Tom Green County GOP Primary Sees Unopposed Incumbents, Intriguing Contests, and a Lack of Democratic Candidates

SAN ANGELO, Texas – In an anticipated turn of events, Tom Green County's upcoming March GOP Primary ballot will witness several elected officials running unopposed, with the exception of one notable incumbent facing a challenger. As the filing deadline passed, it became evident that the political landscape in the region could potentially undergo a transformation, with several key positions up for contention.

Long-time Republican Precinct 1 County Commissioner Ralph Hoelscher found himself in a competitive race, drawing an opponent in the form of Michele Derusso. Meanwhile, Pct. 4 Constable Randy Harris chose not to seek reelection, setting the stage for a face-off between seasoned law enforcement professionals Thomas Bigham and Gary Cole vying for that position in the March GOP primary.

The absence of incumbent 119th District Judge Ben Woodward in the reelection race has paved the way for San Angelo Attorney Gonzalo Rios, the sole candidate to file for the seat. Barring any unforeseen circumstances or appointments, Rios is poised to assume office on January 1, 2025.

However, a riveting showdown has surfaced in the State Representative race, with Big Spring Resident Stormy Bradley emerging as a formidable challenger to incumbent Drew Darby. This unexpected challenge injects fresh vigor into the State Representative contest and has the potential to reshape the political dynamics within the district.

The upcoming elections will showcase a slew of statutory offices up for grabs, including State Representative Dist. 72, District Attorneys for the 51st and 119th Districts, District Judges across JD 51, 119, 340, and 391, Tom Green Co. Attorney, Sheriff, Tax Assessor-Collector, Commissioners for Pct. 1 and Pct. 3, as well as Constables for Precincts 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Of note is the conspicuous absence of Democratic candidates in the primary race, with only two filing for candidacy in this crucial election cycle. This absence stands out starkly amidst the Republican incumbents pursuing reelection bids.

According to the Secretary of State's website, Daniel Cardenas filed to run in the Democratic Primary for Tom Green County Commissioner, Pct. 1 on the last day to file.  He will be unopposed in March and will face the winner of the GOP Primary in November, 2024.  

And Mercedes Dela Cruz has filed for Tom Green County Commissioner, Pct. 3 late Monday as well.  She faces no opposition in the March Primary and will take on incumbent Rick Bacon in the November 2024 general election.  

Adding an extra layer of political activity in 2024, San Angelo voters will witness the March Primary featuring candidates for statutory offices while concurrently engaging in a race for the municipal Police Chief of San Angelo slated for May. The forthcoming election for Police Chief has become more intriguing as Chief Frank Carter has decided not to seek reelection. The contenders for this crucial position are Travis Griffith and Mike Hernandez, vying to take the helm of the San Angelo Police Department.

As the political landscape in Tom Green County gears up for the primary elections, anticipation and interest among voters are notably high, given the mix of unopposed incumbents, contested positions, and the intriguing absence of Democratic candidates in this crucial electoral cycle.

San Angelo LIVE! will have complete election coverage throughout the primary and general election cycles as well as interviews, analysis and in depth coverage of the municipal Police Chief race. 

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