Former Sen. Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio) was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison and three years of probation, and he was ordered to pay $6.3M in restitution. Uresti resigned last week, triggering a July 31 special election to fill the remaining two-plus years of his term.

Carlos Uresti

Carlos
Uresti

In February, jurors found Sen. Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio) guilty of all 11 felony counts including wire fraud, securities fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a bankrupt frac-sand company and its executives. A co-defendant was also found guilty. He faces a further criminal trial on unrelated charges of bribery and money laundering in connection with a West Texas prison’s medical services contract. That trial has been delayed until October 22 on the motion of a co-defendant.

Uresti is free on bond until the conclusion of an October trial on separate charges. He has 14 days to file a notice of appeal.

According to the San Antonio Express-News’s Patrick Danner and Guillermo Contreras, Uresti read a statement apologizing for his behavior. “I should have known. I should have asked more questions. I should have stepped up,” he reportedly said.

Early voting has concluded for the June 30 special election for CD27. Just under 4K voted early in person or by mail in Victoria Co., exceeding the early vote totals in the runoff elections. Nearly 11K voted early in person or by mail in Nueces Co., also exceeding the runoff elections’ early turnout.

SD19 special: Candidates for the July 31 special election to succeed former Sen. Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio) will file three campaign finance reports before the election:

  • A 30-day-out report, will be due July 2 and covers contributions received and expenditures made through June 21
  • The July semiannual report, is required of all candidates for office and will be due July 16. It will cover just nine days, June 22 to June 30; and
  • An 8-day-out report, will be due by July 23. This report includes contributions received and expenditures made between July 1 and July 21.

Any contributions received after that date must be disclosed in daily pre-election reports. Any candidates who have not filed personal financial statements must do so by July 26.

Kleberg Co.: Visiting Judge Joel Johnson tossed the results of the May runoff election for justice of the peace P4. Ofie Gutierrez contested her 6-vote loss to longtime incumbent Cheque De La Paz, alleging 16 instances of voter fraud. Johnson threw out seven votes for individuals who lived outside the precinct and were believed by Johnson to be associated with De La Paz. A new election is expected to be held in August.

Groves: Council member Cross Coburn must resign within five days or face a November recall election after a citizens’ petition was certified by the city. The recall effort followed revelations that nude photos of Coburn had been posted to a gay dating app and anonymously emailed to city leaders and the media. Coburn was unopposed during the November 2017 election.

Primary Turnout: Five states held primary elections tonight, while Mississippi and South Carolina held runoff elections. Primary turnout, measured as percent of registered voters casting ballots, was higher than Texas in Colorado, Maryland, Oklahoma and Utah, based on preliminary results. Turnout was lower in New York, but that state splits its primary elections. Tonight’s was for federal offices only, and there were only 14 contested major party primaries across the state. State and legislative primary elections are in September.

Turnout in Texas now ranks 25th out of the 31 states to hold primary elections so far this year.

Runoff turnout in South Carolina exceeded runoff turnout in Texas, but it remains unclear if Mississippi’s turnout also edged out Texas.

©2018 Texas Election Source LLC