Mike Rawlings
Former Pizza Hut CEO Mike Rawlings has a big lead in the race for Dallas mayor after early voting.
Rawlings, the city’s former parks board chairman, captured 43 percent of the early vote. Former Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle, endorsed by Stonewall Democrats, is second with 29 percent, and City Councilman Ron Natinsky, endorsed by the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance, is third with 27 percent. Edward Okpa received 2 percent of the early vote.
Because early voting is expected to account for roughly half of the overall turnout, it’s looking like Rawlings will be in a June runoff with either Kunkle or Natinsky.
But we won’t know for sure until later tonight, when Election Day results are counted.
If no one gets more than 50 percent of the vote tonight, the top two vote-getters advance to a runoff. Only about 650 votes separate Kunkle and Natinsky. Rawlings received 12,693 early votes, Kunkle received 8,553 and Natinsky received 7,900. Okpa received 542.
In the District 14 Dallas City Council race, incumbent Angela Hunt has a commanding lead after early voting, with 64 percent. Openly gay challenger James Nowlin, endorsed by Stonewall Democrats, is second with 30 percent. Brian Oley is third with 4 percent, and Vernon Franko is fourth with 2 percent. Based on early voting, Hunt is likely to avoid a runoff. Again, though, it’s too soon to say for sure. Hunt received 2,042 early votes and Nowlin received 968.
In District 3, challenger Scott Griggs has the lead after early voting over incumbent Dave Neumann. Griggs received 56 percent of the early vote to Neumann’s 44 percent. This race is still too close to call, as fewer than 300 votes separate the two candidates. Griggs received 1,287 early votes, while Neumann received 1,022.
In District 7, incumbent Carolyn Davis has a commanding lead with 64 percent of the vote. Openly gay candidate Casie Pierce is third with 16 percent, while Helene McKinney is second with 20 percent. Davis received 910 early votes to McKinney’s 284 and Pierce’s 234.
In District 2, incumbent Pauline Medrano has a commanding lead over challenger Billy MacLoed. Medrano got 74 percent of the early vote to MacLoed’s 26 percent.
In District 6, Monica Alonzo leads Luis Sepulveda by 61 percent to 39 percent in the race for the seat being vacated by Councilman Steve Salazar.
In District 10, incumbent Sheffie Kadane has a commanding lead over two challengers. And in District 10, incumbent Jerry Allen has 73 percent to challenger Cynthia Durbin’s 27 percent.
In the race to replace Natinsky in District 12, Sandy Greyson leads with 48 percent after early voting. Donna Stames is second with 41 percent, and William Tsao is third with 12 percent.
In District 13, incumbent Ann Margolin received 90 percent of the early vote, while challenger Richard Sheridan received 10 percent.
Incumbents Delia Jasso in District 1, Dwaine Caraway in District 4, Vonciel Jones Hill in District 5, Tennell Atkins in District 8 and Linda Koop in District 11 are unopposed.
Detailed results from all Dallas County races can be found here.
We expect Election Day results to start coming in shortly after 9 p.m. Stay tuned.
I’m glad to see Natinsky in 3rd. I liked Kunkle but he had too much Laura Miller stinch on him. I didn’t care for her endorsement or that her husband was his campaign manager.
Matthew,
I agree with you.
I am so glad we NOwlin is going down hard. I am so sick of seeing his, “vote for me because I’m gay and rock the vote” ad’s. I was actually open to voting for him in the beginning, but his attack ads and negative campaigning by him and his little lacky’s at the young stonewalls just turne me off.