This Week in Texas: Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Posted March 4, 2020 in The Mignon Memo

The Results Are In!

The results of the Texas Primary are in!  Here are the fast and furious results of yesterday’s election.  In this memo, we highlight hot races and some new faces.  For more detailed information, go to the Secretary of State’s website here.

Beyond the top of the ticket, voters turned out on Super Tuesday to decide critical primary elections at the congressional, state and county levels.

Several incumbent elected officials were unopposed on Tuesday and were watching the results of the opposite party’s primary contest. If no candidate in a primary election received a majority of the vote, the top two candidates will go head-to-head in a runoff on May 26th, 2020.

Ready, set, GO!

President

In the Presidential Democratic primary, Joe Biden (32.4%) came in first in Texas, with Bernie Sanders (29.7%) and Michael Bloomberg (15.5%) finishing second and third.  The Democratic nominee will face Republican President Donald Trump in the November general election.

U.S. Senate

MJ Hegar (22.3%) and Democrat Senator Royce West from Dallas (14.5%) are headed to a runoff in May.  The winner will face U.S. Senator John Cornyn in November.

U.S. Congress

There were competitive races up and down the ballot in the U.S. House.  Six open seats in the Texas congressional delegation made for an extremely competitive primary.  Five of those open seats are headed to runoff elections.

Hot races

 CD-7:  Republicans made winning this seat a priority; it’s one of two Democrats flipped in 2018. Six Republicans signed up to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher.  Republican Wesley Hunt received 61.1% of the vote, heading to the November election.

CD-11 (seat vacated by Mike Conaway):  August Pfluger (52.1%) will face Democrat Jon Mark Hogg in November.

CD-12:  Incumbent Republican Kay Granger, who was endorsed by President Trump, had a serious challenge from the right. She avoided a runoff with 58.6% of the vote.  Granger will face Democratic nominee Lisa Welch in November.

CD-13 (seat vacated by Mac Thornberry):  Republicans Josh Winegarner (38.9%) and Ronny Jackson (19.8%) are headed to a runoff to replace Mac Thornberry and so are Democrats Gus Trujillo (42.2%) and Greg Sagan (34.7%). This is a solidly red seat.

CD-17 (open seat vacated by Bill Flores):  Republican Pete Sessions (31.6%), a former congressman who represented another district, is headed to a runoff. As unofficial results trickle in, it is unclear who he will be facing in May. Early Wednesday morning, Renee Swann had 19% of the vote and George Hindman 18.1%.

 CD-22 (open seat vacated by Pete Olson):  This race is a target for Democrats seeking to flip the seat and included Republican Pierce Bush, the grandson of the late President George H.W. Bush.  Republicans Troy Nehls (40.5%) and Kathaleen Wall (19.4%) are headed to a runoff. The winner will face Democrat Sri Preston Kulkarni in November.

CD-23 (seat vacated by Will Hurd):  In Texas’ true swing congressional seat, nine Republicans sought the nomination to replace retiring Will Hurd. This race heads to a runoff between Tony Gonzales (28.1%), backed by Hurd, and Raul Reyes (23.3%). The Democratic nominee is Gina Ortiz Jones, who almost took out the incumbent in 2018.

CD-24 (seat vacated by Kenny Marchant):  Beth Van Duyne, a former Irving Mayor, won the Republican primary easily with 64.3% of the vote. The Democrats head to a runoff between Kim Olson (39.1%), the 2018 agriculture commissioner nominee, and Candace Valenzuela (32.2%)

CD-28: In this race, incumbent Democrat Henry Cuellar faced a challenge from the left backed by national progressives. Cuellar came out on top, avoiding a runoff, with 51.8% of the vote.

 CD-31:  After MJ Hegar came close to winning this seat in 2018, six Democrats ran for a chance to beat Rep. John Carter in November.  Christine Eady Mann (34.7%) and Donna Imam (30.7%) earned spots in a runoff and the winner will face incumbent John Carter.

CD-32:  Five Republicans wanted the chance to take back the seat Democratic incumbent Colin Allred won from Pete Sessions two years ago; the congressional seat is one of two the Democrats flipped in 2018. Genevieve Collins (52.6%) and Floyde McLendon (34.2%) are headed to a runoff to see who will face Allred in November.

STATEWIDE RACES

 Texas Railroad Commission

Members of the three-person board are elected statewide. One seat is up for election in 2020.

 Commissioner:  In the Republican primary, James Wright beat incumbent Ryan Sitton outright with 56% of the vote. Democrats Roberto R. “Beto” Alonzo and Chrysta Castañeda are headed to a runoff.

Texas Supreme Court

Four positions are up for election this year. Judges run for offices as partisans, and no Democrat has been elected to the court since 1995.

 Highlighted Race – Chief Justice: Amy Clark Meachum won the primary with 80% of the vote, making her the first woman ever to earn the Texas Democratic Party nomination for Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court. She will face incumbent Nathan Hecht in November.

State Board of Education

There are 15 districts within the State Board of Education. Ten are held by Republicans, and five are held by Democrats. Four Republicans are not running for reelection, meaning a shake-up on the board is certain no matter which party prevails in each of the eight seats up for election.

Highlighted Race – In District 5, Rob Morrow, who has called President Donald Trump a “child rapist,” is headed to a runoff in the race for a position that would help decide what millions of Texas public school children are taught.

 Texas Senate 

 Hot Races

 SD-19:  Democrats Xochil Pena Rodriguez (44.3%) and Roland Gutierrez (37.5%), who vacated his House seat to run for SD-19, head to a runoff and the winner will face incumbent Pete Flores (R-Pleasanton) in November.

 SD-27:  Incumbent Eddie Lucio Jr. (D-Brownsville) takes 49.8% of the vote and heads to a runoff with Sara Stapleton Barrera in May (35.6%).  Senator Lucio has been in the Legislature since 1987.

SD-29:  Cesar Blanco (D-El Paso) will officially be Senator-elect to replace retiring Senator Jose Rodriguez. Representative Blanco vacated his seat in the Texas House to run for Senate District 29.

Texas House

 Hot Races

 HD-2:  In this rematch between incumbent Republican Dan Flynn (R-Van) and Bryan Slaton (who came close to a win in 2018), Flynn is battling for a 10th term and Slayton is running for the third time. Incumbent Dan Flynn (44.5%) and Bryan Slaton (35.2%) are headed to a runoff in May.

HD-10 (open seat vacated by John Wray):  This race featured a former candidate, Jake Ellzey, and the son of a former state representative, Ryan Pitts.  Jake Ellzey avoids a runoff with 64.8% of the vote and will be the Representative-Elect. There is not a democratic challenger in November.

HD-25 (open seat vacated by Speaker Dennis Bonnen):  Ro’Vin Garrett (28.6%) and Cody Thane Vasut (22.2%) are headed to a runoff in this Republican primary race.

HD-26 (open seat vacated by Rick Miller):  Both primaries in this district featured multiple candidates for a nomination to a general election race that could go to either party. For the Republicans, Matt Morgan (49.7%) and Jacey Jetton (40.7%) are headed to a runoff. Democrats Suleman Lalani (31.7%) and L. Sarah DeMerchant (29.6%) are headed to the May runoff.

HD-45:  The pack of Republicans who vied to take back this former GOP seat included Carrie Isaac, the spouse of the state representative who preceded Democratic incumbent Rep. Erin Zwiener (D-Dripping Springs). Carrie Isaac (47.9%) and Kent “Bud” Wymore (41.4%) are headed to a runoff. Zwiener won her primary with 69.2% of the vote.

HD-47:  Incumbent Democrat Vikki Goodwin (D-Austin) took the seat from the Republicans in 2018, and the effort to take it back attracted five Republican candidates. Jennifer Fleck (32.2%) will continue to a runoff in May. By Wednesday morning, it was still unclear about who Fleck will face in the runoff.

HD-59:  Incumbent Republican Dr. J.D. Sheffield (R-Stephenville), vying for a fifth term, was up against self-funding businessman Cody Johnson and lawyer Shelby Slawson, both from Stephenville. Dr. Sheffield (30.4%) heads to a runoff with Shelby Slawson (45.6%) in May.

HD-60 (open seat vacated by Mike Lang):  In this race, Jon Francis had deep funding from West Texas conservatives and Glenn Rogers had the endorsement of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry.  Francis (45.9%) and Rogers (43.8%) are headed to a runoff.

HD-66: For this seat targeted by Democrats, incumbent Republican Matt Shaheen (R-Plano) will face Sharon Hirsch (59%) in November.

HD-67: Tom Adair (32.9%) won the Democratic primary in this district to face incumbent Jeff Leach (R-Plano) in November.

HD-74 (open seat vacated by Poncho Nevarez):  Eddie Morales Jr. will be the Democratic nominee in this race with 50.8% of the vote.

HD-76 (open seat vacated by Cesar Blanco):  City Council member Claudia Ordaz Perez takes this race with 56.4% of the vote. There is no Republican challenger in November.

HD-80: Incumbent Democrat Tracy King (D-Uvalde) successfully defended his seat against Danny Valdez with 67% of the vote.

HD-92 (open seat vacated by Jonathan Stickland):  This closely watched primary was for a seat that Jonathan Stickland, a Republican, won with less than 50% of the vote against Democrat Steven Riddell in 2018; Stickland didn’t seek reelection.  Republican Jeff Cason (54.1%) will face Democrat Jeff Whitfield in November.

HD-96 (open seat vacated by Bill Zedler): Republican David Cook will face Democrat Joe Drago for this open seat in November.

HD-97: Democrat Elizabeth Beck will face incumbent Craig Goldman (R-Fort Worth) in November.

HD-100:  Incumbent Democrat Lorraine Birabil (D-Dallas) won the special election for this seat in January and had to defend it against old and new rivals; the seat opened up after now-Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson resigned in 2019. Birabil (31.9%) is headed to a runoff with Jasmine Felicia Crockett (25%) in May.

HD-102: Former Representative Linda Koop (76.8%) will face incumbent Ana-Maria Ramos (D-Richardson) in November for a rematch for this seat.

HD-108: Incumbent Morgan Meyer (R-Dallas) will face Joanna Cattanach (58.3%) in November. Meyer won reelection be less than 1 percentage point in 2018.

HD-119 (open seat vacated by Roland Gutierrez):  Elizabeth Campos (46.1%) and Jennifer Ramos (43.7%) are headed to a runoff.

HD-132:  Mike Schofield, a former Republican state representative, ran to win his seat back.  Schofield (53%) faces Democratic incumbent Gina Calanni (D-Katy) in the general election.

HD-134:  Ann Johnson (70.6%) will face Republican incumbent Sarah Davis (R-Houston) in November.

HD-138 (open seat vacated by Dwayne Bohac):  This open seat in a swing district attracted candidates from both parties, setting up a competitive November general election.  Democrats Akilah Bacy (45.6%) and Jenifer Rene Pool (29.5%) are headed to a runoff. The winner will face Lacey Hull in the fall.

HD-141: Incumbent Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston) successfully defended her seat with 84.2% of the vote.

HD-142:  Incumbent Democrat Harold Dutton Jr. (D-Houston), third in seniority in the 150-member Texas House, had a well-funded opponent, Jerry Davis, this season.  Rep. Dutton (45.2%) and Jerry Davis (25.3%) are headed to a runoff.

HD-147: Incumbent Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) will be returning to the Texas Legislature with a 67.7% lead in the primary election. Rep. Coleman does not have a challenger in November.

HD-148:  Incumbent Democrat Anna Eastman (D-Houston) was a January special election winner trying to win a full term — but Jessica Farrar, who resigned from the seat in 2019, backed Penny Morales Shaw. Rep. Eastman (40.5%) and Penny Morales Shaw (23%) are headed to a runoff. The winner will face Republican Luis LaRotta in November.