Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

County Commissioner, Precinct 3 – Unexpired Term

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

Freestone County
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked
Richard McGowanRepublican Incumbent
Opal OliverDemocratic
On ballot as
RICHARD MCGOWAN
OPAL OLIVER
Current role
Freestone County Commissioner, Precinct 3 (appointed September 2025)
Code enforcement officer (per Secretary of State filing)
Background
  • 30 years in Freestone County (his statement at a February 2026 candidate forum)
  • Law enforcement officer for 17 years, the last five as Precinct 3 constable (same forum)
  • City of Fairfield code enforcement official for nine years, as of July 2024 (per Freestone County Times)
  • Descendant of the Durham family, in the Freestone County area for 210 years (per the same report)
Experience
  • Appointed by the Commissioners Court, September 2025, to the Precinct 3 seat vacated by Lloyd Lane (per Freestone County Times)
  • Previously Freestone County Constable, Precinct 3
  • Was starting his second term as constable in January 2025 (per the Times)
  • Sheriff's deputy, several years (per the Times)
  • Republican primary (March 3, 2026): won over Jerred Swinburn
  • Vote: 659 to 171 in the unofficial results the Times published
  • Freestone County Democratic Party chair, first elected in 2008 (per Freestone County Times, July 2024)
  • Re-elected every two years since (per Freestone County Times, July 2024)
  • Did not run again for party chair in 2026 while running for commissioner (per the Times)
  • Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed (per the Times)
Top priorities
  • At a February 2026 Republican primary forum: "We have to stick to a budget while maintaining roads, trees, bridges, and more the best we can."
  • At the same forum, on the county jail: "There is no repairing that jail; it's too far gone. I'm all for a new jail!"
Not found
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: At a Feb. 16, 2026 Republican primary forum: "We have to stick to a budget while maintaining roads, trees, bridges, and more the best we can."
  • Growth and infrastructure: No public statement found
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: At a Feb. 16, 2026 Republican primary forum, on the county jail: "There is no repairing that jail; it's too far gone. I'm all for a new jail!"
  • Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
  • Growth and infrastructure: No public statement found
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found
Not found

Richard McGowan

Republican Incumbent
On ballot as
RICHARD MCGOWAN
Current role
Freestone County Commissioner, Precinct 3 (appointed September 2025)
Background
  • 30 years in Freestone County (his statement at a February 2026 candidate forum)
  • Law enforcement officer for 17 years, the last five as Precinct 3 constable (same forum)
Experience
  • Appointed by the Commissioners Court, September 2025, to the Precinct 3 seat vacated by Lloyd Lane (per Freestone County Times)
  • Previously Freestone County Constable, Precinct 3
  • Was starting his second term as constable in January 2025 (per the Times)
  • Sheriff's deputy, several years (per the Times)
  • Republican primary (March 3, 2026): won over Jerred Swinburn
  • Vote: 659 to 171 in the unofficial results the Times published
Top priorities
  • At a February 2026 Republican primary forum: "We have to stick to a budget while maintaining roads, trees, bridges, and more the best we can."
  • At the same forum, on the county jail: "There is no repairing that jail; it's too far gone. I'm all for a new jail!"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: At a Feb. 16, 2026 Republican primary forum: "We have to stick to a budget while maintaining roads, trees, bridges, and more the best we can."
  • Growth and infrastructure: No public statement found
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: At a Feb. 16, 2026 Republican primary forum, on the county jail: "There is no repairing that jail; it's too far gone. I'm all for a new jail!"
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found

Opal Oliver

Democratic
On ballot as
OPAL OLIVER
Current role
Code enforcement officer (per Secretary of State filing)
Background
  • City of Fairfield code enforcement official for nine years, as of July 2024 (per Freestone County Times)
  • Descendant of the Durham family, in the Freestone County area for 210 years (per the same report)
Experience
  • Freestone County Democratic Party chair, first elected in 2008 (per Freestone County Times, July 2024)
  • Re-elected every two years since (per Freestone County Times, July 2024)
  • Did not run again for party chair in 2026 while running for commissioner (per the Times)
  • Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed (per the Times)
Top priorities
Not found
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
  • Growth and infrastructure: No public statement found
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found

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