(Guadalupe County) — Guadalupe County will see a Republican-only ballot in the March 3 primary, with no Democratic candidates filing for any of the county offices up for grabs.
Elections officials say this year’s filing period sets up several uncontested races, along with several competitive Republican matchups – matchups that were generated by retirements or recent shifts on the commissioner’s court.
Among the uncontested races is the race for Guadalupe County Judge. Former Precinct 3 Commissioner Michael R. Carpenter — who stepped down earlier this year to run for county judge — is unopposed in his bid to replace longtime and retiring County Judge Kyle Kutscher. With no Democratic challenger, Carpenter is positioned to assume the county’s top elected seat in January 2027.
Most other uncontested countywide offices, except for one race, feature the incumbent on the ballot.
Those positions include County Treasurer: Linda Douglass; County Clerk: Teresa Kiel; District Clerk: Linda Balk; County Court at Law #2 Judge: Kirsten Legore; Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3: John D. Terry; and Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4: Todd Friesenhahn.
Meanwhile, the only contested judicial race at the county level is for Judge, County Court at Law No. 1, where incumbent William “Bill” Squires III faces local attorney John Green.
Two precincts will also see competitive GOP races on the Guadalupe County Commissioners Court, where current Pct. 2 Commissioner Drew Engelke will not be seeking re-election.
The race now belongs to two newcomers, Ronnie Clark and Noah Webster.
In the race for Precinct 3, the Unexpired Term, –– former longtime commissioner Jim Wolverton, who was appointed by the county judge to fill the role through Nov. 2026, faces newcomer Allison Heyward for the remaining year that runs through Nov. 2027. Again, this seat became vacant when Michael Carpenter resigned to run for county judge.
In the race for Precinct 4 Commissioner, Incumbent Stephen Germann has drawn two challengers. They include Mark Allen and Joel Hicks.
In the Justice of the Peace Pct. 1 race, sole candidate Katherine Torrence has filed for JP Pct. 1. She looks to replace longtime Judge Darrell Hunter, who has chosen to retire and not file for re-election.
The contested JP race, however, falls in Pct. 2. Incumbent Sheryl Sachtleben faces challenger Willie Ybarra for the position. With no Democrats filing, all winners of the March 3 Republican primary will effectively secure their seats for the next term.