2014 Primary Election Results

First, for any fellow political romantics out there, the democracy machine was turned on yesterday, and regardless of the results we should all still marvel in the grand experiment to allow for citizens to engage in a process whereby they peacefully vote to select those in government who will lead them.  This amazing idea and privilege should never be discounted or taken for granted, especially as there are many areas across this planet where such a reality does not exist.

Now to the results… 

The top story coming out of last night’s primary election was in the Lieutenant Governor’s race where Dan Patrick took home 41.5% of the vote to lead the field of four candidates of incumbent David Dewhurst (28.3%), Todd Staples (17.8%) and Jerry Paterson (12.5%).  Patrick and Dewhurst now square off head-to-head in a runoff election to see who will be the Republican candidate to go against Democrat Leticia Van de Putte in November.

For other top statewide offices there will be a Republican run-off election for Attorney General between Ken Paxton (44.4%) and Dan Branch (33.5%); and both a Republican and Democrat run-off for Agriculture Commission with Sid Miller (34.6%) and Tommy Merrit (21%) for the R’s, and Jim Hogan (38.8%) and Kinky Friedman (37.7%) for the D’s. 

There could still be a run-off in the Comptroller race as it is currently “too close to call” whether Glen Hegar won the Republican spot out right with more than 50% of the vote, or if he came just barely under the half way mark needed to avoid a run off.  If Hegar ultimately did not hit the greater than 50 percent mark, he would face Harvey Hilderbran in a run-off. George P. Bush received 73% of the vote winning the Republican primary for Land Commissioner and will face Democrat John Cook in the general election.

Texas Senate incumbent Robert Deuell (48.5%) faces Bob Hall (38.3%) in a run-off.  In the vacated seat of Wendy Davis Konni Burton and Mark Shelton now proceed to a run-off election for the Republicans to see who will face Libby Willis on the Democrat side in November. 
Three incumbent state senators all survived their primary challengers winning last night out right without needing a run-off – Joan Huffman (81.1%), Donna Campbell (55.4%) and Kel Seliger (52.4%). 

The state senate incumbent casualty of the night fell on long time TMHA supporter and multiple bill sponsor, John Carona.  Carona was defeated last night by a margin of 635 votes by Don Huffines.

Of the contested Texas House races both incumbent victories (24) and defeats (8) came in yesterday’s primary. 
Incumbents who lost were: George Lavender, Lance Gooden, Ralph Sheffield, Lon Burnam, Diane Patrick, Linda Harper-Brown (who carried the manufactured housing sales person deregulation bill in 2013 that did not pass), Naomi Gonzalez, and Bennett Ratliff. 

Incumbents who survived primary challengers included: Matt Schaefer, Bryon Cook (chairman of State Affairs), Travis Clardy, Kyle Kacal, John Otto, Sergio Munoz Jr, J.D. Sheffield, Jim Keffer, Myra Crownover, Susan King, Drew Darby, Mary Gonsalez,  Marisa Marquez, Joe Pickett, Charles Perry, Jonathan Stickland, Helen Giddings, Toni Rose, Angie Button, Joe Straus (Speaker of the House), Alma Allen, Sarah Davis, Carol Alvarado, and Debbie Riddle (author of the 2013 bill increasing the de minmus amount of sales from one to three before having to become a licensed retailer).

Focus now shifts to the slate of run-off elections which will be held on May 27 (early voting May 19 -23).

For a complete list of races and outcomes I recommend visiting: texastribune.org/texas-election-results/2014-primary-election/scoreboard/