ATHENS-In the May 26 Republican runoff race stemming from the March 3 Precinct 2 primary for justice of the peace, incumbent Jamie Fawns beat back a challenge from the man who held that post from 2000-2014, Dale Blaylock, emerging victorious for a second time this cycle to re-secure the seat in the Seven Points court, as she is unopposed in the November general election.
According to unofficial results provided to The Monitor by Henderson County Elections Administrator Paula Ludtke, Fawns received 1,014 votes to Blaylock’s 597. In March, Fawns got 662 votes to Blaylock’s 528 votes. Another candidate, James D. “J.D.” Jennings, received 441 votes in March, keeping any candidate from exceeding the 50% necessary to win on the spot.
For United States senator representing Texas, 24-year incumbent John Cornyn was ousted in the statewide vote by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who took the surge provided days earlier by President Donald J. Trump’s endorsement and galloped across the finish line. In Henderson County, Paxton got 4,865 votes to Cornyn’s 2,424.
Of the nine total races on various Henderson County ballots May 26, three involved the Democratic Party. Just among Henderson County voters, Nathan Johnson beat Joe Jaworski to secure the Democratic nomination as Attorney General of Texas. Henderson County Democrats cast 550 votes in that race. The Republican Party of Texas side of that AG race (which had 7,216 votes total), Mayes Middleton defeated former U.S. Rep. Chip Roy to become Henderson County’s preferred candidate. Middleton’s 3,988 votes among Henderson County registered residents was 760 more than Roy’s (Middleton outpaced Roy by 800 votes in Henderson County March 3). Middleton beat Roy statewide with 55% of the vote.
Another Democratic Party election facing Henderson County’s blue voters was that party’s nomination in the general election for Texas lieutenant governor. Vikki Goodwin got the most votes in the county with 422, beating Marcos Isaias Velez’ 126.
In addition, the Democratic Party’s Henderson County majority vote went to Chelsey Hockett, whose 313 votes beat back Ruth “Truth” Torres (234 votes) for their party’s nomination for U.S. representative for District 5 and will face incumbent Lance Gooden in the November general election.
For Railroad Commissioner, Jim Wright won the majority of Henderson County votes on his way to beating Bo French. In Henderson County, Wright won 3,769-3,146. However, French beat Wright statewide to secure the GOP nomination. For the GOP nomination as judge for Place 3 of the Court of Criminal Appeals (the highest criminal court in Texas), Thomas Smith garnered the most votes in Henderson County with 4,400.
Overall, the numbers provided by Ludtke show voter turnout at 28%, with 13,399 Republican Party votes cast in Henderson County, compared to 3,287 for the Democratic Party.