The results are (mostly) in from the March 2014 primary election. Here is a summary of races that may impact education policy in Texas, Bexar County, and San Antonio. Several races are headed for a runoff election on May 27, 2014.
U.S. Senate
- John Cornyn is the Republican nominee for United States Senate. “US Sen. Cornyn tops Stockman, wins GOP primary”, Will Weissert (AP), San Antonio Express-News, March 4, 2014. Here is Cornyn’s official site and his campaign site. Last month, Cornyn spoke to students at KIPP University Prep, as covered in this earlier post.
- David Alameel and Kesha Rogers will meet in a runoff primary to be the Democratic nominee for United States Senate. “Alameel, Rogers advance to Texas Senate runoff”, Will Weissert (AP), San Antonio Express-News, March 5, 2014.
U.S. Congress
- Will Hurd and Francisco “Quico” Canseco, both from San Antonio, will meet in a runoff primary election to be the Republican nominee for District 23 in the United States Congress. “Smith sails to re-election; a rematch in 23rd district”, Josh Baugh, San Antonio Express-News, March 4, 2014; “Runoff pits former congressman against retired CIA agent — for a second time”, Josh Baugh, San Antonio Express-News, March 5, 2014. This earlier post has my interview with Hurd on education issues.
- The winner of the runoff will face Democrat Pete Gallego (Alpine) in November. Here is Gallego’s official site and his campaign site.
Governor
- Greg Abbott is the Republican nominee for Governor. Here is his official site as Attorney General, and his campaign site. In December, Abbott visited KIPP: San Antonio (earlier post). Read more about Abbott’s education policy: “Abbott Calls for Hands-Off Approach to Education Reform”, Alex Ura, Texas Tribune, January 10, 2014.
- Wendy Davis is the Democratic nominee for Governor. Here is her official site as State Senator for District 10 in Fort Worth, and her campaign site. Read more about Davis on education policy: “Texas Governor’s Race Flags Education on 2014 Horizon”, Andrew Ujifusa, Education Week, October 13, 2013 (quoting Matt Prewett of Texas Parents Union).
Lieutenant Governor
- David Dewhurst and Dan Patrick will meet in a runoff primary election for Lieutenant Governor. “Dewhurst headed to a runoff with Patrick”, David Rauf, San Antonio Express-News, March 4, 2014; “Lt. Gov. Dewhurst fights for survival in GOP race”, Chris Tomlinson (AP), San Antonio Express-News, March 5, 2014.
- Dan Patrick earned about 41 percent of the Republican vote. Here is Patrick’s official site as State Senator for District 7 in Houston, and his campaign site. Patrick is known as a champion for school choice in the 2013 legislature, including his leadership on SB2, the charter school bill; read more in this earlier post, among others.
- David Dewhurst earned about 28 percent of the Republican vote. Here is Dewhurst’s official site as Lieutenant Governor, and his campaign site.
- Leticia Van de Putte secured the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor. Here is her official site as State Senator for District 26 in San Antonio, and her campaign site. Van de Putte has bipartisan support in her home city: “Barrios breaks with party by backing Van de Putte”, Gilbert Garcia, San Antonio Express-News, February 22, 2014 (Louis Barrios brought the food for the grand opening of Senator Donna Campbell’s San Antonio district office, as mentioned in this earlier post).
State Board of Education
- District 2: Ruben Cortez Jr., from Brownsville, ran unopposed and has secured the Democratic nomination. Here is Cortez’s official page, his campaign site, and his Facebook page. No Republican is running in District 2.
- District 3: Marisa B. Perez, from San Antonio, ran unopposed and will be the Democratic nominee. Here is Perez’s official site, her campaign site, and her Facebook page. Perez has worked hard to visit many schools in her district, including charter schools like Great Hearts Monte Vista, as seen in this earlier post. Perez will face Republican Dave Mundy (Gonzales) in November; here is Mundy’s campaign site and his Facebook page.
- District 4: Lawrence A. Allen Jr., from Fresno, has secured the Democratic nomination; here is Allen’s official page. Allen will face Republican Dorothy M. Olmos (Houston) in November.
- District 7: David Bradley (Beaumont) defended against a challenge from Rita Ashley (endorsed by Texas Parent PAC), and will be the Republican nominee. Here is Bradley’s official page and Facebook page. In November, Bradley will face Democratic nominee Kathy J. King (Beaumont); here is King’s Facebook page.
- District 11: Republicans Patricia “Pat” Hardy (Weatherford) and Eric Mahroum (Fort Worth) will meet in the May runoff primary. “State education board candidates in runoff”, Sally Sexton, Weatherford Democrat, March 6, 2014. Here is Hardy’s official page and her Facebook page. Here is Mahroum’s campaign site and Facebook page. The winner of the May runoff primary will face Democratic nominee Nancy Bean in November; here is Bean’s campaign site and her Facebook page.
- District 12: Geraldine “Tincy” Miller R (Dallas) ran unopposed and has secured the Republican nomination. Here is Miller’s official page, her campaign site, and her Facebook page. In November, Miller will face Democratic nominee Lois Parrott; here is Parrott’s campaign site and her Facebook page.
- District 13: Erika Beltran (Dallas) and Andrea Hilburn (Dallas) will compete in the May runoff election for the seat vacated by Mavis B. Knight’s retirement. Here is Beltran’s campaign site and Facebook page; Beltran is supported by Democrats for Education Reform and endorsed by the Burnt Orange Report. Here is Hilburn’s Facebook profile. No Republican is running in District 13.
For more information about the State Board of Education races, see “2014 Elections: Three Contested Primaries in Texas SBOE Elections”, Dan Quinn, TFN Insider, December 11, 2013, and “Candidates in Two Texas State Board of Education Primary Contests Head to Runoffs”, Dan Quinn, TFN Insider, March 5, 2013.
Texas Senate
- In the District 25 Republican primary, Donna Campbell (New Braunfels) won about 55 percent of the vote, which means she does not have to face a runoff with either challenger, Elisa Chan or Mike Novak (endorsed by Texas Parents PAC). “Campbell beats Chan, Novak in District 25”, John W. Gonzalez, San Antonio Express-News, March 4, 2014. In January, Campbell spoke at the official National School Choice Week event in San Antonio, as covered in this earlier post. Here is Campbell’s official site and her campaign site.
- Daniel C. Boone (Canyon Lake) is the Democratic nominee in District 25; here is Boone’s campaign site.
Texas House
- District 31: Democrat Ryan Guillen (Atascosa) is running unopposed; here is his official site and his campaign site.
- District 44: Republican John Kuempel (Seguin) will face Democrat Robert Bohmfalk in November. Here is Kuempel’s official site and his campaign site.
- District 53: Republicans Andrew Murr (Junction) and Rob Hennecke (Kerrville) will compete in the May runoff for the seat vacated when Harvey Hilderbran ran for Texas Comptroller. (Hilderbran earned 26 percent to Glenn Hegar‘s nearly 50 percent; Hilderbran withdrew from the race rather than force a runoff. “Hilderbran Drops Out of Comptroller Runoff”, John Reynolds, Texas Tribune, March 7, 2014.) No Democrat is running in District 53.
- District 73: Republican Doug Miller (New Braunfels) is running unopposed; here is his official site and his campaign site.
- District 116: Democrat Trey Martinez Fischer (San Antonio) is running unopposed; here is his official site and his campaign site. Fischer spoke at the dedication ceremony for BASIS San Antonio, as described in this earlier post.
- District 117: Philip Cortez (San Antonio) is the Democratic nominee; here is his official site and his campaign site. In November, he will face Republican Rick Galindo (San Antonio), who won the primary with a large margin over John V. Garza.
- District 118: Democrat Joe Farias D (San Antonio) is running unopposed; here is his official site and his campaign site.
- District 119: Democrat Roland Gutierrez (San Antonio) is running unopposed; here is his official site and campaign site. Here is an earlier post about Gutierrez’s proposal for a study of school district consolidation.
- District 120: Democrat Ruth Jones McClendon (San Antonio) is running unopposed; here is her official site and campaign site.
- District 121: Republican Joe Straus (San Antonio) won the primary with a large margin over Matt Beebe. Here is Straus’s official site and his campaign site. No Democrat is running in District 121.
- District 122: Republican Lyle Larson (San Antonio) is running unopposed; here is his official site and his campaign site.
- District 123: Democrat Mike Villarreal (San Antonio) is running unopposed; here is his official site and his campaign site.
- District 124: Democrat José Menéndez (San Antonio) is running unopposed; here is his official site. Menéndez attended the dedication ceremony for BASIS San Antonio (earlier post).
- District 125: Democrat Justin Rodriguez (San Antonio) is running unopposed; here is his official site and his campaign site.
Bexar County Judge
- County Judge Nelson Wolff defeated challenger Tommy Adkisson in the primary. “Wolff again claims judge slot as his own”, Eva Ruth Moravec, San Antonio Express-News, March 4, 2014. Here is Wolff’s official site and his campaign site.
- Carlton Soules won the Republican nomination; here is his campaign site.
Bexar County Commissioner
- Debra Guerrero and Tommy Calvert will compete in the Democratic runoff for Bexar County Commissioner, Precinct 4. “County races will reshape Commissioners Court”, Eva Ruth Moravec, San Antonio Express-News, March 5, 2014. Guerrero is a member of the San Antonio ISD Board of Trustees; here is Guerrero’s campaign site. Calvert is the General Manager of radio station KROV-FM; here is Calvert’s campaign site.
- The winner of the Democratic runoff will face the winner of the Republican runoff, Timothy Wilson or Alan E. Baxter.
For more information:
- Bexar County Elections Department
- Election offices in surrounding counties: Bandera, Comal, Frio, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Medina, and Wilson
- “Who represents me?”—search with your address
- Texas Tribune News App: 2014 Election Brackets
- “2014 Bexar County Primary Elections”, Heather Hernandez, Geekette Bits, February 15, 2014
- “Oh, what a night”, Randy Bear, Bexar Left and Right, March 5, 2014
- “After Local and State Primary Elections, Runoffs Emerge”, Mary Tuma, San Antonio Current, March 12, 2014.
- My earlier post about the 2012 primary election
