candidates

The local political season kicked off last month with the January 14 start of candidate filing for seats on the City Council and school and hospital boards. Aspirants for public office will have their choice of ten open seats which will be decided in May 2, 2026 elections. 

The deadline to file for a place on the General Election Ballot is Friday, February 13, 2026, at 5 pm.

Details about filing and eligibility for openings on each board are as follows:

Canadian City Council

November 23, 2025

To all candidates in the March 3, 2026 Primary Elections:

October 24, 2025

To all candidates in the March 3, 2026 Primaries:

Early voting begins tomorrow, Tuesday, April 22, in the May 3 Hemphill County Hospital District and Canadian Independent School District board elections. Thirteen candidates are vying for nine open seats, setting up contested races for both school and hospital boards.

Early voting begins Tuesday, April 22, in the May 3 Hemphill County Hospital District and Canadian Independent School District board elections. Thirteen candidates are vying for nine open seats, setting up contested races for both school and hospital boards.

The candidates for three open seats on the Hemphill County Hospital District Board of Directors are incumbents Whitney Jones, Colby Leach and Cory Pittman, as well as former board member Jesse Hanes and newcomer Travis Macias.

Ashton Macias, Candidate
Canadian ISD Board of Trustees

I am honored to seek re-election as a Canadian ISD School Board Trustee. Born and raised in Canadian, I am deeply invested in our community—both as a parent with children in the district and as a local business owner. 

Candidate filing gains momentum for candidates seeking a place on the ballot in the May 3 city council, hospital, and school board elections. With nine open seats at stake, seven candidates have filed in the past three weeks. 

Time is running out for candidates to file in the March 5, 2024, primary elections. Filing began on November 11, and the deadline is on Monday, December 11, at 6 pm.

Some local officials have already announced their intent to seek re-election.