Travis County Primary Runoff Election Guide: July 14, 2020

AUSTIN, TX — Voters in Texas take to the polls on Tuesday, with Democrats and Republicans facing off in contests to see who will be their party's standard bearer come the general election in November.

Early voting in the primary runoff ended on Friday, July 10. The runoff was pushed back from May 26 due to the coronavirus pandemic. For the same reason, Gov. Greg Abbott also allowed for ten days of early voting that began on June 29 instead of the traditional five.

Texans didn't let the threat of a pandemic dampen their enthusiasm for casting ballots, however. The Travis County Clerk's Office tabulated healthy numbers across Travis County during the ten-day voting period, with nearly 12 percent of the electorate casting ballots — including 81,522 in-person votes and another 16,441 mail-in ballots, according to clerk's office data.

Much of the interest centered on a statewide Democratic runoff contest between M.J. Hegar and Royce West who seek to challenge longtime GOP incumbent John Cornyn for his U.S. Senate seat.

Local races generating much interest included one for the Travis County District Attorney seat pitting incumbent Margaret Moore against Jose Garza — a political contest in greater focus against the backdrop of civil unrest over police brutality.

The race for Travis County Attorney also has garnered interest as Austin City Council member Delia Garza challenges Laurie Eiserloh for the seat. Garza admittedly has less prosecutorial experience as Eiserloh, but has touted her civic bona fides — including a previous career as a firefighter — in securing support of her run. Both women seek to challenge current County Attorney David Escamila, the Republican office holder.

Polling places on Tuesday for the General Election will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

July 14, 2020, Sample Ballot

On Election Day, eligible Travis County voters may vote at any of the locations listed on this page. Voters are not limited to only voting in the precinct where they are registered to vote.

. Your precinct number can be found on your voter registration card. If you do not have your card, are unsure of your precinct number, or need to confirm you are registered to vote, you can look online at www.votetravis.com . There is also an automated telephone system that will look that information up for you. The line is open 24 hours a day at (512) 238-VOTE (238-8683).

Download a list of Election Day voting locations

Before heading out to the polls, residents are advised to visit the Voter Identification Requirements for Texas Voters page for a list of acceptable forms of photo ID, and options for voters who do not possess one and cannot reasonably obtain one.

Key political contests up for grabs on Tuesday include:

U.S. Senate

Democratic candidates MJ Hegar and Royce West are on the runoff election ballot as each seeks to challenge GOP incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in November.

U.S. House District 10

Pritesh Gandhi and Mike Siegel will face off to represent North Austin. The victor will challenge Rep. Micheal McCaul, the Republican incumbent since 2005.

U.S. House District 31

Democrats Donna Imam and Christine Eady Mann seek to challenge GOP incumbent John Carter.

Texas Senate District 14

A crowded field of six candidates — a pair each of Democrats and Republicans, a Libertarian and an independent — seek to fill the seat vacated by retired State Sen. Kirk Watston. Among those seeking the seat are Eddie Rodriguez, Sarah Eckhardt, Don Zimmerman, Waller Thomas Burns II, Pat Dixon and Jeff Ridgeway. Watson stepped down to become the inaugural dean of the University of Houston Hobby School for Public Affairs.

Texas House District 45

Republican candidates Carrie Isaac and Kent Wymore are vying to challenge Democrat Rep. Erin Zwiener.

Texas House District 47

A pair of Republicans, Justin Berry and Jennifer Fleck, seek their party's endorsement to face off against Democrat Vicki Goodwin for the District 47 House seat.

State Board of Education District 5

Republicans Lani Popp and Robert Morrow will compete for the board of education seat, seeking to challenge Democrat Rebecca Bell-Metereau. The winner will replace current seat holder Ken Mercer. The otherwise obscure race has come into greater focus given the presence of flamboyant candidate Morrow, whose antics — including a penchant for wearing a court jester's costume while on the stump — has long alienated those from his own political party.

Travis County District Attorney

Incumbent Margaret Moore, the county's district attorney since 2016, is being challenged by Jose Garza who headed up the Workers Defense Project — a nonprofit largely advocating for immigrants and construction workers — before entering politics. Garza has touted his work in civil justice in his quest to unseat Moore, whose own record on prosecuting police accused of abuse has come into greater focus amid continuing demonstrations calling for law enforcement reform.

A month before the shooting of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked national protests over police brutality, those calling for law enforcement reform decried the fatal shooting of an unarmed local man during a confrontation outside a South Austin apartment complex. As local protests over the death of Floyd — who died after an officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes — raged locally and nationwide, Moore announced she would seek a grand jury to be empaneled to determine whether the shooting of the local man on April 24 was justified.

The decision to pursue an investigation into the shooting was something of a departure for Moore, who has declined grand jury empanelments after fatal police encounters 25 times during her term, according to information provided to Patch after a formal request. A backdrop of civil unrest calling for police reform is sure to figure prominently in the race

Travis County Attorney

With no Republican candidate having emerged to challenge incumbent David Escamilla, Laurie Eiserloh and Delia Garza have emerged from the Democratic Party in seeking the office.

Travis County Commissioner Precinct 3

Ann Howard and Valinda Bolton seek to be the would-be successor to retiring Republican Gerald Daughterty. Becky Bray is unopposed in the GOP ranks as she seeks the seat.