Tuesday’s primary elections include many high-profile statewide offices, congressional campaigns and legislative contests, but Harris County voters also will vote in a slew of local races.
They include nominations for county judge, a pair of county commissioners, administrative offices such as the county clerk and treasurer, and dozens of judicial posts.
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In November, Democrats will seek to maintain their grip on countywide offices and potentially pick up another seat on the five-member Commissioners Court, where the Democratic majority redrew precinct maps to advantage their party. Republicans hope a favorable midterm environment nationally will help them flip some of those local seats.
Republicans outvoted Democrats in the early voting period, a departure from recent cycles. About 106,000 people have cast ballots in the Republican primaries, compared to 96,000 for Democrats.
“Democratic enthusiasm is lower than it was in 2020 and 2018, so that drop-off might hurt down-ballot Democrats who need that enthusiasm,” said Brandon Rottinghaus, a professor of political science at the University of Houston.
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The marquee local races feature a crowded field eager to challenge County Judge Lina Hidalgo — nine Republicans and five fellow Democrats — and a hotly contested open primary for Democrats in Precinct 4, the newly blue-leaning seat on Commissioners Court.
Here is what you need to know:
When are the polls open?
The polls are open Tuesday from 7 am to 7 pm
Where can I vote?
There are 375 voting sites in the county, which has a list and interactive map of the locations on its elections administration website, harrisvotes.com.
Voters can cast their ballots at any polling location.
What do I need to bring?
Voters must bring photo identification. The seven acceptable forms of photo ID are a Texas driver’s license, Texas identification card, Texas election certificate, Texas handgun license, US military identification card, US passport or US citizenship certificate containing you photograph.
The ID is acceptable as long as it has not been expired for more than four years. For voters over 70, it does not matter how long the ID has been expired.
Residents who do not possess one of the qualifying IDs can submit a so-called “reasonable impediment” form at the polls if they bring another supporting document to confirm their identity, such as a voter registration certificate, current utility bill or bank statement.
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Can I still register to vote?
No, the registration deadline to vote in the primary elections has passed. Residents still can register for the runoffs, though.
When no candidate in a race gets more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two finishers proceed to a runoff. Those runoff elections will be May 24, and the deadline to register to vote in them is April 25. You can vote in the runoffs even if you did not vote in the initial primary elections.
Who is on the ballot?
The general Republican and Democratic ballots are available online. Voters also can pull their personalized sample ballots on the county’s website, as well.
Texas is an open primary state, meaning voters do not register under a party. Voters select the party for which they would like to vote at the polls. You cannot switch parties for the runoffs in May.
County Judge
Nine GOP candidates have trained their eyes on Hidalgo, who will have to beat five Democrats before proceeding to the general election in November.
Hidalgo’s primary opponents include Erica Davis, the former chief of staff for the Precinct 1 Constable’s Office; real estate broker AR Hassan; photographer Georgia Provost; Maria Garcia; and attorney Kevin Howard.
On the GOP side, the crowded field includes attorney Vidal Martinez, former Army Capt. Alexandra del Moral Mealer, Humble Independent School District board president Martina Lemond Dixon, and Randy Kubosh, the brother of Houston City Councilman Michael Kubosh, along with Oscar Gonzales, George Harry Zoes, Robert Dorris, Warren Howell and HQ Bolanos.
“The Republican side is interesting, that should be pretty telling,” Rottinhaus said. “Can Republicans find a candidate who can appeal to moderate voters in Harris County?”
county commissioners
Seven Democrats are vying for the opportunity to flip a newly-drawn precinct on Commissioners Court.
They include former state Rep. Gina Calanni, County Court at Law Judge Lesley Briones, former Harris County elections staffer Benjamin Chou, Clarence Miller, Ann Williams, Sandra Pelmore, and Jeff Stauber.
“That should be a hot race, in part because whoever wins that is going to be in a good position to win in November,” Rottinghaus said.
Commissioner Jack Cagle, the incumbent, is unopposed on the Republican side. A more congested field of Republicans is running in Precinct 2, which until 2018 was a GOP stronghold.
Jack Morman, Richard Vega, Daniel N. Jason, Jerry Mouton, and John Manlove are running for the chance to take on incumbent Democratic Commissioner Adrian Garcia, who faces two opponents — George Risner and Gary Harrison — in his own primary.
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county administration
Three incumbent administrators — District Clerk Marilyn Burgess, County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth and Treasurer Dylan Osborne — are seeking re-election to their posts. Burgess and Osborne each drew one opponent in the primaries: Desiree Broadnax and Carla Wyatt, respectively.
Two Republicans are running unopposed in the primaries to try to take back their previous jobs. Stan Stanart, a former county clerk, and Chris Daniel, former district clerk, are once again running for those posts.
The GOP treasurer race includes two candidates, Eric Dick and Kyle Scott.
judicial elections
About three dozen district state judges, two dozen county judges and six justices of the peace are also on the ballot.
Democrats have swept these posts in the last few cycles. All but three of the races feature an unopposed candidate on the GOP side.
www.houstonchronicle.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism