Seliger wins; Eltife, Sadler in tight race (TX State Senate Election for District 1 and 31)

dfw.com ^ | 02/17/04 | LISA FALKENBERG

[KQQL]

Democratic former state representative was in a tight race with a Republican former mayor of Tyler Tuesday evening in a runoff election to replace longtime Republican state Sen. Bill Ratliff in the GOP-leaning East Texas district.

Meanwhile, former Amarillo Mayor Kel Seliger defeated Odessa businessman Kirk Edwards in the West Texas race to replace Republican Sen. Teel Bivins.

Ratliff resigned his position after a divisive redistricting battle and Bivins left his post after he was nominated in December by President Bush to serve as ambassador to Sweden.

January elections did not produce a winner, so the top two candidates in each race advanced to a runoff.

[KQQL]

Texas Elections, Office of the Secretary of State


http://204.65.107.70/

[SolidSupplySide]

Eltife has won.

[KQQL]

!

[KQQL]

sorry ///////that's the stupid paper's headlines....

[KQQL]

RACE NAME PARTY EARLY VOTES PERCENT TOTAL VOTES PERCENT
State Senator, District 31 - Unexpired Term


Kirk Edwards REP 13,619 53.23% 31,476 46.33%

Kel Seliger REP 11,964 46.77% 36,469 53.67%

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Vote Total 25,583 67,945

Early Provisional Ballots Reported 3

Provisional Ballots Reported 21

Precincts Reported 210 of 220 Precincts 95.45%

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[SolidSupplySide]

I'm keeping track. Sadler would have to win the remaining votes 70-30 to pull off the upset. I posted a few minutes before you to register my disdain for the unwillingness of the press to call this race.

[WOSG]

Kirk Edwards REP 13,619 53.23% 31,476 46.33%
Kel Seliger REP 11,964 46.77% 36,469 53.67%

[KQQL]

RACE NAME PARTY EARLY VOTES PERCENT TOTAL VOTES PERCENT
State Senator, District 1 - Unexpired Term

http://204.65.107.70/04runstsen1.htm

[WOSG]

Kevin Eltife REP 13,485 51.06% 43,022 52.59%
Paul Sadler DEM 12,923 48.94% 38,780 47.41%


52% to 47%, not the tightest race I've seen.

[Theodore R.]

Is it Texarkana that has reported no votes thus far? There are 37 precincts there, enough for Sadler to close the race at this time.

[deport]

Results as of 10:15 p.m.
277 of 313 precints reporting.

KEVIN ELTIFE, Rep. --- total votes - 43,022 (52.59%)

PAUL SADLER, Dem. --- total votes - 38,780 (47.41%)

TOTAL VOTES CAST: 81,802 (88.50% of total votes)

[Theodore R.]

I think the reason that the race cannot be called as of 10:20 p.m. is that Sadler could win 70-30 in Bowie Co. and yet prevail. This thing could wind up nearly 50-50.

[HoundsTooth_BP]

Especially, when they know how many votes they need.

[KQQL]

@

[SolidSupplySide]

The most recent precincts to report have been heavily for Eltife (70-30). But half an hour ago there was a very large precinct (over 2,000 voters in east Texas) that went 66-34 for Sadler.

[Theodore R.]

Only 3 percent of Texarkana has apparently posted. That is a large bloc of votes remaining there for a race as tight as this has been. Maybe Eltife will win with 50.5 percent. The race hasn't yet been called, has it?

[SolidSupplySide]

I know 100% of Lamar County (Paris) has reported. Lamar went strong for Sadler.

According to my spreadsheet, Sadler needs to win the remaining precincts 70-30 to win. I have called the race for Eltife.

[Theodore R.]

Off this topic, but I guess you saw that Ben Chandler won the KY open House seat by a 55-45 margin, the same margin as his defeat for governor in November.