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BASTROP COUNTY VOTES
Bastrop County voters turned out in higher numbers for the March 3 primary election, casting 18,606 ballots to decide which candidates will represent their party in November.
The tally equals nearly 30% of the county’s 62,294 registered voters, according to unofficial results. That turnout surpasses totals from the 2024 primary, which saw 14,864 ballots cast, 25% of registered voters at the time.
LOCAL
For Texas House District 17, Republican voters selected current state Rep. Stan Gerdes with 59% of the vote. Gerdes defeated Tom Glass, who received 40% of 9,310 tickets.
He will be met by Mary Elizabeth Klenz, who won the race’s Democratic nomination over Frank Gomez III and Robert Salter. She claimed 62% of the total 7,467 ballots cast in the Democratic contest.
Gregory Klaus secured the Republican nomination for Bastrop County judge with 63% of the vote over Donald Loucks. He will face Democrat Dock Jackson in the November general election.
Sarah Loucks narrowly avoided a runoff after claiming the Republican nomination for Bastrop County district clerk with 51% of the vote. Holly Cox received about 25%, Ward Northcutt 15% and Tamara “Tammy” Batot 10% in the race.
Loucks will not face a Democratic challenger in November.
STATE
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott will defend his seat against Democrat Gina Hinojosa in the November election.
In the race for lieutenant governor, Republican incumbent Dan Patrick comfortably retained his party’s nomination with nearly 86% of the vote. He will face the winner of a Democratic runoff between Vikki Goodwin and Marcos Velez.
Both parties will also hold runoffs for the attorney general seat in May. Democrat Nathan Johnson will face Joe Jaworski, while Republicans Mayes Middleton and Chip Roy will compete for their party’s nomination.
Incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton is running for U.S. Senate and will face incumbent John Cornyn in a Republican runoff. For comptroller, Democrat Sarah Eckhardt (64%) will go against Republican Don Huffines (60%), who unseated incumbent Kelly Hancock for the party’s choice.
Democrat Benjamin Flores (60%) will challenge Republican incumbent Dawn Buckingham for Texas land commissioner, Democrat Clayton Tucker will meet Republican Nate Sheets (52%) for agricultural commissioner and Democrat Jon Rosenthal will face either Bo French (32%) or incumbent Jim Wright (32%) for railroad commissioner.
In the Texas Supreme Court, Democrat Maggie Ellis and Republican incumbent Jimmy Blalock will square off for chief justice; Democrat Chari Kelly will challenge Republican incumbent James Sullivan for Place 2; Democrat Kristen Hawkins will battle Republican incumbent Kyle Hawkins — no relation — for Place 7; and Democrat Gisela Triana will try to unseat Republican Brett Busby for Place 8.
FEDERAL
In the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, James Talarico defeated Jasmine Crockett with about 53% of the vote. On the Republican side, Cornyn and Paxton advanced to a runoff.
For the U.S. House District 11 Democratic primary, Claire Reynolds defeated Pete Ruiz and will face Republican incumbent August Pfluger in November.
Milah Flores and Casey Shepard advanced to a runoff in the U.S. House District 17 Democratic primary, with the winner set to challenge Republican incumbent Pete Sessions.
Justin Early won the Democratic nomination in U.S. House District 31 and will face Republican incumbent John Carter in the general election.
