Del Rio 2026 Filing Opens for Mayor, Four Council Seats; Two File

Del Rio residents saw the first filings for the 2026 municipal elections when the candidate window opened and two people submitted paperwork on opening day. City records show filing began Monday, Jan. 12 for four seats on the Del Rio City Council, and the mayor's office is also listed among the positions up for election in 2026.

The early filings put local governance on residents' radar months before ballots are finalized. City council and mayoral offices set priorities that touch daily life in Del Rio - from infrastructure and utilities to public safety and economic development - and in a border community those decisions can also affect cross-border commerce, municipal coordination with federal agencies, and community relations with neighbors across the Rio Grande.

Prospective candidates must meet state qualifications to run for municipal office, including being a qualified voter and satisfying residency requirements. Formal filings and candidate packets are handled through the Del Rio City Secretary's office and the Val Verde County Elections Office. Those offices provide the official election calendar, filing forms, guidance on campaign finance reporting, and instructions on submitting candidate paperwork.

Election officials encourage anyone considering a run to obtain a candidate packet and review the municipal election calendar well before deadlines. The candidate packet contains information on required documents, filing fees if applicable, and the sequence of deadlines that lead up to the ballot certification and election day. Voters who want to follow candidate filings should check notices posted at City Hall and at the Val Verde County elections office and consult the official websites for the most current schedules and procedural details.

Opening-day filings often draw additional entrants as the window continues, and a small field on day one does not predict the final slate. Community groups, neighborhood leaders, and business owners frequently use the filing period to assess potential officeholders and to organize around issues that matter locally. For Del Rio, those conversations will likely focus on municipal services, local economic recovery, and how city policies interact with border-region realities.

What comes next for readers is straightforward: track the candidate lists as more filings are processed, obtain or review a candidate packet if you plan to run, and consult the City Secretary or Val Verde County Elections Office for the official calendar and rules. Local leadership decisions made this year will shape municipal priorities for the next term, so Del Rioans should follow filings and upcoming forums as the election season unfolds.