The final canvass of SD1 counties shows Rep. David Simpson (R-Longview) edging out Red Brown by 13 votes to make a runoff against Rep. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola).
Rep. David Simpson
Simpson received 28,395 votes (21.24%) to Brown’s 28,382 (21.23%). Hughes received 64,200 votes (48%).
Brown told the Tyler Morning Telegraph that he would not seek a recount, citing its cost, the time it would take to complete and the need to raise significant amounts of campaign contributions in order to run a competitive race should a recount reverse the final canvassed outcome.
On Election night, it appeared that Simpson finished 13 votes ahead of Brown, 28,288 to 28,275. Provisional ballots, which are counted after the unofficial returns are posted on Election night, appeared to give Brown a 1-vote lead. However, there were at least two errors in data reported to the Secretary of State, and correcting those resulted in Simpson having a 6-vote lead, 28,363 to 28,357. The final canvass stretched Simpson’s lead to 13 votes.
Hughes won outright or received a plurality in 14 of the district’s 16 counties. Simpson prevailed in Gregg Co., his home county. Brown prevailed in Lamar Co.
