UPDATE – 10:38 p.m.
The race for Hays County Judge is now set after Ruben Becerra claimed a lopsided victory over Abel Velasquez in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.
With the win, Becerra, a San Marcos small business owner, advances to face former Hays County Pct. 3 Commissioner Will Conley for the County Judge seat in November. Conley, who stepped down as the Pct. 3 Commissioner to run for County Judge, was unopposed in the Republican primary.
Becerra, a San Marcos business owner, won the seat by consistently holding nearly 70-percent of the 10,488 ballots cast in the race.
Meanwhile, a vitriolic Republican primary for the County Court-at-Law No. 2 seat ended with challenger Chris Johnson claiming victory over incumbent judge David Glickler.
Johnson, a Hays County misdemeanor and felony court attorney, won by securing 60 percent of the 6,306 total votes. Johnson claims the seat as no challenger filed in the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Hays County Pct. 3 Commissioner Lon Shell won the right to fight for his seat in November by holding off challenger Colin McFerrin in the Republican primary. Shell earned roughly 57 percent of the vote and won by 556 votes.
Shell advances to take on Jimmy Alan Hall, who ran unopposed in the Democratic Primary.
The stage is also now set for the Pct. 4 Commissioner race as Walt Smith defeated Jimmy Skipton to secure Tuesday’s Republican primary. Smith, a Dripping Springs resident and lobbyist, moves on to face Omar Baca, who ran unopposed in the Democratic Primary, in November.
While the majority of local races are looking toward November, a local state representative primary is seemingly heading toward a May runoff.
Rebecca Bell-Metereau, a Texas State University professor, will face off against Erin Zwiener, a Driftwood-based educator, in a runoff for the State Rep. 45 Democratic nomination. Metereau held an eight percent lead over Zwiener after Hays County early voting results were released, which later expanded to a 16-percent gap at the end of the night. Les Carnes finished in third place with 23 percent of the vote.
The winner of the State Rep. 45 Democratic primary will square off against Ken Strange, a Wimberley ISD board trustee, in November. Strange rolled past four other candidates in the Republican primary.
Roughly nine percent of the 121,446 registered Hays County voters cast ballots in the Democratic primary. Ten percent of Hays County voters took part in the Republican primary.
Unofficial, final Hays County election results
Hays County Judge
Democrat
Ruben Becerra – 7,175 - 68% (4,212 – 69%)
Abel Velasquez – 3,313 - 32% (1,908 – 31%)
County Court at Law No. 2
Republican
Chris Johnson – 6,306 - 60% (3,715 – 62%)
David Glickler –4,128 - 40% (2,316 – 38%)
County Commissioner Pct. 3
Republican
Lon Shell – 2,240 - 57% (1,511 – 58%)
Colin McFerrin – 1,684 - 43% (1,091 – 42%)
County Commissioner Pct. 4
Republican
Walt Smith – 2,169 - 59% (1,172 – 58%
Jimmy Skipton – 1,535 - 41% (736 – 42%)
County Chair
Democrat
Donna Haschke – 6,274 - 62% (3,773 – 63%)
Rodrigo Amaya – 3,924- 38% (2,197 – 37%)
Republican
Russell Hayter – 5,387 - 57% (3,151 – 58%)
Griffin Spell – 4,116 - 43% (2,281 – 42%)
EARLIER
A San Marcos business owner collected nearly 70-percent of the 6,120 ballots cast during early voting for the Democratic nomination in the race for Hays County Judge.
Ruben Becerra, who has served on various San Marcos city committees and the city's Planning and Zoning commission, holds a 38 percent lead over San Marcos resident and veteran Abel Velasquez. The winner of the Democratic nomination will face off against former Pct. 3 Commissioner Will Conley, who was the lone candidate for County Judge on the Republican ticket.
Meanwhile, a 24-percent gap separates challenger Chris Johnson from incumbent judge David Glickler for the Republican nomination in the County Court at Law No. 2 race, according to early voting results.
Johnson collected just over 3,700 early votes, while Glickler received roughly 2,300 votes.
In the race for the Republican nomination for Hays County Pct. 4 Commissioner, Walt Smith, a Dripping Springs resident and lobbyist, holds a 332 vote lead over Jimmy Skipton, a Dripping Springs resident and water board member, after early voting.
Incumbent Pct. 3 Commissioner Lon Shell holds a 400-plus vote lead over challenger Colin McFerrin in the race for the Republican nomination for that seat.
In the race for the State Representative 45 Democratic nomination, Rebecca Bell-Metereau holds a 12-percent lead over Erin Zwiener, while Les Carnes is third with 24 percent after early voting. Ken Strange leads a field of five candidates vying for the State Rep 45 Republican nomination with 58 percent of the vote.
Current State Rep. Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) leads a crowded 18-person Republican ticket for U.S. Representative 21 with 38 percent of the 1,940 early votes cast.
Mary Street Wilson leads a four-person field for the U.S. Representative 21 Democratic nomination, according to early voting results. A total of 71 votes separates Joseph Kosper, Derrick Crowe and Elliott McFadden, who are second, third and fourth in the race, respectively.
RESULTS - Early Voting
Hays County Judge
Democrat
Ruben Becerra – 4,212 - 69%
Abel Velasquez – 1,908 - 31%
County Court at Law No. 2
Republican
Chris Johnson – 3,715 - 62%
David Glickler – 2,316 - 38%
County Commissioner Pct. 3
Republican
Lon Shell – 1,511 - 58%
Colin McFerrin – 1,091 - 42%
County Commissioner Pct. 4
Republican
Walt Smith – 1,172 - 58%
Jimmy Skipton – 840 - 42%
County Chair
Democrat
Donna Haschke – 3,773 - 63%
Rodrigo Amaya – 2,197 - 37%
Republican
Russell Hayter – 3,151 - 58%
Griffin Spell – 2,281 – 42%
State Representative 45
Democrat
Rebecca Bell-Metereau – 2,754 - 44%
Erin Zwiener – 2,017 - 32%
Les Carnes – 1,512 - 24%
Republican
Ken Strange – 3,834 - 58%
Amber Pearce – 1,429 - 22%
Naomi Narvaiz – 575 - 9%
Austin Talley – 412 - 6%
Amy Akers – 341 - 5%
