There was only one highly competitive statewide race in the 2022 Texas primaries: the Republican contest for attorney general. But there were many hard-fought local races too.
Turnout was about 2.1 million, compared to 2.6 million who voted in the last mid-term primary in 2018.
Here’s what you need to know about the results.
Democrat Primary Races
- In a battle for a newly created congressional district, former Austin city council member Greg Casar cruised to victory (61.3%) over State Representative Eddie Rodriguez (15.6%) and two other candidates. Casar had gotten a boost from celebrity Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who campaigned with him last month.
- Travis County Commissioner Precinct 4 Margaret Gómez, who has held that office since 1995, eked out a win of 50.5% to 49.5% over Susanna Ledesma-Woody, a progressive activist and Del Valle school board member.
- Travis County Commissioner Precinct 2 Brigid Shea, a liberal democrat, defeated socialist Bob Libal, who won just 24% of votes. Libal had made opposition to building a new women’s jail the centerpiece of his campaign.
- Maria Luisa “Lulu” Flores, an attorney, won 62.2% of votes in the state legislative race for southeast Austin (HD-51), avoiding a runoff, despite facing six other candidates. She’ll replace Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, who vacated his seat to run for Congress.
- Beto O’Rourke won 91% of votes in the Democratic primary for governor, besting four other candidates, including former Austin area radio journalist Joy Diaz, who took 3.2%.
Republican Primary Races
- In the race for governor, Greg Abbott won 66.7% of votes to defeat Allen West (12.3%), Don Huffines (11.7%), Chad Prather (3.8%), and an obscure candidate who shares the same name as former Governor Rick Perry (3.2%).
- In a four-way race for attorney general, incumbent Ken Paxton and Land Commissioner George P. Bush placed first and second, with 43% and 23% of the votes. Paxton’s first-place finish comes in spite of a long-running indictment for securities fraud, ongoing investigation by the FBI for bribery, and a civil lawsuit for illegally firing his own top aides in retaliation for reporting his alleged crimes. Paxton had the largest campaign chest and the endorsement of former president Donald Trump. However, his failure to secure a majority means the race will go to a runoff.
- Other Republican incumbents in statewide offices sailed to easy wins, including Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, and Comptroller Glenn Hegar. Miller’s three-way race was the closest but he still won nearly 59%, compared to 31% for James White, the sole African American Republican lawmaker in the Texas Legislature.
- In an open race for land commissioner, Dawn Buckingham, a state senator from western Travis County, advanced to a runoff against Tim Westley, securing 41% of votes to Westley’s 15%. Six other candidates shared the remaining 44%.
- Ellen Troxclair, a former Austin City Council member, and Justin Berry, an Austin police officer, advanced to a runoff in a four-way race in Texas House District 19, with Troxclair getting 38% of votes and Berry 35%. The district includes western Travis County, Fredericksburg, and Burnet.
- A four-way race for state representative in Williamson County (HD-52) will go to a runoff between Caroline Harris, an aide to Senator Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) and Patrick McGuinness, an engineer at Dell Computer.
- Williamson Judge Bill Gravell beat back a challenge by Ryan Gallagher, a factory manager and first-time candidate who had questioned the integrity of the 2020 election and attacked the judge for his pandemic orders restricting businesses. Gravell won 57% of votes.
- Two other members of the Williamson County Commissioners Court, Cynthia Long and Russ Boles, also defeated primary challengers, winning 56% and 61%, respectively.
- Robert Morrow, a perennial candidate known for his bizarre and lewd behavior, fared surprisingly well in a race for State Board of Education, winning 46.6% of votes. His advance to a runoff in 2020 had prompted push-back from party leaders, with Travis County GOP Chair Matt Mackowiak saying he would “light myself on fire” if he won.
