Update: Of the seven congressional nominations up Tuesday night in Central Texas, only two were competitive.
In the race for the Democratic nomination for CD 25, Julie Oliver pulled away late in the evening to beat Chris Perri by a couple thousand votes. Oliver now heads to November and a race against incumbent Republican Roger Williams and Libertarian Desarae Lindsey.
The GOP nomination for CD 21 also took a while to decide. Chip Roy narrowly defeated Matt McCall. Roy now joins Tuesday’s Democratic winner Joseph Kopser and Libertarian Lee Santos on the ballot in November.
In other races:
Mike Siegel won the Democratic nomination for CD 10 over Tawana Walter-Cadien. Siegel faces incumbent Republican Michael McCaul and Libertarian Mike Ryan on the November ballot.
In CD 27, Eric Holguin will represent the Democrats in the district, which stretches from Bastrop County to Corpus Christi. The Republicans, meanwhile, added Michael Cloud to the ballot. The two face Libertarian Mike Ryan in the fall.
And in the race for Democratic nominee in CD 31, M.J. Hegar defeated Christine Eady Mann. Hegar will challenge incumbent Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, and Libertarian Jason Hope.
Our original post continues:
There are five Central Texas congressional races on today's runoff ballot – including the most contested race in the state.
When Congressman Lamar Smith announced he would retire instead of seeking re-election, 18 Republicans ran in the hopes of replacing him. We're now down to the final two.
Chip Roy has worked for several different Republican elected officials, including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. He's running against businessman Matt McCall. Roy has received the most backing in the race, including the endorsement of Smith and his former boss Cruz.
It's McCall's third try at the seat; he lost the last two elections for CD 21 against Smith.
Here's Everything You Need To Know To Vote In The Primary Runoffs
On the Democratic side, Austin Community College math teacher Mary Wilson surprised a couple of better funded candidates by coming in first on primary night in March. She'll face off against tech entrepreneur Joseph Kopser.
Tonight's winners join Libertarian Lee Santos on the November ballot.
Also on the ballot today:
Mike Siegel and Tawana Cadien are up for the Democratic nomination in Congressional District 10, which runs from northern Travis County to Harris County.
Siegel is an assistant city attorney for Austin. Cadien is a registered nurse and nurse educator.
The winner joins incumbent Republican Michael McCaul and Libertarian Mike Ryan on the November ballot.
Chris Perri and Julie Oliver are the final two in the race to be the Democratic nominee for Congressional District 25. Both are attorneys; Oliver also is an accountant for St. David's HealthCare.
The winner will face incumbent Republican Roger Williams and Libertarian Desarae Lindsey in November. The district stretches from Hays County into parts of Tarrant County.
Democrats and Republicans still need to pick nominees in Congressional District 27. This district, which runs from Bastrop County to Corpus Christi, was represented by Republican Blake Farenthold, who resigned after admitting to paying a former staffer $84,000 to settle a sexual harassment claim.
On the Republican side, attorney Bech Bruun faces former Victoria County GOP chairman Michael Cloud.
On the Democratic side, former congressional aide Eric Holguin takes on court security officer Raul (Roy) Barrera.
The winners will join Libertarian Daniel Tinus on the ballot in November.
And finally there's a runoff in Congressional District 31, which includes Williamson and Bell counties.
Democrats will pick a nominee between M.J. Hegar and Christine Eady Mann. Mann is a physician. Hegar is an Air Force veteran and author of the memoir Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front.
The winner will face incumbent Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, and Libertarian Jason Hope in November.
