With most early voting results and some Election Day results reported for state Senate seats in Central Texas, incumbent Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, has a slight lead in the race for District 5; incumbent Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, jumped out to an early lead in the District 21 race; and incumbent Pete Flores, R-Austin, has the lead in the District 24 race.
The update
State Senate District 5
In the race for state Senate District 5, Schwertner has received 50.1% of votes so far. Challenger Paul Thomasson, D-College Station, has received 49.9% of the ballots cast. The tally reflects 51 of 342 precincts reported, according to the Texas Secretary of State's website.
State Senate District 21
Zaffirini received most of the initial votes in the race for District 21, with 72.6% so far. Challenger Julie Dahlberg, R-Sutherland Springs, has received 27.4% of the votes. The tally reflects 113 precincts reported out of 291.
State Senate District 24
Flores jumped out to a lead in the race for District 24, receiving 53.7% of the votes, while challenger Joe Paz Herrera, D-Natalia, has so far received 46.3%. The tally reflects 52 precincts reported out of 276.
All results are unofficial until canvassed.
What to know
The District 5 state Senate seat includes much of Williamson County and stretches east into San Jacinto County, and north to Limestone County and Freestone County. The district also includes Brazos County, home to Bryan and College Station. The district has 324 voting precincts for this general election, with 123 in Williamson County.
Schwertner was first elected to the Texas Senate in November 2012, assuming the District 5 office in January 2013. Prior to that, he represented the Texas House of Representatives District 20.
Thomasson served as a United Methodist pastor before deciding to run for Texas Senate District 5. He began his full-time ministry in 1984 at Oakwood United Methodist Church in North Houston, serving the community there for over 40 years.
Read the District 5 candidates’ Q&As with Community Impact here.
State Senate District 21 stretches across Southwest Texas and covers portions of Bexar, Guadalupe, Hays and Travis counties. The district has 291 voting precincts, with 79 of those located in Webb County and 53 located in Hays County. Travis County has 9 precincts in the district.
District 21 Senator Zaffirini was the first Mexican American woman elected to the Texas Senate in 1986, assuming the office in 1987. The communication specialist has 13 years of teaching experience, including at the college and university levels.
A U.S. Army veteran, Dahlberg has worked with nonprofit organizations supporting military families, individuals experiencing homelessness, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, among others. She and her husband, Shane, own and operate MYCO Glass & Mirror.
Read the District 21 candidates’ Q&As with Community Impact here.
District 24 includes portions of the Lake Travis area, Northwest Austin, Cedar Park and Round Rock. The district includes 276 precincts, with 73 located in Bell County and 56 in Williamson County.
District 24 Senator Flores, who spent 27 years serving as a Texas Game Warden, was first elected in a 2018 special election to represent District 19. He was again elected in 2022 to represent District 24.
Herrera worked in the food and packaged goods industry for over 20 years. He previously ran as the Democratic nominee for Texas House District 53 in 2020, 2022 and 2024.
Read the District 24 candidates’ Q&As with Community Impact here.
