Challenger Sanchez calls for recount
Newcomer pulls off stunning win for other court position
Gonzales holds on, barely, in congressional race
Deirdre Hisler appears to be the next Precinct 1 Presidio County commissioner after beating contender Samuel Sanchez by one vote — 123 to 122 in the Democratic primary runoff. But after the count came in Tuesday night, Sanchez, who was celebrating his birthday, said he would ask for a recount.
“I cannot tell you how many people are claiming that one vote,” Hisler said Wednesday of the vote that put her over the top. “And it is such a beautiful thing because it has this empowerment of people feeling, ‘Oh my God, I almost didn’t go in and vote.’”
“I’m very excited,” Hisler added. “I welcome Samuel doing the recount, and I have total faith in that county clerk’s office.” Sanchez did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
For the Precinct 3 county commissioner Democratic primary, Franky Ortiz handily won the runoff against Tiburcio “Butch” Acosta 115-93 to replace incumbent José Luis Cabezuela.
In another one-vote race, Victor Lopez has defeated C.W. Stephens for Jeff Davis County sheriff in the Republican primary runoff 301-300. Stephens could not be reached immediately for comment on whether he would ask for a recount.
Voter turnout in Jeff Davis County was 39.37%.
With no November contenders in opposing parties in the county primaries, the runoff winners will assume office in January. All results are unofficial until they are canvassed by the county commissioners courts.
For U.S. House District 23, incumbent Tony Gonzales prevailed over runoff challenger Brandon Herrera, although by a close margin for an incumbent race. The difference was 15,023 to 14,616 — 407 votes. Herrera took Presidio County 28-21, but Gonzales won Jeff Davis County 341-246. Gonzales will face Democratic Party primary winner Santos Limon in the November General Election.
Gonzales addressed the press on Wednesday morning, pointing out that though his victory margin was small, it wasn’t as small as his first runoff election, where he won by seven votes. He thought the nail-biting election night was “fun” and “exciting” but was looking forward to getting to work. “Runoffs are just brutal,” he said. “Iron sharpens iron, and I am as sharp as can be.”
He thought the wide-ranging challenges facing his constituency had toughened him up for the race. “There is absolutely nothing easy about the 23rd District of Texas –– I would argue that it’s the toughest district in the United States,” he said, citing heavy border crossings at Del Rio and Eagle Pass and the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, both of which unfolded during his last term in office.
Gonzales faced an uphill battle this year after being censured by his own party for his stances on gun control and gay marriage. Many on the right considered him too moderate of a conservative –– paving the way for the challenge from Herrera, a 28-year-old Second Amendment activist with an outspoken social media presence. (At press time, Herrera had not made a public statement about the loss and did not respond to a request for comment.)
In Wednesday’s press conference, Gonzales shouted out the Big Bend, referring to the remote border region as “a gem, absolutely one of a kind.”
He assured his base that he would continue championing conservative values, particularly on border issues. “I have a very conservative voting record, and I will continue to have a very conservative voting record,” he said.