SHOCK & AWE: Democrats dominate Midterm Elections

Organizers and politicians worked hard throughout this past campaign season. Above, Judge Noe Alaniz, Jr., and Judge Jessica Alvarado Gonzales celebrate their Election Day victories at their watch party at the Hollywood Club in San Benito. Below, LULAC and LUPE were among the grassroots organizations that organized a small rally at the Heavin Park Pavilion on the eve of Election Day. Finally, San Benito LULAC members Federico Garza, Elias Cantu, and Victor Rosas parade through the community on Election Day, urging registered voters to cast their ballots. (San Benito News/Ray Quiroga)

By RAY QUIROGA
publisher@sbnewspaper.com

Democrats nationwide outperformed polling predictions during Tuesday’s Midterm Elections, taking control of the House and Senate and turning many historically Red States Blue, including Texas.

McAllen-born and Brownsville-raised Gina Hinojosa, daughter of former Cameron County Judge Gilbert Hinojosa, shocked pundits by soundly defeating entrenched Republican incumbent Greg Abbott, 5,230,789 unofficial votes to 4,524,527 statewide.

In Cameron County, Hinojosa received 68,613 (66.76%) unofficial votes, compared with Abbott’s 33,101 (32.21%).

“I stand before you humbled, grateful, and in awe of the incredible grace and power of God, and of Texas. I am a daughter of the Rio Grande Valley, where the people embody the work ethic and values of our state, where no one would have imagined that one day, a little girl from the RGV would stand before you here, as the next Governor of the greatest state, Texas,” the Governor-elect said during her victory speech.

“…And to my hometown, Brownsville: tonight, one of your own becomes the first governor of Texas from the Rio Grande Valley,” Hinojosa said as she concluded her speech.

Hinojosa is a Hanna High School graduate who later earned her law degree from George Washington Law School in 1999 after attending the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in 1996.

In another high-profile race, Democrat James Talarico garnered 5,444,982 to embattled Republican Ken Paxton’s 4,249,373 in the highly contested US Senate race.

In Cameron County, Talarico garnered 69,808 votes to Paxton’s 30,541.

In District 34, for United States Representative, incumbent Vicente Gonzalez (DEM) defeated Eric Flores (REP) with 13,166 votes in Cameron County to Flores’s 8,465. Districtwide, Gonzalez claimed 112,547 votes to Flores’s 80,168.

In the U.S. Representative District 15 race, 126,204 votes were cast for Bobby Pulido (DEM) versus incumbent (REP) Monica De La Cruz’s 7,6305.

Local races include Justice of the Peace, Pct. 3, Pl. 2, pitting Gilbert Garcia, Jr. (REP), against local Jessica Alvarado Gonzales (DEM). Alvarado Gonzales won that race, 10,102 votes to 5,230.

“First and foremost, I want to thank God above all. Secondly, I want to thank everyone who participated in the election process, because as a Judge, I have and will always have a fair and impartial court for all. That said, I want to give thanks to all my family, friends, supporters, newly registered voters, and each and every one of you who voted for me,” Alvarado Gonzales wrote in a prepared statement to the NEWS.

“A special thanks to my husband, Steve, for being my biggest supporter, my inspiration, and my rock throughout this entire campaign. Through the long days, late nights, challenges, and everything in between, he stood by my side and encouraged me every step of the way. I ran for this position because I believe in fairness, integrity, and service to our community. It has been a long journey to get elected to this bench because I didn’t win it the first time, but I can proudly say that it was worth the wait,” she added.

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Pl. 1, featured local Esteban “Steve” Rodriguez (REP) of San Benito facing Rio Hondo’s Noe Alaniz, Jr. (DEM). Alaniz took that election 10,132 to 5,146 unofficial votes.

Meanwhile, for Cameron County Judge, Esteban “Steve” Guerra (DEM) topped Mauro Garza (REP), 65,910 versus 32,626.

At the State Board of Education, District 2, the Upper Valley’s Thomas Ray Garcia (DEM) defeated Victoria Hinojosa (REP), 65,087 votes to 34,310 in Cameron County.

San Benito’s Janie Lopez (REP), a former San Benito CISD Board Trustee, failed to retain her District 37 State Senate seat against challenger Oziel Ochoa Jr. (DEM), 25,343 to 18,790 in Cameron County.

“Today I celebrate a victory in Jesus. Anything that’s happened is because God allowed it. It’s been the honor of my life to serve House District 37. I saw God’s hand every step of the way since day one in the first run in 2022,” Lopez posted on her Facebook page.

“We had many victories for HD37. I am proud of my staff, constituents, elected officials, and all the hard work they do in their communities. Unfortunately, we fell short in the vote, but we gave it the good fight every step of the way. It’s a devastating loss across the state and nation,” she wrote. “To Oziel Ochoa, may God be your guide in this journey.”

Meanwhile, in the heated Cameron County Clerk’s race, Ricardo “Rick” Herrera (REP) lost to incumbent Sylvia Garza (DEM), 66,712 to 32004 votes.

In the Cameron County Treasurer’s race, Jonathan Gracia (DEM) defeated Lucy Jeannette Gonzales (REP).

Outcomes are unofficial until votes are canvassed.