Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez secured the Democratic nomination in the county judge’s race Tuesday night and will now face Republican nominee Esmeralda Flores in the November general election.
With more than 99% of the votes in and 115 out of 116 precincts reporting, Cortez felt confident he had clinched enough votes to avoid a runoff election.
He received 50.3% of the votes for a total of 20,562 votes. Attorney and former McAllen City Commissioner Tania Ramirez followed with nearly 30%, or 12,117 votes, while former Hidalgo County Democratic Party Chair Norma Ramirez received 20%, or a total of 8,198 votes.
“I’m proud that more than 50% of the Democratic people that voted voted for me,” Cortez said late Tuesday night. “It tells me that the majority of the people were happy with my leadership and the things that I’ve done and I hope that I improve.”
Flores, a business owner and former educator, received more than 56% of the votes, or a total of 7,318 to defeat Jane Cross for the Republican nomination.
Cross received nearly 44% of the votes for a total of 5,694 votes.
Cortez and Flores are moving forward to the general election in November.
