Voters elect new leaders November 5

The 2024 election closes at 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 5, across the United States as registered voters pick a new president, congressional, state and local government leaders, and early ballots have been cast since October 21.

At the federal level, voters are picking a president for a four-year term from candidates Donald J. Trump and JD Vance in the Republican Party, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the Democratic Party, Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat in the Libertarian Party, and Jill Stein and Rudolph Ware in the Green Party.

Texans will choose a US senator this year for a six-year term. Incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz faces a challenge in his re-election bid by Colin Allred in the Democratic Party and Ted Brown in the Libertarian Party.

In Texas state government, voters living in District 23 are choosing between Republican candidate and incumbent Tony Gonzales and Democratic Party challenger S. Limon.

The state representative position in Texas District 80 is open this year, as Rep. Tracy King retires. The seat is being sought by Don McLaughlin for the Republican Party and Cecilia Castellano for the Democratic Party.

Unopposed in his bid for re-election is Rep. Ryan Guillen, Republican, in Texas District 31.

Also unopposed in regional elections is 81st Judicial District Attorney Audrey Louis, who is set to begin her new term in office January 1.

At the local level, both Frio and La Salle counties have contested elections this year, candidates having earned their party nominations in the March primaries. While a number of races in county government feature only one candidate, unopposed in their bids for new terms, key positions feature candidates from the Democratic and Republican parties.

Both Frio and La Salle counties will have a new sheriff on Jan. 1, although Frio’s top law enforcement officer has taken office already. Former Chief Deputy Peter Salinas was unopposed in his bid for election as sheriff and took the oath of office within days of Sheriff Mike Morse’s death on October 7. Salinas is serving the remainder of Morse’s four-year term before beginning his own elected term.

In La Salle County, Sheriff Anthony Zertuche failed to earn his party’s nomination for a second term in office during the March primaries, and Constable Hector ‘Tau’ Ramirez is on the ballot for election as sheriff in the Democratic Party. He will face Republican Party contender Miguel Rodriguez, a former La Salle County sheriff who served from 2012 to 2020. The registered write-in candidate for sheriff on the ballot is Constable Guy Megliorino, who is simultaneously running unopposed for re-election to his current position.

Local county government elections being contested by candidates from separate parties include the Frio County tax assessor’s seat, which is being sought by incumbent Anna Alaniz for the Democratic Party and Sabino Mena Jr. for the Republican Party. The Frio County Pct. 1 commissioner’s election includes incumbent Comm. Joe Vela and registered write-in candidate Vickie ‘Coach’ Camacho. In the Pct. 2 constable’s office, incumbent Democrat Rodolfo ‘Rudy’ Ortegon Jr. is being challenged by Earl Heath for the Republican Party.

La Salle County also has a commissioner’s seat up for grabs in this year’s general election, as incumbent Pct. 3 Comm. Erasmo ‘Mito’ Ramirez (Democrat) faces a challenge from Juan M. Gonzales (Republican). In the election for a tax assessor in La Salle, incumbent Dora A. Gonzales (Democrat) is being challenged by Myrna Ruiz-Kay (Republican).

Polling stations across Frio and La Salle counties will close at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Early voting remains open at the Frio County Annex on Pecan Street in Pearsall and at the La Salle County Elections Office, 117 North Front Street in downtown Cotulla, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 1, at both locations.

The deadline to register as a voter passed on Oct. 7.