Cameron County primary election unofficial results

Updated 11:50 a.m. March 5, 2022

Unofficial results for county, state and federal primary races have been released in Cameron County.

Voters in the county cast ballots in races ranging from county clerk and justice of the peace to attorney general and governor. 

With 100% of 101 precincts reporting in the Democratic primary, Vicente Gonzalez garnered 11,452 votes, or 57.92%, in the U.S. Representative, District 34 race. Laura Cisneros followed with 5,838 votes. Beatriz Reynoso, William Thompson, Filemon Meza, Diego Zavala and Osbert Rodriguez Haro also ran. 

In the Republican primary, District 34 U.S. representative candidate Mayra Flores garnered 6,416 votes, or 64.56%, with all 101 precincts reporting. Frank McCaffrey followed with 1,709 votes. Also running were Gregory Scott Kunkle Jr. and Juana Cantu-Cabrera.

On Tuesday night, The Rider asked Cameron County Elections Administrator Remi Garza if the primary election had a record voter turnout.

“It’s hard to classify a turnout because every election is different, but this is definitely one of the highest midterm election primaries we’ve had in a long, long time,” Garza replied. “We’ve had more registered voters and there were a lot of candidates and a lot of choices for the parties to make.

“The Democratic Party exceeded its 2018 showing, which was one of its highest on record, and the Republican Party exceeded almost every other primary that they’ve ever done. So, it was really an impressive showing.”

In the race for Texas governor, Republican incumbent Greg Abbott garnered 8,444 votes in Cameron County, followed by Allen B. West with 809. Also running were Don Huffines, Rick Perry, Chad Prather, Kandy Kaye Horn and Danny Harrison. 

On the Democratic ballot for governor, Beto O’Rourke led with 16,051 votes in the county, followed by Joy Diaz, with 1,378. Also running were Michael Cooper, Inocencio “Inno” Barrientez and Rick Wakeland.

In the race for lieutenant governor, Mike Collier led the Democratic ballot with 7,158 votes in the county, followed by Michelle Beckley with 6,116 and Carla Brailey, who garnered 4,844. 

On the Republican ballot, incumbent Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick led with 7,148 votes, followed by Daniel Miller, 799, and Trayce Bradford, 721. Also running were Zach Vance, Aaron Sorrells and Todd M. Bullis.

In the state attorney general race, incumbent Ken Paxton led the Republican ballot with 4,162 votes to George P. Bush’s 3,719. Also running were Eva Guzman and Louie Gohmert. 

The Democratic ballot was led by Rochelle Mercedes Garza, a Brownsville native, who garnered 12,361 votes in the county, followed by Joe Jaworski with 2,568 votes. Also running were Lee Merritt, S. “TBONE” Raynor and Mike Fields.

In the race for comptroller of public accounts, Glenn Hegar led the Republican ballot with 7,090 votes to Mark V. Goloby’s 2,102. 

Comptroller hopeful Angel Luis Vega led the Democratic ballot with 10,920 votes in the county. Also on the Democratic ballot are Janet T. Dudding with 5,231 and Tim Mahoney with 2,046 votes.

In the race for commissioner of the General Land Office, Sandragrace Martinez led the Democratic ballot with 11,037 votes in the county, followed by Jay Kleberg with 3,274; Michael Lange, 2,028; and Jinny Suh, 1,669. 

The Republican ballot was led by Dawn Buckingham with 2,488 votes, followed by Victor Avila, with 1,925 and Tim Westley, 1,270. Also running were Weston Martinez, Ben Armenta, Jon Spiers, Don W. Minton and Rufus Lopez.

In the race for agriculture commissioner, Democratic Susan Hays led with 14,512 votes in Cameron County. Ed Ireson garnered 3,203 votes. 

Agriculture commissioner hopeful Sid Miller led the Republican ballot with 4,688 votes to James White’s 3,583. Carey A. Counsil garnered 851 votes. 

In the race for railroad commissioner, Democrat Luke Warford garnered 14,760 votes in the county. On the Republican ballot, Wayne Christian led by 34.45% or 3,136 votes. Sarah Stogner followed with 1,908 votes; and Tom Slocum Jr., 1,512. Also running were Marvin “Sarge” Summers and Dawayne Tipton.

The race for District 27 state senator was led by Sara Stapleton-Barrera on the Democratic ballot with 7,284 votes, followed by Alex Dominguez, with 5,819; Morgan LaMantia, 5,440, and Salomon Torres, 1,354.

Adam Hinojosa led the Republican ballot for the same position with 4,222 votes to Raul Torres’ 3,256. Isreal Salinas garnered 1,737 votes. 

In the Cameron County clerk’s race, incumbent Democratic Sylvia Garza-Perez led with 12,690 votes to Perla Diaz’s 6,524. On the Republican ballot, Mirla Veronica Deaton ran uncontested.

Democrat Cyndi Hinojosa led the race for justice of the peace, Precinct 2, Place 2, with 4,464 votes, followed by Elizabeth Garza’s 2,556 and Javier Reyna’s 2,108. There were no candidates on the Republican ballot. 

In the race for Precinct 4 county commissioner, incumbent Democrat Gus Ruiz led with 1,869 votes, followed by J.V. Garcia, with 1,672 votes and Ruben De La Rosa with 815. 

Charles “Chuck” Vieh led the Republican ballot for Precinct 4 county commissioner with 2,086 votes to Oscar Guerra’s 1,147.