Run-offs needed in 2 local primary elections

Cherokee County’s local Republican primary elections are going into overtime in two races.

Candidates seeking the sheriff’s office and the tax assessor/collector position will face off again at the end of May since no one candidate in either hotly contested races received above a majority of votes (at least 50.01 percent, according to officials in the Secretary of State’s office) cast in the Tuesday, March 3 Republican primary election.

“The primary elections are two separate elections that occur on the same day,” the Secretary of State’s website explains. “The elections are the method for both the Republican and Democratic parties to select their nominees for the general election in November. When a voter votes in a primary election or primary runoff election, they are affiliating with the party whose primary they are voting in. (§162.003). A voter who is affiliated with a political party is ineligible to become affiliated with another party during the same voting year. (§162.012). This means a voter cannot vote in both primary elections, or the primary election of one party and the runoff election of another party.”

In Cherokee County, Brent Dickson and Eric Long will face off again in the run-off for the sheriff’s seat. Dickson received 44.46 percent of votes; Long received 29.89 percent of votes.

“I would like to thank everyone who has shown support and voted for me through this primary election,” Long stated on his social media site. “I am very excited to be in the runoff for Cherokee County Sheriff. I would also like to thank all the other candidates for their hard work and enthusiasm.”

Dickson also posted on social media following the election.

“I’d like to thank everyone who took time to help support me during this election process,” he stated. “I’d also like to thank every sheriff candidate for running a good, clean, honest race and representing Cherokee County with respect and dignity.”

In the county’s tax assessor/collector run-off race, Shonda McCutcheon Potter and Dana Nolley Chancey are contending for that position. Potter received 47.42 percent of ballots cast; Chancey received 32.51 percent of votes.

“I thought the voter turnout was great,” Chancey said. “I would like to thank all my supporters for their vote and my team for all of their hard work. I am excited about the run-off and encourage everyone to vote.”

Potter stated in a post to her Facebook page, “I want to thank all the ones that took their time to vote in the primary election and how blessed I have been throughout this election. I was amazed at the amount of support I have and continue receive.”

Precinct 1 incumbent Commissioner Kelly Traylor managed to just edge out opponent David Jones to retain his seat on the Cherokee County Commissioners Court. Traylor received 52.96 percent of the vote.

“I want to thank everyone who voted Traylor 2020,” Traylor posted on social media. “I am blessed to be able to serve as your commissioner for the next four years. God is good!”

While there were no Democratic primary candidates facing opposition for local seats, two other races will need run-offs.

Of the dozen candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senator, Mary Hegar (18.12 percent) and Royce West (15.03 percent) received the biggest portions of the vote.

The pair will vie for the seat again in the run-off election.

Democratic candidates for Railroad Commissioner Kelly Stone (33.72 percent) and Mark Watson (26.37 percent) will also have to participate in a run-off.

The Cherokee County Election’s Department completed ballot counts around 10 p.m. on March 3. In a corrected count, election officials reported 9,643 of 28,025 or 34,41 percent of Cherokee County’s registered voters participated in the Republican primary election.

“Previously released versions of the final results incorrectly listed the total number of registered voters in Cherokee County and therefor incorrectly calculated the percentage of voter who actually voted,” the CCED’s webpage explains.

These are the complete yet unofficial local tallies for the winners in each contested primary race:

Republican

• U.S. President: Donald Trump – 95.89 percent

• U.S. Senator: John Cornyn - 73.26 percent

• U.S. Representative: Lance Gooden – 86.31 percent

• Railroad Commissioner: James Wright – 65.26 percent

• Court of Criminal Appeals Judge, place 3: Bert Richardson – 53.19 percent

Democrat

• U.S. President: Joe Biden – 51.35 percent

• Supreme Court Justice: Amy Clark Meachum – 72.62 percent

• Supreme Court Justice, place 6: Kathy Cheng – 70.61 percent

• Supreme Court Justice, place 7: Staci Williams – 69.34 percent

• Supreme Court Justice, place 8: Gisela Triana – 54.51 percent

• Court of Criminal Appeals Judge, place 3: Elizabeth Frizell – 60.48 percent

• Court of Criminal Appeals Judge, place 4: Tina Clinton – 72.44 percent

Run-off elections will be held Tuesday, May 26. Early voting will be held Monday, May 18-Friday, May 22.

Last day to register to vote in the run-off is Monday, April 27.