10:00 a.m. Wednesday – The Democratic primary for Texas attorney general is heading to a runoff. Rochelle Garza leads with 43 percent of the vote, followed by Lee Merritt and Joe Jaworski with 19 percent.
In Dallas’ TX-30, State Rep. Jasmine Crockett will also be going to a runoff as she is just two points shy of winning outright. In South Texas’ TX-28, Rep. Henry Cuellar will also head to a runoff with Jessica Cisneros. Cuellar was less than a fraction of a percent from winning outright with more than 50 percent of the votes.
11:00 p.m. Two high-profile races — the Democratic race for Texas attorney general and the Democratic race in Texas’ 28th Congressional District remain too close to call at this time. Texas AG candidate Rochelle Garza leads with 42 percent of the vote, but still not enough to secure a runoff. And Jessica Cisneros is tied with Rep. Henry Cuellar with both candidates holding 48 percent of the vote.
Tune in tomorrow for a final update.
10:36 p.m. The Republican race for Texas attorney general will go to a runoff, Decision Desk HQ has said.
10:35 With 55 percent of the vote in, Houston attorney Jolanda Jones leads by 27 percent in the race for state Rep. Garnet Coleman’s seat in State House District 147.
10:25 p.m. Salman Bhojani will likely be the Democratic nominee in Texas House District 92. The district belongs to Republican Jeff Cason who announced he would not seek re-election after the seat was heavily shifted in favor of Democrats.
10:23 p.m. With 60 percent of the vote in, ACLU attorney Rochelle Garza leads by 21 points against former Galveston mayor Joe Jaworski who has 21 percent of the vote followed by Civil Rights Attorney Lee Merritt who has 18 percent of the vote.
10:15 p.m. With 77 percent of the vote in, a runoff in the Texas Attorney General race seems certain with incumbent Ken Paxton holding 42.58 percent of the vote. He leads 20 points ahead of Land Commissioner George P. Bush Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman, and Rep. Louie Gohmert.
10:15 p.m. State Rep. Jasmine Crockett is close to securing 50 percent of the vote in TX-30 and avoiding a runoff, but two-thirds of the vote remains.
10:10 p.m. The race between Jessica Cisneros and Henry Cuellar continues to tighten, but Cisneros leads comfortably by seven points and with two-thirds of the vote reported.
9:02 p.m. With 63 percent of the vote in, organizer Claudia Zapata leads in Texas’ 21st Congressional District. Zapata holds a 16-point lead over physician Ricardo Villareal, tax manager David Anderson Jr., theater actor Coy Branscum II, EMS professional Scott Strum, Cherif Gacis.
8:45 p.m. Attorney Susan Hays has secured the Democratic nomination for Texas Agriculture Commissioner. Decision Desk HQ has called.
8:34 p.m. With 50 percent of the vote in, incumbent Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton holds a steady 20 point lead in the four way primary with Land Commissioner George P. Bush, Rep. Louie Gohmert and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman.
8:33 p.m. Working Families Party congratulates Greg Casar on TX-35 primary victory: “We were with Greg from day one, and look forward to working with him to make America work for all of us.”
Working Families Party is also backing Jasmine Crockett in TX-30 and Jessica Cisneros in TX-28.
8:27 p.m. With more than half the vote in, Rep. Henry Cuellar is closing the gap in the Democratic race in Texas’ 28th Congressional District. The tight race shows primary challenger Jessica Cisneros ahead with 51 percent of the vote and Cuellar with 45 percent of the vote.
8:22 p.m. With 30 percent of the vote in, conservationist Jay Kleberg leads by six points in the race for Texas Land Commissioner. Kleberg holds 30 percent of the vote, organizer and attorney Jinny Suh holds 24 percent of the vote, while former legislative aid Sandragrace Martinez holds 23 and producer Michael Lange holds 21 percent. The Signal wrote about this race in December.
8:21 p.m. Former Austin City Councilman Greg Casar declares victory in Texas 35th Congressional District in Austin and San Antonio.
“Our campaign has built a movement of working people, from San Antonio to Austin, who are ready to fight because our futures depend on it,” Casar said in a statement. “I’m incredibly honored to be the next Democratic nominee for TX-35. Together, we’re taking our fight to the halls of Congress – to fight and deliver on passing Medicare for All, protecting reproductive rights, creating good jobs, and fixing our power grid.”
8:17 p.m. State Rep. James Talarico survives gerrymandering and wins nomination for House District 50, his campaign says. “James has won twice in a suburban swing district, and tonight he won in a diverse progressive district,” said Talarico’s former Chief of Staff Michelle Castillo.
8:15 p.m. Conservative Democrat state Rep. Harold Dutton Jr. has a 10-point lead against primary challenger Candis Houston. Progressive groups vowed to primary Dutton after he revived an anti-trans youth sports bill in the legislature.
8:05 p.m. Both Democrat Beto O’Rourke and Republican incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott have secured the nomination for governor, Decision Desk HQ has called.
8:01 p.m. Dan Patrick has secured the GOP nomination for Texas lieutenant governor, Decision Desk HQ has called.
8:00 p.m. So far, auditor and accountant Mike Collier has a double-digit lead in the three-way Democratic primary for Texas lieutenant governor. Collier has 41 percent of the vote, State Rep. Michelle Beckley holds 29 percent of the vote and Vice Chair of Texas Democrats Carla Brailey holds 30 percent.
7:51 p.m. With 55 percent of the vote in, Houston attorney Jolanda Jones leads by 27 points in the race for Texas State House District 147.
7:50 p.m. With a little more than half of the estimated vote in, state Sen. Jasmine Crockett holds 46 percent of the vote in the race for Texas’ 30th Congressional District in the Dallas area. Crockett was endorsed by the district’s longtime retiring incumbent, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson. The Signal spoke to Crockett about her plans for Congress last month.
7:45 p.m. With a quarter of votes in Texas 28th Congressional District, progressive immigrant rights attorney Jessica Cisneros is in a commanding 44-point lead against conservative Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar. The Signal previously wrote about the race in December.
7:40 p.m. At the top of the ticket, Gov. Greg Abbott and former El Paso Congressman Beto O’Rourke are coasting to their nomination. O’Rourke has secured 93 percent of the vote, while Abbott has secured 68 percent.
7:30 p.m. With a little more than half of the estimated votes in, Democratic incumbent state Sen. John Whitmire leads primary challenger Molly Cook by more than 20 points. The Signal previously wrote about the race in January.
7:20 p.m. With almost a quarter of votes in, it appears increasingly likely that a runoff will occur in the Democratic primary for Texas attorney general. ACLU attorney Rochelle Garze leads by five points against Civil Rights Attorney Lee Merritt, who has 25 percent of the vote followed by former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski with 22 percent of the vote.
7:15 p.m. With 7 percent of the vote in, incumbent Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton appears to have a commanding 20-point lead in a four-way Republican primary with Land Commissioner George P. Bush, Rep. Louie Gohmert and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman.
All eyes will be on whether the Trump-endorsed indicted Attorney General can secure 50 percent of the vote.
7:00 p.m. Polls around the state are closed, but voters can stay in line to cast their ballot.
Follow along as we track election results and related news around the state.
Fernando covers Texas politics and government at the Texas Signal. Before joining the Signal, Fernando spent two years at the Houston Chronicle and previously interned at Houston’s NPR station News 88.7. He is a graduate of the University of Houston, Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, and enjoys reading, highlighting things, and arguing on social media. You can follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93 or email at fernando@texassignalarchive.com
Kennedy is a recent graduate of the University of St.Thomas in Houston where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Celt Independent. Kennedy brings her experience of writing about social justice issues to the Texas Signal where she serves as our Political Reporter. She does everything from covering crime beats, Texas politics, and community activism. Kennedy is a passionate reporter, avid reader, coffee enthusiast, and loves to travel.
