by Brandon C. Alderete, Texas REALTORS® Director of Political Affairs
Every spring, millions of Americans fill out a bracket, trying to predict which team will cut down the nets in March Madness. But there’s another kind of bracket happening this time of year—one that decides the political landscape that shapes your business environment. Primary elections narrow a field of candidates down to a single nominee for each party who will appear on the ballot in November.
But too many people treat primaries like early round games no one watches—and that’s a big mistake if you care about economic development, housing policy, property taxes, and local regulations. As Texas REALTORS® director of political affairs for 13 years, I’ve seen many primaries where REALTORS® have made the difference in razor-thin election results, electing candidates who have gone on to cast important votes for the benefit of real estate professionals and consumers.
Primaries Are the Opening Rounds … But Often Decide the Champion
In basketball brackets, the early rounds narrow the field until only two competitors are left to vie for the championship. Election primaries play the same role: They determine who competes in the general election. And in most districts in Texas, the primary winner is highly likely to ultimately get elected in November.
Low turnout in primaries means that a small, highly motivated group decides the outcomes.
Just like a sleeper team surprising everyone in March Madness, unexpected candidates—with harmful ideas about land use, taxes, or development—can emerge victorious in a primary and set the tone for years.
Engagement = Filling Out Your Bracket
Everyone knows that you can’t win your office pool if you don’t fill out a bracket. The same is true for civic engagement:
Voters who participate in primaries shape the choices that appear on the November ballot.
Voters who skip primaries hand the decision-making to others.
The early rounds matter! But here’s the problem: Turnout in Texas primary elections is dramatically lower than in general elections.
Why REALTORS® Should Care
You work in one of the most heavily regulated industries there is. Having real estate-friendly people in decision-making roles is advantageous to the way you make a living.
Engaged members at local REALTOR® associations across the state have met with candidates and asked questions important to the real estate profession. These REALTORS® recommended their choices to TREPAC for the primary elections. Their decisions are based solely on how candidates support polices favorable to real estate issues. You can view the Texas REALTORS®-supported candidates on your ballot at texasrealtorssupport.com.
Don’t Treat the Primaries Like an Unimportant Game
In March Madness, a first-round loss knocks that team out of the tournament. Likewise, primary elections determine who will play in the final game. In many races, the primary election essentially is the final round; the winning candidate is all but guaranteed to get elected in the general election.
Don’t ignore the early rounds—they matter more than you think.
Vote on or before March 3, 2026.