Democrat Richard Cortez of McAllen easily defeated Republican Jane Cross of Edinburg for the Hidalgo County judge’s seat, unofficial election results show.
As of 11:54 p.m. Tuesday and 100 percent of precincts reporting, Cortez tallied 106,745 votes, compared with 42,331 votes for Cross.
Statewide races
Although Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke lost to Republican incumbent Ted Cruz statewide, in Hidalgo County, he received 104,234 votes to Cruz’s 46,437 votes.
Incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez outpaced his challengers in the 15th District race with 75,408 votes. Republican Tim Westley received 28,035 votes and Libertarian Anthony Cristo garnered 1,542 votes.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott won re-election, defeating Democratic challenger Lupe Valdez and Libertarian Mark Jay Tippetts. Abbott received 55,340 votes in Hidalgo County, compared with Valdez’s 93,771 votes and Tippetts’ 1,667 votes.
In the race for lieutenant governor, Republican incumbent Dan Patrick overcame challengers Mike Collier, a Democrat, and Libertarian Kerry Douglas McKennon. In the county, Patrick received 46,276 votes, Valdez received 93,771 votes and McKennon 2,875 votes.
Republican incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton was leading challengers Justin Nelson, a Democrat, and Michael Ray Harris, a Libertarian. In the county, Paxton garnered 44,231 votes; Nelson, 101,918 votes; and, Harris, 3,127 votes.
Local elections
In the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District trustee races, Dominga Vela won the Place 1 seat with 13,281 votes against Juan Palacios with 11,523.
For Place 2, Oscar Salinas won with 12,973 votes against Mike Balderas, who received 10,986 votes.
In the Place 3 race, Letty Garcia won with 15,414 votes against Steven Cruz, who received 8,849 votes.
For Place 5, Xavier Salinas won with 13,202 votes against Leonel Lonnie Guerrero, who captured 10,372 votes.
In the race for South Texas Independent School District trustee, Hidalgo County Commissioners’ Precinct 4, Martin Castillo won with 6,300 votes against Sam B. Gonzalez, with 6,090 votes.
Edinburg voters defeated Proposition A, which would allow the City Council to appoint a judge as presiding municipal judge, with 9,029 votes against, compared with 8,666 votes in favor.
Proposition B, which will add term limits on the mayor, city council members and municipal judge, passed with 11,368 votes in favor and 6,407 votes against.
Voters also passed Proposition C, which allows the city to issue $20 million in general obligation bonds for drainage improvements. The vote was 9,415 votes for and 8,749 against.
Proposition D, which will allow the city to issue $10 million in general obligation bonds for roadway improvements, narrowly passed with a vote of 8,969 for and 8,941 against.
For complete results, visit www.hidalgocounty.us/2389/2018-General-and-Entities-Elections.
