Houston space residents turned out to vote on Tremendous Tuesday, casting their ballots within the Democratic and Republican primaries to assist the political events choose their nominees for the overall election in November. On the ballots are races for U.S. president and Congressional seats, locations within the Texas Home and Texas Senate and, extra domestically, Harris County competitions for district lawyer, sheriff and a number of other judgeships.
Sheila Jackson Lee v. Amanda Edwards
Sheila Jackson Lee, coming off a runoff defeat in opposition to John Whitmire within the race for Houston mayor, held off challenger, Houston Metropolis Councilwoman Amanda Edwards. Edwards had dropped out of the mayor’s race and determined to hunt Jackson’ Lee’s seat when the longtime congresswoman introduced her mayoral candidacy.
Jackson Lee has confronted challengers solely a handful of instances in her almost three-decade Home profession and defeated every definitively. She obtained almost 62.2% of the early vote within the Democratic main for Texas’ 18th Congressional District. Properly-funded challenger Amanda Edwards obtained 35.6% of the early vote, with at the least 50% wanted for candidates to keep away from a runoff. Jackson Lee has by no means been severely challenged in a basic election since she first took workplace in 1995.
Kim Ogg loses to Sean Teare
Harris County District Lawyer Kim Ogg, a two-term incumbent, was unseated within the Democratic main election by challenger Sean Teare, based mostly on early voting outcomes after the polls closed for Election Day. Teare, who spent six years working beneath Ogg as a prosecutor, obtained almost 78.4% of the vote throughout the early voting interval from Feb. 20-March 1, in comparison with 21.6% for Ogg.
Teare will face Dan Simons, who was unopposed within the Republican main, in November’s basic election.
Colin Alred to tackle Ted Cruz
Early voters in Harris County additionally confirmed important assist for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, giving him 89.4% of the vote in his Republican main. Former NFL participant Colin Allred was the clear favourite amongst Harris County early voters within the Democratic main for the senate seat, receiving 69.3% % in a nine-candidate race.
Allred, who introduced his victory over eight different opponents Tuesday night, will now take a shot at dethroning Cruz from what some consider could possibly be a weak Republican seat on the excessive physique.
Allred confronted a crowded, nine-candidate subject however walked away with greater than 60 % of early votes. A heavy favourite getting into Tremendous Tuesday, Allred’s chief opposition got here within the type of a progressive marketing campaign ran by state Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio), who trailed behind with solely 16 % of early votes late Tuesday night time.
“Thanks, Texas!” Allred wrote in an X platform submit. “I’m honored to be your Democratic nominee. Collectively we’re going to beat Ted Cruz and provides all Texans the management we want within the U.S. Senate.”
Different races
The incumbent Harris County lawyer and sheriff additionally cruised to victory of their Democratic primaries. County Lawyer Christian Menefee obtained 74.4% of the early vote in his race in opposition to Umeka Lewis, whereas Sheriff Ed Gonzalez garnered 70.3% of the early vote regardless of having three challengers.
Gonzalez probably will face Mike Knox, a fellow former member of the Houston Metropolis Council, in November. Knox obtained 60.9% of the early vote in a Republican main that features three different candidates.
The six-candidate race to succeed Whitmire in Texas Senate District 15 appeared headed to a runoff based mostly on early voting outcomes. State Rep. Jarvis Johnson of Texas Home District 139 obtained 39.4% of the early vote, whereas group organizer and emergency room nurse Molly Cook dinner — who misplaced to Whitmire within the Democratic main in 2022 — bought 20.2%. Former Congressional candidate Todd Litton was third after early voting with 16.1% of the vote.
The race to exchange Johnson within the Texas Home additionally appeared destined for a runoff after early voting, with Angie Thibodeaux garnering 31.4% of the vote in a five-candidate race. Johnson’s ex-wife, Charlene Ward Johnson, was second with 26.3% of the early vote.
One other Houston Democrat within the Texas Legislature, state Rep. Shawn Thierry of Home District 146, was attempting to carry off a main problem from Lauren Ashley Simmons. Thierry, who has drawn criticism from fellow Democrats for breaking occasion strains and voting in assist of three anti-LGBTQ payments final 12 months, obtained 49.1% of the early vote in comparison with 45.3% for Simmons.
State Rep. Harold Dutton is dealing with three challengers within the Democratic main for Texas Home District 142 however was properly forward of them after early voting, showing on 61.4% of the ballots forged.
Within the Republican main, former President Donald Trump had the assist of 76.5% of early voters in Harris County, in comparison with 18.6% for Nikki Haley. Trump is vying for a basic election rematch in opposition to President Joe Biden, the Democrat who beat him in 2020 and obtained almost 91% of the early vote in Harris County this 12 months.
