Parker and Spiller win local Republican primary
A total of 4,890 Lampasans made it to the polls in this election, 30.6% of the 15,969 registered voters. In the Republican Party primary, 4,438 votes were cast, and 452 in the Democrat Party primary.
As posted with the office of the Texas Secretary of State and Lampasas County Elections Administration Office, the unofficial voting results are presented as follows:
County races
In the race for Lampasas County Sheriff, Jesus “Jess” Ramos lost his candidate seat to David Parker, with 2,599 to 1,719 votes, respectively.
In the race for Lampasas County Commissioner, Pct. 3, Shad Hill took the seat from incumbent Lewis Bridges, with 478 votes to Bridges’ 288.
In the race for Precinct 4 Constable, Charles “Chuck” Clayton bested Wayland Allen with 871 to 564.
State races
David Spiller was the choice for Republican candidate for State Representative, District 68, with 2,617 Lampasas votes. He beat out Kerri Kingsbery, who had 1,345 votes.
Spiller will face Democrat candidate Stacey Swann, who ran unopposed in the Democrat primary and garnered 384 votes in Lampasas County.
National races
Donald Trump took Lampasas County Republican primary votes in a landslide, with 3,607 votes, or 82.1%. Nikki Haley came in second for Lampasans, with 561 votes or 12.8%. In the Democrat primary, Joseph Biden saw favor among Lampasas County democrats with 382 votes.
Ted Cruz won favor for U.S. Senator with 3,824 votes, or 91.4%. Collin Allred was the Lampasas County Democrat Party choice for U.S. Senatorial candidate with 261 votes.
Running unopposed in the Republican primary for U.S. Representative, District 11, August Pfluger took 100% of the Lampasas votes. He will face an independent challenger, Ron Medina, in November.
Voter turnout
Lampasas County had a total of 2,505 ballots cast in the Republican primary election during the early voting period. Of those ballots, 384 were submitted in person on Friday, March 1, the last day of the early voting period, and another 2,301 were cast in person at polling places throughout the week. A total of 90 mail-in ballots were submitted.
As for the Democrat primary election, Lampasas County saw a total of 221 ballots cast during early voting, which represents 1.36% of registered voters. Of those, 38 were submitted in person on March 1 and another 159 cast their ballots at polling locations throughout the early voting period, totaling 1.21% of voters who cast their Democrat party ballot in person. Another 24 ballots were mailed in.
The numbers from early voting turnout are slightly higher than the primary election of 2022. That year, the primary election early voting period ending on Feb. 25 saw a total of 2,284 participants. On election day, the total had reached 4,508, with 4,047 voting in the Republican primary and 461 in the Democrat primary.
For full preliminary, unofficial statewide results, see the upcoming edition of the Dispatch Record.