HARRIS COUNTY – State Representative Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, was the winner of a special election held Tuesday December 11, to fill the seat in the Texas Senate District 6, vacated by Sylvia Garcia.
There were four candidates running for the position. Alvarado finished with just over 50.4% to avoid a run-off. Democratic State Representative Ana Hernandez received 24% of the vote, Republican Martha Fierro 23%, and Democrat Mia Mundy 2.1%.
Turnout was light, with only 5% of the eligible voters turning out.
Alvarado had run before for this position in 2013 in a special election, against 5 other candidates. Sylvia Garcia won a run-off against Alvarado by over 1000 votes.
Alvarado won votes in the precincts that overlap her House District 145, and almost received as many votes in Hernandez’s District 143. Her campaign was backed by a large budget, and she also benefitted from name recognition both from her previous campaign and her time as City Councilwoman in the same areas as District 6. In addition, her District covered more of District 6 than Hernandez’s did.
Ana Hernandez will return to the Texas House, having won that race in November. Alvarado will have her term until January 2021.
After her election was apparent, a national women’s rights organization supporting abortion rights, Emily’s List, issued a statement praising her victory and saying she had the skill to work with Republicans on issues.