Registered voters can begin heading to the polls Tuesday, Feb. 17, as Joint Primary Election early voting begins; early voting extends through Feb. 27. The last day to register to vote in the primaries has passed, but those interested in having a voice in local leadership will have another opportunity to head to the polls for the General Election in November, when the Republican and Democrat primary winners face-off for the elected positions. For many local races, however, a winner will be decided in the Primary Election, as only either Republican or Democrat candidates have filed for the races.
Jefferson County Voter Registrar Kate Carroll issued a statement indicating that, on Jan. 18, the Texas Secretary of State advised that, due to legal challenges of the redistricted congressional maps, counties were delayed in being able to assign precincts and print cards in the usual time frame. The Secretary of State has confirmed Jefferson County is in the queue for processing, and the delay will not hinder ability to cast votes, Carroll reported, adding that voters may still vote using one of seven approved forms of identification.
Primary elections in Texas assist political parties in determining candidates for the General Election ballot in November. Texas is an open primary state, meaning voters do not have to register with a political party in advance. When checking in at the polls, voters simply choose whether they want to vote in the Republican or Democratic primary.
Once a voter selects a party’s primary, they must remain with that party for the rest of the primary election cycle. If a runoff election is required, voters may only participate in the runoff for the same party primary. In other words, how you vote in March — or during early voting in February — determines which runoff election you may vote in later, typically in May.
If no candidate receives a majority of the vote in a primary race, a runoff election is held between the top candidates.
Jefferson County
Jefferson County early voting is scheduled for Feb. 17-20, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Feb. 21 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Feb. 22 from noon to 6 p.m.; and Feb. 23-27 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. All precincts may vote early at any of the following voting centers:
Beaumont: Theodore Johns Library (Meeting Room), 4255 Fannett Rd; John Paul Davis Community Center, 3580 E. Lucas Dr.; Jefferson County Courthouse Lobby, 1085 Pearl St.; Ray Chesson Office Building Courtroom, 19217 FM 365; Rogers Park Community Center, 6540 Gladys Ave.
Port Arthur: Jefferson County Sub-Courthouse, 525 Lakeshore Dr.; Port Arthur Library, 4615 9th Ave.
China: Pct. 1 Service Center, 20205 W. Hwy 90.
Port Neches: Hebert Library Community Room, 2025 Merriman St.
Nederland: Marion & Ed Hughes Public Library, 2712 Nederland Ave.
Groves: Groves Activity Building, 6150 39th St.
Jefferson County contested Democratic Primary races include:
Incumbent Pct. 4 County Commissioner Everette “Bo” Alfred is being challenged by current Beaumont City Council member At-Large Albert “AJ” Turner. (There are no Republican challengers to face in the General Election.)
Incumbent Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1 Pl. 2 Benjamin “Ben” Collins is being challenged by former BISD Trustee Stacey Lewis Jr. (The winner will face unopposed Republican Primary candidate Joe Evans in November.)
Incumbent Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2 Joseph L. Guillory II is being challenged by Port Arthur ISD Trustees Jacori Narcisse and Brandon Bartie. (No Republic Primary candidate challenges this seat in the General Election.)
Incumbent Justice of the Peace Pct. 8 Kalan Gardner St. is being challenged by Melanie Ned. (No Republic Primary candidate challenges this seat.)
Unopposed in the Democratic Primary candidates are:
Ransom “Duce” Jones for JP Pct. 6 (No Republican Primary candidate challenges this seat for the General Election)
Michael Cooper for County Treasurer (To face unopposed Republican Primary candidate and incumbent Tim Funchess in the General Election.)
Carolyn Guidry for County Clerk (To face unopposed Republican Primary candidate and incumbent Roxanne Acosta-Hellberg in the General Election.)
Jamie Smith for District Clerk (There are no Republican challengers to face in the General Election)
Terrance Holmes for County Court at Law No. 2 (There are no Republican challengers to face in the General Election.)
Gerald W. Eddins for County Court at Law No. 1 (There are no Republican challengers to face in the General Election.)
Keith F Giblin for Criminal District Attorney (There are no Republican challengers to face in the General Election.)
John “Johnny” B. Stevens Jr. for Criminal District Judge (Will face unopposed Republican Primary candidate Luke Nichols in the General Election.)
Randy Shelton for 279th District Judge. (There are no Republican challengers to face in the General Election.)
Jefferson County contested Republican Primary races include:
Incumbent Justice of the Peace, Pct. 4 Justin Ray Chesson is being challenged by Marcelo “Mo” Molfino. (There are no Democrat Primary challengers for the General Election.)
Unopposed in the Republican Primary are:
Justice of the Peace Pct. 1, Place 2 Joe Evans (Will face winner of opposed Democratic Primary candidate in the General Election.)
County Commissioner, Pct. 2 Cary Erickson (Unopposed by a Democratic Primary candidate.)
County Treasurer Tim Funchess (To face unopposed Democratic Primary candidate Michael Cooper in the General Election.)
County Clerk Roxanne Acosta-Hellberg (To face unopposed Democratic Primary candidate Carolyn Guidry in the General Election)
County Court at Law No. 3 Judge Clint Woods (Unopposed by a Democratic Primary candidate.)
County Judge Jeff Branick (Unopposed by a Democratic Primary candidate.)
Luke Nichols for Criminal District Judge (To face unopposed Democratic Primary candidate and incumbent Judge John Stevens in the General Election.)
317th Judicial District Judge Gordon Friesz (Unopposed by a Democratic Primary candidate.)
252nd Judicial District Judge Raquel West (Unopposed by a Democratic Primary candidate.)
172nd Judicial District Judge Mitch Templeton (Unopposed by a Democratic Primary candidate.)
58th Judicial District Judge W. Kent Walston (Unopposed by a Democratic Primary candidate.)
For those electing not to vote early, election day is slated for March 3, and all precincts may vote at any location, with additional voting centers open on election Day. The last day to apply for mail ballots is Feb. 20.
Orange County
Orange County voters have four locations to choose from when early voting: the Orange Public Library at 220 N 5th St.; Orange County Pct. 3 POD, 2524 Hwy 87 South in Orange; Orange County Pct. 2 POD at 5320 Arnel Ln. in Mauriceville; and Raymond Gould Community Center, 385 Claiborne St. in Vidor. All early voting locations will be open Tuesday to Friday, Feb. 17-20, from 8 a.m.– 5 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 21, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 22, 1-6 p.m.; and Monday through Friday, Feb. 23-27, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
All local elections in Orange County will be decided in the Republican Primary, as there are no challengers on the Democratic Primary ticket.
Incumbent Chris Sowell is challenged by Colleen Owens for County Commissioner Pct. 2.
Jesse Thibodeaux and Jeremiah Blake Braneff will challenge incumbent Joy Dubose-Simonton for Justice of the Peace Pct. 3.
Walter Low will challenge incumbent Rodney Price for Justice of the Peace Pct. 4.
Unopposed in the Republican Primary are:
260th Judicial District Judge Steven Parkhurst
County Judge John Gotia
County Court at Law Judge Mandy White-Rogers
District Clerk Anne Reed
County Clerk Brandy Robertson
County Treasurer Christy Khoury Roccaforte
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1 Hershel Stagner Jr.
Justice of the Peace Pct. 2 Chad Jenkins
County Commissioner Pct. 4 Robert Viator
Hardin County
The Hardin County Courthouse, 300 West Monroe St., will be open Tuesday to Friday, Feb. 17-20, from 8 a.m.– 5 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 21, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 22, 12-6 p.m.; and Monday through Friday, Feb. 23-27, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
Other branch locations are: the Lumberton Event Center, 826 N. Main St.; Silsbee City Hall, 1220 State Highway 327; and Sour Lake Community Center, 250 S. Ann St. All ancillary locations will be open Feb. 17-20 and Feb. 23-27, from 9 a.m.– 9 p.m.
There are several contested county elections, all among Republicans. There are no Democratic Primary challengers in the Hardin County election.
Opposed races are:
County Treasurer candidates, neither incumbent, are Angie Smith and Penny Williams Walter. Smith serves as the first assistant auditor and grant coordinator for Hardin County, while Walter is a court clerk for the Pct. 1 justice of the peace office.
Incumbent Pct. 2 Commissioner Chris Kirkendall is running against Travis Bohler.
Pct. 3 incumbent Justice of the Peace Rod Ousley is being challenged by Geary D. “Sonny” Overstreet
Incumbent Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Chris Ingram is challenged by Robert Ward Jr.
Incumbent Pct. 6 Justice of the Peace Cathie Brown is running against Randal W. Navarre.
Unopposed in the Republican Primary with no Democratic Primary challengers, the following are effectively the lone candidates, except for potential write-ins, for the General Election:
County Judge Wayne McDaniel
District Clerk Dana Hogg
County Clerk Connie Becton
Pct. 4 Commissioner Ernie Koch
Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Charles Brewer
Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Mark Ames
Pct. 5 Justice of the Peace Melissa Minton
State Board of Education Primary:
The Texas State Board of Education, comprised of 15 districts responsible for setting curriculum standards and approving instructional materials for public schools across the state, has eight seats up for election this term. The board, which works closely with the Commissioner of Education and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to develop education policies and approve new charter schools, is often described as the policy-making arm of Texas public education.
State Board of Education District 7 represents Southeast Texas, stretching from the Lufkin and Jasper areas south through Brazoria County and past Galveston.
The Republican Primary is uncontested. Incumbent Julie Pickren, from the Pearland area, won the seat at last election with 60% of the vote. She will run against the Democratic Primary winner in November.
Democratic candidates include educator Ben Estrada, former WNBA player Janell Burse, former Port Arthur ISD trustee Debra Drake Ambroise, Groves educator Tiffany Perkinz, and Adam Kahn, a Houston area special education teacher and ESL specialist at Klein ISD.
National and state-wide race information, as well as an entire sample ballot for Jefferson County, can be found online at JeffersonElections.com.