Early voting results show an astoundingly close race in Jefferson County for U.S. president.
The Jefferson County Clerk’s Office reports that Republican Mitt Romney received 33,735 early votes, while President Brack Obama received 33,448 votes – a difference of less than 300 votes. A total of 67,685 votes were cast in the presidential race during early voting.
In the U.S. Senate race to fill the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Jefferson County voters who voted early chose Democrat Paul Sadler, with 33,516 votes, or 50.40 percent of the total early votes cast.
Republican Ted Cruz received 32,284 votes, or 48.55 percent of the total of 66,499 votes cast in that race. Cruz has been expected to win the senate seat when statewide votes are counted.
In the closely watched Congressional District 14 for the U.S. House of Representatives, Beaumont native Nick Lampson has a substantial lead. The Democrat received 38,382 votes or 57.30 percent of early votes cast. Republican Randy Weber received 28,111 votes, or 41.97 percent of the 66,985 total early votes cast in that race.
The 14th district also includes Galveston County and part of Brazoria County, so the results from those counties will affect who wins that seat.
For the Jefferson County 136th Judicial Court, it looks like Milton “Mickey” Gunn Shuffield will keep his seat on the bench if the early voting trend continues. The Democratic incumbent received 39,276 early votes, or 59.47 percent of 66,039 votes cast. Republican challenger Rick Williams received 26,763 votes, or 40.53 percent.
More results will become available as precinct totals become to come in around the state.