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The dust has mostly settled on what was one of the most expensive and contentious primary election cycles in recent memory. Most of the action took place within the Republican Party primary where major campaign efforts were launched by Former President Trump, Governor Abbott, Attorney General Paxton, and Lt. Governor Patrick in an effort to unseat certain incumbent House Republicans and shore up support by campaigning for like-minded incumbents. The driving issue for some of the statewide elected officials was the question of whether a candidate supported school choice (also known as vouchers) in the public school system. As you may recall this was a highly contentious issue that failed during the fourth called special legislative session last fall. Attorney General Paxton’s main issue was whether a candidate had voted to impeach him last May. For some candidates, yesterday’s results were decisive, and they will go on to easily win their general election in November. Others who failed to secure more than 50 percent of the vote last night will face another long 84 days of campaigning leading up to a runoff election set for May 28. With nearly all precincts in and votes counted, here are some of the highlights from yesterday’s primary election. Presidential and other Statewide Races As expected, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz both easily clinched their party nominations. Trump carried the Republican vote with nearly 78 percent. Cruz secured 88 percent approval against 2 other opponents. President Biden easily won his primary with 84 percent. Democrat Congressman Colin Allred won a contested primary for US Senate by securing 58 percent and will face Republican Senator Ted Cruz in the November election. Republican Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick narrowly escaped a runoff election in a crowded field of five candidates. She will face Democrat Jim Matlock this fall. Notable Congressional Races CD 12: Current State Representative Craig Goldman led the Republican field with 44.35 percent and will head to a runoff against John O’Shea, who received 26.39 percent. The winner will succeed U.S. Representative Kay Granger, a longtime member of Congress and current Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee. CD 23: Incumbent Republican Tony Gonzales is being forced into a runoff by a crowded Republican field of five total candidates after only receiving 45.08 percent. He will face Brandon Herrera in the runoff, who received 24.66 percent. The winner of that race will face Democrat Santos Limon in November. CD 28: Incumbent Democrat Henry Cuellar will face the winner of a May runoff between Republicans Jay Furman and Lazaro Garza. Furman received 45 percent of the vote and Garza received 27 percent. CD 32: The race to replace Democrat Colin Allred in November will feature Democrat State Representative Julie Johnson and the winner of a runoff between Republicans David Blewett and Darrell Day. Blewett received 44 percent of the vote last night and Day received 38 percent. Texas Senate SD 15: The race to replace long time Senator and newly elected Houston Mayor John Whitmire is headed to a Democrat runoff. State Representative Jarvis Johnson garnered 38 percent of the vote while second place anti-infrastructure candidate Molly Cook obtained 20 percent. SD 16: State Senator Nathan Johnson fended off an unexpected challenge from State Representative Victoria Neave Criado in the Democrat Primary and won with 59.15 percent of the vote. SD 30: The race to fill retiring State Senator Drew Springer’s seat is headed to a Republican runoff. Brent Hagenbuch narrowly made it into the first-place runoff position by securing 36.38 percent of the vote and will face second place finisher Jace Yarbrough, who received 33.94 percent. Hagenbuch is endorsed by Donald Trump, Governor Abbott, Lt. Governor Patrick, and Former Governor Rick Perry. Texas House of Representatives As previously mentioned, most of yesterday’s action occurred in a handful of hotly contested Republican House races. At the top of the chart, and a race that gained national attention when President Trump endorsed his opponent, was Speaker of the House Dade Phelan’s re-election bid. The leader of the House Republicans came under fire from the former president, Lt. Governor Patrick, Attorney General Paxton, and several groups from outside his district as well as outside the state. It is estimated that this may have been one of the most expensive House primary contests in Texas history. Phelan, who was supported by former Governor Rick Perry, ended the evening with 43 percent of the vote while his main opponent David Covey received 46 percent. Governor Abbott did not participate in this race. Sixteen House members decided not to seek re-election. Additionally, 9 more outright lost their primary race. 8 more are headed to a May 28 runoff contest. Therefore, we will have a minimum of 24 new legislators in the Texas House when the 89th Legislative Session convenes in January 2025. In other words, at least one-sixth of the entire House of Representatives will be new to the legislature. The following Republican incumbents lost their re-election bid: Jill Dutton (HD 2) Travis Clardy (HD 11) Ernest Bailes (HD 18) Jacey Jetton (HD 26) Hugh Shine (HD 55) Glenn Rogers (HD 60) Reggie Smith (HD 62) Kronda Thimesch (HD 65) Steve Allison (HD 121) The following Republicans will face a runoff contest on May 28 (* = incumbent): HD 1 Gary VanDeaver* 45% vs Chris Spencer 43% HD 12 (Kacal Open Seat) Trey Wharton 35% vs Ben Bius 32% HD 21 David Covey 46% vs Dade Phelan* 43% HD 29 (Ed Thompson Open Seat) Jeffery Barry 48% vs Alex Kamkar 44% HD 30 (Morrison Open Seat) Jeff Bauknight 42% vs AJ Louderback 40% HD 33 Katrina Pierson 39% vs Justin Holland* 38% HD 44 Alan Schoolcraft 48% vs John Kuempel* 45% HD 58 Helen Kerwin 49% vs DeWayne Burns* 41% HD 61 Keresa Richardson 40% vs Frederick Frazier* 32% HD 64 Andy Hopper 47% vs Lynn Stucky* 43% HD 91 Stephanie Klick* 48% vs David Lowe 46% HD 97 (Goldman Open Seat) Cheryl Bean 49% vs John McQueeney 30% The following Democrats will face a runoff contest on May 28 (* = incumbent): HD 37 Ruben Cortez 32% vs Jonathon Garcia 25% HD 77 (Ortega Open Seat) Vince Perez 38% vs Norma Chavez 32% HD 80 (Tracy King Open Seat) Cecila Castellano 27% vs Rosie Cuellar 25% HD 97 (Goldman Open Seat) Diane Symons 43% vs Carlos Walker 35% HD 139 (Jarvis Johnson Open Seat) Angie Thibodeaux 32% vs Charlene Johnson 25% HD 146 Lauren Simmons 49% vs Shawn Thierry* 43% Important Dates to Remember Primary Runoff Early Vote: May 20-24 (Monday through Friday) Primary Runoff Election Day: Tuesday, May 28
The dust has mostly settled on what was one of the most expensive and contentious primary election cycles in recent memory. Most of the action took place within the Republican Party primary where major campaign efforts were launched by Former President Trump, Governor Abbott, Attorney General Paxton, and Lt. Governor Patrick in an effort to unseat certain incumbent House Republicans and shore up support by campaigning for like-minded incumbents. The driving issue for some of the statewide elected officials was the question of whether a candidate supported school choice (also known as vouchers) in the public school system. As you may recall this was a highly contentious issue that failed during the fourth called special legislative session last fall. Attorney General Paxton’s main issue was whether a candidate had voted to impeach him last May.
For some candidates, yesterday’s results were decisive, and they will go on to easily win their general election in November. Others who failed to secure more than 50 percent of the vote last night will face another long 84 days of campaigning leading up to a runoff election set for May 28.
With nearly all precincts in and votes counted, here are some of the highlights from yesterday’s primary election.
Presidential and other Statewide Races
As expected, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz both easily clinched their party nominations. Trump carried the Republican vote with nearly 78 percent. Cruz secured 88 percent approval against 2 other opponents.
President Biden easily won his primary with 84 percent. Democrat Congressman Colin Allred won a contested primary for US Senate by securing 58 percent and will face Republican Senator Ted Cruz in the November election.
Republican Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick narrowly escaped a runoff election in a crowded field of five candidates. She will face Democrat Jim Matlock this fall.
Notable Congressional Races
CD 12: Current State Representative Craig Goldman led the Republican field with 44.35 percent and will head to a runoff against John O’Shea, who received 26.39 percent. The winner will succeed U.S. Representative Kay Granger, a longtime member of Congress and current Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee.
CD 23: Incumbent Republican Tony Gonzales is being forced into a runoff by a crowded Republican field of five total candidates after only receiving 45.08 percent. He will face Brandon Herrera in the runoff, who received 24.66 percent. The winner of that race will face Democrat Santos Limon in November.
CD 28: Incumbent Democrat Henry Cuellar will face the winner of a May runoff between Republicans Jay Furman and Lazaro Garza. Furman received 45 percent of the vote and Garza received 27 percent.
CD 32: The race to replace Democrat Colin Allred in November will feature Democrat State Representative Julie Johnson and the winner of a runoff between Republicans David Blewett and Darrell Day. Blewett received 44 percent of the vote last night and Day received 38 percent.
Texas Senate
SD 15: The race to replace long time Senator and newly elected Houston Mayor John Whitmire is headed to a Democrat runoff. State Representative Jarvis Johnson garnered 38 percent of the vote while second place anti-infrastructure candidate Molly Cook obtained 20 percent.
SD 16: State Senator Nathan Johnson fended off an unexpected challenge from State Representative Victoria Neave Criado in the Democrat Primary and won with 59.15 percent of the vote.
SD 30: The race to fill retiring State Senator Drew Springer’s seat is headed to a Republican runoff. Brent Hagenbuch narrowly made it into the first-place runoff position by securing 36.38 percent of the vote and will face second place finisher Jace Yarbrough, who received 33.94 percent. Hagenbuch is endorsed by Donald Trump, Governor Abbott, Lt. Governor Patrick, and Former Governor Rick Perry.
Texas House of Representatives
As previously mentioned, most of yesterday’s action occurred in a handful of hotly contested Republican House races. At the top of the chart, and a race that gained national attention when President Trump endorsed his opponent, was Speaker of the House Dade Phelan’s re-election bid. The leader of the House Republicans came under fire from the former president, Lt. Governor Patrick, Attorney General Paxton, and several groups from outside his district as well as outside the state. It is estimated that this may have been one of the most expensive House primary contests in Texas history. Phelan, who was supported by former Governor Rick Perry, ended the evening with 43 percent of the vote while his main opponent David Covey received 46 percent. Governor Abbott did not participate in this race.
Sixteen House members decided not to seek re-election. Additionally, 9 more outright lost their primary race. 8 more are headed to a May 28 runoff contest. Therefore, we will have a minimum of 24 new legislators in the Texas House when the 89th Legislative Session convenes in January 2025. In other words, at least one-sixth of the entire House of Representatives will be new to the legislature.
The following Republican incumbents lost their re-election bid:
Jill Dutton (HD 2)
Travis Clardy (HD 11)
Ernest Bailes (HD 18)
Jacey Jetton (HD 26)
Hugh Shine (HD 55)
Glenn Rogers (HD 60)
Reggie Smith (HD 62)
Kronda Thimesch (HD 65)
Steve Allison (HD 121)
The following Republicans will face a runoff contest on May 28 (* = incumbent):
HD 1 Gary VanDeaver* 45% vs Chris Spencer 43%
HD 12 (Kacal Open Seat) Trey Wharton 35% vs Ben Bius 32%
HD 21 David Covey 46% vs Dade Phelan* 43%
HD 29 (Ed Thompson Open Seat) Jeffery Barry 48% vs Alex Kamkar 44%
HD 30 (Morrison Open Seat) Jeff Bauknight 42% vs AJ Louderback 40%
HD 33 Katrina Pierson 39% vs Justin Holland* 38%
HD 44 Alan Schoolcraft 48% vs John Kuempel* 45%
HD 58 Helen Kerwin 49% vs DeWayne Burns* 41%
HD 61 Keresa Richardson 40% vs Frederick Frazier* 32%
HD 64 Andy Hopper 47% vs Lynn Stucky* 43%
HD 91 Stephanie Klick* 48% vs David Lowe 46%
HD 97 (Goldman Open Seat) Cheryl Bean 49% vs John McQueeney 30%
The following Democrats will face a runoff contest on May 28 (* = incumbent):
HD 37 Ruben Cortez 32% vs Jonathon Garcia 25%
HD 77 (Ortega Open Seat) Vince Perez 38% vs Norma Chavez 32%
HD 80 (Tracy King Open Seat) Cecila Castellano 27% vs Rosie Cuellar 25%
HD 97 (Goldman Open Seat) Diane Symons 43% vs Carlos Walker 35%
HD 139 (Jarvis Johnson Open Seat) Angie Thibodeaux 32% vs Charlene Johnson 25%
HD 146 Lauren Simmons 49% vs Shawn Thierry* 43%
Important Dates to Remember
Primary Runoff Early Vote: May 20-24 (Monday through Friday)
Primary Runoff Election Day: Tuesday, May 28