Early voting begins Monday in runoff races

BREWSTER, JEFF DAVIS, PRESIDIO counties – Yet another round of voting is underway throughout the Lone Star State.

Early voting begins on Monday, July 23 through Friday, July 27 for the July 31 Republican and Democratic primary runoff elections.

Voters have a five-day window to vote early in person. Voters can also vote in the election by mail-in ballot.

The last day to apply for a ballot by mail is Tuesday, July 24.

In Presidio County, early voting will be conducted at the courthouse in Marfa and the annex in Presidio from 8am to noon and 1-5pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Extended hours are scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to noon and 1-7pm.

Presidio County voters wishing to vote in the Republican runoff by ballot by mail can receive an application by calling Todd Beckett, the Presidio County Republican Party Chair, at 432.238.2014. Beckett reminds voters that if they voted in the May 29 Democratic primary election, they are ineligible to vote in the Republican runoff election.

On election day, polls are open from 7am to 7pm.

Jeff Davis County voters in all five precincts can vote early from at the new law enforcement building in Fort Davis from 9am to 12pm and from 1 to 5pm.

Brewster County voters in all eight precincts can vote early in person at the Brewster County Tax Office from 9am to 5pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, with extended voting hours on Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 7pm.

On election day, voters in Precincts 1, 2, 4 and 8 will vote at the Brewster County Courthouse Annex. Precinct 3 voters can vote at the Marathon Community Center, Big Bend National Park and Panther Junction voters in Precinct 5 can at the San Vicente School Gymnasium. Precinct 6 and 7 voters in Terlingua can at the Red Pattillo Community Center.

Local candidates and races up for election in the runoff include the 83^rd district attorney race for the Democratic nomination, pitting Alpine attorneys Frank Brown and Rod Ponton against each other. There is no Republican candidate for the DA race.

In Presidio County, three seats are being contested in the Democratic runoff. The county commissioner precinct 3 spot is up for grabs, with Presidio Mayor Lorenzo Hernandez challenging incumbent commissioner Carlos Armendariz.

The precinct 1 commissioner seat is also being challenged. James “Jim” White is challenging incumbent Felipe Cordero.

The precinct 1 constable position will also see the incumbent, Juan Lara, compete against his opponent, Estevan “Steve” Marquez.

In Brewster County races, two commissioner positions are contested in the runoff. The precinct 3 commissioner, Ruben Ortega, is being challenged by Eduardo Vega in the Democratic runoff. The winner goes on to face Republican Ben Ramirez in November.

The precinct 4 commissioner seat, left vacant after the death of office holder Wacky Pallanez, is also contested in the runoff. Pallanez’s cousin, Mike “Coach” Pallanez is seeking the seat, along with challenger Van Neie. Both are Democrats. The winner faces Republican Carl Lewis in the November general election.

Federal runoff races include the race for the Democratic nomination for congress. Democrats Ciro Rodriguez and Pete Gallego are vying for the nomination to face Republican Congressman Francisco Canseco.

David Dewhurst, the state’s lieutenant governor, is in a hotly contested runoff with former state solicitor general, Ted Cruz. The two Republicans are seeking their party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate seat, currently held by outgoing Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.