The stage is set for November’s midterm election as Democratic and Republican candidates were chosen duringing the May 22 primary runoff.
Hays County voters will decide on a pair of congressional seats and a state office, along with a handful of other county and local races that will be up for grabs.
Congressional District 21
In the race for Congressional District 21 (CD-21), Chip Roy, Ted Cruz’s former chief of staff and the establishment candidate for the Republican party, won the runoff against opponent Matt McCall in a close election.
Roy, who served as a senior advisor to former Texas Governor Rick Perry, said in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News that he was happy with the campaign he ran, focusing on his track record.
Roy will face Joseph Kopser, who defeated Mary Wilson in the CD-21 Democratic primary runoff. Wilson, who gathered the most votes in March, fell short in May, with Kopser securing 4,000 more votes than his opponent.
Kopser, a 20-year Army veteran and technology entrepreneur, raised nearly $500,000 during the first quarter of 2018. Kopser said he wants to keep that momentum going into November, where he will focus on a message of bipartisan unity.
“My opponent doesn’t know how we will win in November,” Kopser said. “We will focus on what we have in common rather than what divides us. We will win if we go beyond the scope of this gerrymandering that fuels political division for the far right.”
Kopser said he will be working with Beto O’Rourke, the Democratic candidate for United States Senate.
“Nothing makes me happier knowing Beto will go against Ted Cruz and I will take on his former Chief of Staff,” he said.
Congressional District 25
Meanwhile, Democrat Julie Oliver will face Republican incumbent Roger Williams for the CD-25 seat. Williams has represented CD-25 since 2012.
Oliver defeated Chris Perri in an equally tight May runoff election. While Perri gathered more votes in March, Oliver outlasted him to claim the Democratic nomination.
Oliver, an attorney and advocate for universal healthcare, said she will continue her momentum going forward for November. Oliver said she also plans to appeal to voters on both sides of the aisle.
“I’ve put over 25,000 miles on my car visiting everyone I can in this district, and I will continue to make sure all voices are heard,” Oliver said. “I’ve encountered Republicans who feel like their party has left them behind and I will be here for those people as well.”
House of Representatives, District 45
In the race for Texas House District 45, which represents Hays and Blanco counties, Erin Zwiener rallied from an early deficit in the May 22 runoff to claim the Democratic nomination. Zwiener defeated opponent Rebecca Bell-Metereau, who initially led all candidates in the HD-45 race after the March primary.
Zwiener is looking to win a seat that has been occupied by Republicans for the past seven years. Zwiener will square off against Ken Strange, the director of Wimberley EMS, in November. Both will vie for a seat that was held by Jason Isaac, who stepped down for an unsuccessful bid for CD-21.
The Texas Tribune has listed House District 45 as one of the most winnable districts for Democrats.
“It’s anyone’s game going into November, but we are hitting the ground running and doing the groundwork to hit all areas of this district,” Zwiener said. “There are a lot of folks new to this area and we will focus on registering those voters and getting them engaged.”
