Updated 10:25 p.m.

With 24 of 35 precincts reporting votes in Harris County, Harless maintains a commanding lead over Hurtado with 54.84 percent of the votes compared to 45.16 percent for Hurtado.

Harless told Community Impact Newspaper Tuesday night he was looking forward to a busy few weeks leading up to the 86th Texas Legislature and that because he has already built many relationships with state lawmakers, he did not feel like a freshman heading into the session.

“People were predicting we were going to win by a lot bigger margins, but we knew there were a lot of first-time voters,” he said around 10:20 p.m. Tuesday night. “We’re very appreciative that it looks like we’re going to win tonight and just very excited. We think the people of the district have spoken and that they want someone involved in the community representing them in Austin.”

Updated 10:03 p.m.

With 21 of 35 precincts reporting votes in Harris County, Harless maintains a lead over Hurtado with 55.18 percent over 44.82 percent of the votes.

Posted 8:15 p.m.

After early and absentee votes were counted in Harris County, Republican Sam Harless leads Democrat Natali Hurtado 56.2 percent to 43.8 percent. The two are vying to replace incumbent Kevin Roberts in Texas House District 126, which covers parts of Cy-Fair and Spring.

Harless, an automobile dealer and the husband of former State Rep. Patricia Harless, told Community Impact his top priorities were property tax reform, Hurricane Harvey relief and increasing funding for public education.

Hurtado, the director of services at Hawes Hill & Associates, told Community Impact her top priorities were securing funding for flood mitigation projects, prioritizing and funding public education, reducing the tax burden on residents and increasing access to health care.

All results are unofficial until canvassed.