Early Voting shows Doggett leading in Travis, Bexar Counties

Based on early returns, longtime Austin Congressman Lloyd Doggett has good reason to be optimistic as he seeks to return to Washington as a representative of a new district. Doggett has 93 percent of the votes cast early in Travis County’s Democratic primary and 53 percent of early votes in Bexar County in the newly configured U.S. House District 35. If Election Day votes are similar, Doggett will be returning to Washington, DC, in spite of an intense effort by Texas Republicans to draw him out of a Congressional seat.

 

Doggett has two opponents, both from Bexar County, Sylvia Romo, the Tax-Assessor-Collector for Bexar County and Maria Luisa Alvarado. Doggett took 3187 out of 3425 votes cast early in Travis County or 93 percent; Romo received 147 and Alvarado received 91. But the election will likely be decided in Bexar County, which dominates the district.

 

In addition, Doggett won about 95 percent of votes cast early in Hays County and about 70 percent of the early votes in Guadalupe County.

 

Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg is pretty much assured of another term in office, with just less than 75 percent of the early vote. Her opponent, Charlie Baird, pulled just 25 percent.

 

Sheriff Greg Hamilton is also easily defeating his opponent, John Sisson, with about 71 percent of the early vote.

 

Constable Bruce Elfant is handily winning his race to succeed Nelda Wells Spears as Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector. Elfant has 72 percent of the early vote compared to opponent Stanley Wilson’s 28 percent.

 

On the Republican side, it is too soon to make any statewide predictions, but Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, who hopes to become a U.S. Senator,  received only 45 percent of the early vote in Travis County, with  Tea Party favorite Ted Cruz getting about 30 percent. It could be a long night for Dewhurst.

 

Republican Gerald Daugherty will be facing Democrat Karen Huber in a rematch of their 2008 race for Travis County Commissioner Precinct 3. Daugherty has about 59 percent of the early vote and Huber has 77 percent.

 

Longtime Pct. 1 Commissioner Ron Davis also appeared to be winning his race with 53 percent of the vote prior to Election Day.