Today (Saturday) was the first of several rounds of runoff elections for races not decided by the May 4 uniform election.
Dallas: Rep. Eric Johnson (D-Dallas) defeated council member Scott Griggs, 56%-44%, to become the city’s next mayor. Griggs fared best in the Oak Lawn area, West Dallas and the White Rock Lake area. Johnson dominated South Dallas, particularly East Oak Cliff, and North Dallas.
A special election will be needed to fill Johnson’s unexpired term. It will likely coincide with the November constitutional amendment election.
Incumbent D4 council member Carolyn King Arnold defeated challenger Dawn Blair, 53%-47%. In the city’s closest race, Adam Bazaldua narrowly defeated former council member Tiffinni Young by 92 votes. Both candidates took turns leading during the evening after Bazaldua had a 76-vote lead after early voting. Paula Blackmon won open D9 over Erin Moore, 52%-48%. Challenger David Blewett defeated incumbent D14 council member Philip Kingston, 54%-46%.
San Antonio: Mayor Ron Nirenberg narrowly defeated council member Greg Brockhouse, 51%-49%. Nirenberg led Brockhouse by 2,775 votes after early voting, which meant Brockhouse needed about 55% of the Election Day vote to overtake the incumbent. For a couple of hours, Brockhouse was at 52%-53% of the vote on Election Day, but late-counted boxes favored Nirenberg, preserving his re-election bid. Turnout citywide was 15.4%.
Jada Andrews-Sullivan defeated former council member Keith Toney, 52%-48%, for open P2. Adriana Garcia easily won open P4, 72%-28%, over Johnny Arredondo. Melissa Havrda defeated Andy Greene, 57%-43%, for open P6. With tonight’s results, women will hold a majority of the city council.
Elsewhere
Arlington: Ignacio Nuñez defeated Andy Prior, 58%-42%, to win open D5.
Bastrop: Challenger Dock Jackson defeats incumbent P5 council member Deborah Jones by 33 votes. Turnout was 12%.
Beaumont: Challenger Taylor Neild Sr. defeated incumbent W1 council member Virginia Jordan, 60%-40%. Turnout was 13%.
Big Spring: Shannon Thomason won the mayoral runoff over Debbie Wegman, 58%-42%. In D4, Gloria McDonald defeated Shonda Folsom, 55%-45%.
Forest Hill: Council member Gerald Joubert won the mayoral runoff, defeating Lyndia Thomas, 61%-39%.
Grand Prairie: Challenger John Lopez defeated incumbent D4 council member Richard Fregoe by 8 votes.
Hutto: Challenger Tanner Rose defeated incumbent P6 council member Terri Grimm by 13 votes. Turnout was 3.5%.
Mercedes: Challenger Jose Gomez defeated incumbent P4 council member Chano Guajardo, 57%-43%.
Palestine: Incumbent D4 council member Joe Baxter won re-election by 4 votes over Joseph Thompson.
Plano: The two candidates endorsed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) before the May 4 election prevailed in their runoff races. Challenger Shelby Williams defeated incumbent P5 council member Ron Kelley, 53%-47%, and Lily Bao won open P7 over Ann Bacchus, 57%-43%.
Rosenberg: Incumbent AL1 council member Jacob Balderas won re-election, 59%-41%. Kevin Raines won the open AL2 council race, 67%-33%.
San Juan: Challenger Markie Villegas defeated incumbent P5 council member Pete Garcia, 55%-45%.
Sugar Land: Open D2 went to Naushad Kermally, 57%-43%, over Nabila Mansoor.
Incumbents also fell in Anna and River Oaks (by 7 votes). In Saginaw, a single vote separated P1 runoff winner Charles Beasley from Shawn Morrison.
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