Special elections: Here is a recap of Tuesday’s two races:
GA-HD-176: The race to replace former GOP Rep. Jason Shaw in this south Georgia district is heading to a runoff. Republicans Franklin Patten and John Burchett will advance to the second round of voting on March 12.
Patten edged out Burchett in this round of voting 43.1-42.5, a margin of just 22 votes. The Democrats, Barbara Seidman and Barbara Griffin, took 10 and 4 percent of the vote, respectively. Overall, Republicans accounted for 86 percent to Democrats’ 14 percent, a huge margin even for this deep red district. Donald Trump won it 66-34 in 2016 and the last time Democrats contested this district in 2010, Shaw won 69-31.
TX-HD-125: A runoff is in the offing in this open Democratic-held San Antonio-based district. Republican Fred Rangel will move on to the next round after taking 38 percent. Democrat Ray Lopez will also participate in the runoff after narrowing finishing second in a crowded Democratic field.
Lopez took 19.4 percent, slightly ahead of third place finisher Coda Rayo-Garza’s 19 percent. Art Reyna was closely behind these two taking 17 percent, while Steve Huerta was a distant last with 6 percent. Despite a first place finish for Rangel, his 38 percent represents the sum total of Republican votes in this race to the Democrats’ 62 percent. Lopez is the likely favorite in a runoff to be held in late February or March in a seat Clinton carried 62-38.