McCaul leaves no doubt in District 10 House race

By James Rincon
Pflag Reporter

Results from Tuesday’s primary elections showed a mix of parity and disparity.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison was not as formidable a contender for the GOP’s nod for governor, as she failed to force a runoff with incumbent Gov. Rick Perry, who drew 51.1 percent of votes. Tea party candidate Debra Medina proved to be a factor in the gubernatorial race, receiving 18.6 percent of votes.

On the Democratic side, former Houston Mayor Bill White ran away with his party’s nomination, securing 76.1 percent of votes on a ballot with six opponents. White’s closest competition was Houston businessman Farouk Shami, who pulled 12.8 percent of votes.

Two-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike McCaul enjoyed one of the night’s largest victory margins, winning 82.9 percent of Republican votes over his opponents in the race for District 10.

“I want to thank the voters from Austin over to Tomball and Katy for sending a resounding message that I have upheld conservative principles in the three and a half terms I’ve represented them in Congress.  Together we will continue our stand against big government, bring down the debt and secure our borders.  And we’ll keep pushing for common sense reforms that will create jobs and improve healthcare without placing unnecessary financial burden on American families and businesses,” McCaul said in an e-mail shortly after polls closed.

McCaul’s opponents essentially split the remaining 17 percent of votes, though recently deceased candidate Rick Martin, who still appeared on the ballot, drew 0.7 percent more votes than candidate Joe Petronis.

Rep. McCaul will meet Democrat Ted Ankrum, who was unopposed in Tuesday’s primary, in the general election.

“The candidates for each of the major parties are now set and we move on to the General Election.  The choice could not be more clear.  On the Republican side, we have a candidate who believes that government is the enemy; and on the Democratic side, a candidate who believes that government is the expression of our collective will, and that we must participate in the democratic process in order to address the challenges we face as Americans…  Our country deserves better,” Ankrum said in an e-mail.

In the race for district 50 in the state House, incumbent Democrat Mark Strama was unopposed in the primary. He will face Republican Pat McGuinness who won Tuesday’s race decisively over Ryan Lambert with 60 percent of the vote.

The margins were slimmer in the State Board of Education race in District 10, where Republicans Marsha Farney and Brian Russell each secured slightly more than 35 percent of votes to force an April 13, runoff election. Third candidate Rebecca Osborne received 29 percent of votes.

In Travis County’s only contented Court at Law race, Judge’s seat three, John Lipscombe edged Olga Seelig on Democrats’ ballots with 52.5 percent of the vote. Democratic candidates for seats two, four, five, six and seven were unopposed and will not face a republican counterpart in the general election.

Also notable, GOP incumbent Railroad commissioner Victor Carrillo was unseated by a large margin by David Porter, who drew 60.7 percent of votes.

Other ousted incumbents include Democrat state Reps. Dora Olivo and Al Edwards losing in District 27 and 146, respectively to Ron Reynolds and Borris Miles. In the State Board of Education race for District 9, incumbent and board chairman Don McLeroy was ousted by opponent Thomas Ratliff by a slim .8 percent.