El Paso Matters

10/18/2026

Early voting begins Oct. 19 and runs through Oct. 30 for the Nov. 3 election.

El Paso County voters can cast a ballot at any of the county’s early voting locations. Hours vary by location and date.

Find locations and hours at epcountyvotestx.gov.

🗳️ What’s on your ballot?

Explore our Voter Guide for candidate profiles, key dates and answers to common voting questions.

Visit elpasomatters.org/voterguide or click on the🔗 link in our bio.

10/18/2026

More than 540,000 people – an all-time high – are registered to vote in El Paso County for the Nov. 3 general election. Here’s what you need to know before you head to the polls for early voting starting Monday. https://elpasomatters.org/2026/10/18/where-to-vote-early-voting-sites-el-paso-texas-general-elections-nov-3-2026/

10/17/2026

Republican Brandon Herrera, Democrat Katy Padilla Stout and independent Ben Mendoza are competing to represent Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, which stretches from El Paso’s Lower Valley to San Antonio.

The candidates offer different approaches to immigration enforcement, rising household costs, water resources, rural healthcare and the growing presence of AI data centers.

With Election Day approaching Nov. 3, here’s where the candidates stand on issues affecting West Texas voters.

Three candidates are competing for a sprawling West Texas congressional district left vacant by Tony Gonzales, offering competing visions on border security, affordability, healthcare and water.

10/16/2026

U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar is seeking a fifth term representing El Paso in Congress. Republican challenger Adam Bauman, a Navy veteran and former Border Patrol agent, is making his first run for public office.

The Democratic incumbent is seeking a fifth term, facing the Republican Navy veteran and former Border Patrol agent in the Nov. 3 election. Early voting starts Monday, Oct. 19.

10/16/2026

Who’s running for Texas House District 77? Democratic incumbent Vince Perez is seeking a second term, facing Republican Humberto Perez, a plumber and Army veteran who is new to electoral politics.

The candidates have different backgrounds and priorities, from higher education to veterans’ services. Here’s what to know about the race.

Former El Paso County Commissioner Vince Perez is seeking another term in the Texas House. He faces Humberto Perez, a Republican plumber and Army veteran making his political debut.

10/16/2026

Three El Pasoans who returned home to build a defense technology company say UTEP’s lost aerospace grant, worth up to $160 million, cost the region opportunities to grow its economy.

Austin Howard, Raul Negrao and Jose Escobedo urge UT regents to commission an independent review of the decisions surrounding the grant’s loss and determine whether UTEP needs new leadership.

UTEP’s lost aerospace funding warrants scrutiny of President Heather Wilson’s leadership and a public accounting of federal investments, El Paso aerospace entrepreneurs say.

10/16/2026

Attorneys for detainees at El Paso’s Camp East Montana are asking a federal judge to order sweeping improvements to health care and living conditions, with independent monitors overseeing the changes.

The request cites government reports and sworn testimony describing dangerous conditions at the ICE detention center, where three detainees have died. The judge has not yet ruled.

Attorneys for Camp East Montana detainees are asking a federal judge to order improvements to healthcare and living conditions and appoint independent monitors at the El Paso ICE detention center.

10/16/2026

This week in El Paso:
• Food inspection, pet adoption fees increase
• City Council gains oversight of future license plate cameras
• City tightens detention facility rules

Read more in our weekly news roundup. https://elpasomatters.org/2026/10/16/el-paso-news-animal-services-pet-adoption-flock-cameras-police-eppd/

10/15/2026

Five candidates want to represent East El Paso's District 6. From property taxes and rising utility bills to Meta's data center incentives, incumbent Art Fierro and his challengers offer competing visions for City Hall.

Art Fierro faces four challengers for the District 6 City Council seat as voters weigh rising costs, the Meta data center deal and city spending.

10/15/2026