Voters weighed in Tuesday on high-profile statewide races and county-level races across West Texas during the Texas primary elections.
Across the state, all eyes were on the high-profile party primaries for U.S. Senate.
On the Republican side, Incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are set for a primary runoff in May, while Democratic voters went with State Rep. James Talarico as their nominee for that contest.
The closely-watched Republican primary battle for Texas' 23rd Congressional district is also headed to a runoff in May, as the Texas Tribune reported Wednesday morning.
In West Texas county-level races, incumbent Presidio County Judge Jose Portillo held onto his seat against challenger and former county commissioner David Beebe in the Democratic primary.
In Midland County, incumbent County Judge Terry Johnson lost in the Republican party primary against two challengers who will now head to a primary runoff in May: Jay Marquez and Karen Hood.
Another notable race was in Jeff Davis County, where incumbent County Judge Curtis Evans lost in the GOP primary against challenger Buster Mills.
In those races and others across the region, only one party participated, so the races will be essentially decided well before the November general election.
More notable county-level primary election results are available below.
Note: The results list below is not a comprehensive tally of every race that appeared on local ballots. It doesn't include races that only drew one candidate from one party.
An asterisk by a candidate’s name indicates they are the incumbent in the election.
Bold indicates that the candidate has won their primary race (or is presumed the winner in the case of uncontested races.) Races with two candidates bolded are heading to a runoff election.
WEST TEXAS LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS
Midland County
Among the notable results in Midland County: Incumbent County Judge Terry Johnson lost in the Republican party primary against two challengers who will now head to a primary runoff in May: Jay Marquez and Karen Hood.
No Democrats participated in the race, so the runoff will essentially decide that race.
County Judge
Republican Primary Jay Marquez: 2,024 votes (37.47%) |
Democratic Primary None |
County Commissioner Precinct 2
Republican Primary Brian Carney: 796 votes (45.83%) |
Democratic Primary None |
County Commissioner Precinct 4
Republican Primary H Lance Friday: 833 votes (43.52%) |
Democratic Primary None |
Justice of the Peace Precinct 2
Republican primary Yadi Billeck*: 895 votes (55.76%) |
Democratic Primary None |
Ector County
Incumbent Ector County Judge Dustin Fawcett easily held onto his seat in the GOP primary against challenger Suneel Mehta, with no Democrats participating in the race.
In another notable local race, Ector County Commissioner Precinct 2 Republican primary race is headed to a runoff election between Grayson Hankins and Jason Payne, with no Democrats participating.
The County Commissioner Precinct 4 race will see a competitive election in November, with Republican Incumbent Billy Hall advancing in his primary to challenge Democrat Jesse M. Porras in the fall.
Note: an earlier version of this story mistakenly published numbers from just a portion of precincts reporting. The below numbers are from all precincts reporting as of Tuesday night.
County Judge
Republican Primary Dustin Fawcett*: 6,933 votes (88.48%) |
Democratic Primary None |
County Commissioner Precinct 2
Republican Primary Jason Payne: 756 votes (20.31%) |
Democratic Primary None |
County Commissioner Precinct 4
Republican Primary Billy Hall*: 495 votes (59.93%) |
Democratic Primary Jesse M. Porras: 701 votes (100%) |
County Treasurer
Republican Primary Amanda Prieto Snyder: 4,870 votes (65.98%) |
Democratic Primary None |
Justice of the Peace Precinct 1
Republican Primary Steven Brennan: 1,035 votes (60.24%) |
Democratic Primary None |
Justice of the Peace Precinct 3
Republican Primary Ronnie Hernandez: 689 votes (42.14%) |
Democratic Primary None |
Justice of the Peace Precinct 4
Republican Primary Martha Acosta: 369 votes (44.84%) |
Democratic Primary Crystal Z. Rios: 519 votes (65.28%) |
Pecos County
Multiple Pecos County primary races are heading to runoff elections in May, including the GOP primary for county judge and the GOP primary for County Clerk.
The county judge's race will see a competitive race in November, after Santiago Cantu Jr. won the Democratic primary in that race over Kirby Warnock. Cantu Jr. will go onto face either Republican Lea Daggett or Remie R. Ramos, depending on that race's primary runoff outcome.
County Judge
Republican Primary Lea Daggett: 714 votes (39.38%) |
Democratic Primary Kirby Warnock: 151 votes (25.81%) |
County Clerk
Republican Primary Hope Swaluck: 423 votes (24.49%) |
Democratic Primary None |
County Commissioner Precinct 2
Republican Primary Raymond “Skeeter” Delaney: 132 votes (26.04%) |
Democratic Primary Ramon Sotelo: 143 votes (100%) |
Justice of the Peace Precinct 4
Republican Primary Kari Ivey: 62 votes (61.39%) |
Democratic Primary None |
Brewster County
Justice of the Peace Precinct 1
Republican Primary J. Scott Wassermann* 581 votes (100%) |
Democratic Primary Felipe Fierro: 557 votes (100%) |
Justice of the Peace Precinct 3
Republican Primary Michael (Mike) Johnson: 49 votes (100%) |
Democratic Primary Susana Gonzales*: 66 votes (100%) |
Presidio County
Incumbent Presidio County Judge Jose Portillo held onto his seat against challenger and former county commissioner David Beebe in the Democratic primary, with no Republicans participating.
The Presidio County Commissioner Precinct 2 race in the Democratic primary is headed to a runoff between Jesus "Junie" Herrera and Fernando Juarez.
The only county-level race that will be competitive in November will be the Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 race, where Republican Amabilla Galindo will face Democrat Bianca Martinexz Bailon, who won her party's primary against Jesseca Murillo.
Disclosure: David Beebe is a volunteer music program host at Marfa Public Radio.
County Judge
Republican Primary None |
Democratic Primary Jose “Joe” Portillo Jr.*: 924 votes (52.59%) |
District & County Clerk
Republican Primary None |
Democratic Primary Brenda Pando-Covos: 782 votes (46.27%) |
County Treasurer
Republican Primary None |
Democratic Primary Florcita Zubia*: 933 votes (55.94%) |
County Commissioner Precinct 2
Republican Primary None |
Democratic Primary Jesus “Junie” Herrera: 211 votes (46.68%) |
Justice of the Peace Precinct 2
Republican Primary Amabilia (Amy) Galindo: 19 votes (100%) |
Democratic Primary Jesseca Murillo: 370 votes (35.47%) |
Jeff Davis County
In a notable Jeff Davis County race, incumbent County Judge Curtis Evans lost in the Republican party primary against challenger Buster Mills. No Democrats participated in the race.
County Judge
Republican Party Curtis Evans*: 296 votes (48.60%) |
Democratic Primary None |
County Treasurer
Republican Primary Brittany Escobedo: 293 votes (49.58%) |
Democratic Primary None |
County Commissioner Precinct 4
Republican Primary Tommy Vick: 92 votes (100%) |
Democratic Primary Albert Miller*: 39 votes (100%) |
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