Decision 2020: Primary Runoff Election Results

July 14, 2020 - Bexar County

By Jade Esteban Estrada - Political columnist, San Antonio Sentinel

Despite Covid-19 safety concerns at the polls, San Antonio residents masked up and showed up Tuesday to vote in the Texas Primary Runoff Election.

On March 3, locals voted for their candidate of choice within their party. According to election rules, when no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in their race, a runoff election is required to take place between the two candidates that earned the most votes. Previous results are gone; both candidates must start over again with zero votes. The 2020 primary runoffs were scheduled for May 26, but were rescheduled for July 14 due to Covid-19 priorities.

Because of the ongoing spread of the coronavirus, it was widely expected that Texas would experience a low turnout on Election Day. Surprisingly, that wasn’t necessarily the case; many registered voters took advantage of the early voting option to lessen the chances of encountering large crowds. During the early voting period, which took place June 29 through July 10, a total of 31,955 Democrats reportedly cast their vote. The number of Republicans who cast their vote early was 23,060. Of the 1,146,183 registered voters in Bexar County, a total of 114,609 individuals cast a vote in this election. The total number of Democrats that voted was 71,241, and the total number of voting Republicans was 43,368, according to the Bexar County Elections Department.

Democratic Party

From the onset, state Senator Royce West and Mary “MJ” Hegar, the Democratic candidates in the U.S. senate race, fought the good fight for their party’s nomination, but it was Hegar, a former Air Force helicopter pilot, who declared victory shortly before midnight with 52% of the vote. In Bexar County, her message resonated with voters, which was proven in the percentage of votes she received. She will face U.S. Senator John Cornyn in the general election. As the face of the statewide movement to unseat Cornyn, her campaign leading up to November has the potential to take on the larger-than-life feel that characterized Beto O'Rourke’s 2018 run for senate.

Speaking of Betos, Chrysta Castañeda easily beat Roberto R. “Beto” Alonzo in the race for the Democratic nomination for railroad commissioner. Even when she had a robust lead, she maintained cautious optimism by tweeting, “Fingers crossed.” Castañeda, a Dallas trial lawyer, garnered 62% of the vote. She will face Republican James “Jim” Wright, a South Texas rancher, in November.

Late Tuesday night, the race between Senate District 19 candidates Roland Gutierrez and Xochil Peña Rodriguez was too close to call. However, Gutierrez at last declared victory early Wednesday morning with 52% of the vote. Democrats who admire both Gutierrez, a Texas state representative, and Peña Rodriguez are likely going to be happy that this bitter runoff for the Democratic nomination is finally over. Like other candidates this season, they fought a difficult race that was made more complicated by Covid-19 concerns. Gutierrez will face Pete Flores, the Republican incumbent, in the fall.

The Democratic race for Texas State Representative, District 119, a seat being vacated by Gutierrez, ended in victory for Elizabeth “Liz” Campos. Her opponent, former District 3 City Councilwoman Jennifer Ramos was endorsed by the Express-News Editorial Board. Campos, on the other hand, took a more modern approach to her campaign work. She was almost omnipresent on social media in a way that reminded me of the political mantra, “You’ve got to run like you’re losing.” Campos earned 56% percent of the final vote. She will face George B. Garza, the GOP nominee, in the general election.

When Rebeca “Becky” Clay-Flores forced 16-year incumbent Sergio “Chico” Rodriguez into a runoff back in March, it was a wake-up call for all long-serving Democrats. Clay-Flores’ crushing victory of 61% of the final tally in Tuesday’s runoff race seemed to drive the point home even further: the constituents of Precinct 1 seem to be ready for a change in leadership. Clay-Flores will face Republican nominee Gabriel Lara, a retired paramedic, in November. 

In the race for Bexar County Constable, Precinct 2, Leticia R. Vazquez handily won her party’s nod with 59% of the vote, declaring a late victory over her opponent, Ino Badillo. “I am so thankful to the voters of Precinct 2 for their vote,” wrote Vazquez via text message. “Myself and my deputies have worked hard to restore integrity and earn the trust of our residents. I look forward to continuing the work and finishing the job that we started.” Vazquez will defend her seat against the GOP nominee Charlie Pena, Jr. in the general election.

Kathryn Brown won her party’s nomination for Bexar County Constable, Precinct 4 with 69% of the vote bringing an end to the campaign of her opponent, Mike “Chief” Ramirez. Brown will face Larry Ricketts, the GOP nominee, in November. 

The race that had everyone talking was the contest for Bexar County Democratic Party chair. Monica Alcántara, the incumbent, and challenger Grace Rose Gonzales fought the good fight but Alcántara was ultimately declared the winner with 52% of the vote. She will continue to chair the party for the next two years.

Democratic Precinct Chairs winners:

Precinct 1021 - Rosa Vasquez Sanchez

Precinct 1087 - Esmeralda Rodriguez

Precinct 2029 - Stephanie A. Perez

Republican Party

In the GOP race for U.S. Representative, District 20, Mauro Garza held a steady lead over his opponent Gary Allen. He ultimately won with 60% of the vote, earning himself a place on the November ballot where he will face incumbent Joaquin Castro.

The Republican race for U.S. Representative, District 23 is one that has been on the minds of observers on both sides of the aisle because of the district's ginormous size; it stretches from San Antonio to El Paso. When U.S. Rep. Will Hurd announced that he would not seek re-election, Republicans were tasked with figuring out who would be formidable enough to beat Gina Ortiz Jones, the Democratic nominee who lost by 926 votes in 2018. Candidates Tony Gonzales and Raul Reyes have an unusual commonality: they have both been endorsed by two of the biggest names that could ever endorse a Republican candidate. Gonzales is backed by President Donald J. Trump and Reyes is endorsed by U.S. Senator and former presidential candidate Ted Cruz. In Bexar County, Gonzales beat Reyes by a wide margin, but with a 12,346/12,339 difference in the votes already counted, this race is still too close to call and a canvassing of incoming votes will be the deciding factor in this race. The ultimate winner will face Jones, a former Air Force Intelligence Officer, in November. Jones has the advantage of name recognition from her previous run so whoever wins this nomination can’t afford to stop their campaign momentum. One can always count on this race for the drama. “In the great words of Cruz, “This is NUTS.”

The winner of the race to face U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett was also a late announcement. Jenny Garcia Sharon won with 53% of the vote over her opponent “Guillermo” William Hayward, a conservative Christian. The Houston native will face Doggett for the chance to represent District 35, which tends to lean towards the Democratic ticket.

One of the first brow-raisers of the night was when Lani Popp took an early lead in the District 5 State Board of Education race, leaving her opponent Robert Morrow with little chance of recovering. Popp claimed victory with 78% of the vote. Popp will face Rebecca Bell-Metereau, the Democratic nominee, in the fall.

Former mayoral candidate Trish DeBerry sailed to victory at 10 p.m. as the Republican nominee for Bexar County Commissioner, Precinct 3. DeBerry took a promising lead early in the evening over her opponent Tom Rickhoff and ended the night with 54% of the vote. DeBerry will face Christine Hortick, the Democratic nominee, in November.

Last but not least, the Bexar County Republican Party has a new leader. John Austin was victorious in the race against incumbent Cynthia Brehm. The political newcomer won 66% of the final vote. As the new head of the local GOP party, Austin may be the invigorating change conservatives have been hoping for.

Jade Esteban Estrada is a political columnist at the San Antonio Sentinel. He can be reached at jade@sasentinel.com.