Ryan out; Diaz, Eagleton in Run-offs
By Lewis Spearman
HOUSTON – The primary election brought a number of surprises on the Democratic ticket. County Attorney Vince Ryan was defeated by challenger Chris Menefee. Ryan could only muster 25% of the votes, and Menefee avoided a run-off with 50.45%.
Several other upsets occurred, with Pct. 2 Constable Chris Diaz facing a run-off with Jerry Garcia, and Pct. 3 Constable Sherman Eagleton in a run-off with Ken Jones, his former boss. Diaz had only 34.7% of the vote, Garcia got 39%. Eagleton received 47.44, Ken Jones got 16%.
In the Presidential race in Texas, Donald Trump commanded 93.94% of Republican votes, Joe Biden took 33.6% Democrat votes, Bernie Sanders 30% Mike Bloomberg had 14.7% and Elizabeth Warren also ran for 11.6%.
In the race for the Senate John Cornyn was just 76% of Republicans. It looks like a battle between Mary “M.J.” Hegar 23.12% and Royce West got 14%.
In the battle for Sheriff of Harris County Ed Gonzales took 72.61% for the Democrats.
Democrat Kim Ogg won back her seat as District Attorney with 55%.
State Representative Briscoe Cain with 79% took Robert Hoskins’s retirement plans to the woodshed with 20.6%. Mary Williams will challenge him as a Democrat with 72% in District 128.
US District 36 saw Brian Babin win with 86% over J.R. Boatman with 13%. Babin will run against Democrat Rashad Lewis.
Railroad Commissioners were most in play in the late hours: Democrats Roberto (Beto) Alonzo had 29% against Chrtysta Castaneda with 33% while Republicans Ryan Sitton had 67% over Jim Wright.
The League of Women Voters said that the turnout was quite heavy for a Primary. Long lines were the result at many polling places, and TSU reported that some voters did not to cast their ballot until after midnight.