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On Tuesday night, in a primary that divided the county Democratic Party, former prosecutor Sean Teare unseated Kim Ogg, the embattled district attorney who served two terms in Harris County.
Mr. Teare's campaign gained momentum as the district attorney faced a barrage from within his own party. Thayer, who until last year was a prosecutor in Ogg's office, will face Houston attorney Dan Simmons, the only Republican candidate in the November general election.
Mr. Teare was leading Mr. Ogg by more than 50 percentage points in early voting and mail-in voting Tuesday night. A University of Houston poll released during early voting showed him leading Ogg among likely voters by nearly 40 points. Ogg conceded the race just before 9pm Tuesday night.
Addressing the crowd at Eighth Wonder Brewery, Teare thanked supporters, including groups like the Working Families Party and the Texas Organizing Project.
“We have a vision,” Teare said. “There's something that we all really want to do. And what you've seen in these numbers means the public is absolutely following us. The voters are following us, too. We is going to change Harris County.”
Ogg has come under fire from local Democrats for reneging on promises to reform criminal justice, his alleged ties to Texas Republicans, and a growing number of resignations. Over her two terms, she investigated party members and clashed publicly with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, a prominent local progressive who supported Teare.
In the months leading up to the election, Mr Teare promised more action on democratic reform and Mr Ogg fended off a barrage of new allegations. Her office filed baseless criminal charges in thousands of cases, the Houston Chronicle revealed. And recent reports claim she mishandled an investigation into a subversive Texas Republican.
Mr. Teare had the support of a group of Harris County Democratic Party chairmen who recently voted to censure Mr. Ogg for not adequately representing the party's values. A University of Houston poll released during early voting found that more than 65% of likely Democratic primary voters viewed Mr. Ogg unfavorably.
Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and state Rep. Gene Wu, a Houston Democrat who endorsed Ogg in 2016, also endorsed Thayer before the election.
Mr Teare ran a well-funded campaign, raising more than 10 times as much money as Mr Ogg in the first half of 2023. In the final pre-race fundraiser, which took place from January 26 to February 24, billionaire George Soros' Texas Justice and Public Safety PAC gave his campaign $700,000 of his Donated nearby. The group previously supported Mr Ogg during the 2016 election.
Mr. Ogg, backed by prominent Houston Democrats such as state Sen. Carol Alvarado and state Rep. Mary Ann Perez, caught up before the polls began and was well ahead of Mr. Teare in January.
But she drew the ire of local Democrats after raising more than $50,000 from the local bail bond industry and large contributions from Republican mega-donors.
On Tuesday night at Giant Texas Distillery, Mr. Ogg thanked voters and told supporters he had “made a powerful enemy for the right reasons.”
“I want to tell my fellow Houstonians who have lived in this city every day for 64 years that if it means sacrificing my job, I will walk away with my heart held high,” Ogg said.
As the next district attorney for Texas' largest county, Teare will face major challenges, including a growing backlog of criminal cases and overcrowding in the state's largest county jail. In the run-up to his campaign, he criticized Mr. Ogg's actions on these issues and other democratic priorities, including bail reform.
Ogg campaigned in 2016 on a promise to reform the county's cash bail system, but reversed course while in office. In 2019, she opposed the settlement of a case in which a federal court found it unconstitutional to jail criminal suspects before trial because of lack of bail. She then launched an investigation into county officials overseeing progress on bail reform.
Ogg has defended party loyalty, bail records and progress in democratic reform. Throughout her campaign, she emphasized that her office has decriminalized most marijuana possession, keeping thousands of minors out of jail. In her previous statement to the Tribune, she accused Mr. Teer of “trying to create division within the Democratic Party.”
Still, voters supported Tiare, ending the incumbent's candidacy for a third term.
Incumbent Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza also won over a fierce challenge from defense attorney Jeremy Silestine.
Voting FAQ: 2024 Primary Election
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What happens after the Texas primary?
If no candidate receives a majority of votes in the primary, the top two vote-getters will face the May 28 primary run-off. The winner of the runoff will be the party's candidate in the November 5 general election. Local elections will be held on May 4th, followed by runoff elections on June 15th, during which some local governments, such as cities, school districts, and water districts, will hold all elected positions. Hold elections and special elections to fill vacancies.
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What is the difference between a runoff vote and a general election?
In Texas, voters can only vote in one-party primaries and runoffs or in third-party conventions. During the November general election, voters can vote for any candidate, regardless of party affiliation. The candidate with the most votes wins, and there are no runoffs in state elections.
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What deadlines do I need to know to participate in the May local elections?
Voting day for local elections is May 4th. To participate, you must register or update your voter registration by April 4. Mail-in ballot applications must be postmarked and received by your county's early voting clerk by April 23rd. Early voting is scheduled for April 22nd to 30th. (If the local runoff election is held on June 15th, the last day to register or update your voter registration is May 16th. Applications for mail-in ballots must be postmarked and must be submitted to the county by June 4th.) (Early voting is scheduled for June 3rd to June 11th.)
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What deadlines do I need to know to participate in the May primary runoff?
Voting day for the primary runoff is May 28th. To participate, you must register or update your voter registration by April 29th. Mail-in ballot applications must be postmarked and received by your county's early voting clerk by May 17th. Early voting is scheduled for May 20th to May 24th.
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What deadlines do I need to know to participate in the November general election?
Voting day for the general election is November 5th. To participate, you must register or update your voter registration by October 7th. Mail-in ballot applications must be postmarked and received by your county's early voting clerk by October 25th. Early voting is scheduled from October 21st to November 1st.
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Why are there so many elections in Texas?
Yes, we noticed too. Texas is one of only eight states that requires primary candidates to receive at least 50% of the vote before proceeding to the general election. This would add a runoff election to the state's election calendar. The long-term votes facing Texas voters, including partisan elections for judges, are a result of the state's historic distrust of government and the lack of a voice for Texans at all levels of government. It originates from the desire to have it.
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