the most closely watched races was in the Republican primary for Texas House District 86, where Holly Jeffreys emerged as the frontrunner against Jamie Haynes. According to preliminary results from the Texas Secretary of State, Jeffreys garnered a total of 15,553 votes, representing 67% of the votes cast, while Haynes secured 8,080 votes, or 33%. These results reflect a voter turnout of approximately 19.32% from 122,296 registered voters.
In the Potter County Commissioner races, the competition was heated. In the Precinct 2 race, incumbent Republican Blair Schaffer received 312 votes (48.67%), while challenger Jeff Raef narrowly edged him out with 329 votes (51.33%). Similarly, in the Precinct 4 race, Democratic incumbent Warren Coble, Sr. received 333 votes (44.82%), but faced a challenge from Timothy W. Gassaway, who won with 410 votes (55.18%).
In Randall County, with all 24 precincts reporting, several key races unfolded. For the Judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3, Alison Fox led with 6,753 votes (42.44%), followed by Brent Coffee with 3,540 votes (22.25%). In another significant race, John Messinger won the Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9, with 10,011 votes (62.46%), while Jennifer Balido received 6,016 votes (37.54%). Randall County achieved a voter turnout of 19.02%, with 19,153 total votes cast from 100,717 registered voters.
Potter County also reported preliminary results, with notable races in the Court of Criminal Appeals and various local positions. In the Precinct 2 Commissioner race, the competition continued to be tight, further highlighting the active engagement of voters in local governance.
Across the district, which includes counties like Armstrong, Dallam, and Deaf Smith, the political landscape continues to evolve as incumbent candidates and challengers vie for position. Notably, longtime state Rep. John Smithee announced he would not seek re-election, paving the way for new faces like Cullin Knutson, who is running on the Democratic side for House District 86.
As the election results come in, it illustrates the dynamic nature of the political scene in Texas, with voter turnout reflecting the community’s investment in their democratic process. This election cycle showcases the importance of local engagement and the potential impact of these races on future legislative decisions.