Early Voting begins tomorrow (Monday) for the May 22 primary runoff elections. Based on turnout statistics we’ve seen so far, Democratic early voting turnout is the highest since at least 2012. Statewide, about 10-15% fewer votes have been cast in the Republican runoff, reflective of the lack of a statewide runoff. Mail-in ballots comprise the majority of votes cast so far, which is typical for the first day of voting early in person. Voters have been returning their mail-in ballots since they received them several weeks ago.
Interestingly, 7% fewer votes have been cast in the Republican runoff in Nueces Co., home to about half of the population of CD27, than four years ago.
Early voting for the May 22 runoff elections concludes on Friday.
Campaign Finance: State candidates (and some local candidates) in those elections must file 8-day-out campaign finance reports tomorrow (Monday). Historically, those reports have been available online early the next day. However, they have not been available until after 5 p.m. on that day during the most recent reporting cycles, so we are not sure when we will be able to update our subscribers on key race campaign finance numbers.
CD5 open: U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Dallas) endorsed Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Terrell) in the Republican runoff over Bunni Pounds. Sessions previously endorsed former Rep. Kenneth Sheets (R-Mesquite) for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Dallas). Meanwhile, Vice President Mike Pence endorsed Pounds.
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