Texans head to the polls Tuesday

Texans have been voting in record numbers across the state and Liberty County is no different as ballots are cast in key races.

According to the Liberty County Office of Elections, Administrator Klint Bush 9,080 had cast early ballots as of Wednesday morning.

“We are seeing a very high turnout for the midterm elections, and I encourage all registered voters in Liberty County to get out and cast a ballot,” said Bush.

Voters will have until 7 pm Friday to cast early ballots ahead of Tuesday, Nov. 8, when voters will vote their conscience and elect who they think is best for Texas.

This year voters will be able to cast ballots at any polling location in the county after polling centers were approved across the county during the last legislative session.

The big contest on the ballot is the Texas Governor’s race, with incumbent Republican Greg Abbott facing off against Democrat Beto O’Rourke, Libertarian Mark Tippets and Green Party candidate Delilah Barrios. Abbott hopes to claim a third term in office as O’Rourke hopes to see Democrats make inroads and take control of the Governor’s Mansion for the first time since 1994.

Liberty County Democratic Party Chairman Michael Mark believes this election is one of the most important in history.

“I am encouraging all Democrats to get out and vote. This is one of the most important mid-term elections in our nation's history. If Republicans take control of Congress, our democracy itself is at risk,” he said.

Other big races across the state include incumbent Republican Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick seeking another term with opposition from Democrat Mark Collier and Libertarian Shanna Steele. Voters will also decide on Attorney General and several judicial races.

Locally voters will help decide on three essential races in multicounty districts. 

In the race for United States Congress District 36, Republican incumbent Brian Babin will square off against Democratic nominee Jon Haire. Republicans are hoping to take control of power in Washington, and this is an important contest for them to retain in pursuit of that goal.

The race for State Senator, District 3, will be between Republican incumbent Robert Nichols and Democrat Steve Russell. There was a Libertarian candidate; however, the campaign was suspended.

In the contest for State Board of Education, Position 7 Republican Julie Pickren, Democrat Dan Hochman and Libertarian Alan Pyeatt are vying for the open seat.

Only one local race will appear on the ballot in Liberty County, with 40-year incumbent Democrat Ronnie Davis facing off against longtime lawmen Jimmy Belt for Justice of the Peace Pct. 2. If Belt is successful in his bid to replace Davis, he will have defeated the final Democrat office holder in the county.

Liberty County Republican Party Chairwoman Emily Cook is hoping for just that outcome as conservatives continue their work locally and across Texas.

"The Democrats' playbook this cycle is clear: Keep down turnout in rural, solid red counties and increase turnout in the urban areas. Liberty County must do our part to help our Republican statewide candidates not only win, but to maintain a safe margin and show that Texas is not up for grabs by the liberals. Vote, and take a friend or two with you,” said Cook.

There are three school districts conducting elections, with Cleveland ISD asking voters to approve a $115 million bond for a new middle school and refurbishing the current Cleveland Middle School campus into a ninth and tenth-grade campus, as well as several other projects. CISD officials are hoping this measure will fare better than the last proposal for a new high school campus.

In Liberty, ISD school trustees are asking voters to approve the reallocation of funds that will allow for an additional estimated $ 1.9 million annually for the district. If approved, it would also decrease taxes over last year.

Tarkington ISD is holding school trustee elections with two incumbents seeking re-election and one opening for a new member. Position 1 will see incumbent Paige Bostwick take on Derral Shelton and Justin Morgan; in the race for Position 2, incumbent Donny Haltom will face challenger Susan Rollins, and finally, Position 3 will see Kevin Johnson, Brent Head and Chase Carpenter vying for the seat currently held by Kem Arnold.

Voters may also notice several races that do not appear on the ballot, as several candidates were elected via the Republican Party Primary earlier this year and do not have contested races.

“On your November ballot, most local candidates’ names will not be on the ballot for you to select.  All but one local office is unopposed.  Senate Bill 1 changed the election code to require that unopposed candidates be declared elected for the office sought,” said Bush.

For more information on the election, call the Office of Elections at 936-253-8050 or visit them online at votelibertycounty.com.

ELECTION DAY VOTING CENTER LOCATIONS

CLEVELAND AREA

Cleveland Civic Center: 210 Peach St, Cleveland, TX 77327

Douglas School Gym: 900 Sam Wiley Drive, Cleveland, TX 77327

DAISETTA AREA

Hull Daisetta High School: 117 N Main St., Daisetta, TX 77533

DAYTON AREA

Dayton Community Center: 801 S. Cleveland St., Dayton, TX 77535

Kenefick Southern Baptist Church: 3536 FM 1008, Dayton, TX 77535

Westlake VFD: 8704 FM 1409, Dayton, TX 77535

DEVERS AREA

Devers School: 201 Chism St., Devers, Texas 77538

HARDIN AREA

Hardin City Hall: 142 CO RD 2010, Liberty, TX 77575

LIBERTY AREA

Jack Hartel Building: 318 San Jacinto St., Liberty, TX 77575

PLUM GROVE/ COLONY RIDGE AREA

Plum Grove City Hall: 9485 Plum Grove Rd, Cleveland, TX 77327

Sante Fe Admin Building: 1680 RD 3549, Cleveland, TX 77327

RAYWOOD AREA

Raywood, Sacred Heart Church, 3720 FM 160 North, Raywood, TX 77582

ROMAYOR/ RYE AREA

Romayor Baptist Church: 307 FM 2610, Cleveland, TX 77327

TARKINGTON AREA

HI-Way Tabernacle: 108 CR 2250, Cleveland, TX  77327

Tarkington Prairie Baptist Church: 25 CR 306, Cleveland, TX 77327

CONTESTED RACES 

United States Representative 

Brian Babin 

Republican 

Jon Haire 

Democrat 

Governor 

Greg Abbott 

Republican 

Beto O’ Rourke 

Democrat 

Mark Tippetts 

Libertarian 

Delilah Barrios 

Green 

Lieutenant Governor 

 Dan Patrick 

Republican 

Mike Collier 

Democrat 

Shanna Steele  

Libertarian 

Attorney General 

Ken Paxton 

Republican  

Rochelle Mercedes Garza 

Democrat 

Mark Ash 

Libertarian 

Comptroller of Public Accounts 

Glenn Hegar 

Republican 

Janet T. Dudding 

Democrat 

V.  Alonzo Echevarria-Garza 

Libertarian 

Commissioner of the General Land Office  

Dawn Buckingham  

Republican 

Jay Kleberg 

Democrat 

Alfred Molison, Jr. 

Green 

Commissioner of Agriculture 

Sid Miller  

Republican 

Susan Hays 

Democrat 

Railroad Commissioner 

Wayne Christian 

Republican 

Luke Warford 

Democrat 

Jaime Andres Diez 

Libertarian 

Hunter Wayne Crow 

Green 

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 3 

Debra Lehrmann 

Republican 

Erin A. Nowell  

Democrat 

Thomas Edward Oxford 

Libertarian 

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 5 

Rebeca Huddle 

Republican 

Amanda Reichek 

Democrat 

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 9 

 Evan Young 

Republican 

Julia Maldonado 

Democrat 

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5 

 Scott Walker 

Republican 

Dana Huffman 

Democrat 

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, 6 

 Jesse F. McClure III  

Republican 

Robert Johnson 

Democrat 

Member, State Board of Education, District No. 7 

 Julie Pickren 

Republican 

Dan Hochman 

Democrat 

Alan Pyeatt 

Libertarian 

State Senator, District No. 3 

 Robert Nichols 

Republican 

Steve Russell 

Democrat 

Desarae Lindsey  

Libertarian       

Justice of the Peace Pct. 2

Jimmy Belt

Republican

Ronnie Davis

Democrat

UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES DECLARED ELECTED

Unopposed Candidates Declared Elected – State  

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2          Mary Lou Keel                           Republican  

State Representative District No. 18                  Ernest Bailes                            Republican 

District Judge 75^th Judicial District                     Mark Morefield                         Republican  

District Judge, 253^rd Judicial District                   Chap Cain                                Republican 

Unopposed Candidates Declared Elected – County 

County Judge                                        Jay Knight                                             Republican 

Judge, County Court at Law                  Tommy Chambers                                 Republican 

District Clerk                                        Delia Sellers                                          Republican 

County Clerk                                         Lee Haidusek Chambers                        Republican 

County Treasurer                                  Kim Harris                                             Republican 

County Surveyor                                   John C. Johnny Moorman                      Republican 

County Commissioner   Precinct 2         Greg Aurthur                                        Republican 

County Commissioner Precinct 4           Leon Wilson                                          Republican 

Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 1       Stephen Hebert                                     Republican 

Justice of the Pease, Precinct No. 3       Cody Parrish                                         Republican 

Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 4       Larry Wilburn                                        Republican 

Justice of the Peace, Precinct No.  5      Wade Brown                                         Republican 

Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 6       Ralph Fuller                                          Republican