The primary runoff elections are here in the state of Texas, as voters will decide today on their choices for a variety of positions across the state. Among the biggest races of course are for the U.S. Senate and Texas Attorney General. But, locally in Houston, there are plenty of primary runoffs that could change the course of a few offices.
One of the top races locally will be for Congressional District 9, currently held by Congressman Al Green, which covers most of southwest Houston. On the GOP side, former Harris County Judge candidate Alex Mealer faces off with Deer Park State Rep. Briscoe Cain, after they advanced to the runoff in the March primaries.
KPRC950's Kenny Webster of the Walton and Johnson Show says that race is a bit of a toss-up, but Mealer has one thing going for her, at the expense of Cain.
"Briscoe Cain is the guy who led the impeachment against Ken Paxton...we saw how much money that wasted...and it was pointless," he says. "I am leaning toward Alex Mealer simply for that reason."
The winner of that primary will face off against Leticia Gutierrez on the Democrat side, in what is largely believed to become a Republican district.
Congressman Al Green, who holds that District 9 seat, is now running for District 18, the seat formerly held by Shelia Jackson Lee and later Sylvester Turner. He is facing off with former Harris County attorney Christian Menefee. Webster says Green will likely lose the runoff for that seat, meaning his 201-year run in Congress would come to an end.
Another Congressional race to keep an eye on locally is in District 38, which represents west and northwest Houston. That seat is currently held by Wesley Hunt, who left to run for the Senate. The GOP runoff will be between President Trump-endorsed Jon Bonck and Shelly deZavallos.
Bonck received 47-percent of the vote in the primary, with deZavallos receiving 19-percent. Webster says Bonck is the favorite to win the Republican district, and that is putting fear into the establishment. =
"His policy positions are similar to the traditional MAGA positions...the attacks on him in the last week or two have been abundant," says Webster. "Jon Bonck is clearly a threat to someone out there. They are paying people to go out and investigate him to ruin his candidacy...and it does not seem to be working."
The fight for Harris County Judge is also on the table, with both the Democrats and GOP heading for runoffs for the position. The GOP will have former Harris County Treasurer Orlando Sanchez facing off with Air Force Veteran Warren Howell. But the Democrat side draw a bit more attention, as former Houston Mayor Annise Parker will square off with former city councilwoman Letitia Plummer.
The latter of the races is not interesting for the sake of it being a good race, but mostly to see the crumbs the Democrat party has to offer to the voters.
"The less controversial candidate is one who wanted men to go to the bathroom in the same facility as your six-year-old daughter...that is where the Democrats are right now," Webster says.
Polls are open from 7 am until 7 pm today for Election Day. The General Election is set for November 3rd.
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