UPDATE: Abbott Gets Solid Win To Run For His Re-Election In November, White And Valdez Headed to Run-Off

THE LATEST:

In the Democratic race to replace retiring Republican congressman Ted Poe, who represents the Texas 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, Todd Litton was the front runner at 9:26 p.m. with almost 56 percent of the votes and 22 percent of the voting precincts reported, according to results published by the office of Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart on the election website HarrisVotes.com.

As for the Republican primary in that race, Kevin Roberts was leading at 9:25 p.m. with 36 percent of the votes.

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In the Democratic race to replace retiring Democratic congressman Gene Green, who represents the Texas 29th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, Texas State Senator Sylvia García was the front runner at 9:26 p.m. with almost 64 percent of the votes and 22 percent of the voting precincts reported, according to results published by HarrisVotes.com.

As for the Republican primary in that race, Phillip Aronoff was leading at 9:25 p.m. with 42 percent of the votes and almost 25 percent of the voting precincts reported.

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The race for Texas’ 7th Congressional District was also relevant for Houston residents and incumbent congressman John Culberson was the projected winner, according to the Texas Tribune.

Culberson said in a statement that his position as chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science gives him a “unique opportunity to deliver important results for Houston.”

“My utmost priority has been to ensure Houston families are getting the funding and relief help they need in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, as well as working with state and local officials to improve and modernize Houston's flood infrastructure to help prevent future flooding disasters,” Culberson added in his statement.

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In the race to be one of Texas’ two representatives in the U.S. Senate, Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke will face off in the general election in November, as reported by the Texas Tribune.

Cruz, the Republican incumbent, and O’Rourke, a Democratic congressman from El Paso, were on track to easily capture their parties’ nominations Tuesday night, according to early returns.

We're LIVE on Facebook. Talking about primary night and the road ahead. Tune in at https://t.co/BamYcetwUc

— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) March 7, 2018

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Robin Jerstad: Valdez/Marjorie Kamys Cotera: Andrew White

In the race to become the Democratic candidate for Texas Governor, Lupe Valdez and Andrew White are on track for a runoff, according to early vote returns released Tuesday evening, the Texas Tribune reported.

Valdez, the former Dallas County sheriff, led White, the son of late Gov. Mark White, by 11 percentage points — 42 percent to 31 percent. They were far ahead of the seven other Democrats vying to challenge Abbott.

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The March 6, 2018 Texas primary elections were the first in the nation since Donald Trump was elected president.

Two top names of the Republican Party clinched their respective nominations.

Incumbent Greg Abbott was opposed by Barbara Krueger for Governor of Texas and SECEDE Kilgore, and will face a Democratic opponent in the November election.

With 5 percent of the voting precincts reported, according to the office of the Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos , Abbott had won almost 90 percent of the vote and had been declared the projected winner by the Texas Tribune.

In a statement, Abbott declared: “We cannot afford to take Texas for granted,” and added: “This is a fight for our future and it begins now.”

Abbott has a campaign war chest worth around $43 million, more than any gubernatorial candidate nationwide.

On his part, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also clinched the Republican nomination for re-election despite being indicted on felony securities fraud charges. Paxton was running unopposed.

Paxton is the overwhelming favorite in November since a Democrat hasn’t won statewide office in Texas since 1994, the country’s longest political losing streak.

Justin Nelson will be Paxton’s Democratic opponent.

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LM OTERO / AP

George P. Bush tops challenger in Texas race

Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush has won the Republican nomination to keep his post, topping a primary challenger from the right.

Bush, whose grandfather and uncle were president and whose father was Florida’s governor, beat his predecessor as land commissioner, Jerry Patterson, Tuesday. The 41-year-old Bush immediately becomes the overwhelming favorite for re-election in November.

Bush began the year with $3.4 million in campaign funds compared to Patterson’s roughly $100,000. He won despite campaigning lightly, spending much of his time visiting parts of Texas hit by Hurricane Harvey after his agency was tapped to lead the state’s housing recovery efforts.

Patterson criticized Bush for bungling the post-Harvey rebuild and a makeover of the Alamo in San Antonio. Bush was endorsed by President Donald Trump and his son, Donald Jr.

Texas voters – THANK YOU! Your steadfast support through this primary is what has made tonight's victory possible! pic.twitter.com/6jYgpJAn1U

— George P. Bush (@georgepbush) March 7, 2018

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Texas state Sen. Van Taylor has won the Republican nomination to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson.

The 45-year-old Taylor has been a state lawmaker since 2010. The businessman is a former Marine and Iraq War veteran who was first elected to the state House and has been in the state Senate since 2015.

Taylor has been endorsed for Congress by Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.

Johnson is one of eight Texas congressmen not seeking re-election this year. He had held the seat since 1991 in the solidly Republican Dallas-area district.