Spring-area residents in Texas House District 139 have until Monday, Oct. 5 to register to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.

The race pits incumbent state Rep. Charlene Ward Johnson, a Democrat, against Republican challenger Kyle Harding. The district spans portions of northwest Houston, Cy-Fair and part of the Spring-Klein area, according to Community Impact. It includes historically Black neighborhoods such as Acres Homes and Independence Heights and extends north to the FM 1960 corridor.

Ward Johnson's first-term record

Ward Johnson is serving her first full term in the Texas House. She previously won a seat on the Houston Community College Board of Trustees in 2022 and has more than 30 years of corporate experience, according to her campaign website. She also works as a claims administrator for NRG. Her district office is at 630 West Little York Road in Houston.

In her first legislative session, Ward Johnson helped pass a bill requiring emergency notifications on higher education campuses. The bill responded to a sexual assault of a University of Houston student in a parking garage, the Houston Chronicle reported in a February endorsement editorial.

She also added an amendment to a summer camp safety bill passed after devastating July 4 floods. The amendment requires camps to post evacuation plans on buildings. Ward Johnson helped secure a tuition exemption for paramedics and fine-tuned a bill tying community college funding to student outcomes.

Ward Johnson participated in a quorum break with fellow Democrats to protest Republican-led redistricting during a special session.

The Chronicle's editorial board wrote in its Feb. 11 endorsement that Ward Johnson notched several legislative wins in her first term. The board noted her priorities for the next session include property tax relief, higher education access and addressing elevated Black maternal mortality rates.

Harding enters race with no public profile

Little public information is available about Harding. The Chronicle's February 2026 primary voter guide listed him as a first-time candidate with no apparent campaign website. No additional public profile or platform details appeared in public records as of that guide's publication.

How to vote

Early voting runs Monday, Oct. 19 through Friday, Oct. 30. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Registered voters can cast a ballot at any polling location during early voting and on Election Day, according to the Texas Secretary of State. Visit harrisvotes.com for polling locations and ballot information.