In the March 3 primary, Texas Democratic voters cast ballots for several of the state’s highest offices. On the ballot are an eight-way U.S. Senate race; 38 congressional seats; open seats for state attorney general and comptroller; and several other statewide offices.
The overview
Republicans currently occupy all 18 statewide offices on the ballot and no Democrat or third-party candidate has won a statewide office in Texas since 1994, election records show.
Nearly 1.4 million Democrats cast early ballots across Texas, data from the secretary of state shows, while over 1.2 million Republicans voted early. Turnout figures from election day were not available as of press time.
Community Impact is tracking the results of eight statewide races in Texas’ Democratic primary. The winner of each race will advance to the November midterm election, facing the Republican nominee for the seat and potential third-party candidates.
If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in a race, the two highest vote-getters will face each other in a May 26 runoff election.
With 125 of Texas’ 254 counties reporting early results, see who’s leading each Democratic primary race and get to know the candidates. Find more results from contested local and state races at communityimpact.com/voter-guide and on the secretary of state’s website.
Talarico takes early lead in U.S. Senate race
State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, is leading the Democratic primary race to be Texas’ next U.S. senator, unofficial early results show.
As of press time, Talarico had 54.53% of the early vote, while U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, had 44.31% of the vote. Ahmad R. Hassan had 1.16% of the early vote.
Talarico’s early lead did not include results from Williamson County, where Talarico is from, and Crockett’s home base of Dallas County. Voting hours were extended at polling locations in both counties after they switched from countywide to precinct-based voting on March 3. Some Williamson County voters said they were unaware of precinct-based voting and were turned away from the first polling location they showed up at, Community Impact reported.
Poll hours were extended to 9 p.m. in Dallas County and 10 p.m. at two Williamson County polling locations.
Early results show Hinojosa leading nine-way governor’s race
In a crowded Democratic primary race for Texas governor, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, is leading the pack by 51 percentage points, unofficial early results show.
Hinojosa had 62.35% of the early vote as of press time, followed by Chris Bell with 10.94% of the vote. Other results in the race were as follows:
- Angela “Tia Angie” Villescaz had 5.34% of the vote
- Patricia Abrego had 4.96% of the vote
- Bobby Cole had 4.7% of the vote
- Andrew White, who withdrew from the race in January but remained on the ballot, had 4.66% of the vote
- Carlton W. Hart had 2.41% of the vote
- Zach Vance had 2.33% of the vote
- Jose Navarro Balbuena had 2.3% of the vote
Goodwin takes 22-point lead in lieutenant governor race
According to unofficial early results, state Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, is leading the race to be the Democratic nominee for Texas lieutenant governor. Goodwin had 51.29% of the early vote, while union leader Marcos Isaias Velez had 29.01% of the vote and contracts manager Courtney Head had 19.7% of the vote.
The lieutenant governor leads the Texas Senate and can exercise the powers of the governor if the governor dies, resigns, is removed from office or is absent from the state, according to the Texas State Historical Association.
Johnson leading attorney general race, early results show
State Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, is leading a three-way Democratic primary race for Texas attorney general, unofficial early results show. The office is open with Republican incumbent Ken Paxton running for U.S. Senate.
As of press time, Johnson had 46.93% of the early vote, while former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski trailed with 29.06% of the vote. Prosecutor Anthony “Tony” Box had 24.01% of the vote.
Eckhardt leads Texas comptroller race by 49 points
State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, is leading the Democratic primary race for state comptroller, according to unofficial early results. Eckhardt had a 49-point lead as of press time, with 67.01% of the early vote to Savant Moore’s 17.99%.
Michael Lange had 14.99% of the early vote.
The comptroller’s office is open after former state comptroller Glenn Hegar stepped down in July to become chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. Hancock, a former state senator, currently serves as acting state comptroller and is running in the Republican primary, although he is not considered the incumbent in the race.
As Texas’ chief financial officer, the comptroller is tasked with overseeing government spending, projecting Texas’ biennial budget for state legislators, reporting on statewide economic issues, and managing the state treasury and unclaimed property programs. Hancock’s office also recently launched the state’s new education savings account program, as mandated by the Texas Legislature.
Early results show Flores leading land commissioner race
Benjamin Flores is leading the race for Texas land commissioner, unofficial early results show. As of press time, Flores had 54.99% of the early vote to Jose Loya’s 45.01%.
The winning Democratic candidate will face Republican incumbent Dawn Buckingham in November. Buckingham, who is seeking a second four-year term as land commissioner, is running uncontested in the Republican primary.
The General Land Office manages 13 million acres of state lands, with duties such as allocating disaster recovery funds, leasing state lands to generate revenue for the state’s Permanent School Fund, preserving state landmarks such as the Alamo and overseeing several veterans programs. The GLO is Texas’ oldest state agency, according to its website.
Uncontested candidates for agriculture, railroad commissioners advance to November election
According to unofficial early results, Clayton Tucker had 689,922 votes in the Democratic primary race for state agriculture commissioner, while Jon Rosenthal had 681,906 votes in the Democratic primary race for railroad commissioner. Both candidates are running uncontested in their races and will face the corresponding Republican nominees in the November midterm election.
The Texas Department of Agriculture’s duties include administering federal nutrition programs and grants; facilitating trade of agricultural products; protecting crops from pests and diseases; providing financial assistance to farmers and rural communities; and conducting consumer protection programs, according to the agency’s website.
The railroad commission regulates Texas’ oil and gas industry, according to its website, while the state’s railroads are under the control of the Texas Department of Transportation and the federal government. Texas has three railroad commissioners who are elected to staggered six-year terms.
What’s next?
Community Impact will update this article as election day vote totals are released. All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide to see results from all contested local and state elections in your community.