The special election for three Texas legislative seats has ended without a final decision. They will be heading to a runoff election. One race was for the Senate District (SD) 26 seat vacated by failed Lt. Governor candidate, State Senator Leticia Van de Putte, who resigned to run for mayor of San Antonio. The other two were for House seats vacated by state representatives who resigned. Those being House District 17 where Tim Kleinschmidt resigned to become General Counsel for the Texas Department of Agriculture under Commissioner Sid Miller and House District 123 where Mike Villarreal also resigned to run for mayor of San Antonio.
In the race for SD 26, State Rep. Trey Martinez-Fischer (D) will face off against fellow House member Jose Menendez (D). Martinez-Fischer took just over 43 percent of the vote while Menendez garnered just over 25 percent. There were two Republicans in the race who split their vote which helped Menendez make the runoff election. Alma Perez Jackson (R) and Joan Pedrotti (R) combined to take nearly 28 percent of the vote. The remaining Democrat, Al Suarez finished in last place with about 3 percent. The winner of the runoff election will fill the unexpired term of former Sen. Van de Putte.
In the election for Texas House District 17, two Republicans will face off against each other in a runoff election. John Cyrier gathered just over 46 percent of the vote while fellow Republican Brent Golemon took in a little over 24 percent. The two Democrats, Shelley Cartier and Ty McDonald took in about 16 percent between them and independent Linda Curtis came in third place with nearly 14 percent.
In the race to fill the seat vacated by Villarreal, House District 123, a Democrat and a Republican will face off against each other. Democrat Diego Bernal came in first with a little over 47 percent of the vote. Republican Nunzio Previtera finished a distant second, gathering a little over 21 percent of the vote. Two other Democrats, a Green Party candidate and a Libertarian split up the remaining vote.
Early voting is currently underway in House District 13 to fill the vacancy created by Lois Kolkhorst who resigned after winning election to the Senate District 18 seat vacated when Glenn Hegar became Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Republicans Becky Burger, Carolyn Bilski and Leighton Schubert are joined in the race the lone Democrat Cecil Webster, Sr. The election for this seat will be held next Tuesday, January 13th.
When the SD 25 race is decided between Martinez-Fischer and Menendez, another special election will be required to fill the vacant seat of the winner. This would be for either House District 116 if Martinez-Fischer wins or House District 124 if Menendez wins. No date has been set for this election at this time.
All election results listed are from the Texas Secretary of State’s election page and reflect returns of 100 percent of precincts reported.
Bob Price is a senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.
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