AUSTIN — The runoffs are May 24 to finally select the Democratic and Republican slates of statewide candidates for statewide and down-ballot races for November.
Any registered voter may cast a ballot in the runoffs. However, voters who voted in either the Democratic or Republican primary may only vote in the same party’s runoff.
But voters who sat out the March 1 primaries may vote in either one of the parties’ runoffs.
Also, third parties, such as the Libertarian Party and the Green Party, do not choose their candidates in primaries, so therefore there are no runoffs.
Which races are being contested in Texas runoff election?
Lieutenant Governor: Two Democrats, 2018 nominee Mike Collier and state Rep. Michelle Beckley of Denton County are competing. The Republican nominee, incumbent Dan Patrick, won his primary outright.
Attorney General: On the Republican side, two-term incumbent Ken Paxton faces Land Commissioner George P. Bush. The Democrats will choose between Brownsville lawyer Rochelle Mercedes Garza and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworksi.
Comptroller: Democrats Janet Dudding, an accountant, faces business strategist and community organizer Angel Luis Vega. Republican incumbent Glenn Hegar easily won renomination.
Land Commissioner: State Sen. Dawn Buckingham of Lakeway and educator and minister Westley are competing for the Republican nomination. The Democratic race features Sandragrace Martinez, a professional counselor, and conservationist Jay Kleberg.
Railroad Commissioner: Incumbent Republican Wayne Christian faces oil and gas attorney Sarah Stogner. Democratic activist Luke Warford won his primary unopposed.
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El Paso County Democratic races:
Judge County Court at Law 3: The race features Melissa Baeza with 36.35% of the votes from the March primary election runs against Monica Lupita Perez who received 33.29% of the votes.
El Paso County Commission Precinct 2: David Stout received 43.27% of votes while his contender Judy Gutierrez collected 39.51% of votes.
El Paso County Commission Precinct 4: The democratic race features Sergio Coronado who received 38.10% and Carl. L Robinson with 34.92% of the votes.
El Paso County Republican race:
El Paso County Commissioner Precinct 4: With only one El Paso county republican runoff race Blanca Trout who received 37.43% in the primaries will be running against David Adams with 37.25% of the votes.
Texas primary runoff dates to remember
April 25 — Last day to register to vote for the May 25 primary runoffs.
May 13 — Last day to apply for a ballot by mail for the runoffs. Again, application must be received by this date, not postmarked by this date.
May 16 — First day of early voting for the runoffs.
May 20 — Last day of early voting.
May 24 — Primary runoff election day. Also, mailed ballots must be postmarked by 7 p.m.
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Texas voter ID requirements
- Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety
- Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
- Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
- Texas Handgun License issued by DPS
- U.S. military identification card containing your photograph
- U.S. Citizenship Certificate containing your photograph
- U.S. passport, either a book or a card
If you do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of these IDs you may fill out a:
Declaration at the polls describing a reasonable impediment to obtaining it. Here’s what you’ll need:
- A government document that shows your name and an address, including your voter registration certificate
- Current utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government check
- A paycheck
Either a certified domestic birth certificate or a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law that establishes your identity. This may include a foreign birth document.
New rules for Texas mail-in voter ballots
Under a sweeping elections overhaul bill passed last year, applicants for mail-in ballots must complete a form and list a state-approved ID number such as a driver’s license or the last four Social Security numbers, depending on how they originally registered to vote.
This has caused some confusion in many counties, which has led to rejected applications because some voters do not remember which number they originally used. The application forms can be found on the secretary of state’s website.
The site also includes an application and mail-in ballot tracking form, similar to one used by parcel-delivery services, so that voters can monitor the progress.
Here’s how the Secretary of State’s Office explains who’s eligible to vote by mail:
- Be 65 years or older;
- Be sick or disabled;
- Be out of the county on election day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance; or
- Be expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day; or
- Be confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.
John C. Moritz covers Texas government and politics for the USA Today Network in Austin. Contact him at jmoritz@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @JohnnieMo.
The El Paso Times’ Julia Lucero contributed to this report.