LaMantia wins Senate runoff for District 27

Morgan LaMantia prevailed in the Democratic primary runoff election for State Senate District 27 against opponent Sara Stapleton Barrera as of press time Tuesday night, according to uncanvassed voting results from the Texas Secretary of State and county elections departments.

The newly redrawn District 27 is made up of Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Kenedy, Kleberg, Nueces, San Patricio and Bee counties.

LaMantia bested Barrera 14,239 to 10,788 total votes, totaled from votes across Bee, Cameron, Hidalgo, Kenedy, Kleberg, Nueces, San Patricio and Willacy counties.

In Cameron County with 100 percent of precincts reporting, Barrera squeaked by LaMantia 50.28 percent. A handful of other counties went for Barrera, but not enough to offset LaMantia’s total votes.

LaMantia, a resident of South Padre Island, won the seat held since 1991 by Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., who Barrera forced into a runoff in the 2020 primary. Lucio, who last year announced he would not seek reelection for the seat, had endorsed LaMantia, an attorney employed by her family’s business, McAllen-based L&F Distributors. In the March 1 primary election, LaMantia won 34 percent of the vote to Barrera’s 33 percent.

Reached by phone late Tuesday, LaMantia attributed her win to “going grassroots, talking to as many voters as we could, going door to door and really reaching out to the community.”

She also credited her campaign team and the support of friends and family. LaMantia will go up against Republican primary runoff winner Adam Hinojosa in the Nov. 8 general election. She said feels good about her chances.

“I feel really good,” LaMantia said. “I feel very confident, but we’re not going to leave any stone unturned, and we’re going to continue to run the race for the general just as hard and just as strong during the primary and during this runoff.”

If she should win in November, LaMantia said she intends to work to fund public education, support teachers currently employed and retired, and expand Medicaid and access to mental health services in District 27 among other priorities.

Also reached by phone Tuesday night, Barrera said she’s done with running for office but considers the whole experience valuable, especially the skills she acquired during campaigning.

“It was a definitely a learning experience,” she said. “I feel like I can walk into any room room right and now have meaningful conversation with anybody there. … I think it’s made me a better people person, and I think that itself was well worth the time.”

Barrera congratulated LaMantia on her victory.

“Obviously I’m disappointed, but I would love to congratulate her,” she said. “She was out there, she was a newcomer and she worked her a— off. I’m a proud supporter of the Democratic party, and I will be there to push and to help whatever it may be.”