AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ The oldest member of the Texas Legislature is trying to hang on to his seat in Tuesday’s primary runoff elections.
Eighty-six-year-old Delwin Jones is one of three longtime House incumbents whose careers are on the line in races that will shape the November elections.
All told, nine legislative races, seven congressional seats, a statewide Supreme Court race and an open spot on the State Board of Education are up for grabs.
First elected in 1964 in West Texas, Jones lost in 1972 to cotton farmer Pete Laney, a Democrat who would later become speaker of the House. Laney then made Jones, who was re-elected in 1988 as a Republican, one of his top committee chairmen.
Jones’ opponent, accountant Charles Perry, is a tea party conservative who surprised observers by making the runoff in a three-way race.