Texas started the 2022 midterm elections Tuesday with the first state primaries in the nation.
The state's top three elected officials, Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton, all faced primary challengers, with Paxton apparently ticketed for a runoff after he did not receive 50% of the vote.
Democrat Beto O'Rourke secured the party's nomination for governor, which will set up an expensive, high-profile race ahead of the November midterms.
Results for races across the state can be found on the Texas Secretary of State's website.
Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott easily bested a group of conservative challengers to lock up his party’s nomination Tuesday, and will face Democrat Beto O’Rourke in the November general election.
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Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) was projected to secure the Republican nomination to run for another term Tuesday night. Among Democrats, the 2018 nominee Mike Collier led state Rep. Michelle Beckley (D-Carrollton) and Carla Brailey, but no candidate had the necessary 50% to avoid a runoff.
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) is seeking his third term in office, but as he awaits trial on securities fraud and faces an FBI corruption investigation, he faces three primary challengers.
Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tyler) and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman are also running for the Republican nomination.
Late Tuesday it appeared Paxton would head to a runoff with one of his three challengers, all of whom were separated by about five percentage points as of 10:30 p.m.
Democrats in the race include Brownsville attorney Rochelle Garza, Dallas civil rights attorney Lee Merritt, former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski, former Harris County Criminal Court Judge Mike Fields and Dallas attorney S. T-Bone Raynor.
With the early vote reported, Garza had secured 48.9%, followed by Jaworski with 24.2%.
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Texas 30th Congressional District
For the last 29 years, Dallas residents in the 30th Congressional District have known one name, Eddie Bernice Johnson. Now at age 86, the long-time Democratic Congresswoman is stepping aside, creating interest that has not been seen in that district since 1992.
As of 11:50 p.m., state Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas) had received 46.9% of the vote, with Jane Hope Hamilton next at 18.59%.
The other seven contenders for the Democratic nomination are Arthur Dixon, Jessica Mason, Vonciel Jones Hill, Barbara Mallory Caraway, Keisha Williams-Lankford, Roy Williams Jr. and Abel Mulugheta.
On the Republican side, six candidates are looking for the chance to go against the Democratic nominee. They are James "J. Frank" Harris, Dakinya "Kinya" Jefferson, James Rodgers, Lizbeth Diaz Kelvin Goodwin-Castillo and Angeigh J. Roc'ellerpitts.
As of 11:50 p.m., Harris had 33.5% of the vote and Rodgers had received 32.4%.
The district has voted Democratic since the 1990s.
Dallas County District Attorney
In almost every way, the race for Dallas County District attorney appears as it did four years ago. The only difference is who occupies the D.A.’s chair today.
Incumbent John Creuzot appeared headed to the nomination as of 11:50 p.m. with 60% of the vote against challenger is Elizabeth Davis Frizell. The last time the two squared off was in the primary four years ago when Creuzot came out on top in a close election. It took Frizell weeks to concede.
The only name on the Republican ballot is the woman whom Creuzot unseated, Faith Johnson. Johnson was appointed D.A. after elected District Attorney Susan Hawk resigned for health reasons. She was soundly beaten in the general election by Creuzot.
All the candidates are former Dallas County State Criminal District Court judges.
Texas 3rd Congressional District
57 of 63 precincts reports:
Republican
Van Taylor (I) 49.47%
Keith Self 27.23%
Suzanne Harp 19.65%
Rickey Williams 2.41%
Jeremy D. Ivanovskis 1.25%
U.S. Rep. Van Taylor (R-Plano) is seeking to avoid a runoff in a primary race for his third term against four Republican challengers. Taylor was first elected in 2018, taking over the seat held by Sam Johnson in a district that includes Collin and a sliver of northern Dallas County.
Taylor is being challenged for the nomination by former Collin County Judge Keith Self, Jeremy Ivnovskis, Rickey Williams and Suzanne Harp.
As of11:55 p.m., Taylor had received 48.8% of the vote, followed by Self (27.2%) and Harp (19.7%).
Democrats competing for the seat are Sandeep Srivastava and Doc Shelby. As of 11:55 p.m., Srivastava led with 62.9% of the vote.
Tarrant County Judge
Tarrant County Judge, early vote totals:
Republican
Tim O'Hare 52.36%
Betsy Price 42.34%
Byron Bradford 2.74%
Kristen Collins 1.68%
Robert Trevor Buker 0.91%
Tarrant County Judge, early vote totals:
Democrat
Deborah W. Peoples 81.88%
Marvin Sutton 18.12%
Voters in Tarrant County were set to pick nominees for a new county judge and two new county commissioners Tuesday, but will have to wait longer for results after computer problems caused delays in reporting.
Judge Glen Whitley is not seeking re-election this year, nor are the two commissioners whose terms are expiring, Devan Allen and J.D. Johnson.
The best-known candidate for county judge is Republican Betsy Price, who served as mayor of Fort Worth for 10 years. Her most prominent opponent is former Farmers Branch Mayor Tim O'Hare, who now lives in Southlake and founded the Southlake Families PAC.
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New district maps drawn by Republicans in the Texas Legislature last year have made most of the congressional and state house districts in which both the Republican and Democratic candidates have a plausible shot at winning, almost non-existent.
Three races that will seat a new candidate this year are heavily Republican, with several vying for the open seat.
House District 70:
Unofficial Results:
Republican
Jamee Jolly 39%
Bowlin 33%
Democrat
Garcia Hernandez 36%
Sanchez 34%
GOP Republican Scott Sanford of McKinney is retiring after this term. This district was redrawn to encompass parts of Plano and Allen in the southwest corner of Collin County.
Candidates include Eric Bowlin, LaDale Buggs, Daniel Chandler, Jamee Jolly, and Hayden Padgett
House District 63:
Unofficial Results:
Republican (pending)
Democrat
Wooten- Uncontested
GOP Rep. Tan Parker of Flower Mound is running for Senate seat now held by Republican Jane Nelson, who is retiring. This district in southern Denton County, had to shrink because of population growth, but is considered to be a republican stronghold.
Candidates include Ben Bumgarner, Jake Collier, Nick Sanders, Jeff Younger
House District 61:
Unofficial Results:
Republican
Frederick Frazier 44%
Paul Chabot 36%
Democrat
King - Uncontested
Republican Rep. Phil King of Weatherford is running for Senate seat now held by Burleson Democrat Beverly Powell. This was re-drawn from Parker and Wise counties west of Fort Worth to Collin County, stretching from east Frisco to Anna.
Candidates include Paul Chabot, Frederick Frazier, James Herblin
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