Summary
Austin is having a primary runoff and special election on July 14th. Learn about all the positions that are on the ballot (and what the heck they even mean) with our easy-to-read guide.
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Vote. Vote. Vote.
Raise your hand if you’ve ever walked into a voting booth and left a bunch of spaces blank because you had no idea who the candidates were…
We’ve all been there.
That’s why we’ve put together this handy little voting guide for the July 14th Primary Runoff & Special Election.
Didn’t even know there was an election coming up? That’s okay too. Now’s the perfect time to learn more. Because even though it might seem a bit obscure, this election will have a big impact on many of the issues that have been so top of mind lately, like criminal justice reform, police accountability, and healthcare.
We’ll continue to publish more educational guides on specific races (like the race for district attorney) in the coming days, but we wanted to kick things off with this general guide that explains the basics of each of the races on this year’s ballot. After all, how are you supposed to decide who the best candidate for county attorney is if you don’t even know what a county attorney does?
A few more basic pieces of info:
Election Day is July 14th
Early voting is from June 29th to July 10th (except for July 3rd & 4th)
There are two components to this election – a primary runoff (which means that you’ll either vote in the Democratic or Republican primary) and a special election to fill a vacant state Senate seat
Information about polling locations in Travis County can be found here.
For a side-by-side look at all the candidates running, be sure to check out the nonpartisan League of Women Voters Guide
A special thanks to the Community Resilience Trust (a local collaborative seeking to make Austin a more equitable city for all) for partnering with us on our voter education efforts and to our amazing visual designer Kourtney Tams for helping to create the images.
Here's what's On The Democratic Ballot...
You can find a complete copy of a Travis County sample Democratic ballot here. Just remember that depending on where you live, not all of these races might actually appear on your ballot. (Certain elected officials only represent sections of Austin.) You can find a personalized sample ballot (featuring races that you’ll be able to vote in) here.
United States Senator
In this Democratic runoff for one of Texas’ US Senate seats, the candidates are Royce West and Mary “MJ” Hegar.
To learn more about these candidates, try checking out the following resources:
The Texas Tribune is hosting a live interview with MJ Hegar on July 9th
A debate between Hegar and West on KXAN’s YouTube channel
Texas Tribune interview with MJ Hegar
Texas Tribune interview with Royce West
In this Democratic runoff for one of Texas’ US Senate seats, the candidates are Royce West and Mary “MJ” Hegar.
To learn more about these candidates, try checking out the following resources:
The Texas Tribune is hosting a live interview with MJ Hegar on July 9th
A debate between Hegar and West on KXAN’s YouTube channel
Texas Tribune interview with MJ Hegar
Texas Tribune interview with Royce West
United States Representative, District 10
In this Democratic runoff for Texas’ 10th Congressional District, the candidates are Pritesh Gandhi and Mike Siegel.
To learn more about them, try checking out the following resources:
This article from the Austin Chronicle
This video interview from the Statesman (which was recorded before the primary election in March).
United States Representative, District 17
In this Democratic runoff for Texas’ 17th Congressional District, the candidates are Rick Kennedy and David Anthony Jaramillo.
To learn more about them, try checking out the following resources:
Video interviews from the Waco Tribune-Herald
This article from the Austin Chronicle
In this Democratic runoff for Texas’ 17th Congressional District, the candidates are Rick Kennedy and David Anthony Jaramillo.
To learn more about them, try checking out the following resources:
Video interviews from the Waco Tribune-Herald
This article from the Austin Chronicle
Railroad Commissioner
In this Democratic runoff for Railroad Commissioner, the candidates are Chrysta Castañeda and Roberto Alonzo.
To learn more about them, try checking out the following resources:
This article from the Fort-Worth Star Telegram
District Attorney
In this Democratic runoff for Travis County District Attorney, the candidates are José Garza and Margaret Moore.
To learn more about them, try checking out the following resources:
This article from the Austin Chronicle
This article from the Austin Chronicle
In this Democratic runoff for Travis County District Attorney, the candidates are José Garza and Margaret Moore.
To learn more about them, try checking out the following resources:
This article from the Austin Chronicle
This article from the Austin Chronicle
Judge, County Court at Law #4
In this Democratic runoff for Travis County Judge Court at Law #4, the candidates are Margaret Chen Kercher and Dimple Malhotra.
To learn more about them, try checking out the following resources:
This article from the Austin Chronicle
County Attorney
In this Democratic runoff for Travis County Attorney, the candidates are Laurie Eiserloh and Delia Garza.
To learn more about them, try checking out the following resources:
This article from the Statesman
This article from the Austin Chronicle
In this Democratic runoff for Travis County Attorney, the candidates are Laurie Eiserloh and Delia Garza.
To learn more about them, try checking out the following resources:
This article from the Statesman
This article from the Austin Chronicle
County Commissioner, Precinct 3
In this Democratic runoff for Travis County Commissioner, Precinct 3, the candidates are Valinda Bolton and Ann Howard.
To learn more about them, try checking out the following resources:
This article from the Austin American-Statesman
This article from the Austin Chronicle
State Senator, District 14
In this special election for the District 14 State Senate seat, the candidates are Sarah Eckhardt, Don Zimmerman, Jeff Ridgeway, Eddie Rodriguez, Pat Dixon, and Walter Thomas Burns II.
To learn more about them, try checking out the following resources:
This article from the Texas Tribune
This article from Community Impact
This video interview with Sarah Eckhardt from the Texas Tribune
This video interview with Eddie Rodriguez from the Texas Tribune
In this special election for the District 14 State Senate seat, the candidates are Sarah Eckhardt, Don Zimmerman, Jeff Ridgeway, Eddie Rodriguez, Pat Dixon, and Walter Thomas Burns II.
To learn more about them, try checking out the following resources:
This article from the Texas Tribune
This article from Community Impact
This video interview with Sarah Eckhardt from the Texas Tribune
This video interview with Eddie Rodriguez from the Texas Tribune
Here's what's on the Republican Ballot...
You can find a complete copy of a Travis County sample Republican ballot here. Just remember that depending on where you live, not all of these races might actually appear on your ballot. (Certain elected officials only represent sections of Austin.) You can find a personalized sample ballot (featuring races that you’ll be able to vote in) here.
United States Representative, District 17
In this Republican runoff for Texas’ 17th Congressional District, the candidates are Pete Sessions and Renee Swann.
To learn more about them, try checking out the following resources:
This article from the Waco Tribune-Herald
This article from the Texas Tribune
This article from the Austin American-Statesman
United States Representative, District 35
In this Republican runoff for Texas’ 35th Congressional District, the candidates are Jenny Garcia Sharon and Guillermo William Hayward.
To learn more about them, try checking out the following resources:
This questionnaire from the Austin American-Statesman
State Board of Education, District 5
In this Republican runoff for the District 5 Texas Board of Education seat, the candidates are Lani Popp and Robert Morrow.
To learn more about them, try checking out the following resources:
This article from the Texas Tribune
This article from the Austin American-Statesman
State Representative, District 47
In this Republican runoff for Texas State District 47, the candidates are Justin Berry and Jennifer Fleck.
To learn more about them, try checking out the following resources:
This article from the Austin American-Statesman
This video from the Austin American-Statesman (which includes candidates that were eliminated in the first primary election)
State Senator, District 14
In this special election for the District 14 State Senate seat, the candidates are Sarah Eckhardt, Don Zimmerman, Jeff Ridgeway, Eddie Rodriguez, Pat Dixon, and Walter Thomas Burns II.
To learn more about them, try checking out the following resources:
This article from the Texas Tribune
This article from Community Impact
This video interview with Sarah Eckhardt from the Texas Tribune
This video interview with Eddie Rodriguez from the Texas Tribune