Openly gay Dallas County District Clerk Gary Fitzsimmons is well on his way to the Democratic nomination, leading challenger Johnny Gomez by 72 percent to 28 percent after early voting. Fitzsimmons received 11,692 votes to Gomez’s 4,453.
Also well on her way to the Democratic nomination is former Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Elba Garcia, who’s ahead of Rose Renfroe in the race for the Precinct 4 County Commissioner seat. After early voting, Garcia had 68 percent, or 3,070 votes, to Renfroe’s 32 percent, or 1,470 votes. Garcia is a longtime LGBT ally and was endorsed by Stonewall Democrats in the race. The winner will face anti-gay Republican Kenneth Mayfield in November.
In the Precinct 5 constable race, embattled incumbent Jaime Cortes may be facing a runoff. After early voting, Cortes had 44 percent of the vote, well below the 50 percent needed to win the nomination outright. In second place is Beth Villarreal at 30 percent, followed by Mike Orozco at 21 percent and Ozumba Lnuk-X at 5 percent. Cortes defeated Villarreal two years ago, but it appears she may get another shot at him in April.
