Updated March 2 at 12:15 a.m.
Gina Hinojosa won 17,448 votes—more than 56 percent—in the House District 49 Democratic Primary race. Despite there being seven contenders in the race, Hinojosa earned enough of the vote to avoid a runoff.
No Republican candidates filed for the seat left vacant by Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin.
In response to early voting results, Hinojosa said she was excited about the lead, but she anticipated a long night due to high voter turnout. It was after midnight before Travis County reported the results from all of its 195 polling places. All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Heather Way earned the second most votes with 5,736, or 18.7 percent. Huey Rey Fischer came in third with 4,311 votes, or 14 percent.
Four other candidates—Aspen Dunaway, Kenton Johnson, Blake Rocap and Matthew Shrum—each earned 3 percent of the vote or less.
Posted March 1 at 7:15 p.m.
According to March 1 unofficial early voting results, Gina Hinojosa is leading the race of seven candidates running for the Texas House of Representatives District 49 seat left vacant by former Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin. Hinojosa earned the most early votes with 7,457 votes, or 55.4 percent of votes.
If Hinojosa receives more than 50 percent of the votes, including those cast on election day, she will win the election. Otherwise the race will proceed to a May 24 runoff election between the two leading candidates.
Heather Way earned the second most votes with 2,579 votes, or 19.16 percent.
Other candidates have earned the remaining votes:
- Huey Rey Fischer has received 2,075 votes, or 15.4 percent of votes.
- Blake Rocap has received 405 votes, or 3 percent of votes.
- Aspen Dunaway has received 394 votes, or 2.9 percent of votes.
- Matthew Shrum has received 313 votes, or 2.3 percent of votes.
- Kenton Johnson has received 237 votes, or 1.8 percent of votes.
More than 90,000 voters cast their ballots Feb. 16-26 or voted by mail. More than 13,000 early voters cast ballots in the District 49 race. All results are unofficial until canvassed.
District 49 encompasses a sliver of Central Austin between MoPac and I-35 north of William Cannon Drive and south of Parmer Lane. About 171,900 residents live in the district, according to the Legislative Council.
Candidates
Aspen Dunaway
Occupation: attorney
Top issues: property taxes, Medicaid, state university tuition
www.dunawayfortexas.com,
www.facebook.com/dunawayfortexas, Twitter:
@DunawayForTexas
Huey Rey Fischer
Occupation: former senior policy analyst for state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin
Top issues: student loan debt, minority and immigrant rights, Planned Parenthood
www.hueyfischer.com,
www.facebook.com/hueyreyfischer, Twitter:
@hueyfischer
Gina Hinojosa
Occupation: attorney
Top issues: public education, gun control, Planned Parenthood
www.ginaforaustin.com,
www.facebook.com/ginaforaustin, Twitter:
@GinaForAustin
Kenton Johnson
Occupation: municipal judge
Top issues: public education, public employees' benefits, affordable housing
www.votekenton.com,
www.facebook.com/kenton-d-johnson-1660361334238015/?fref=ts
Blake Rocap
Occupation: attorney
Top issues: property taxes, public education, health care
www.blakerocap.com,
www.facebook.com/voterocap, Twitter:
@BlakeRocap
Matthew Shrum
Occupation: attorney
Top issues: public education, higher education, transportation
www.mattshrumfortexas.com,
www.facebook.com/mattshrumfortexashouse
Heather Way
Occupation: law professor
Top issues: economic inequality, political reform, gun control
www.voteheatherway.com,
www.facebook.com/voteheatherway, Twitter:
@hwayaustin
