If Tuesday night’s results hold up, Greg Abbott will face Gina Hinojosa for the Governor of Texas seat.
Abbott, the incumbent, won the Republican primary with 82.6% of his party’s vote, while Hinojosa held 61.3% of the Democrat primary vote. Hinojosa’s closest opponent as of 9 p.m. Tuesday was Chris Bell (10.4%), who was the Democratic candidate for Governor in 2006.
Polls were open until 10 p.m. Tuesday in Williamson County. Complete results of the Williamson County primary can be seen in the March 7-8 edition of the Taylor Press.
Here’s a look at races as of press time.
FEDERAL
James Talarico held a 52.6-46.3% lead against opponent Jasmine Crockett in the race for the Democratic representative for U.S. Senate. U.S. Senate incumbent John Cornyn (42.8%) held a slim lead against fellow Republican Ken Paxton (40.3%).
Unless Cornyn or Paxton obtained 50% or more of the vote, the two will have a runoff in May for the Republican berth. Paxton is the current Attorney General of Texas.
In the U.S. House District 11 race, Claire Reynolds and Pete Ruiz were in a tight race that was not decided as of press time. The winner of that Democratic primary will face Republican incumbent August Pfluger in November.
In the U.S. House District 17 race, Milah Flores and Casey Shepard were undecided at press time in their Democratic primary. The winner faces Republican incumbent Pete Sessions in November.
In the U.S. House District 31 Democratic race, Justin Early and Stuart Whitlow were duking it out for their party’s nomination. The winner will try to unseat Republican incumbent John Carter.
STATE
In the race for lieutenant governor, Republican incumbent Dan Patrick comfortably retained his party’s nomination with 85.9% of the vote. Patrick will likely face Vikki Goodwin, who had 51.1% of the Democratic primary vote.
Both attorney general primary races could be destined for runoffs in May. On the Democratic side, Nathan Johnson (47.1%), Joe Jaworski (28.8%) and Tony Box (24.3%) were battling for a majority vote from their party.
Mayes Middleton (43.4%) will likely have a runoff against Chip Roy (28.6%) for the Republican ticket in the attorney general race. If 50.9% of the vote is not garnered by a candidate, the top two vote earners will face each other in the May runoff.
The comptroller race is all but decided on both sides of the party line. Sarah Eckhardt claimed 63.5% of the Democratic vote, while Don Huffines earned 60.2% of the Republican vote – unseating incumbent Kelly Hancock for the party’s choice.
Democrat Benjamin Flores will challenge Republican incumbent Dawn Buckingham for the Texas land commissioner in November. Flores won 60.2% of the vote in the Democratic primary.
Democrat Jon Rosenthal will face either Bo French or incumbent Jim Wright in November for the railroad commissioner seat. French and Wright will have a runoff for the Republican ticket in May.
Democrat Clayton Tucker will likely meet Republican Nate Sheets for agricultural commissioner in November. Sheets held a 56.2-43.8% lead against incumbent Sid Miller in the Republican primary at press time.
In the Texas Supreme Court, four seats are up for election in November. Democrat Maggie Ellis and Republican incumbent Jimmy Blalock will square off for chief justice; Democrat Chari Kelly will challenge Republican incumbent James Sullivan for Place 2; Democrat Kristen Hawkins will battle Republican incumbent Kyle Hawkins – no relation – for Place 7; and Democrat Gisela Triana will try to unseat Republican Brett Busby for Place 8.
Democrat Okey Anyiam will face either Alison Fox or Thomas Smith for Place 3 on the Criminal Court of Appeals in November. Fox and Smith were neck-and-neck for the Republican spot.
Democrat Audra Riley will try to unseat Republican incumbent Kevin Yeary for Place 4 on the Criminal Court of Appeals. Democrat Holly Taylor and Republican John Messinger will duke it out for Place 9 on the Criminal Court of Appeals.
Republican incumbent Charles Schwertner will move on to face a Democratic challenger in November for the District 5 Senate seat. Democrats Paul Thomasson and Kevin Nelson were in a tight race for their party’s nomination.
Results of the District 52 state representative Republican primary between incumbent Caroline Harris Davila and Blayre Pena were not available at press time. The winner will face Democrat Chris Jimenez in November.
There are six Democrat candidates running for county offices: Williamson County judge — Heather Jefts; Precinct 1 justice of the peace — incumbent KT Musselman; Precinct 4 county commissioner — Harmon Rhea; county clerk — Erin Block; county treasurer — Brian Walbridge; and county party chair — incumbent Kim Collins Gilby.
Since the candidates have no primary opposition, they will represent their party in the Nov. 3 general election.
Of the 14 offices up for grabs on the Republican ballot, only one – Precinct 2 county commissioner – is contested. Rupal Chaudhari, Jeff Mayes and David McDonald are vying for their party’s nomination, but those results were not available at press time.
Other county offices with no Republican primary contest include County Judge — incumbent Steven Snell; County Court-of-Law 1 Judge — incumbent Brandy Hallford; County Court-of-Law 2 judge — incumbent Laura Barker; County Courtof- Law 3 judge — incumbent Kathryn Fowler; County Court-of-Law 4 judge — David Oliver; district clerk — incumbent Cathy Mendoza; county clerk — William Fairbrother; Precinct 4 county commissioner — incumbent Russ Boles, Precinct 2 justice of the peace — incumbent Angela Williams; Precinct 3 justice of the peace — incumbent Evelyn McLean; Precinct 4 justice of the peace — incumbent Rhonda Redden; and GOP party chair — Michelle Evans.
The 13 candidates running unopposed in the primary will represent the GOP on the ticket in the November election.
Some of these races, however, do not have Democratic opposition, which means the candidates in those races will run unopposed in November as well.
Candidates in contested primary races who do not earn more than 50% of the votes will go into a runoff May 26.
