GOP Runoffs Certain in Races Against Edwards, Rodriguez
It’s been three hours since primary polls closed in Texas, and it’s all but certain that Republicans will need a second round of balloting next month to determine nominees against Democratic Reps. Chet Edwards and Ciro Rodriguez.
In Edwards’ 17th district, businessman Bill Flores and 2008 nominee Rob Curnock continued to lead the five-candidate field, with Flores at 35 percent and Curnock at 27 percent, with 76 percent of the vote reported.
In Rodriguez’s 23rd district, based primarily in south San Antonio, businessman Francisco “Quico” Canseco had 34 percent and ex-CIA case officer Will Hurd had 31 percent, with 50 percent of precincts reporting.
An April 13 runoff election between the top two finishers is required if no candidate reaches the 50 percent threshold needed to win outright.
Meanwhile, the 14 House Members who faced primary opposition led their races comfortably, and there does not appear to be any surprise upsets on the horizon.
Rep. Ralph Hall (R), who at 86 years old is the oldest Member of the House, was the only incumbent hovering well below what is considered a comfortable primary vote threshold.
With 39 percent reporting, Hall had 58 percent while wealthy businessman Steve Clark, who spent freely from his own pockets on his campaign, had 30 percent.