With 100% of precincts reporting, Democrat Eliz Markowitz received the most votes in the race for state House District 28.
According to unofficial results from Fort Bend County, she received 11,355 votes, or 39.06%.
But without at least 50% of the vote, she and Republican Gary Gates, who received 8,271 votes or 28.45%, will advance to a runoff election.
"The fight isn’t over yet,” Markowitz said in a press release. “This is just the beginning of a new Texas, and I’m proud to be a part of that change. We’re proud of our results tonight and our work here is just beginning.”
Community Impact Newspaper reached out for comment from Gates, but his campaign did not immediately respond.
Whomever wins the runoff election must file for reelection to be placed on the ballot for the 2020 primary election. The filing deadline for the March primary election is Dec. 9. The general election will be held Nov. 3, 2020, and the winner will serve during the 87th Texas legislative session in 2021.
Here are the tallies for all seven candidates:
Markowitz (D) has 11,355 votes or 39.06%;
Gates (R) has 8,271 votes or 28.45%;
Tricia Krenek (R) has 5,272 votes, or 18.13%;
Anna Allred (R) has 2,705 votes, or 9.3%;
Gary J. Hale (R) has 712 votes, or 2.45%;
Sarah Laningham (R) has 503 votes, or 1.73%; and
Clinton D. Purnell (R) has 256 votes, or 0.88%.
Results are unofficial until canvassed.
Update: 11:10 p.m.
With 91.67% of precincts reporting, none of the candidates for state House District 28 has more than 50% of the vote, which is needed to avoid a runoff election.
In an update released at 10:51 p.m., Fort Bend County shows the same voting totals as the 9:04 p.m. update:
Eliz Markowitz (D) has 6,158 votes or 37.4%;
Gary Gates (R) has 4,875 votes or 29.6%;
Tricia Krenek (R) has 3,212 votes, or 19.51%;
Anna Allred (R) has 1,544 votes, or 9.38%;
Gary J. Hale (R) has 342 votes, or 2.08%;
Sarah Laningham (R) has 238 votes, or 1.45%; and
Clinton D. Purnell (R) has 98 votes, or 0.6%.
Results are unofficial until canvassed.
Update: 9:30 p.m.
The Fort Bend County election office released more ballot totals for state House District 28 at 9:04 p.m.
Eliz Markowitz, a Democrat, has kept her lead with 37.4% of the vote. Gary Gates, a Republican, remains in second with 29.6% of the vote.
Here are the tallies:
Markowitz (D) has 6,158 votes or 37.4%;
Gates (R) has 4,875 votes or 29.6%;
Tricia Krenek (R) has 3,212 votes, or 19.51%;
Anna Allred (R) has 1,544 votes, or 9.38%;
Gary J. Hale (R) has 342 votes, or 2.08%;
Sarah Laningham (R) has 238 votes, or 1.45%; and
Clinton D. Purnell (R) has 98 votes, or 0.6%.
According to the election results website, 0 of 80 vote centers have completely reported.
Update: 7:30 p.m.
Early election results show Eliz Markowitz, a Democrat, is the leader in the election for a new representative in the state House District 28, which covers a portion of Fort Bend County.
As of 7 p.m., here are the tallies:
Markowitz (D) has 5,836 votes, or 37.69%;
Gary Gates (R) has 4,631 votes, or 29.91%;
Tricia Krenek (R) has 2,914 votes, or 18.82%;
Anna Allred (R) has 1,470 votes, or 9.49%;
Gary J. Hale (R) has 309 votes, or 2%;
Sarah Laningham (R) has 228 votes, or 1.47%; and
Clinton D. Purnell (R) has 95 votes, or 0.61%.
Whichever candidate wins the special election must file for candidacy again to be placed on the ballot for the primary election in 2020.
However, if a single candidate on the November ballot does not receive over 50% of the vote, the two candidates with the highest number of votes will advance to a runoff election, according to the Texas secretary of state's office.
This special election was called by the governor because former Rep. John Zerwas, a Republican, stepped down from the seat before the end of his elected term. He is now the executive vice chancellor for health affairs for the University of Texas System.
