Early voting begins Tuesday in GOP, Democratic primaries
Early voting for the March 5, 2024, joint Gonzales County Republican and Democratic primary begins Tuesday, Feb. 20 and continues through Friday, March 1.
Places on the Republican primary ballot which are contested in Gonzales County include Precinct 1 Commissioner, Precinct 3 Commissioner, Precinct 1 Constable, Texas House District 44 and U.S. House District 27.
On the Democratic primary ballot, contested races include Texas House District 44. There is only one local race in Gonzales County with a lone Democrat on the ballot.
The main location for early voting will be the Randle Rather Building, 427 St. George St., Gonzales, with satellite locations at City of Nixon Building, 302 E. Central, Nixon, and Waelder City Hall, 300 Hwy 90 W, Waelder.
Early voting on Tuesday, Feb. 20 through Friday, Feb. 23 will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with special weekend extended hours on Saturday, Feb. 24, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. as well as Sunday, Feb. 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
From Monday, Feb. 26 through Friday, March 1, early voting will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The last day to apply for a ballot by mail (received and not postmarked) is Friday, Feb. 23.
Republican primary
There are three candidates running for Precinct 1 commissioner in March: David Janota of Gonzales, a data collector; Anton "Tony" Matias of Gonzales, a road foreman for Precinct 1; and Ryan W. Mills of Gonzales, a natural resource consultant.
The two candidates running for Precinct 3 commissioner are Thomas "Tommy" Barnick of Harwood and Roy A. Staton of Gonzales. Both list their occupations as being in road and bridge.
Incumbent Precinct 1 County Constable Johnnie Hall faces a challenge from former Smiley City Marshall Scott Rhodes Sr., who ran against Hall in the 2020 GOP primary as well.
The race for U.S. Congress for House 27 has four candidates in the March GOP primary — incumbent Michael Cloud of Victoria and challengers Luis Espindola, a defense contractor; Scott Mandel of Corpus Christi, a corporate CEO; and Chris Mapp of Port Arthur, who is in marine manufacturing.
For state House 44, the incumbent Rep. John Kuempel has three GOP primary challengers in federal procurement employee David Freimarck of Cibolo, former state Rep. Alan Schoolcraft; and retired U.S. Marine Greg Switzer of Seguin.
Unopposed races locally include 25th District Judge (incumbent Bill Old); 2nd 25th District Judge (incumbent Jessica Richard Crawford); County Attorney (Eduardo “Eddie” Xavier Escobar); Sheriff (incumbent Keith A. Schmidt); Tax Assessor-Collector (incumbent Crystal Cedillo); Precinct 3 Constable (incumbent Derek Johnson); Precinct 4 Constable (incumbent John J. Moreno); and County Chair (incumbent Liz Hernandez).
There are also 13 propositions on the GOP ballot representing issues of importance to the state Republican Party.
Democratic primary
The U.S. House District 27 race has two candidates on the ballot: teacher Tanya Loyd and tax preparer Anthony (A.J.) Tristan.
Meanwhile, running unopposed are candidates for Sheriff (Clay Allen); State Board of Education District 3 (incumbent Marisa Perez-Diaz); Texas House District 44 (Eric Norman) and County Chair (Yolanda Messman).
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