Cass County, regional election results

Cass County citizens came out to vote for various key county and state races during the March 1st primary elections. The largest contested race in our county was for Cass County Judge, where current Atlanta Mayor, Travis Ransom defeated businessman Mike Lee.

Another notable race was for District 3 Judge, where first-time runner Kim Cullins defeated longtime incumbent Micki Henderson. According to Cass County Clerk Amy Varnell, there are roughly twenty thousand registered voters in Cass County, with approximately 25% of voters showing up to the polls in our county.

The House race and other regional races include neighboring county voters in the tally.

In the races that directly affected our county, U.S. HOUSE - DISTRICT 1 (GOP), Nathan Moran won his race with 50,923 totaling 62.94% of the votes; Joe McDaniel had 19,620 totaling 24.25% of the votes; Aditya Atholi 6,145 totaling 7.60%; and John Porro had 4,214 totaling 5.21% of the votes, respectively. Therefore, U.S. HOUSE - DISTRICT 1 (DEM) will run off to see who competes with Nathan Moran in the November General Election. Jrmar Jefferson had the most significant vote count receiving 7,341, totaling 45.52% of the vote, with second place winner Victor Dunn receiving 4,512, totaling 27.98%. Also receiving votes were Stephen Kocen, 2,424 totaling 15.03%, and Gavin Dass, 1,849 totaling 11.47%.

State House - District 1 (GOP), Gary VanDeaver won his race with 13,251 votes with 62.88%. There were no registered Democratic Candidates in this race. George Lavender came in second place with 6,103 totaling 28.96%, followed by Ray Null, who gathered 1,719, with 8.16% of the vote.

For County Judge (GOP), Travis Ransom won with 3,135 votes with 70.43%, followed by Mike Lee, 1,316 with 29.57%.

County Chairman (GOP) Carolyn Lance defeated her opponent with 2,522, garnering 64.45% of the vote over Tracy Lee, receiving 1,391 votes and 35.55%, respectively.

County Commissioner, Precinct No. 2 (GOP) Kevin Young won with 591 votes with 61.82%, over challengers Andy Smoak at 227 totaling 23.74% and Randy Powell, 138 totaling 14.44% of the vote.

Justice Of The Peace, Precinct No. 3 (GOP) Kim Cullins defeated the incumbent in a close race with 559 votes with 54.64%, over Micki Henderson with 464 votes tallying 45.36%.

For County Commissioner, Precinct No. 4 (GOP), Darrell Godwin won with 710 votes with 56.57%, followed by John Sisco, 447, 35.62%; and John Paul Morris, 98, 7.81%.

These were the uncontested races, where the candidates won unopposed: State Senator District 1, Bryan Hughes; Chief Justice Sixth Court Of Appeals District, Scott E. Stevens; Criminal District Attorney, Courtney Shelton; Judge County Court At Law, Gary Albertson II; District Clerk, Jamie Albertson; County Clerk, Amy L. Varnell; County Treasurer, Mellisa Holland Shores; Justice Of The Peace Precinct One, Barbara McMillon; Justice Of The Peace Precinct Two, Gina M. Bassham; and Justice Of The Peace Precinct Four, Bridget Green Smith.

In notable State Races, incumbent Governor Greg Abbott and democratic challenge Beto O’Rourke won their respective primary races, quickly bringing about a highly contested Governor’s race in November. Both parties will have a runoff for the Texas Attorney General seat: Ken Paxton, the Incumbent, received 816,335 with 42.7%, and George P. Bush received 435,220 with 22.8%, with neither receiving the necessary 50% of the vote to win. In the Democratic race Rochelle Garza, 432,212, 43.1% will face Joe Jaworski, 196,463 votes with 19.6%. In the Lieutenant Governor race, incumbent Dan Patrick won his race. He will run against one of two Democratic challengers, Mike Collier, 413,228, 41.5%, or Michelle Beckley, 300,892 votes with 30.2% who are set for a runoff.

In addition to the number of candidates that Republican voters had to choose from in the Texas primary election, they also voted for ten propositions. Republican voters overwhelmingly voted ‘yes’ on all 10 of the propositions, according to unofficial results. The propositions were essentially their opinions on what the direction should be for their political leaders in the future. Remember that registered republicans will not be voting on laws/policy referendums; instead, these ten propositions are merely an opinion poll of Republican voters. In 2020 republican propositions included: prayer in public schools, the right to keep and bear arms, and questions about the border. Here were the propositions for 2022:

1. In light of the federal government’s refusal to defend the southern border, Texas should immediately deploy the National Guard, Texas Military Forces, and necessary state law enforcement to seal the border, enforce immigration laws, and deport illegal aliens. – YES

2. Texas should eliminate all property taxes within ten (10) years without implementing a state income tax. – YES

3. Texas schools should teach students basic knowledge and American exceptionalism and reject Critical Race Theory and other curricula that promote Marxist doctrine and encourage division based on creed, race, or economic status. – YES

4. Texas should enact a State Constitutional Amendment to defend the sanctity of innocent human life, created in the image of God, from fertilization until natural death. – YES

5. Texas parents and guardians should have the right to select schools for their children, whether public or private, and the funding should follow the student. – YES

6. Texans affirm that our freedoms come from God and that the government should have no control over the conscience of individuals. – YES

7. Texans should not lose their jobs, nor should students be penalized for declining a COVID-19 vaccine. – YES

8. The Republican-controlled Texas Legislature should end the practice of awarding committee chairmanships to Democrats. – YES

9. Texas should protect the integrity of our elections by verifying that registered voters are American citizens, restoring felony penalties and enacting civil penalties for voter fraud, and fighting any federal takeover of state elections. – YES

10. Texas should ban chemical castration, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and genital mutilation surgery on all minor children for sex transition purposes. – YES