Two Democrats in Runoff for HD-124 Seat

Two Democrats are advancing to a second round in the race to replace former state Rep. José Menéndez in House District 124, likely adding a few weeks to the last in a series of special elections. 

With 100 percent of precincts reporting late Tuesday, former Bexar County prosecutor Ina Minjarez led Delicia Herrera, a former member of the San Antonio City Council, 42 percent to 28 percent, in unofficial returns. Neither captured the majority needed to win outright in the four-way race. 

The runoff will sharpen the contrast between Herrera and Minjarez, both of whom have talked up education and transportation throughout the abbreviated contest. Herrera benefits from relatively high name recognition — her council district included part of HD-124 — while Minjarez has stood out for her fundraising ability. 

Firefighter Nathan Alonzo narrowly missed the runoff, trailing Herrera by just 88 votes out of 1,961. Insurance agent David Rosa finished last with 6 percent of the vote.

The winner of the yet-to-be-scheduled second round will take the seat formerly held by Menéndez, who last month won a promotion to the upper chamber. The runoff is expected to fill the final vacancy in the Legislature this session. The district covers a part of San Antonio's heavily Democratic west side.