Updated at 8:45 a.m. Nov. 9


Gerald Daugherty Election Night Travis County Precinct 3 Commissioner Gerald Daugherty talks with supporters at his watch party on Election Night 2016.[/caption]

After a close race, incumbent Gerald Daugherty has won the race for the Travis County Commissioner Precinct 3 seat.

Daugherty, a Republican, took home 51.77 percent of the vote, or 77,615 votes, with about 59 percent of Election Day voters casting ballots in support of him, according to voting results released by Travis County. His challenger was Democrat David Holmes, who received 48.23 percent of the vote, or 72,295 votes.

"I will continue to have transportation as a top priority of mine," Daugherty said at his watch party Tuesday night at The County Line BBQ On The Hill. "The reason why I think Prop. 1 has passed is people are willing to give you money through their property taxes hoping that there is going to be some relief."

He said he will also work to tackle affordability in the area as rising costs of real estate and living are making it "very difficult" for residents to remain in Austin and the county.

Updated at 10:15 p.m.


At separate candidate watch parties, David Holmes and Gerald Daugherty watched as voting results came in throughout the evening. As results from polling places throughout Travis County trickle in the race remains tight, with the latest results showing Daugherty with 50.70 percent of the vote and Holmes with 49.30 percent.



If Daugherty maintains his lead and wins the election, he will continue to maintain transportation and affordability among his top issues, he said.

"Traffic is still the No. 1 issue in Travis County and Austin," he said.

Thanking his supporters at The County Line BBQ On The Hill in Southwest Austin, Daugherty said he will wait and see what happens. He added he is not surprised by the results and said he thought all along that running as a Republican with Donald Trump at the top of the ticket would be challenging.

"As a Republican, you want to vote and support the Republican nominee. Donald has made it difficult," he said.



Holmes said he was out at the polls throughout early voting and on Election Day. He and his supporters watched results at The Park on South Lamar and said he finds it "phenomenal" that the race is so close, given Daugherty's name recognition and the gap in campaign finances.

"I'm offering myself up with intent to serve this community," he said, noting if he wins he will also focus on Travis County issues through a lens of how to make things more affordable.

"So many people are finding it impossible to live here [because of affordability]," he said.

Updated 7:20 pm.

Early voting results released by Travis County indicate a tight race for Travis County Commissioners Court Precinct 3, with current Commissioner Gerald Daugherty, a Republican, receiving 50.16 percent of the vote, or 60,921 votes.

Challenger David Holmes, a Democrat, is just a few hundred votes shy of Daugherty with 49.84 percent of the votes, or 60,528 votes, according to early voting results. All results are unofficial until canvassed.

Updated 3:10 p.m.

Voters are still casting their ballots at Travis County megasites and other polling places for local races including for Travis County Commissioner Precinct 3.



The polls close at 7 p.m. in Travis County. Here's information on where to vote and a map showing estimated wait times at polling locations throughout the county.


Precinct 3 candidates announce watch party plans

Posted 11:59 a.m.
Travis County Precinct 3 Commissioner Gerald Daugherty, a Republican, is seeking re-election and faces Democrat David Holmes in the race for the seat.

The County Line BBQ The County Line BBQ operates a location at 6500 W. Bee Cave Road, Austin.[/caption]

Daugherty will be at an election night watch party starting at 7 p.m. at County Line On The Hill, located at 6500 W. Bee Cave Road, Austin.

An Austinite for over 40 years, Daugherty came to public office from the private sector. He was first elected to the seat in 2002, was re-elected in 2004, lost the 2008 election and was elected again in 2012.

Daugherty outpaced Holmes in terms of funds raised, according to campaign finance reports.

The Park on South Lamar Burgers are on the menu at The Park on South Lamar Boulevard in Austin.[/caption]

The David Holmes campaign will be holding its watch party at The Park on South Lamar, located at 4024 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin, from 7 p.m. to midnight.

Holmes worked in the Legislature over a period of 15 years and earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Texas Arlington. He serves as a volunteer in the sheriff’s victim services unit.

Both candidates answered questions in a Q&A for Community Impact Newspaper.