Austin American-Statesman
Incumbent Scott Walker leads in Court of Criminal Appeals race
Early results show incumbent Scott Walker is leading challenger Clint Morgan in the Republican Primary for Place 5 in the Court of Criminal Appeals. The Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest court for criminal cases in Texas. Judges sit for 6-year terms.
Incumbent Scott Walker seeks a second term. Morgan is a former prosecutor, while Walker has experience in criminal litigation, civil defense, and appellate advocacy.
The winner of this primary will face Democrat Dana Huffman, an attorney and municipal court judge in North Texas. The last time a Democrat was elected to the court was in 1994.
Incumbent Evan Young leads in Supreme Court Race
Early results show incumbent Evan Young leads over challenger David Schenck in the Republican Primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 9.
This primary for Supreme Court Place 9 is the only competitive race for Texas Supreme Court, the highest civil court in the state. Justices run for 6-year terms.
Young is the Abbott-appointed incumbent after Eva Guzman stepped down to run for Texas attorney general. Schenck is a Dallas-based 5th Court of Appeals judge.
The winner of the Place 9 Republican primary will face Democrat Julia Maldonado, a state district judge in Harris County.
Flores takes sizeable lead in Travis County House Race
Maria Luisa “Lulu” Flores is on track to avoid a runoff election in the race to represent portions of East and South Austin in the Texas House. Flores had a sizable lead with 62.2% of the vote based on unofficial early voting numbers from the Travis County Clerk’s office, well above the 50%-plus one necessary to clinch the Democratic nomination.
Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, has represented the district since 2003, but announced last year he would not seek reelection, instead launching a campaign for Congress.
Covering a wide swath of central and southeastern Travis County — including Austin’s Bouldin Creek, Travis Heights, Holly and Montopolis neighborhoods, as well as the East Cesar Chavez Street, East Riverside Drive and South Congress Avenue commercial districts and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport — District 51 is a Democratic stronghold. The Democratic nominee will go up against Robert Reynolds, the only Republican candidate in the race, in November’s general election.
Dan Patrick cruising in 6-way GOP race
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was cruising to victory over five little known opponents in early returns for the GOP primary.
Patrick, with more than $22 million in his campaign account heading toward Election Day, had almost 79% of the vote with 4% of precincts reporting statewide.
Seeking a third four-year term as the presiding officer over the Texas Senate, Patrick was easily outdistancing conservative activist Trayce Bradford, abortion opponent Todd Bullis, Texas secession leader Daniel Miller, Fort Worth business owner Aaron Sorrells and retired military officer Zach Vance.
In the Democratic primary, Mike Collier was pulling ahead and flirting with outright victory in early returns — a result that could put him in a rematch with Patrick in November after losing to the Republican by less than 5 percentage points in 2018.
Collier, an accountant and former chief financial officer of an oil company who emphasized his business experience in the campaign, had 49% of the vote with 5% of precincts reporting.
Early returns had two-term state Rep. Michelle Beckley, D-Carrollton, with 27% of the vote, and 24% for Carla Brailey, a former vice chair of the Texas Democratic Party and a sociology professor at Texas Southern University.
Runoff likely in Williamson County Texas House District 52
Two Republican newcomers appear to be headed toward a runoff in Texas House District 52 in Williamson County.
Based on unofficial early voting results from the Williamson County Elections website, Patrick McGuinness, a software engineer, was in the lead with just over 35% of the vote. Caroline Harris, a policy advisor for state Senator Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, was in second with nearly 30%, followed closely by attorney Nelson Jarrin, who had 28.3%. Jonathan Schober, who works in healthcare technology, currently has just over 7%.
Republicans see the district as an opportunity to bolster the Republican majority in the Texas House after lawmakers redrew the district to favor the GOP last fall, causing the Democratic incumbent, Rep. James Talarico, to opt to run in a nearby, solidly blue Travis County district. The Republican runoff winner in May will face off against Democrat Luis Echegaray, the sole Democratic candidate, in the general election in November.
Casar declares victory in 35th Congressional District
Democrat Greg Casar declared victory Tuesday in the Democratic primary election for the state’s 35th Congressional District, after election night tallies showed him running well ahead of three opponents, including state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin.
“Progressive policies are popular,” Casar, a former Austin City Council Member, said in a statement. “And we’re going to pass them for Texas working families.”
The 35th District runs from East Austin to San Antonio.
Abbott, O’Rourke win primaries
Gov. Greg Abbott and Democrat Beto O’Rourke have won their respective primary election contests as returns on election night show both with insurmountable leads.
O’Rourke declared victory at an event in Fort Worth, telling attendees: “It looks like, from the early returns, I will be your nominee for governor for the state of Texas.”
Abbott is running well above the 50% threshold to avoid a runoff, with challengers Don Huffines, a former state senator, and Allen West, former state GOP chairman, far behind. Huffines conceded the race on Tuesday and said he would not challenge the final election results.
Shea ahead, Gómez trailing in early Travis County results
Incumbent Margaret Gómez was trailing challenger Susanna Ledesma-Woody in a close race for county commissioner in Precinct 4, according to unofficial returns from early voting in Travis County.
Gómez has served as a county commissioner since 1994 and said her focus is ensuring the $110 million in federal funding the county set aside for homelessness programming starts flowing into community programs. Ledesma-Woody, who serves on the Del Valle school board, is challenging Gómez from the left, with a focus on inequities in the county including access to health care.
In Precinct 2, incumbent Brigid Shea has a sizable lead over challenger Bob Libal, according unofficial returns from early voting. Shea took office in 2015 and said her campaign is focused on her commitment to fight climate change and its impacts.
Dyana Limon-Mercado has a big lead over Kurt Lockhart in the race to replaced retired county clerk Dana DeBeauvoir, according unofficial returns from early voting.
Bell-Metereau ahead in Democratic State Board of Education primary
Democratic incumbent Rebecca Bell-Metereau held a commanding lead in the Democratic primary for State Board of Education District 5, with 76% of the vote in initial early returns.
Members of the State Board of Education set curriculum and textbooks for public kindergarten through 12th grade schools, oversee the Texas Permanent School Fund and have a say in rules for educator certifications and in applications to launch new charter schools.
Bell-Metereau flipped the historically Republican district in 2020, and it is expected to remain Democratic as a result of redistricting.
In the Republican primary for the district, Mark Loewe, a physicist, had a narrow lead of 50% of initial returns against Robert Morrow, a controversial former chair of the Travis County Republican Party.
Dawn Buckingham leads crowded Republican primary for Texas land commissioner
In the Republican primary for Land Commissioner, state Sen. Dawn Buckingham of Lakeway was leading among eight candidates with 45% of the vote in early returns.
In the Democratic primary, Sandragrace Martinez, a mental wellness policy advocate, led the race among four with 32% of the vote in early returns. Jay Kleberg, director of the nonpartisan civic engagement group Texas Lyceum and former associate director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, closely followed with 30%.
The Texas Land Commissioner heads the General Land Office, which is tasked with stewarding public lands and related programming such as distributing disaster relief funds, state veteran programs and public school funding from the lease of state lands.
In recent years, the General Land Office has gained attention for its role in the management of the Alamo as some question redevelopment plans for the tourist attraction and the framing of the historic battle site in Texas history.
Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush is running for Texas Attorney General in the Republican primary.
Sid Miller ahead early in agriculture commissioner race
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller was out to an early lead over his two Republican primary challengers as initial vote tallies started flowing from the Secretary of State’s Office after the polls closed at 7.p.m.
Miller, seeking his third term as the public face of farming and ranching in Texas, was receiving nearly 60% of the vote in unofficial returns. State Rep. James White of East Texas was second with 31& and Carey Counsil had just over 9%.
On the Democratic side, attorney Susan Hays was leading Ed Ireson by an 80-20 margin.
Travis County election results site down as polls close
As polls closed across Texas at 7 p.m. and early voting results began to roll in for surrounding counties, the Travis County election results site was rendering an error. The county clerk’s office tweeted at about 7:40 that the IT team was working on re-directing the clerk’s website to the main Travis County website, and that results would be posted shortly.
The election results were posted shorly after 8 p.m. on the county’s main website.
Interim Clerk Rebecca Guerrero is new to the role — the County Commissioners Court appointed her in January after long-time county clerk, Dana DeBeauvoir, retired on Jan. 28 after 35 years. Guerrero is not running to fill the office full-time, though two Democratic candidates are vying for a spot on the ballot in the general election tonight.
Incumbents leading in Williamson County GOP primaries
In the Williamson County Republican primaries, all three incumbents enjoy big leads in the races for county judge and two commissioner seats after the release of the early voting results.
Bill Gravell had 61% of the vote in his reelection bid for county judge against challenger Ryan Gallagher. In the two races for county commissioner, incumbent Cynthia Long had 60% of the vote in her Precinct 2 race against J.T. Cox, while Russ Boles had 64% in his reelection bid against Terri Romere for the Precinct 4 seat.
More than 62,000 in-person votes in Travis County
With less than an hour to go, as of 6 p.m. Tuesday, the Travis County clerk’s office reported that more than 62,000 votes had been cast in person the day of the primary.
Travis County polls close at 7 p.m.
Travis County tallies 47,000 votes so far
As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, the Travis County clerk’s office reported that at least 47,000 votes had been cast the day of the primary election.
The clerk’s office also reminded the public that polls close at 7 p.m.
Texas holds its primary elections
Texans on Tuesday are choosing major-party candidates for various state and local government seats. Here’s what you need to know before you head to the polls to cast your vote.
Where can I vote? You can find your nearest polling location, and check to make sure you’re registered to vote, on the Texas secretary of state’s Voter Portal, here. You’ll be asked to enter either your first and last name, birthday and what county you live in; your Texas driver’s license number and birthday; or your voter unique identifier and birthday.
When finding your polling location, you’ll want to check the website just before going, as polling locations can change.
In Travis County, the county clerk’s office on Tuesday tweeted that “the polls are open until 7 p.m. and you can vote at any of the 164 polling places in the county. Find your most convenient location at VoteTravis.com.”
More: Voter guide: What to know before casting your vote in the 2022 Texas primary election
What do I need to bring with me to vote? If you’re voting in-person, you’ll need to bring with you one of these forms of photo identification:
• Texas driver’s license
• U.S. passport
• Election identification certificate
• Personal identification card
• License to carry a handgun
• Military ID card
• Citizenship certificate
Because of the new voting law, Texans who vote by mail have additional ID requirements. They have to include their driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number on the envelope containing their ballot. That will have to match the number on their vote-by-mail application.