Thursday, March 28, 2024

Primary elections end, runoffs begin

Although many primary races were decided on Tuesday, it’s not over for some candidates. There will be two runoffs in southern Denton County on May 27.

Denton County District Attorney Paul Johnson, who is seeking a third term, could not get 50 percent of the vote in a three-way race and will face Lantana attorney Karen Alexander in a runoff. Johnson snagged 43 percent of the vote, while Alexander garnered 39 percent. Denton lawyer Hank Paine had 18 percent of the vote.

In a four-way race for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, incumbent J Hand had the upper hand and will square off with Northlake Attorney Harris Hughey on May 27. Hand had 39 percent of the vote to Hughey’s 27 percent. The other two candidates, former Flower Mound Town Council member Al Filidoro and Trophy Club business owner Scott Smith, received 18 and 17 percent of the vote, respectively.

Denton County Judge Mary Horn successfully fended off two opponents with 54 percent of the vote. Corinth Mayor Paul Ruggiere was the runner up with 33 percent of ballots cast and Highland Village attorney Sherman Swartz received 13 percent of the vote.   

Flower Mound attorney Vic Rivera was unsuccessful in his bid for the open County Criminal Court #5 bench vacated by Judge Richard Podgorski, losing out to Denton attorney Coby Waddill, who took 63 percent of the vote.

Lantana will have a new constable. Former Precinct 1 Deputy Constable Johnny Hammons defeated Precinct 1 Constable Jesse Flores, who was appointed last May after Constable Jim Dotson passed away. Hammons received 65 percent of the vote. Flores had support from the Lantana area but Hammons was strong in the lake cities and Denton.

Judge David Garcia has presided over County Criminal Court #3 for 17 years, but his bid for another term was a nail-biter with a 39 vote win over Northlake attorney George Mitcham.

Voter turnout was 9.98 percent of register voters.

Complete Denton County primary election results can be found here:

Denton County Republican Election Results
Denton County Democratic Election Results

Statewide race results here.

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