Val Verde County Republicans Cast 2,885 Ballots, Several Races Head to Runoff
Ken Paxton edged John Cornyn 1,075 to 999 in Val Verde County, but neither secured a majority, sending the U.S. Senate race to a runoff.
Republicans in Val Verde County cast 2,885 ballots in the March 3 primary, producing clear winners in some statewide races while pushing others into runoffs that will shape the November ballot.
The most competitive local result came in the U.S. Senate race, where Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton outpaced incumbent Sen. John Cornyn by 76 votes, 1,075 to 999. That margin, however, was not enough for either man to claim a majority, and both candidates are headed to a runoff.
The attorney general contest produced a similar outcome. Chip Roy led the field in Val Verde County with 1,107 votes, followed by Mayes Middleton at 616, Joan Huffman at 553, and Aaron Reitz at 309. Statewide, neither Roy nor Middleton secured the nomination outright, setting up another runoff between the two top finishers.
Gov. Greg Abbott faced no such uncertainty. Val Verde County Republicans gave the incumbent governor 2,383 votes, a commanding share of the total ballots cast. Ten challengers split the remainder: Pete "Doc" Chambers drew the most among them with 177, followed by Arturo Espinosa at 71, Evelyn Brooks at 67, Kenneth Hyde at 21, R.F. "Bob" Achgill at 17, Nathaniel Welch at 13, Stephen Samuelson and Ronnie Tullos each at 10, Mark V. Goloby at 9, and Charles Andrew Crouch at 6. Abbott won the Republican nomination outright statewide.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick showed similar strength locally, receiving 2,076 votes. His three opponents trailed well behind: Perla Munoz Hopkins drew 318, Timothy Mabry 164, and Esala Wueschner 55.
In the Texas State Senate District 19 race, Marcus Cardenas carried Val Verde County with 1,048 votes. Robert Marks Jr. finished second locally with 684, and Adam Ernest Salyer received 512.
The local tallies were reported by The 830 Times on March 5, 2026. Readers seeking certified results should consult the Val Verde County Clerk or the Texas Secretary of State, whose official canvass will serve as the authoritative count for all races.
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