Ballots for the Nov. 5 election were finalized after the Aug. 19 deadline passed for candidates to file to run for local, state and congressional seats.

What readers should know

Republican and Democratic candidates in most races were determined during March primary elections and May runoffs, and candidates from other parties have now been added on. Aug. 19 was also the deadline for cities, school districts and other entities to order special ballot measures, such as tax rate elections or bond referendums.

The latest

As of Aug. 21, the following candidates have filed to run in races that cover parts of the Heights, River Oaks and Montrose areas. Candidates are listed in order of how they appear on the Texas Secretary of State website. Asterisks are used to indicate incumbents. Uncontested races are not listed, and write-in candidates are not included.

Stay tuned for candidate Q&As with candidates running in local races, which will be posted to Community Impact's online Voter Guide throughout September and in October print editions.

U.S. Congress

In the race for U.S. Congress District 18, former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner was named the Democratic candidate following the death of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. Turner was chosen in a voting process organized by the Harris County Democratic Party in August. He will face Republican Lana Centonze, who won a primary election in March.

District 7

Lizzie Fletcher*, D

Caroline Cane, R

District 18

Lana Centonze, R

Sylvester Turner, D

District 38

Chad Abbey, L

Wesley P. Hunt*, R

Melissa McDonough, D

Texas House of Representatives

District 134

Audrey Douglas, R

Ann Johnson*, D

District 147

Claudio Gutierrez, R

Jolanda Jones*, D

Texas Senate

Texas Senate races in the local area include the race for District 15, where emergency room nurse Molly Cook is facing investor Joseph L. Trahan for the seat held by John Whitmire before he stepped down to run for Houston mayor.

Cook won the Democratic nomination in a narrow race in May over Texas Rep. Jarvis Johnson, and she also won a special election earlier that month to finish out Whitmire's term, making her the incumbent in the race.

Trahan ran unopposed in the Republican primary race in March.

District 6

Carol Alvarado*, D

Martha Fierro, R

District 15

Molly Cook*, D

Joseph L. Trahan, R

District 17

Kathy Cheng, D

Joan Huffman*, R

Harris County

Some county races covering the Heights-River Oaks-Montrose area are uncontested, including the race for Precinct 1 constable, where Democratic incumbent Alan Rosen is running unopposed.

In the race for sheriff, Democratic incumbent Ed Gonzalez is running against Republican challenger Mike Knox, who recently served on the Houston City Council.

Criminal Court at Law No. 16

Linda Garcia, R

Ashley Mays Guice, D

Probate Court No. 5

Ray Black Jr., R

Fransheneka "Fran" Watson, D

County Attorney

Christian D. Menefee*, D

Jacqueline Lucci Smith, R

Sheriff

Ed Gonzalez*, D

Mike Knox, R

County Tax Assessor-Collector

Steve Radack, R

Annette Ramirez, D

Harris County Department of Education, At-Large Place 3

Richard Cantu*, D

Danielle Dick, R

Harris County Commissioner Precinct 1

Rodney Ellis*, D

Gerry Vander-Lyn, R

One more thing

Several propositions will also be on Nov. 5 ballots, including one for voters who reside within Harris County and within the boundaries of Houston ISD.

• Harris County commissioners voted unanimously to place a tax rate election on the ballot that would raise property taxes to support the Harris County Flood Control District.
• Voters in HISD will have two propositions to decide on, including one to address aging infrastructure and one to fund technology upgrades.