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After the March primary election results were tallied and totaled, a handful of candidates still face their challengers before they can officially represent their party come November. These candidates didn’t garner more than 50 percent of the vote to secure victory and will go head-to-head with their closest opponent during the primary election runoff election. Early voting for the runoffs begin today. Remember: Texas holds a “semi-open” primary, meaning you don’t have to formally register as a Democrat or Republican, but if you vote in one party’s primary you can’t switch over come a runoff election.
Here’s some other info before you head to the polls:
When Can I Vote?
Runoff Election Early Voting Period: Monday, May 19— Friday, May 23; 8 a.m.— 8:00 p.m
Runoff Election Day: May 27
Early voting locations can be found here.
If you need a refresher on Texas political office holder duties and responsibilities, revisit the Current’s Primary Voting Guide.
To preview the Democratic ballot, click here.
To preview the Republican ballot, click here.
Wait, can I even vote in the runoff election? If you skipped the primary, you can vote in the runoff election but if you voted for one party in the primary you cannot switch over during the runoff. So, if you voted in the Democratic primary and now hope to switch over and vote for all the moderate Republicans in the runoff, or vice versa, sorry!
What kind of ID do I need to vote? Due to the new Texas voter ID law, only certain forms of identification will be allowed at the voting booth. Approved forms of ID include: Texas driver license, an election ID certificate or personal ID card issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), a Texas concealed handgun license, a U.S. passport, a U.S. military ID with photograph and a U.S. citizenship certificate with photograph. You can no longer use your student ID alone. And, if the name on your approved photo ID doesn’t exactly match the name on your voter registration card you will only be able to vote if the names are “substantially similar” and you’ll likely need to submit an affidavit confirming your identity. Click here for more info via VoteTexas.gov.
So, who’s running?
U.S. Senate
D:
David Alameel
Kesha Rogers
U.S. House Representatives-District 23
R:
Francisco “Quico” Canseco
Will Hurd
Lieutenant Governor
R:
David Dewhurst
Dan Patrick
Attorney General
R:
Dan Branch
Ken Paxton
Commissioner of Agriculture
D:
Kinky Friedman
Jim Hogan
R:
Tommy Merritt
Sid Miller
District Judge- 45th Judicial District
D:
Laura Flores Macom
John Bustamante
Railroad Commissioner
R:
Ryan Sitton
Wayne Christian
District Judge- 144th Judicial District
R:
Tanner Neidhardt
Lorina Rummel
Judge, County Court at Law- No. 13
R:
Joe Hoelscher
Crystal Chandler
Judge, County Court at Law- No. 14
R:
Susan Skinner
David P. Martin
District Clerk
D:
Mary Angie Garcia
Elva Abundis-Esparza
County Clerk
D:
Suzanne de Leon
Cassandra Littlejohn
Precinct Chair- No. 4077
D:
Lorena Barideaux Hastings
Ramon Esparza, Jr.
County Commissioner- Precinct 4
R:
Timothy Wilson
Alan E. Baxter
D:
Tommy Calvert
Debra Guerrero
This article appears in May 14-20, 2014.