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Victor Perez defeated Pete Garcia 57.8% to 43.2% in Tuesday’s runoff for the Democratic nomination for the District 2 seat on the State Board of Education, according to unofficial returns.
If the results hold up, Perez would win the nomination. There was no Republican runoff. In the March 1 primary, L.J. Francis received 57.5% of the vote and was nominated. He and Perez will now face off in the Nov. 8 general election.
Ruben Cortez of Brownsville formerly held the seat but chose to run for the open District 37 seat in the Texas House of Representatives.
Perez received 13,455 early votes, 56.8% of the total, to 10,235, and 43.2% for Garcia.
With all 642 precincts reporting, including Cameron and Hidalgo counties, Perez was ahead 20,649 votes to 16,150 for Garcia.
Perez, a former teacher, principal and school board member, pledged during his campaign to work closely with teachers and school districts to make sure they have the proper tools to succeed.
In a text message during early voting Perez said he was running for the seat “to support increasing teacher pay, investing more in education and demanding better results from our schools.”
Garcia, of Pharr, has based his campaign on support for public schools.
Voters from Aransas, Calhoun, Cameron, Hidalgo, Jackson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, Wharton and Willacy Counties voted in the Democratic Party primary election runoff for State Board of Education, District 2.
The results districtwide mirrored those from Hidalgo and Cameron counties.
