Texas & Virginia January 6th Special Election Results

From Richard Winger at Ballot Access News:

Texas held a special election for State House, district 17, on January 6. Five candidates ran. Texas special elections don’t have party nominees; all candidates file and run in the same election, and if no one gets 50%, there is a runoff.

The vote was: Republican John Cyrier 3,515; Republican Brent Goleman 1,866; independent Linda Curtis 1,046; Democrat Ty McDonald 907; Democrat Shelley Cartier 290. Because no one got 50%, there will be a runoff between Cyrier and Goleman.

Curtis, the independent candidate, placed third, ahead of both Democrats. This is probably the first time in decades that an independent outpolled major party members in any Texas race for federal or state office. Texas hasn’t elected an independent to the legislature since 1936. Here is a link to the Secretary of State’s web page, giving election returns for that race.

In November 2014, the vote for this district was: Republican Tim Kleinschmidt 64.6%; Democrat Carolyn Banks 35.4%.

Also from BAN:

On January 6, Virginia held two special legislative elections. In the 63rd House district, the vote was: Democrat Joe Preston 78.7%; independent W. H. “Mouse” Jones 18.5%. Last time this seat was up, in November 2013, the Democratic nominee was unopposed.

In the 34th House district, the vote was: Democrat Kathleen Murphy 51.2%; Republican Craig Parisot 48.6%. Last time this seat was up, in November 2013, the vote had been: Republican Barbara Comstock 50.7%; Democrat Kathleen Murphy 49.3%.

Here is a link to the Virginia State Board of Elections, for these election returns. Here is a Washington Post article about the 34th district outcome.