North Texans cast their ballots Tuesday, making Texas the first in the nation to hold a primary contest for the 2018 election cycle. Both parties are looking for any indicators suggesting which party might control Congress come November.
Democrats hope to break a losing streak in statewide races that dates back to 1994. Many Republicans say they want to show their steadfast support for President Donald Trump.
LIVE BLOG FROM TUESDAY:
5 p.m. North Texans are packing the polling places as two hours remain before they close at 7 p.m. In Dallas County, if you're getting the Republican Party ballot, you have to consider 36 races and 11 proposition. The Democratic ballot has 90 races and 12 propositions.
WFAA spoke to Judge Clay Jenkins who said his team is monitoring things at the County Election's Office. He said one of the only issues he's confirmed is a temporary lockdown at a school that inconvenienced some votes.
A bruising battle for Texas Senate District 8, a Collin County Senate seat in which candidates Phillip Huffines and Angela Paxton face off in an expensive campaign. Huffines, a real-estate developer and former chairman of the Dallas County Republican Party, gains support from business-minded conservatives. He's the twin brother of state lawmaker Don Huffines. Paxton, a guidance counselor and wife of Attorney General Ken Paxton, received help from party members supportive of faith and values. An estimated $10 million spent from both candidates to fuel their campaigns.
6 p.m. This election is more important than previous mid-term primaries because of all the retirements and resignations we've had in North Texas. There are a number of open seats from Congress to Legislature.
WFAA will have political analysis from across the state starting at 7 p.m. Watch the Facebook Live feed on WFAA’s Facebook page.
Turnout from early voting suggests more Texas Democrats have been energized to cast ballots than Republicans. In the state’s ten counties with the highest number of registered voters, 370,219 Democrats voted early compared to 282,928 Republicans.
Incumbent Pete Sessions is running for re-election in the 32nd Congressional District. Some of the top Democratic candidates, Ed Meier who's a former Hillary Clinton staffer, Lillian Salerno, a former Deputy Under Secretary for the Rural Development in the Obama administration, Dallas attorney Collin Allred and Brett Shipp, a former WFAA investigative reporter.
7 p.m. Polls have closed in parts of North Texas. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is unchallenged on the Republican side, but for the first time in years, there could be an interesting fight for the Democrats. Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez makes a shot as a front runner as well as Andrew White, son of Gov. Mark White.
Valdez is an openly gay Latina and spent the last week in The Rio Grande Valley last week, where she's hoping for a strong Hispanic turnout. White has two very important things in his favor, momentum and money.
Gov. Abbott will steamroll his primary tonight and sits comfortably on his $40 million in the bank, ready for fall's general election.
8 p.m.
Former Tarrant County Assessor Ron Wright maintaining large leads in U.S. Senator primaries to replace Joe Barton in U.S. Rep. District 6. Barton won't seek re-election after a nude photo of the 68-year-old congressman circulated online.
Congressman Beto O'Rourke clinches Democratic nomination to take on Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in November as one of the first races called in the Texas Primary.
Gov. Greg Abbott wins GOP primary for Texas Governor.
Longtime Dallas State Rep. Roberto Alonzo trailing early in District 104 Democratic primary.
Dan Patrick wins GOP primary for Texas Lieutenant Governor.
U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (Lewisville) wins GOP primary for Texas District 26.
U.S. Rep Kenny Marchant (Irving) wins GOP primary for Texas District 24.
Sen. Ted Cruz has already posted to Facebook following the news of Congressman Beto O'Rourke winning the Democratic nomination. Cruz criticizes O'Rourke's viewpoints. "Those are not the values of Texas." The new ad released: "If you're gonna run in Texas, you can't be a liberal man."
9 p.m.
Plano's Van Taylor, former Texas State Senator, wins GOP primary in the race for U.S. Rep. District 3.
Governor candidate Lupe Valdez speaks to supporters at a watch party at The Dallasite, a neighborhood bar in Dallas. She has a large lead over Houston's Andrew White. "Today Texas Democrats got the first chance to stand up against hate, and we stood up in great numbers to do that," Valdez said.
Former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez and Andrew White will go head-to-head in May to become the Texas Democratic candidate for Texas governor.
10 p.m.
Land Commissioner George P. Bush wins GOP primary.
Ruby Faye Woolridge, Jana Lynne Sanchez head to a runoff in the Democratic primary for U.S. Rep. District 6. Joe Barton has held the seat for decades but resigned.
State Rep. Giovanni Caprigilone (Southlake) wins GOP primary for District 98.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller wins GOP primary.
State Rep. Charlie Green (Fort Worth) wins GOP primary of District 99, defeating Bo French.
Ron Wright and Jake Ellzey headed to a runoff in GOP primary for U.S. House District 6.
CLICK for a full list of candidates on the 2018 Texas primary ballot.
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