Editor's note: Visit https://communityimpact.com/voter-guide for all primary election results in your community.
According to unofficial voting results, the Democratic Fort Bend County commissioner Precinct 4 race will head to a runoff election about two months after no candidate secured more than 50% of the vote. Incumbent Ken DeMerchant secured 14.34% of the vote, with 1,140 votes total, and has been unseated for the Democratic position.
Candidate Dexter McCoy garnered 38.03% of the vote, or 3,023 votes. Similarly, candidate Neeta Sane secured 39.89% of the vote, or 3,171 votes.
In a press release, McCoy thanked those who voted in the election and cited his great grandmother as a source of motivation during his campaign.
"Today, it is clear the people of Fort Bend have spoken in the Democratic Primary, and we couldn’t be more fired up heading into a runoff election," McCoy said. "We started this campaign to put people over politics, and I am confident more Fort Bend [County] residents will believe in our vision more than ever. ... When I was young, my great grandmother told me the story of voting for the first time as a Black woman in Louisiana. And how, despite the challenges and voter suppression tactics in her way, she still made her way to the polls in every election from then on. Throughout this campaign, I have carried her with me, along with my grandmother who raised me before I came to this community and my mother, who still lives in this community. I will continue to carry them with me in this runoff election as we head back to the polls again in May. I launched this campaign because I believe in Fort Bend [County], and the people who live here. ... We all bring something unique to this community. And I believe with the right investments – in our people, our infrastructure, and our technology – we can create a brighter future for Fort Bend [County]."
Sane, who received 148 votes more than McCoy, said she is happy with the results.
"I am very pleased and proud of this fantastic achievement," Sane said. "We got the highest number of votes. And—in spite of the redistricting that was done, recently changing the demographics, changing the lines and moving almost 80% of the people in another precinct—even in spite of all that dynamic, I did stay committed to this race. I launched my campaign in July for Precinct Four, which was old Precinct Four, and I stayed committed to this race. ... We need to make sure we have better solutions for flood prevention, mobility, healthcare, jobs, and the economy for Fort Bend County. ... My 15 years of my public service has always been about serving every demographic, every resident in every neighborhood. And with that mission, I continue with my campaign, regardless of the boundaries that were changed."
While DeMerchant was the incumbent for the race, redistricting of the county established in late 2021 left the commissioner with a relocated district and a new group of constituents. All of the county's polling locations had completely reported their results. All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Posted 9:15 a.m.
Editor's note: Visit https://communityimpact.com/voter-guide for all primary election results in your community.
According to unofficial voting results, the Democratic Fort Bend County commissioner Precinct 4 race will head to a runoff election about two months after no candidate secured more than 50% of the vote. Incumbent Ken DeMerchant received 14.34% of the vote, with 1,140 votes total, and has been unseated for the Democratic position.
Candidate Dexter McCoy garnered 38.03% of the vote, or 3,023 votes. Similarly, candidate Neeta Sane secured 39.89% of the vote, or 3,171 votes. While DeMerchant was the incumbent for the race, redistricting of the county established in late 2021 left the commissioner with a relocated district and a new group of constituents. As of 9 a.m. March 2, 76 of 76 of the county's polling locations had completely reported their results. All results are unofficial until canvassed.
