Super Tuesday was a record-breaking day for Bexar County with just over 253,000 ballots cast in the March 3 Primary Election. To put the number in perspective, voter turnout in Bexar County was 22%. Early voting numbers were low up until the last day of early voting, where Bexar County saw an increase in the number of voters. Election Day didn’t slow down either with more than 113,000 ballots cast.
While Vice President Joe Biden did win Texas, Senator Bernie Sanders won Bexar County. Sanders received 33% of the votes in Bexar County compared to Biden’s 28%. The other major race that surprised voters was the Democratic Primary for U.S. Senate. Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez won Bexar County with 22% of the votes but failed to place high enough to qualify for the runoff election. Mary “MJ” Hegar and State Senator Royce West will head to the May 26 runoff election. Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez placed second for most of the night, but West jumped ahead as the night went on.
Further down the ballot, more races grabbed the attention of many residents. A total of 10 races in Bexar County are headed for a May 26 Runoff Election. In the Republican Primary, the Congressional District 23 race; Congressional District 20 race; Bexar County Commissioner, Precinct 3 race; and Republican Party Chair race are all headed for a runoff. The Congressional District 23 runoff will include Tony Gonzales and Raul Reyes, and the winner will face Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones in November. Mauro Garza will take on Gary Allen in the Congressional District 20 runoff, with the winner facing incumbent Rep. Joaquin Castro in November. Tom Rickhoff will face Trish DeBerry in the Bexar County Commissioner, Precinct 3 Republican runoff. Congressional District 23 and Bexar County Commissioner, Precinct 3 are both open seats. Incumbent Bexar County Republican Chair Cynthia Brehm will face John Austin in the runoff.
In the Democratic Primary, State Senate District 19 Race Xochil Pena Rodriguez will take on Roland Gutierrez in the runoff and the winner will face incumbent Sen. Pete Flores. Texas House District 119, an open seat, will also head to a runoff, with Elizabeth “Liz” Campos facing Jennifer Ramos. At the county level, incumbent Bexar County Commissioner for Precinct 1 Sergio “Chico” Rodriguez will face Rebeca “Becky” Clay-Flores in the runoff. Bexar County Constable Precinct 2 and 4 will both have runoffs in the Democratic Primary. Leticia R. Vasquez will take on Ino Badillo in the Precinct 2 runoff, and in the Precinct 4 runoff Kathryn Brown will take on Mike “Chief” Ramirez. Incumbent Bexar County Democratic Party Chair Monica Alcantara will face Grace Rose Gonzales in the runoff.
All incumbents of the Bexar County Delegation, State and Federal, won their respective primary and will be on the November ballot. The Chamber will work to schedule Facebook Forums for the key runoff elections in Bexar County. Count on your Chamber to ensure you are informed about the candidates’ positions on important issues facing the San Antonio business community.
