Early voting: This week through Nov. 1
Every election year, we include one of our favorite headlines — Vote Early, Vote Often. For Texas history buffs, the headline harkens back to the 1930s, ‘40s, 50s, and 60s, when the “Duke” of Duval County (located about 120 miles north of Hidalgo County), George Parr, was helping swing elections for people like LBJ.
In fact, in the U.S. senate race of 1948, Parr is credited with ensuring Johnson’s Democratic primary win by creating more than 200 votes for LBJ, most of whom came from dead people. The race was neck-and-neck until Parr’s votes gave Johnson the win. The episode has gone down in Texas history as “Box 13.”
Before that, in 1936, Parr was convicted of tax evasion, only to be given a full pardon by President Harry Truman in 1946. How’s that for political clout?
In Hidalgo County, in modern times, we’ve had our own share of political scandals surrounding paid political operatives (politiqueras) who transport nursing home residents and other elderly people to the polls in their Escalades, and then go into the voting booth with them to help “vote.”
Recently, or so it seems, every local election, at least one candidate, often two, will sue his or her opponent, claiming voter fraud.
And so it goes.
Get the right visiting judge, the right attorney, and what once looked like an election victory can suddenly be turned into a defeat, courtesy of a judicial ruling.
“Who needs to call for a new election? The judge just ruled.”
Still, the election process moves forward, and most assuredly, there are more honest politicians and political handlers (politiqueras) than there are those who took the crooked path, despite how much of the latter we see publicized in the media.
At least we can hope?
Published below is a list of all the elections posted on the Nov. 5 ballot:
National
President/Vice President
Donald J. Trump/JD Vance (REP)
Kamala D. Harris/Tim Walz (DEM)
Chase Oliver/Mike Ter Maat (LIB)
Jill Stein/Rudolph Ware (GRN)
State
U.S. Senator
Ted Cruz (REP)
Colin Allred (DEM)
Ted Brown (LIB)
U.S. Representative, District 34
Mayra Flores (REP)
Vicente Gonzalez (DEM)
U.S. Representative, District 15
Monica De La Cruz (REP)
Michelle Vallejo (DEM)
Railroad Commissioner
Christi Craddick (REP)
Katherine Culbert (DEM)
Hawk Dunlap (LIB)
Eddie Espinoza (GRN)
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2
Jimmy Blacklock (REP)
Dasean Jones (DEM)
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 4
John Devine (REP)
Christine Vinh Weems (DEM)
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 6
Jane Bland (REP)
Bonnie Lee Goldstein (DEM)
J. David Roberson (LIB)
Presiding Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals
David J. Schenck (REP)
Holly Taylor (DEM)
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 7
Gina Parker (REP)
Nancy Mulder (DEM)
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 8
Lee Finley (REP)
Chika Anyiam (DEM)
State Senator, District 20
Juan 'Chuy' Hinojosa (DEM)
State Senator, District 27
Adam Hinojosa (REP)
Marogan LaMantia (DEM)
Robin Lee Vargas (GRN)
State Representative, District 39
Jimmie Garcia (REP)
Armando “Mando” Martinez (DEM)
State Representative, District 40
Terry Canales (DEM)
State Representative, District 41
John Robert Guerra (REP)
Bobby Guerra (DEM)
Chief Justice, 13th Court of Appeals District
Jaime Tijerina (REP)
Gina Benavides (DEM)
Justice, 13th Court of Appeals District, Place 2
Jenny Cron (REP)
Nora Longoria (DEM)
Justice, 13th Court of Appeals District, Place 4
Ysmael D. Fonseca (REP)
Joe Martinez (DEM)
Justice, 13th Court of Appeals District, Place 5
Jon West (REP)
Regi Compian Richardson (DEM)
District Judge, 92nd Judicial District
Luis M. Singleterry (DEM)
District Judge, 93rd Judicial District
Fernando Mancías (DEM)
District Judge, 139th Judicial District
J.R. 'Bobby' Flores (DEM)
District Judge, 332nd Judicial District
Juan Ramon Alvarez (DEM)
District Judge, 389th Judicial District
Leticia 'Letty' Lopez (DEM)
District Judge, 398th Judicial District
Keno Vasquez (DEM)
District Judge, 430th Judicial District
Orlando 'OJ' Esquivel (DEM)
District Judge, 449th Judicial District
Renee 'Rena' Rodriguez Betancourt (DEM)
District Judge, 464th Judicial District
Joe Ramirez (DEM)
District Judge, 476th Judicial District
Nereida Lopez-Singleterry (DEM)
County
Judge, County Court at Law, No. 7
Sergio J. Valdez (DEM)
Judge, County Court at Law, No. 9
Patricia 'Patty' O'Caña Olivarez (DEM)
Judge, County Court at Law, No. 10
Armando J. Marroquin (DEM)
Sheriff
Ezequiel 'Zeik' Jurado III (REP)
J.E. 'Eddie' Guerra (DEM)
County Tax Assessor-Collector
Jorge Garza (REP)
Pablo 'Paul' Villarreal, Jr. (DEM)
County Commissioner Precinct 1
David L. Fuentes (DEM)
County Commissioner Precinct 3
Everardo 'Ever' Villarreal (DEM)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 1, Place 1
Gilberto Saenz (DEM)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 1, Place 2 (unexpired term)
Jessica Villarreal (REP)
Andrew Gonzalez (DEM)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 2, Place 1
Princess Anne Gonzalez (REP)
Bobby Contreras (DEM)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 3, Place 1
Ramón Segovia
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 4, Place 1
Norma De La Rosa Saldana (REP)
Charlie Espinoza (DEM)
County Constable, Precinct No. 1
Celestino Avila Jr. (DEM)
County Constable, Precinct No. 2
Martín “Marty” Cantú (DEM)
County Constable, Precinct No. 3
Larry Gallardo (DEM)
County Constable, Precinct No. 4
Elias Mora (REP)
A. 'JR' Gaitan (DEM)
School Districts
PSJA ISD
For School Board Trustee, Place 4, PSJA ISD
Ricardo Rick Rodriguez
Eleazar Guajardo
For School Board Trustee, Place 5, PSJA ISD
Griselda Quintanilla
Pete Garcia
For School Board Trustee, Place 6, PSJA ISD
Jose Isaac Santa Maria
Ramona Barron
For School Board Trustee, Place 7, PSJA ISD
Cynthia A. Gutiérrez
Victor Perez
Edcouch-Elsa ISD
For School Board Trustee, Place No. 2, Edcouch Elsa ISD
Jarrett Castillo
Tony Barco
Cynthia 'Cindy' Tanguma
For School Board Trustee, Place No. 3, Edcouch Elsa ISD
Norma Linda Peña
Chris Morales
Dulce 'Candy' Ybarra
For School Board Trustee, Place No. 6, Edcouch Elsa ISD
Ashley Vasquez
Robert Schmalzried
For School Board Trustee, Place No. 7, Edcouch Elsa ISD
Abiud Jimenez
Rollie Lozano
Edinburg CISD
For School Board Trustee, Place 4, Edinburg CISD
Ruben Luna
Luis 'Louie' Alamia
Gloria Alonzo
For School Board Trustee, Place 6, Edinburg CISD
Carmen Gonzalez
Alex Rios
For School Board Trustee, Place 7, Edinburg CISD
David Torres
Hidalgo ISD
For School Board Trustee, Place No. 1, Hidalgo ISD
Norma Torres
Diana Silva-Gaona
For School Board Trustee, Place No. 2, Hidalgo ISD
Raymundo Ray Martinez
Frank Cruz
For School Board Trustee, Place No. 6, Hidalgo ISD
Pedro Flores
Rafael 'Ralph' Garza
Jennifer Quintero
For School Board Trustee, Place No. 7, Hidalgo ISD
Luis Trejo, Jr.
Guadalupe 'Lupe' Solano
La Joya ISD
For School Board Trustee, Place 4, La Joya ISD
Aurora 'Bodie' Garza
Eden Ramirez
For School Board Trustee, Place 5, La Joya ISD
Judy Solis
For School Board Trustee, Place 6, La Joya ISD
David 'EZ' Ramirez
For School Board Trustee, Place 7, La Joya ISD
Jerry Alaniz
Fausto Salinas, Jr
La Villa ISD
For School Board Trustee, Place 1, La Villa ISD
Andy Garza
Fidel Guzman, Jr.
David Hayes Alaniz
For School Board Trustee, Place 2, La Villa ISD
Robert 'Bevi' Perez
Marianna Reyna
For School Board Trustee, Place 3, La Villa ISD
Noe M. Castillo, Jr.
For School Board Trustee, Place 4, La Villa ISD
Ray Arnold Tamez
Edward 'EJ' Garcia
Mercedes ISD
For School Board Trustee, Place 5, Mercedes ISD
Joaquin Hernandez, Jr.
Lucy Delgado
Rachel Trevino
For School Board Trustee, Place 6, Mercedes ISD
Ricardo 'Rick' Hinojosa
Pete Martinez III
For School Board Trustee, Place 7, Mercedes ISD
Eddie Howell, Jr.
Horacio Pequeño
Rubén 'Chano' Guajardo
South Texas ISD
For School Board Trustee, Commissioner Precinct #1,
South Texas ISD
Sandra 'Sandy' Ochoa
Homero Garcia
Valley View ISD
For School Board Trustee, Place 4, Valley View ISD
Mario A. Degollado
Lucio B. Villagomez
For School Board Trustee, Place 5, Valley View ISD
Jaime Gaona
For School Board Trustee, Place 6, Valley View ISD
Juan Viveros
Claudia Hinojosa
For School Board Trustee, Place 7, Valley View ISD
Marisol Peña
Samuel M. Herevia
Weslaco ISD
For School Board Trustee, Place 1, Weslaco ISD
Joel Rivera
Eddie Serna
Alfredo 'Duff' Castaneda
For School Board Trustee, Place 2, Weslaco ISD
Marcos De Los Santos
For School Board Trustee, Place 3, Weslaco ISD
Ramon Resendez
Jacky Munoz Sustaita
Cities
Donna
Councilmember, Place No. 2, City of Donna
Joey Garza
Art Mendoza
Councilmember, Place No. 4, City of Donna
Manuel 'Manny' Moreno
Oscar Gonzales
Edcouch
Alderman, Place 1, City of Edcouch
Joel Medina, Jr.
Alderman, Place 2, City of Edcouch
Lorenzo 'Lencho' Cabrera
Rodolfo 'Rudy' Rodriguez
Alderman, Place 5, City of Edcouch
Armando Alcala
Selma Garcia Morales
Kayla Vallejo
Progreso
Commissioner, Place 1, City of Progreso Special
Raul Flores, Jr.
Gio Valdez
Commissioner, Place 3, City of Progreso Special
Eric Rangel
Fernando 'Fernie' Rangel
Commissioner, Place 5, City of Progreso Special
Stephanie Alegria
Eleazar Perez, Jr.
Weslaco
For Commissioner At-Large, City of Weslaco
Thomas Gregory
Johnny Joe Salinas, Jr.
Dominic A. Reyna
Pete Garcia, Jr.
For Commissioner District 3, City of Weslaco
Jose P. 'JP' Rodriguez
Randy Hall
Sources: Hidalgo County Elections Department
Texas Secretary of State