Brazos County voters decided Tuesday that John Raney will fill the unexpired term of Fred Brown in The Texas House of Representatives.
Raney defeated Bob Yancy with 3,901 votes, or 58 percent of ballots cast. Yancy finished with 2,834 votes, or 42 percent. Only eight percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the runoff.
Yancy received the most votes in the November 8 election, landing almost 1,200 more than Raney. But Raney obviously won over more voters who cast their ballots for other candidates in November.
Early voting results set the tone for the returns as Raney jumped out to an almost 500-vote lead. He led Yancy 58-42, percentage-wise, the entire evening.
The win is somewhat symbolic because Raney will face re-election before he serves in a regular session of the House.
However, he will immediately assume Brown’s committee assignments, as handed out during the 2011 session. Those assignments are only valid until the 2013 legislative session begins and the Speaker of the House hands out new committee assignments.
Raney would also represent the 14th House district during a special session, should one be called by Gov. Rick Perry.
The winner of the Republican primary will face a challenger in the general election.
One Democrat, Judy Webb LeUnes, has already said she intends to run in 2012. LeUnes finished third in the November 8 special election with 3,060 (22.63%) votes.
John Raney visits with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.