The Polls Open On Texas Primary Elections

HOUSTON, TX — Voters are heading to the polls in what has become one of the most active midterm voting season in recent memory.

Early voting for the March primary ended March 2 with Democrats making a real push to unseat Republicans in congressional, state and local races.

One of the most watched races in Texas will undoutbedly go to a runoff with nine candidiates in the Republican field, and five Democrats all vying to replace the retiring US Rep. Ted Poe.

In Texas Congressional District 2, the top three Republicans are Dan Crenshaw, Kathaleen Wall, and State Rep Kevin Roberts (R-Spring), folowed by Justin L. Lurie, David Balat, Rick Walker, Malcolm Whittaker, Jon Spiers, and Jonny Havens. The Democrats on the ballot are: H. P. Parvizian, Ali A. Khorasani, Silky Malik, J. Darnell Jones, and Todd Litton.

Litton has been the front runner in early voting, but with such a crowded field, a runoff is virtually assured.

Other races in the Houston area include:

• In Texas Congressional District 7: Incumbent John Culberson is challenged by Edward Ziegler in the Republican primary. If he wins, he will face off against either Jason Westin, Lizzie Pannill Fletcher, Alex Triantaphyllis, Laura Moser, Ivan Sanchez, Joshua A. Butler, or James Cargas in November. As in the Districft 2 race, a runoff for the Democrats is likely.
• In Texas Congressional District 8, US Rep. Kevin Brady, who chairs the Ways and Means committee, is unopposed in the Republican primary, and will face off in November against Steven David, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary.
• In Texas Congressional District 10, US Rep. Michael McCaul is challenged by John W.Cook for the Republican nod. Democrats running for a chance in November include: Madeline K. Eden, Tawana Walter-Cadien, Richie DeGrow, Mike Siegel, Matt Harris, Kevin Nelson, and Tami Walker. Runoff

Other key races Harris County where Sheila Jackson Lee who is challenged by Richard Johnson, and Al Green who is running unopposed.

• US Senator Ted Cruz who was once a Tea Party darling, may face a stiff challenge in the primary with four opponents barking for his seat. However, if he wins the challenge could be tougher with Democratic front runner US Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-El Paso) hoping to benefit from the falling popularity of Cruz.
• The Texas Governor’s Race, is among the most colorful with SECEDE Kilgore — the most interesting candidate to run for governor since Kinky Friendman — and Barbara Krueger hoping to unseat Gov. Greg Abbott in the Republican Primary. The Democrats are dangling Andrew White, son of late Gov. Mark White, as their top candidate. Others on the ballot include: Lupe Valdez, Adrian Ocegueda, Tom Wakely, Jeffrey Payne, Joe Mumbach ,Grady Yarbrough, James Jolly Clark, and Cedric Davis, Sr.
• In the Texas Lt. Governor’s Race, incumbent Dan Patrick faces a serious challenge from Scott Milder on the Republican ticket. The winner in that race faces off against either Michael Cooper or Mike Collier.

In other races, voters will decide races for:

• State Representative
• District Judges
• Justices of the Peace
• County Judge
• County Commissioners Pct. 2, 4
• District Clerk

Here is the full list of ballot propositions submitted by the SREC for inclusion on the 2018 Republican General Primary Election ballot:

• Texas should replace the property tax system with an appropriate consumption tax equivalent. Yes/No
• No governmental entity should ever construct or fund construction of toll roads without voter approval. Yes/No
• Republicans in the Texas House should select their Speaker nominee by secret ballot in a binding caucus without Democrat influence. Yes/No
• Texas should require employers to screen new hires through the free E-Verify system to protect jobs for legal workers. Yes/No
• Texas families should be empowered to choose from public, private, charter, or homeschool options for their children's education, using tax credits or exemptions without government constraints or intrusion. Yes/No
• Texas should protect the privacy and safety of women and children in spaces such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers in all Texas schools and government buildings. Yes/No
• I believe abortion should be abolished in Texas. Yes/No
• Vote fraud should be a felony in Texas to help ensure fair elections. Yes/No
• Texas demands that Congress completely repeal Obamacare. Yes/No
• To slow the growth of property taxes, yearly revenue increases should be capped at 4%, with increases in excess of 4% requiring voter approval. Yes/No
• Tax dollars should not be used to fund the building of stadiums for professional or semi-professional sports teams. Yes/No

The Texas Democratic Party has placed a dozen propositions on its ballot:

• Should everyone in Texas have the right to quality public education from pre-k to 12th grade, and affordable college and career training without the burden of crushing student loan debt? Yes/No
• Should everyone in Texas have the right to refinance student loan debt with the Federal Reserve at a 0% interest rate, as relief for the crushing burden of debt and an investment in the next generation of Americans? Yes/No
• Should everyone in Texas have a right to healthcare, guaranteed by a universal, quality Medicare-for-all system? Yes/No
• Should everyone in Texas have the right to economic security, where all workers have earned paid family and sick leave and a living wage that respects their hard work? Yes/No
• Should the Democratic Party promote a national jobs program, with high wage and labor standards, to replace crumbling infrastructure and rebuild hurricane damaged areas, paid for with local, state, and federal bonds financed through the Federal Reserve at low interest with long term maturities? Yes/No
• Should everyone in Texas have the right to clean air, safe water, and a healthy environment? Yes/No
• Should everyone in Texas have the right to a life of dignity and respect, free from discrimination and harassment anywhere, including businesses and public facilities, no matter how they identify, the color of their skin, who they love, socioeconomic status, or from where they come? Yes/No
• Should everyone in Texas have the right to affordable and accessible housing and modern utilities including high speed internet, free from any form of discrimination? Yes/No
• Should every eligible Texan have the right to vote, made easier by automatic voter registration, the option to vote by mail, a state election holiday, and no corporate campaign influence, foreign interference, or illegal gerrymandering? Yes/No
• Should everyone in Texas have the right to a fair criminal justice system that treats people equally and puts an end to the mass incarceration of young people of color for minor offenses? Yes/No
• Should there be a just and fair comprehensive immigration reform solution that includes an earned path to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants and their children, keeps families together, protects DREAMers, and provides workforce solutions for businesses? Yes/No
• Should everyone in Texas have the right to a fair tax system, where all interests (business, corporations, and individuals) pay their share, so that state government meets its obligations? Yes/No

You can find a sample ballot here.

Image: Shutterstock

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