Bee County residents have until Monday, Feb. 1, to register to vote in the upcoming primary election.

Twenty candidates are battling to represent Bee County in national, state and county offices.

Voters will be able to cast ballots in eight contested races in which the winner will represent Bee County.

Two races — for county commissioner, Precinct 2 and judge of the 36th judicial district — will be determined on March 2.

Winners of the March Republican and Democratic primary elections will advance to the Nov. 2 general election where they may or may not face opponents.

Candidates who win the March primary election may still face a write-in candidate in the November general election.

Winners of the November general election assume office on Jan. 1, 2011.

Contested races in which the winner will represent Bee County are:

U.S. Rep. District 15

Rubén Hinojosa, Democrat; Doug “La Perla” Purl, Democrat; Eddie Zamora, republican; Daniel Garza, Republican; Paul Haring, libertarian

State Rep. District 35

Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles, Democrat; Jose Aliseda, Republican

Judge, 36th judicial district

Mike Welborn, democrat; Richard Zapata, democrat

Bee County Judge

David Silva, Republican; Arnold Medina, Democrat

Commissioner, Pct. 2

Susan Stasny, Republican; Dennis DeWitt, Republican; Kenneth Chesshir, Republican

Commissioner, Pct. 4

Ronnie Olivares, Democrat; Porfirio Longoria, Democrat; Ken Haggard, Republican

District Clerk

Anna Marie Silvas, Democrat; Zenaida Silva, Republican

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 3

Abelardo “Abel” Suniga, Democrat; Patricia L. “Patty” Johnson, Republican