Updated at 9:50 p.m.

With 194 of 243 precincts reporting, Lori Bartley has taken a substantial lead in the Republican primary for U.S. representative District 18, according to unofficial early voting results. Bartley leads with 1,462 votes, or 58.86 percent, while her opponent Reggie Gonzales has garnered 1,022 early votes, or 41.14 percent. Bartley said her goal is to bring unity to both parties and to not be branded by a particular party. "It's about how I can help you get your basic needs met so that we can start to build that foundation that we can rise upon," she said. "At the end of the day, everyone wants the same thing—a great life for their families, a safe environment, the ability to dream and the ability to work toward those dreams." The two candidates were separated by only 104 votes in the initial primary election March 1. Gonzales received 5,587 votes, or 33.07 percent, and Bartley received 5,691 votes, or 33.68 percent. The other two candidates, Sharon Joy Fisher and Ava Pate, received 4,414 and 1,204 votes respectively. The winner of the runoff will face incumbent Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, in the Nov. 8 general election for the opportunity to represent District 18, which includes more than 750,000 residents within the Greater Houston area, including portions of Spring and Klein. The elected candidate will serve a two-year term in the House of Representatives. Jackson Lee ran unopposed in the Democratic primary March 1. She is seeking re-election for her 11th congressional term. Since being elected in in 1994, she has served on committees and subcommittees—like the House Judiciary Committee—and helped implement the 9/11 Commission Report. All election results are unofficial until canvassed.