The 2022 Primary elections finally took place yesterday and looks like we’ve got a lot of run-offs on our hands. After the brutal cycle of the 2021 Covid/Winter Storm Legislative Session, three special sessions, redistricting, unprecedented retirements and the usual scandal laden campaign season, this is the bottom line: It…will…never…end.
Most of the drama last night centered around who would be forced into a runoff and who would clear the 50% plus one hurdle to avoid the continued slugfest. No matter which side you were pulling for, runoffs are usually not great for PACs and individual donors to campaigns because the only guarantee is that they will be expensive! And for candidates, it’s all about turning out and getting out their vote. There is little participation in primary run-offs…
Run-off election date is set for Tuesday, May 24.
RUN-OFFS:
Attorney General Ken Paxton (42.7%) vs. George P Bush (22.8%). George P’s late gamble to go negative on former Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman worked to knock her out of the race.
General Land Office: Senator Dawn Buckingham, who is leaving the Senate, received 42 % of the vote and should handily survive a run-off.
Senate District 24 (several counties West and South of San Antonio): former Senator Pete Flores, a favorite of Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, garnered 46% of the vote and will square off against Raul Reyes (32.8%) who has a high name ID from his previous attempts at the Congressional seat that overlaps much of the Senate District.
Senate District 27 (D seat in The Valley – formerly held by Eddie Lucio): Morgan LaMantia faces Sara Stapleton-Barrera with only 408 votes separating their primary efforts.
HD 12 (College Station): Speculation that long-time state rep Kyle Kacal 47.2%) would end up in a runoff versus Ben Bius (41.6%) proved correct.
HD 19 (north and west of Austin): Grudge match between former Austin City Council member Ellen Troxclair (38.3%) and former Austin Police Officer Jordan Berry (35.4) continues….
HD 52 (Georgetown/Round Rock): Senate staffer Caroline Harris (31.4%) will face Patrick McGuiness (35.1%). Interestingly, inside baseball rumors predicted a run-off between Harris and the other former Legislative staffer in the race, Nelson Jarrin (25.8%)….Not to be.
HD 60 (Mineral Wells). All around good guy Glenn Rogers (43.7%), technically the incumbent, will face well-funded Mike Olcott (36.1). After redistricting, this was basically an entirely new, mostly rural, district. Rogers worked his tail off and isn’t done yet.
HD 73 (New Braunfels): Son of a former state rep, Barron Casteel (45.6%), gets to continue his fight against Carrie Isaac (44.8%), wife of a former state rep. Both candidates have strong name I.D. in this race.
HD 91 (Ft. Worth): House Public Health Committee Chair, Stephanie Klick (49.0%) almost outlasted her several opponents but unfortunately must continue on against David Lowe (39.1%).
RUN-OFFS AVOIDED
Controversial Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller brushed off his opponents with 58.5 percent of the vote.
SD 11: (Lake Jackson and environs) Former House member Mayes Middleton, who chased off long serving Senator Larry Taylor when he announced his candidacy, won the election outright with 56.6% percent.
HD 14 (College Station): Incumbent and perpetually embattled John Raney survived again with 57.1%.
HD 31 (Rio Grande Valley). Party switching Ryan Guillen won the Republican Primary with 59% of the vote.
HD 63 (Sherman): Despite rumors of his imminent demise, incumbent attorney Reggie Smith held on 58.7%
HD 64 (Denton): Veterinarian Lynn Stucky (50.3%) squeaked it out!
HD 79 (El Paso): In a nasty battle against two incumbents paired through redistricting, Claudia Ordaz Perez handily defeated Art Fiero 65.1% to 34.9%.
HD 138 (Houston): Incumbent Lacy Hull easily won 65.5% despite some tough competition.
We will keep you updated with the never-ending political cycle!
Happy March!
Lara Laneri Keel