Local residents went to the polls Tuesday, March 5, to cast ballots in Republican and Democratic primary elections. With most local Republican candidates uncontested in November’s general election, several decisions about who will hold office next year were made at the county level. In one of the most watched races locally, Hunter Barnes won the race for Hill County sheriff in the Republican primary by a vote of 2,849 to 2,560 over incumbent Rodney Watson.
Barnes will have a clear path to his first term in office, with no Democrat running for sheriff in the fall. In a statement he released after his victory, Barnes thanked his supporters, campaign team and family for believing in him. “After months and months of hard work from all of you, we have ended with a victory,” he wrote. “There is no way I could have done this without any of you, and for that, I am eternally grateful.”
He continued: “Additionally, I’d like to express my thanks to my opponent, Sheriff Rodney B. Watson, for his years of service to the people of Hill County. I also want all of my opponent’s supporters to know and understand that even though I may not have received your vote, I will represent you all fairly and equally to the absolute best of my ability. Regardless of where any of us stand politically, we are all one in our community and must work together to achieve our goals for a better county for ourselves and our future generations. I look forward to working with, meeting with, and speaking to many of you in the coming years.” Barnes said that he is honored and looking forward to serving Hill County as sheriff. “It is my promise that I will work tirelessly to ensure that you, the citizens, receive a top-quality service from the Hill County Sheriff’s Office on a daily basis.”
In a statement posted on social media after the votes were tallied, Watson thanked the citizens of Hill County for allowing him to work for them and congratulated his opponent. “It has truly been an honor,” Watson said. Krissi Hightower will remain Hill County’s tax assessor-collector after defeating challenger Cody Brannen by a vote of 3,411 to 1,817. No Democrat is seeking the office in November.
In Hill County Precinct 1, incumbent Jim Holcomb won the commissioner’s seat with 1,100 votes, with challenger Michael Richardson receiving 470 votes. Current Whitney Police Chief Kyle Nevil won the race for Precinct 1 constable after defeating Rob Best 863 to 832. Both Precinct 1 winners are uncontested in November.
Hill County Precinct 3 Commissioner Scotty Hawkins did not have a challenger in the primary, but he will face Democrat Pollyanna Thibodeau in November’s general election.
In Bosque County, Zach Brown won the race for county attorney with over 70% of the vote, and Arlene Swiney received over 62% of the vote to secure the office of tax assessor-collector.
In Bosque County Precinct 3, Larry (Shotgun) Philipp received about 53% of the vote to continue serving as commissioner.
Up ballot, Hill and Bosque county Republicans favored Donald Trump as their party’s nominee for president. Trump received about 84% of the local vote. He was also favored by around 78% of Republicans statewide.
Hill and Bosque county Democrats chose Joe Biden to represent their party in November’s presidential election. Biden received 92% of the Hill County vote, 88% of the Bosque County vote and was also the statewide winner, with about 84% of Texas Democrats casting votes in his favor.
Local Republicans favored incumbent Ted Cruz as their party’s U.S. Senate nominee. Cruz took almost 90% of the Hill County vote, 89% of the Bosque County vote and was selected by 88% of statewide Republicans.
Cruz will face Democrat Colin Allred in November, who won 79% of the Hill County vote, 71% of the Bosque County vote and also secured his party’s nomination statewide with about 59% of the vote.
Incumbent Jake Ellzey received 55% of the Hill County vote and was the winner district-wide with about 61% of Texas Republicans selecting him for the District 6 U.S. Congress seat. He will face Democrat John Love – the only Democrat to seek the nomination – in November’s general election.
Bosque County Republicans favored John Carter for the District 31 U.S. Congress seat. He received 57% of the local vote and 65% of the district-wide vote to secure the nomination. He will have a challenger in the fall, but the Democrats will need a runoff to decide the winner after no candidate secured the majority of the vote.
Out of Hill County’s 25,969 registered voters, 5,819 of them cast ballots in the Republican primary, and 491 voted in the Democratic primary.
In Bosque County, there are 13,247 registered voters. There were 3,727 ballots cast on the Republican side and 278 in the Democratic primary.
The Lakelander 