Election Day is here.

Over the past few weeks, the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board has interviewed and researched dozens of Republican and Democratic candidates, weighing such factors as incumbency, experience and accomplishments, to assemble a list of recommendations we hope will guide voters through some tough choices. We are the only nonpartisan group in the Houston area to provide this service.

Early voting in the March 3 Texas primaries began Feb. 18 and ends Feb. 28.

You can't take your cellphone with you into the voting booth, but you can print out these handy one-pagers:

REPUBLICAN Primary PDF

DEMOCRATIC Primary PDF

PRESIDENT

Democrat

Joe Biden. Biden has the moderate, pragmatic track record that originally led us to endorse Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who suspended her campaign on March 2. Klobuchar has endorsed Biden and we are following suit. The former vice president has the experience to hit the ground running and to fill an administration with bright and capable people.

U.S. SENATE

Democrat

Royce West. West, a 26-year veteran of the Texas Senate, promises that, if elected to the U.S. Senate, he’d work with the Republicans — even Sen. Ted Cruz — just as closely as he has in Austin. He’s unabashedly a moderate — but he’s also been vocal when it matters on issues of race, in defense of public education, and — more recently — gay rights.

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Republican

U.S. House District 7: Cindy Siegel. As former mayor, she led Bellaire through the aftermath of Hurricanes Rita and Ike and said she decided to stay on for a fourth term to deal with the issues surrounding the police shooting of unarmed Robbie Tolan.

U.S. House District 8: Kevin Brady. As the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady has a level of influence that the state of Texas and the 8th Congressional District cannot afford to lose.

U.S. House District 9: Johnny Teague. The longtime Baptist pastor says he will work for civil discourse in Washington.

U.S. House District 18: Wendell Champion. With a compelling biography that he neatly shortens to a “from welfare to West Point” catchphrase, Champion rises to the top of a crowded field in the Republican primary.

U.S. House District 22: Pierce Bush. The grandson of former President George H.W. Bush and nephew of President George W. Bush has an advantage in making important connections in Washington. As CEO, he showed organizational skill in turning around the financially troubled Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star.

U.S. House District 29. Neither candidate showed up for a scheduled meeting with the Editorial Board or responded to repeated phone calls. As a result, we offer no recommendation in this race.

U.S. House District 36: Brian Babin. While we disagree with the congressman’s position on the president and regret his drift from the pragmatic public servant we endorsed in the 2014 general election, we recognize his staunch support of NASA and the importance of human space flight to America and to Houston.

Democrat

U.S. House District 2: Sima Ladjevardian. A Houston lawyer, political activist and former Beto O’Rourke adviser, Ladjevardian gives Democrats a fighting chance to flip this seat.

U.S. House District 8: Laura Jones. Political newcomer Jones is doing the work on the ground in a challenging district for Democrats.

U.S. House District 9: Al Green. Best known nationally as the first member of Congress to present articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, in May 2017, the Houston congressman has not been shy about speaking out. We do not always agree with his positions, but we do admire his courage to step out boldly for what he believes in.

U.S. House District 10: Mike Siegel. Democratic voters have a difficult choice to make, as the three candidates in the race offer compelling reasons why they should be selected. Ultimately, Siegel’s commitment to public service and progressive policy positions earn our recommendation.

U.S. House District 18: Sheila Jackson Lee. The 13-term incumbent is a force in the political landscape. She is consistently ranked among the most effective legislators in Congress and knows how to wield her high profile to get things done.

U.S. House District 22: Sri Preston Kulkarni. A former Foreign Service officer with the U.S. Department of State, Kulkarni is the son of an immigrant father and a mother whose family descends from Sam Houston. Democrats can be optimistic about Kulkarni’s prospects for flipping the seat.

SUPREME COURT

Democrat

Chief Justice: Amy Clark Meachum. Meachum is calling for change in the court, which has had all Republican members since 1999, but she is no flamethrower, nor an ideologue.

Justice, Place 6: Larry Praeger. A Democrat who nonetheless works easily with Republicans, Praeger says Republicans’ stranglehold on the top court has squeezed out the perspective of ordinary men and women who find themselves outmatched by the rich and powerful.

Justice, Place 7: Brandy Voss. Voss's direct experience with appellate law, a field in which she is board certified, convinces us she’d be the sounder choice for Democrats eager to break the Republican Party’s decades-long hold on the Supreme Court.

Justice, Place 8: Peter Kelly. Kelly expertly grasps the nuances of how Texas’ top civil court works and how a new justice can influence the law in Texas.

COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

Republican

Criminal Court of Appeals, Place 3: Bert Richardson. Voters should reward, not punish, a judge willing to stick to the law even if it meant bucking a powerful governor.

Democrat

Criminal Court of Appeals, Place 3: Elizabeth Frizell. Her experience as a lawyer gives her insight into the flaws of the legal system, something that would help her weigh the life-and-death decisions that come before Texas’s highest criminal court.

Criminal Court of Appeals, Place 4: Tina Clinton. A state felony district judge in the Criminal District Court in Dallas County, Clinton brings 25 years of experience as a prosecutor, defense attorney, municipal judge, county criminal court judge and state district court judge.

RAILROAD COMMISSIONER

Republican

Ryan Sitton: As the only engineer on the three-member commission, Sitton understands the importance that the oil and gas industry plays in Texas, but also the need to hold bad actors accountable and enforce regulations. His willingness to buck the status quo, even in limited cases, is worth supporting.

Democrat

Chrysta Castañeda: An engineer and attorney with decades of experience in the oil and gas industry, Castañeda can balance the economic concerns of the oil and gas industry with the need to protect the environment for all Texans.

TEXAS SENATE

Republican

District 13: Milinda Morris. As a medical professional, Morris has shown commitment, compassion and maturity that should serve her constituents well in the Legislature.

Democrat

District 11: Susan Criss. She is full of ideas for criminal justice reform, mitigating flood damage and making the workings of the Legislature more transparent.

District 13: Melissa Morris. Although she is a political neophyte and would have a steep learning curve in the Legislature, we were impressed by her knowledge of issues facing the district and her desire to represent residents too often overlooked by elected leaders.

TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Republican

House District 127: Dan Huberty. After 10 years in the Legislature, Huberty says he doesn’t give a lot of thought to the Republican, Democrat, liberal and conservative labels. His focus as a state representative, he says, is to “do what’s right for the kids.”

House District 129: Dennis Paul. First elected in 2014, he has focused on bringing his experience and clear thinking to the Legislature on issues such as pension reform and support for NASA.

House District 132: Mike Schofield. The one-time incumbent wants to preserve “traditional Texas values” when it comes to attracting and generating employment: low taxes, a reasonable regulatory structure and lawsuit reform — all issues he championed in the Legislature and as an adviser to former Gov. Rick Perry.

House District 135: Justin Ray. His practical experience as mayor of Jersey Village will be key in connecting with suburban voters who share his conservative values.

House District 138: Josh Flynn. The race has drawn three very conservative candidates, but Flynn, an active party member for more than 30 years and the current secretary of the Texas GOP, is our choice.

Democrat

House District 126: Natali Hurtado. By building on lessons learned in the two years since her first campaign for this seat, Hurtado is well-positioned to give Democrats a chance of flipping it.

House District 128: Josh Markle. A former staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, Markle's platform includes the full gamut of core Democratic issues — healthcare, education, jobs and criminal justice reform.

House District 131: Alma Allen. the incumbent demonstrates deep knowledge of the Legislature, where friendships across the aisle and mastery of procedures matter at least as much as passion.

House District 134: Ann Johnson. She speaks with authority about a broad range of issues and with the persuasive power of a former prosecutor. She also has a record of appealing to common values to get important work done.

House District 138: Akilah Bacy. Her focus is on core issues important to the voters in her district: education, health care, flooding, climate, employment rights, restorative justice.

House District 139: Jarvis Johnson. He has been effective and busy in his three terms representing this district in the House.

House District 141: Senfronia Thompson. A respected veteran in the Texas House, she has helped raise the state minimum wage, passed hate-crime legislation protecting LGBT communities, and reformed the criminal justice system.

House District 142: Harold V. Dutton, Jr. His experience in Austin and willingness to do what he thinks is right, even if unpopular, give him the edge.

House District 146: Shawn Thierry. In her first two terms, she has learned to navigate effectively within the reality of a Republican-controlled Legislature and under a Republican governor.

House District 147: Garnet Coleman. A hard-working veteran lawmaker who has pursued legislation addressing mental health and criminal justice reform, including the Sandra Bland Act requiring jailers to immediately send mentally ill inmates to a mental health facility.

House District 148: Anna Eastman. In eight years on the Houston ISD board of trustees, she proved herself smart and committed to progressive policies.

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, District 6

Democrat

Michelle Palmer: Her years as a teacher in area schools, including Aldine ISD and Houston ISD, have made her familiar with curriculum issues and will bring a rare perspective to the board: that of an active teacher.

HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF

Republican

Randy Rush: When he felt higher-ups at the Harris County Sheriff’s Office weren’t taking an episode of prisoner abuse seriously enough, he became a whistleblower. Rush’s experience and willingness to do the right thing is one of the reasons we recommend him.

Democrat

Ed Gonzalez: From taking a bold stance in support of bail reform to minimizing the use of solitary confinement to expanding vocational programs to women in the jail, Gonzalez’s changes big and small have prioritized public safety as well as fairness and the dignity of inmates.

HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Republican

Lori DeAngelo: DeAngelo has deep experience and knowledge of the inner workings of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. She supports misdemeanor bail reform and in her many years as a prosecutor, she has handled every type of case, including capital murder.

Democrat

Kim Ogg: Seeing justice is done while reforming the criminal justice system isn’t easy. Ogg has drawn criticism, including from us, but we believe she’s charted the right course overall. Her experience far surpasses that of her opponents and her integrity is sound.

HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY

Democrat

Christian Menefee: The civil litigation attorney will bring needed energy, attention to detail and fresh perspective to a job that goes beyond serving as a lawyer to county officials and judges.

HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 1

Democrat

Rodney Ellis: His work as commissioner has continued that of his trailblazing Texas Senate career, with a focus on public policy, such as bail reform. For his experience, deep policy knowledge and results, Ellis is the best choice for Democratic voters.

HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 3

Republican

Brenda Stardig: A hard worker passionate about flooding, infrastructure and public safety, Stardig has a reputation for connecting with constituents on the ground level and fighting for their needs. While her unfiltered style can raise eyebrows, it’s refreshing when it means greater transparency.

Democrat

Michael Moore: His attention to detail and practical focus on flood mitigation, infrastructure, traffic, an underfunded hospital district and other challenges in a growing region are why we recommend him.

TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR and VOTER REGISTRAR

Democrat

Ann Harris Bennett: She’s an experienced administrator who, despite stumbles, is making progress on registering voters and helping educate taxpayers.

JUDGES

Republican

1st Court of Appeals, Place 5: Terry Adams. He has been a primary lawyer on more than 200 appellate cases.

Democrat

1st Court of Appeals, Place 3: Dinesh Singhal. He has a strong reputation for being smart and experienced.

1st Court of Appeals, Place 5: Tim Hootman. A former staffer on this court of appeals, he has handled more than 350 appeals including arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Chief of the 14th Court of Appeals: Jane Robinson. She has a solid reputation and is a significant contributing editor to the O’Connor’s Texas civil court guide.

14th Court of Appeals Place 7: Wally Kronzer. He has extensive appellate court experience in state and federal courts.

80th Harris County District Court: Larry Weiman. Though Weiman has been criticized for stressing docket speed over other issues, his reputation on the bench is that he has integrity and he has done reasonably well in bar polls.

164th Harris County District Court: Grant J. Harvey. He’s a highly regarded litigator who has participated in numerous trials and appeals. He has practiced law for 30 years including at one of the most respected boutique firms in Houston.

165th Harris County District Court: Megan Daic. She has varied civil experience, teaches as an adjunct at UH law school and has impressed colleagues as being capable of having the temperament to handle the bench.

176th Harris County District Court: Bryan Acklin. He has been called even-tempered and talented by colleagues on both sides of the criminal cases that this currently under-performing court handles.

179th Harris County District Court: Ana Martinez. She gained a sterling reputation as a human trafficking prosecutor before she became a defense attorney.

333rd Harris County District Court: Daryl Moore. He gets wildly high marks on bar polls and his reputation is that he is thoughtful, intelligent, with an even-handed approach to the law and a great temperament.

334th Harris County District Court: Steven Kirkland. His reputation is that he is a good judge with solid bar poll results.

337th Harris County District Court: Colleen Gaido. She has handled more than 50 criminal trials and is known for understanding the realities of all angles of a case.

339th Harris County District Court: Te’iva Bell. Her reputation in trial is superb though not all her opponents have liked going up against her, which can be a good thing.

351th Harris County District Court: George Powell. Lawyers who have practiced in his court say he is thoughtful, respectful and fair on the bench.

507th Harris County District Court: C.C. “Sonny” Phillips. Colleagues expect Phillips will bring fairness, clear policies and organization to a court that has fared poorly in recent bar polls.

Recommendations for the 2020 Republican Primary in Texas

Recommendations for the 2020 Democratic Primary in Texas

Why recommend candidates at all? The editorial board, a team of opinion journalists separate from the newsroom, believes it is an essential part of our duty to inform readers. We know voters want to make responsible choices in the voting booth but that can be daunting given the number of candidates. We invest the time and resources for the benefit of voters and for our democracy. We skipped some races — those for justice of peace and county courts of law — but not many.

As always, feel free to shoot us a note and let us know how we did: www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/submit.