Castellano Leads McLaughlin in Early Voting
Cecilia Castellano holds an early voting lead over Don McLaughlin in the Texas House District 80 race.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Cecilia Castellano led Don McLaughlin after early voting in the Texas House District 80 race. McLaughlin defeated Castellano two years ago to replace retiring Democrat Tracy King.
Why it matters
The early results reverse the margin of the previous contest, when McLaughlin won with 59.5% of the vote. Early voting in Webb County gave Castellano a substantial share, though the final outcome depends on the full count.
Webb County early voting shows Castellano with 74.03% of the total, or 7,654 votes, against McLaughlin's 25.97%, or 2,685 votes. Votes outside Webb County and election-day ballots have not been reported.
The players
Cecilia Castellano
Castellano founded AZTECA Designs, Inc. in 2006 and serves as its president and CEO, running for the Texas House District 80 seat.
Don McLaughlin
McLaughlin served as mayor of Uvalde for nearly a decade before running for the Texas House District 80 seat.
The details
Castellano, president and CEO of AZTECA Designs, Inc., has emphasized public schools, teacher pay and Medicaid expansion. McLaughlin, a small-business owner who served as mayor of Uvalde for nearly a decade, has highlighted school safety, public safety and economic development.
Timeline
Two years ago: McLaughlin defeated Castellano to replace retiring Democrat Tracy King.
Oct. 24: Campaign finance reporting period end date, with McLaughlin reporting $1,036,399.49 in receipts.
Rematch Dynamics
The race is a rematch of the contest in which McLaughlin won 59.5% of the vote, making this early voting result a direct test of whether Castellano can reverse that margin. Castellano's prior county share of 54.76% in Webb County suggests her early strength there is consistent with her earlier base.
Texas voters in House District 80 are deciding between two candidates with contrasting backgrounds in business and local government. The final result will determine who represents the district in the Texas House.
The takeaway
The race shows how early voting totals can shift the picture in a rematch, but election-day and district-wide results will settle the outcome for House District 80.
Further reading
Track the latest Elections coverage across Texas for more context on this race.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Laredo Morning Times.
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