Early voting has begun for the 30-plus races across Texas where no candidate captured 50 percent of the votes cast in crowded fields during the March 6 primary -- forcing runoff races.
Democratic gubernatorial candidates Lupe Valdez, a former Dallas County sheriff, and Andrew White, a Houston businessman, are competing for the right to face Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in November.
That's the only statewide race requiring a second round of voting.
But in 17 U.S. House districts, 11 on the Democratic side and six involving Republicans, the top-two March finishers are on the ballot again to advance to the general election. Same goes for assorted state House seats, and one Democratic primary in a Texas Senate district.
U.S. House - District 3 Runoff
In Collin County, where another longtime congressman, U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX 3rd District), is retiring, two Democrats are vying for a spot in the general. One of the Democratic challengers is Sam Johnson, unrelated, and the other is Lorie Burch. The winner will face State Sen. Van Taylor, of Plano, who won the GOP nomination in the primary.
U.S. House - District 5 Runoff
Another retiring congressman, U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, leaves a vacancy in the 5th District that covers East Dallas into East Texas. Entrepreneur Bunni Pounds, who is in the runoff against State Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Terrell), said she has the endorsement from Hensarling as well as a number of other notable politicians.
U.S. House - District 6 Runoff
In North Texas, the District 6 race for the seat once held by longtime Republican Congressman Joe Barton has runoffs on both the Republican and Democratic sides. Former Tarrant County Tax Assessor, and Barton staffer, Ron Wright is locked in a runoff with pilot and Navy veteran Jake Ellzey.
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On the Democratic side, Ruby Faye Woolridge and Jana Lynne Sanchez are also headed to a runoff for the District 6 seat.
U.S. House - District 32 Runoff
Colin Allred and Lillian Salerno, both Democrats, are facing off in the runoff Tuesday. Allred was put in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Red to Blue program following the March primary. The program helps fund congressional campaigns for Democrats. The winner of the primary runoff faces U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions in the general.
Tarrant County Tax Assessor/Collector
Former Mansfield City Councilwoman Wendy Burgess and former NBC 5 anchor Mike Snyder are in the Republican primary runoff hoping to occupy the tax assessor seat left vacant by Ron Wright, who is in the Dist. 6 run-off. The winner of the runoff will face former NBC 5 staffer Ollie Anderson in the general. Anderson, a Democrat, ran unopposed in the March primary.
Verify Your Voting Place on Election Day
Several polling locations for the May 22 primary run-off will be different from the March 6 primary. During early voting ballots may be cast at any polling place, however on Election Day some ballots may not be available at all polling locations. Voters are encouraged to check their county voter pages before heading to the polls on Tuesday: Tarrant | Dallas | Collin | Denton
Early voting ends Friday. The primary runoff Election Day is Tuesday, May 22.
