Union Activist Wins Democratic Bid for Lt. Gov

DALLAS (AP) _ Labor leader Linda Chavez-Thompson has defeated former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle to win the Democratic nomination in the Texas lieutenant governor’s race.

The win Tuesday night means Chavez-Thompson will challenge Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in the November election.

Chavez-Thompson, a high-ranking official in the AFL-CIO and a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, is trying to become the first Democrat to win statewide office since 1994.

Earle served as Travis County DA for 31 years until retiring in 2008, leading high-profile investigations of alleged state government corruption.

Chavez-Thompson won 53 percent of the vote with most precincts reporting. Earle had 35 percent and Austin deli owner Marc Katz had 12 percent.

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