State representatives and senators and the Cameron County sheriff are among the highly contested positions in the March 3 presidential primary elections, according to an election official.
Remi Garza, Cameron County elections administrator, said voter turnout for presidential primary elections range from 24,000 to 45,000 people.
The last day to register to vote is Feb. 3 and early voting begins Feb. 18 and ends 28.
Garza said voter turnout among Cameron and Hidalgo counties is similar during primary elections, but Hidalgo County is higher during general elections.
Mark Kaswan, a political science associate professor, said it is important to vote in county elections because local government has the greatest impact on people’s day-to-day life.
“In terms of the day-to-day things that people care about, you know, trash pickup … streets, you know, where the stop signs are, how the playgrounds are lit at night, you know, those kinds of things that are in people’s every day. … Those are all local elections,” Kaswan said.
The professor said in the eight years he has lived in Cameron County, voter turnout has never been close to 50%.
“People should go to the polls and cast a ballot, even if they don’t cast a vote,” he said. “Even if it’s a blank ballot because they don’t like anybody. Still, go and cast a ballot. Politicians care about two things. They care about money for their campaign and they care about votes. And, people in the [Rio Grande] Valley, we’re poor. We don’t have money and we don’t vote. So why would any politician give a hoot about Cameron County? … If we want to get a little bit more love from our legislators, we need to vote.”
Asked why it is important for young people to be involved in the election process, Garza replied that it is easy to think that issues being discussed do not impact their lives.
“I think people have to realize that, you know, governments take time to develop and move projects, so the sooner you get involved, the sooner your influence will be felt and your voice will be heard,” he said. “Also, historically, the sooner you start voting the more you’re going to vote, so it’s always good to start that habit while you’re young.”
Although Kaswan does not believe Texas will become a blue state in November, there could be a possibility.
“If you look at heavily Republican-leaning counties, their voter turnout rates are way up,” he said. “I mean, they’re at 70, 80%. … They have no more room for growth. The Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, Houston, places like that, have voter turnout rates in the 40 and 50%. Lots of room for growth.”
Kaswan said that if it can get communicated that votes make a difference, it is possible that Texas can become a blue state.
He advises voters to prepare for Election Day by making a plan of when and where they will vote, schedule it on a calendar and search online for candidate information.
“Early voting is a lot easier … than voting on Election Day because early voting, you can go to any polling place in the county where you’re registered and cast your ballot,” Kaswan said.
Garza advises students to make sure they are registered to vote and keep up with election deadlines.
Felisia Mercado, a history sophomore, believes it is important for young people to be aware of local elections because it helps to know who to vote for.
“If you have a problem with, like, the streets … if you want to make a letter to address that, you need to know to who to send it [to],” Mercado said.
Aylin Esparza, a freshman, will be voting in the primary elections.
Esparza believes it is important to be involved and know who you’re electing.
“Just to be more knowledgeable and if we can help others by voting, I think we should,” Esparza said.
Republican and Democratic voters will choose nominees for elective offices, including president of the United States. The winners in each primary will face off in the November General Election.
The most highly contested positions include:
–State Rep. for District 37. Democrat Alex Dominguez has held the position since 2018. Challenging him for the position is Democrat Amber Medina;
— State Rep. for District 38. Democrat Eddie Lucio III has held the position since 2007. Challenging him for the position is Democrat Erin Gamez;
–State Sen. for District 27. Democrat Eddie Lucio Jr. has held the position since 1991. Challenging him for the position are fellow Democrats Sara Stapleton Barrera and Ruben Cortez. Vanessa Tijerina is seeking the Republican nomination;
–Cameron County Sheriff. Democrat Omar Lucio has held the position since 1997. Challenging him for the position are fellow Democrats Michael R. Galvan and Eric Garza. John Chambers is seeking the Republican nomination;
–Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, Place 1. Democratic incumbent Linda Salazar has been in office since 2005. Challenging her are fellow Democrats Fred Arias and Cyndi Hinojosa;
–Justice of the Peace Precinct 5, Place 1. Democrat Dora (Sallie) Gonzalez has been in office since 1993. Charles “Chuck” Vieh is seeking the Republican nomination; and
–Justice of the Peace Precinct 5, Place 3. Democrat Mike Trejo has been the incumbent since 2013. Challenging him is fellow Democrat Janie Jaimez.
Other positions include:
–State District Court Judge 138. There is no incumbent. Democrats Helen Delgadillo, Gabriela Gabby Garcia and Myles R. Garza are seeking the nomination;
–State District Court Judge 404. There is no incumbent. Democrats Ricardo M. Adobbati and Louis Sorola are seeking the nomination;
–State District Court Judge 444. Incumbent Democrat David A. Sanchez is running unopposed;
–State District Court Judge 445. Incumbent Democrat Gloria M. Rincones is running unopposed;
–County Commissioner Precinct 1. Incumbent Democrat Sofia Benavides is being challenged by fellow Democrat Donald (Don) Clupper;
–County Commissioner Precinct 3. Incumbent Democrat David A. Garza is running unopposed;
–County Constable Precinct 1. Incumbent Democrat Daniel Holland is running unopposed;
–County Constable Precinct 2. Incumbent Democrat Abelardo “Abel” Gomez Jr. is being challenged by fellow Democrat Silverio “Silver” Cisneros;
–County Constable Precinct 3. Incumbent Democrat Adrian Gonzalez is being challenged by fellow Democrat Roel Cavazos;
–County Constable Precinct 4. Incumbent Democrat Merced Burnias Jr. is running unopposed;
–County Constable Precinct 5. Incumbent Democrat Eddie Solis is being challenged by fellow Democrats Don Duncan, Javier “JJ” Gutierrez Fred Peña and Johnny Ramirez; and
–District Clerk. There is no incumbent. Democrats Diego Alonzo Hernandez and Laura Perez-Reyes are seeking the nomination.
