COUNTY JUDGE RACE // NOVEMBER 4, 2026 GENERAL ELECTION
Bastrop County, Texas
GREGORY KLAUS (R) vs. DOCK JACKSON (D)
Bastrop County is one of the fastest-growing counties in
Texas, absorbing Austin metro overflow at a 3.4% annual
clip. The County Judge presides over the Commissioners
Court — the county's top governing body — controlling a
multimillion-dollar budget, road and infrastructure
spending, and county-wide policy. Gregory Klaus won the March 3 Republican primary and advances to face
Democrat Dock Jackson in the November general
election. This seat is a Republican structural lock, with
presidential margins consistently in the R+13 to R+20 range.
The general election will be decided by turnout mechanics
and party unity, not persuasion math.
122K
2026 Pop. Est.
+65% since 2010
61.4K
Registered Voters
2024 figure, growing
65%
2024 Turnout
39,956 ballots cast
R+17
Est. Partisan Lean
Cook-equivalent PVI
Bastrop County sits 30 miles east of Austin along
the Colorado River, anchored by the county seat of
Bastrop (~13,700) and Elgin (~12,000). The Lost
Pines forest, state park corridor, and Colorado
River define the physical identity. The county is an
Austin bedroom community — median commute 35 minutes
— attracting working-class and middle-class
transplants priced out of Travis County. Economy:
construction, healthcare, retail trade, and a
growing logistics sector.
Austin MSA Adjacent Solid Republican Fastest Growing Klaus Wins Primary
OfficeBastrop County Judge
General ElectionNovember 4, 2026
Term4 years (Jan 2027 start)
R Nominee Gregory Klaus PRIMARY WINNER
D Nominee Dock Jackson
General Outlook Safe R
✅
Primary Result — March 3, 2026: Gregory Klaus
wins the Republican primary and is the GOP nominee for Bastrop
County Judge. The focus now shifts entirely to the November
4 general election against Democrat Dock Jackson. Party unity
and new-registrant outreach are the immediate priorities.
📋
County Judge Role: In Texas, County Judge
is not primarily a judicial position — it is the presiding
officer of the Commissioners Court, controlling county budget,
infrastructure contracts, road maintenance, county services,
and land-use coordination. The judge also serves as a tie-breaking
vote among the four commissioners.
In a solidly Republican county, the goal is turnout maximization in R precincts and margin compression in D-leaning urban precincts. With ~30,000 expected general election voters, Klaus
needs to run up margins in subdivisions and rural areas
while keeping Bastrop city losses tight.
Cedar Creek / Hwy 71 Corridor
HIGH PRIORITY R Fast-growing subdivision belt between Bastrop and Austin.
Working-class and middle-class homeowners, many recent Travis
County transplants. R performance: 65–70%. Estimated 8,000–10,000
registered voters. Optimal message: property tax relief, roads,
smart growth.
Elgin City / Surrounding Area
WATCH — D-LEANING URBAN More Hispanic and more Democratic than county average. Presidential
results run ~R+5 to D+2 in city precincts. Jackson will maximize
here. Klaus must keep losses to <400 votes in Elgin proper.
Rural Elgin area is solidly R.
Bastrop City Precincts (Central)
WATCH — MIXED County seat runs ~R+10 countywide but city center precincts
run D+0 to D+5. Jackson will compete here. Klaus should target
homeowners on the bluff and east-bank subdivisions.
Unincorporated Rural East (McDade, Paige, Smithville
outlying)
TURNOUT OPPORTUNITY Deep Republican, often R+30 to R+40, but lower absolute
turnout. Estimated 5,000–7,000 low-propensity R voters who
skip off-cycle elections. Re-engage these voters for November
via direct mail and voter contact.
New Subdivision Growth Areas (Red Rock, Garfield,
Bastrop outskirts)
NEW REGISTRANTS Highest percentage of voters registered since 2022. Many
are homebuyers experiencing their first Bastrop County property
tax bills. Expected tilt: R+15 or better with proper contact.
Direct mail and digital targeting of new homeowners is essential.
DOCK JACKSON
OPPOSITION INTELLIGENCE FILE // ACTIVE MONITORING
Dock Jackson — Democratic Nominee
BASTROP COUNTY JUDGE RACE // GENERAL ELECTION OPPONENT
PROFILE: DEVELOPING FUNDRAISING: UNKNOWN MESSAGING: NOT YET PUBLIC NOMINEE: CONFIRMED
Full Name
Dock Jackson Confirmed
Primary Result
Ran unopposed — automatic nominee Confirmed
Residence / Precinct
Unknown — Research Needed
Occupation / Background
Unknown — Research Needed
Prior Elected Office
Unknown — Research Needed
Community Ties
Unknown — Research Needed
Campaign Website
Not Located
Social Media Presence
Not Located
Endorsements
None Announced
Notes
Add notes here as intelligence is gathered. Update
status tags above as data is confirmed.
| Report Period | Raised | Spent | CoH | Status |
|---|
| Jan 2026 Semiannual | — | — | — | Pending |
| 30-Day Pre-General | — | — | — | Future |
| 8-Day Pre-General | — | — | — | Future |
📊
Pull Jackson's TEC filings at ethics.state.tx.us as soon as the next reporting period opens. Cash-on-hand
below $10K = paper campaign. CoH above $50K = take
seriously and escalate monitoring.
Overall Threat Level
LOW
Reassess upward if: CoH exceeds $50K, strong
local endorsements emerge, or Klaus primary
margin was unexpectedly narrow.
Upgrade Triggers
⚡TEC filing shows CoH > $50K → upgrade to
MEDIUM
⚡Sheriff or law enforcement endorses Jackson →
upgrade to MEDIUM
⚡Organized labor or statewide D org backing →
upgrade to MEDIUM
⚡Negative earned media event against Klaus →
reassess
Sheriff Underfunding
HIGH RISK
The Loucks primary campaign made this a public issue
— Jackson will inherit and amplify it. Klaus must
proactively address sheriff staffing before the
general campaign begins or this attack lands with
credibility.
Property Tax Failures
MEDIUM RISK
If Jackson argues the incumbent failed to control
appraisals or lobbied inadequately for property tax
relief at the legislature, it could peel off
frustrated homeowners. Klaus needs a specific,
defensible record.
Growth Mismanagement
MEDIUM RISK
Roads not keeping pace with population is a lived
experience for many residents. Jackson can frame
this as a Klaus failure regardless of state
authority limitations. Klaus should pre-empt with a
concrete infrastructure plan.
Cronyism / Contracting
LOW RISK
Standard opposition research target for any
incumbent. Monitor for any county contract news
stories. No current indicators but routine
monitoring warranted.
National D Messaging (abortion, democracy)
VERY LOW RISK
National Democratic messaging does not translate
well to county judge races and likely plays poorly
in an R+17 county. Jackson would be foolish to
nationalize this race. If he does, it signals a
poorly run campaign.
Campaign Slogan
Not Yet Announced
Primary Issue #1
Not Yet Announced
Primary Issue #2
Not Yet Announced
Tone / Frame
Not Yet Observed
Attack on Klaus
Not Yet Launched
Ad Buys / Media
None Detected
Mail Pieces
None Detected
Events / Town Halls
None Scheduled
MAR 3, 2026
NOMINEE
Jackson confirmed as Democratic nominee for Bastrop
County Judge general election. Ran unopposed in the
D primary. File opened. Profile status: developing.
No fundraising, messaging, or biographical data yet
available.
— PENDING —
OPEN
Add new intelligence entries here as information is
gathered. Include date, category (Fundraising /
Messaging / Endorsements / Events / Media /
Opposition Research), and source.
JACKSON INTELLIGENCE FILE // BASTROP COUNTY JUDGE 2026
// SKY ABOVE POLITICAL
CHECK TEC FILINGS: ethics.state.tx.us • BALLOTPEDIA.ORG
• COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • BASTROP ADVERTISER
MONITORING STATUS: ACTIVE — UPDATE THIS FILE AS INTELLIGENCE
IS GATHERED