March Primary Election Coverage Live Blog

It's one of the most momentous elections in Texas history. Who will claim the state's big juicy bag of Democratic presidential delegates? Who will emerge to challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in November? Who will show up at the polls after record early voting? Who will fail to show up because they're afraid of the coronavirus?

So many questions, as Travis County voters flock to more than 150 vote centers and – in this heavily Democratic territory – a number of current and aspiring local officials await their fate. The Chronicle News Team is out in the field and on social media; we'll keep you informed right here throughout the day and night.

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Final update: 10:50pm:

Travis County Election Day voting results are starting to trickle in, but it’ll be a while yet before final counts are tallied. We’re closing up shop for the night. Want to track the returns yourself? Joint primary results are accessible here. We’ll be back at it online tomorrow and in our print issue, on stands Thursday.

Update: 10:34pm:

Tzintzun Ramirez didn’t shy from calling out the DSCC, which endorsed Hegar: “I know that they may have thought that they could pick our candidates better than we pick our candidates for ourselves here in Texas, but you know what, I’m used to being underestimated.”

— Beth Sullivan (@atbethcsullivan) March 4, 2020

“It’s still early,” @cristinafortx told her election watch party crowd, “but we know if we make it into the runoff ... we are best positioned to defeat John Cornyn.”

— Beth Sullivan (@atbethcsullivan) March 4, 2020

Update: 10:21pm:

Update: 10:13pm:

Oh, and @DGarzaforD2 said she's staying out of the race to fill her #atxcouncil D2 seat -- "for now." She's known Vanessa Fuentes for a while, and worked with the other candidate in the race, David Chincanchan, at City Hall.

— Austin Sanders (@daustinsanders) March 4, 2020

Not exactly a surprise in TX-21, where Wendy Davis star (and money) power outshone a valiant Jennie Lou Leeder. Davis now takes on incumbent Chip Roy & big GOP money. https://t.co/KS3Ygx0rL4

— Michael King (@PointAustin) March 4, 2020

It would appear Darlene Byrne will walk to the Dem nomination for Chief Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals. Currently at 79% over Keith Hampton (21%). Both good people, but that's a one-sided outcome . . .

— Michael King (@PointAustin) March 4, 2020

Update: 10:09pm:

Austin Sanders reports from the field:

The County Attorney race is headed to a May runoff between Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza and Assistant County Attorney Laurie Eiserloh. Both candidates are running on progressive platforms advocating for criminal justice reforms, but Eiserloh has more than two decades of experience in the CA office, while Garza has spent significantly less time practicing law, although she points to her time on City Council where she has implemented progressive policy.

So, we’ve got an insider vs. outsider race, and another dynamic at play was reflected in the watch parties for the two candidates. Garza’s crowd was younger and included more Latinx supporters; Eiserloh’s crowd was older and whiter. That demographic split could help Eiserloh, because the base of her support is more likely to vote in a May runoff.

But Garza said she would continue to work her base to get them back to the polls in May, even if a presidential contest isn’t on the ballot. It looks like the Senate race is going to a runoff, too, and there could be a wildcard special election to replace Kirk Watson in SD14 – both of which could help bring voters to the polls.

Update: 10:05pm:

Said Tzintzún Ramirez in an address to the crowd, “When I was asked to run for United States Senator here in Texas as a Latina, as a working mom, as a woman, as not an independently wealthy person, politics like this is not made for people like me.”

— Beth Sullivan (@atbethcsullivan) March 4, 2020

Latest report gives a vote bump in TX-10, with Siegel at 40%, Gandhi 36%. Both comfortably ahead of Hutcheson thus far, look headed to runoff.

— Michael King (@PointAustin) March 4, 2020

On the GOP front down south @CarrieIsaac and Bud Wymore are nearly tied in the HaysCo early vote to take on @ErinForYall in HD-45 this fall; runoff likely there.

— Mike Clark-Madison’s SuperTuesday News Desk (@mclarkmadison) March 4, 2020

Latest report gives a vote bump in TX-10, with Siegel at 40%, Gandhi 36%. Both comfortably ahead of Hutcheson thus far, look headed to runoff.

— Michael King (@PointAustin) March 4, 2020

On the GOP front down south @CarrieIsaac and Bud Wymore are nearly tied in the HaysCo early vote to take on @ErinForYall in HD-45 this fall; runoff likely there.

— Mike Clark-Madison’s SuperTuesday News Desk (@mclarkmadison) March 4, 2020

Update: 9:59pm:

So far, MJ Hegar has held onto a comfortable lead in the race for U.S. Senate; the race now looks to be who’s going to the runoff with her.

Now with 63% of counties reported, Tzintzún Ramirez opening a gap -- she's at 13.5%, & West at 10.5%, with Houston's Amanda Edwards (10.22%) gaining on him. Hegar at 27%, down just a bit.

— Michael King (@PointAustin) March 4, 2020

There were so many "undecideds" in Dem Senate primary, other than Hegar it appeared a battle royale. A couple of others showing some strength, but Tzintzún Ramirez now leads West (& others) by more than 10,000 votes. Much depends on location of remainder.

— Michael King (@PointAustin) March 4, 2020

Update: 9:41pm:

Update: 9:35pm:

With 12% of polling locations reporting, the statewide numbers in the Democratic presidential race are still too close for any candidate to claim the W. Bernie Sanders currently has the edge with 27.6% of the vote and Joe Biden close behind at 24.8%

Here Garza is chatting with Vanessa Fuentes, one of the candidates who has filed to run for the D2 City Council sweat Garza would vacate if elected in the May runoff. pic.twitter.com/JRXl03LxG0

— Austin Sanders (@daustinsanders) March 4, 2020

Update: 9:23pm:

Unsurprisingly looks like a runoff in TX-31 between @DrChristineMann and @donnaimamTX to take on @JudgeCarter in November

— Mike Clark-Madison’s SuperTuesday News Desk (@mclarkmadison) March 4, 2020

Oliver spoke to the historic number of early Democratic voters Travis Co. is seeing this election: “We knew the presidential would lift our numbers ... but this is incredible, just to see what Travis County did.” She called Democratic voter turnout in Travis Co “remarkable”

— Beth Sullivan (@atbethcsullivan) March 4, 2020

Update: 9:19pm:

With a little over half of counties reporting, Tzintzún Ramirez & Royce West separated by only a couple of hundred votes in Senate Dem primary. He's at 11.8%, she's at 11.72%. Long way to go. MJ Hegar comfortably ahead with 29.6%.

— Michael King (@PointAustin) March 4, 2020

Update: 9:10pm:

Judge Amy Clark Meachum calls it for … Meachum, Dem nom for Chief Justice, Sup. Court, on results in Harris, Dallas & Travis Counties. "Texans have spoken, & are ready for the next generation of judicial thought leaders to restore balance and fairness to a monolithic court.”

— Michael King (@PointAustin) March 4, 2020

And looking ahead to the next election: potential state senators @EddieforTexas @JudgeEckhardt and @GregCasar have all made appearances at @ScholzGartenATX tonight

— Mike Clark-Madison’s SuperTuesday News Desk (@mclarkmadison) March 4, 2020

Texas polls have been closed for an hour and @JulieOliverTX tells me she she’s still feeling “so much energy,” which is certainly palpable tonight at her watch party

— Beth Sullivan (@atbethcsullivan) March 4, 2020

Garza has the least amount of legal experience of the four candidates in the CA race, so she has emphasized the policy reform she’d bring to the office. Eiserloh said she’s interested in that, but also has over two decades of legal experience to bring to the table.

— Austin Sanders (@daustinsanders) March 4, 2020

Just talked with Eiserloh who is in high spirits after pulling in the plurality of votes tonight. She said the biggest differences between her and Delia Garza, who she’ll likely face in a runoff, is how they “perceive the office.”

— Austin Sanders (@daustinsanders) March 4, 2020

Update: 8:55pm:

Wondering how the primary is playing out in other parts of the state? You can track the election returns as they roll in at the Texas Secretary of State’s Elections Division website.

Likely Travis County runoffs for District Attorney -- Garza, Moore -- and County Attorney -- Eiserloh & (the other) Garza . . . based only on early voting.

— Michael King (@PointAustin) March 4, 2020

Early vote also suggests runoff in TX-10 Congressional: right now Siegel leading w/ 43%, Gandhi 31.5%, Hutcheson 25%. A long way to go, but those numbers suggest no outright winner unless a surge . . .

— Michael King (@PointAustin) March 4, 2020

About that mix of ages ... (photo by @DBrendanHall for @AustinChronicle) https://t.co/UOTk8rY02Q pic.twitter.com/O4F8i3hcTR

— Beth Sullivan (@atbethcsullivan) March 4, 2020

The Sahara Motel crowd was the Bernie coalition. Young and racially diverse. Here at La Mancha, the supporters are much older and filled with more white people.

— Austin Sanders (@daustinsanders) March 4, 2020

Update: 8:50pm:

No surprise here: Ballot propositions in both parties’ primaries are looking like they’ll pass resoundingly. These propositions are meant to inform party platforms, and boy, are they a study in contrasts.

Here’s what Dem voters are saying yes to in what it’s calling a Texas Bill of Rights:

#1 Right to Healthcare
#2 Right to a 21st Century Public Education
#3 Right to Clean Air, Safe Water, and a Responsible Climate Policy
#4 Right to Economic Security
#5 Right to Dignity & Respect

#6 Right to Be Free from Violence
#7 Right to Housing
#8 Right to Vote
#9 Right to a Fair Criminal Justice System
#10 Immigrant Rights

And here are the 10 ballot propositions – what Republicans are more modestly calling an “opinion poll” and “not a policy referendum” – that Republican voters are emphatically saying yes to:

1.) Texas should not restrict or prohibit prayer in public schools. 
2.) Texas should reject restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms.
3.) Texas should ban the practice of taxpayer-funded lobbying, which allows your tax dollars to be spent on lobbyists who work against the taxpayer.
4.) Texas should support the construction of a physical barrier and use existing defense-grade surveillance equipment along the entire southern border of Texas.
5.) Texas parents or legal guardians of public school children under the age of 18 should be the sole decision makers for all their children’s healthcare decisions including, but not limited to, psychological assessment and treatment, contraception, and sex education.
6.) Texas should ban chemical castration, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and genital mutilation surgery on all minor children for transition purposes, given that Texas children as young as three (3) are being transitioned from their biological sex to the opposite sex.
7.) Texans should protect and preserve all historical monuments, artifacts, and buildings, such as the Alamo Cenotaph and our beloved Alamo, and should oppose any reimagining of the Alamo site.
8.) Texas election officials should heed the directives of the Office of the Governor to purge illegal voters from the voter rolls and verify that each new registered voter is a U.S. Citizen.
9.) Bail in Texas should be based only on a person’s danger to society and risk of flight, not that person’s ability to pay.
10.) Texas should limit our state legislators’ terms to 12 years.

Update: 8:40pm:

"I ran as a progressive Dem in 2018 & flipped the seat … I'm confident my record reflects my district & the issues they care about … that public schools are great for kids … everyone can afford health care … protect this beautiful country we call home." Rep. Erin Zwiener

— Michael King (@PointAustin) March 4, 2020

And News Editor Mike Clark-Madison, who's at the Progress Texas party at Scholz Garten, reports on the activities of SBOE candidate/GOP black sheep Robert Morrow:

So Morrow and his jester hat and Trump Is a Child Rapist sign just got bounced from @ScholzGartenATX ; he’s loitering outside

— Mike Clark-Madison’s SuperTuesday News Desk (@mclarkmadison) March 4, 2020

Update: 8:27pm:

While waiting for the Texas Secretary of State . . . "The story this evening is lines, and high energy. … High energy on both sides, no doubt, but I'm excited by what I'm picking up." Rep. Celia Israel, chair of the state House Democratic Campaign Committee

— Michael King (@PointAustin) March 4, 2020

Update: 8:10pm:

Caught up with Dominic Selvera, who ran a strong abolitionist platform. He's only got 7% of the vote, but said he's proud of the campaign he ran -- and said his lack of support shows that Travis County voters aren't as serious about criminal justice reform as they say they are.

— Austin Sanders (@daustinsanders) March 4, 2020

Oh hey there’s a GOP primary too who’d a thunk: in early vote @DonZimmermanATX is barely hanging onto 2nd place in HD 47 and Robert Morrow is leading in SBOE5.

— Mike Clark-Madison’s SuperTuesday News Desk (@mclarkmadison) March 4, 2020

Just heard a @JulieOliverTX supporter say they knocked 10,000 doors for the campaign. That’s a lot, indeed.

— Beth Sullivan (@atbethcsullivan) March 4, 2020

Update: 8:08pm:

With 20% of Texas counties reporting, and 108 of 5,212 polling locations reporting, the Secretary of State puts Bernie Sanders (36,325 votes, 28.67%) in the lead currently to take the Texas Dems’ nod for president, followed by Joe Biden (27,599 votes, 21.79%), Michael Bloomberg (24,181 votes, 19.09%), and Elizabeth Warren (15,606 votes, 11.88%).

Update: 7:58pm:

Our reporters have been tweeting out early voting results for various Democratic primary races in Travis County. Looking for the full list? We’ve got them here.

Update: 7:50pm:

Great mix of ages at ⁦@JulieOliverTX⁩ watch party at ⁦@contigoaustin⁩, including not just college students but those in high school as well pic.twitter.com/x7NUS3xAhg

— Beth Sullivan (@atbethcsullivan) March 4, 2020

Update: 7:38pm:

Here's another local result: @SallyTCSheriff appears on her way to a comfortable re-election. pic.twitter.com/BUhcyKGnbt

— Austin Sanders (@daustinsanders) March 4, 2020

Update: 7:35pm:

Shiloh Newman solicited no donations in his campaign, but pulled in 6% of the vote. No way of knowing where his votes would have gone if he didn't run, but if they were split equally among the 3 other candidates, there wouldn't be a May runoff, unless E-day results change things.

— Austin Sanders (@daustinsanders) March 4, 2020

Update: 7:27pm:

In the County Attorney race, Laurie Eiserloh has a comfortable lead, but like the DA race, thus far not enough to avoid a run off. She'll likely face Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza in May. Dominic Selvera, the most outside of the candidates, is expected to be here at Sahara Motel. pic.twitter.com/D37k16smZw

— Austin Sanders (@daustinsanders) March 4, 2020

Getting the political party started at @ScholzGartenATX with @ProgressTX; Rep. (maybe Sen. soon?) @EddieforTexas is here; when asked if he thinks he’ll win his own primary tonite says “I hope so!” pic.twitter.com/8BtHnuI92F

— Mike Clark-Madison’s New Year's News Desk (@mclarkmadison) March 4, 2020

Update: 7:13pm:

When the polls have been closed for five minutes and the county's election results page still says "Our Election Night Reporting website is being modified." pic.twitter.com/yzzvwlxtVr

— Austin Sanders (@daustinsanders) March 4, 2020

Update: 7:10pm:

Polls closed at 7pm, but if you’re in line, you’ll still be able to vote. A quick scan of the Travis County Clerk Office’s Wait Time Map shows some voting locations – including City Hall – clocking 90 minute projected times in line still.

Update: 6:57pm:

Here at Sahara Motel in East Austin where @HeidiSloanForTX supporters are getting set up for their election night watch party. The food is catered from New Fortune in Chinatown and it smells delicious. pic.twitter.com/EhCITao4TZ

— Austin Sanders (@daustinsanders) March 4, 2020

Update: Tuesday, March 3, 6:53pm:

Super Tuesday in Travis County got off to a rocky start after some poll workers were late-cancels or no-shows, what Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir described to Chronicle staff writer Austin Sanders as a “pretty serious, but short and controlled, disruption of the election this morning.” More poll workers were deployed, and Travis County is on track for more record-breaking voter turnout. We’ll be back with early voting numbers when they’re released.