SD-5: Incumbent Ogden Leading by Huge Margin

After a sometimes ugly campaign, two-decade incumbent Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, appears to have stomped challenger Ben Bius in Senate District 5.

With nearly 70 percent of precincts reporting, Ogden had nearly 70 percent of the vote, a practically insurmountable lead. 

The campaign included allegations of lying from both men. In addition, Bius challenged the propriety of Ogden’s daughter being a registered lobbyist, while Ogden accused Bius of defaulting on a state contract. Though Odgen is generally regarded as a stalwart conservative, Bius sought to place his candidacy even more to the right, making the abolition of “generational welfare” a centerpiece of   his rhetoric. Ogden, meanwhile, stuck to a simple message: As the long-time chair of the Senate finance committee, he has the experience and expertise to handle the potential fiscal crisis looming over the upcoming session — and Bius does not. 

The candidates have spent plenty making their cases, according to the latest campaign finance reports. Ogden, who came into the race with a war chest of nearly $700,000, raised at least an additional $267,000 and spent about $425,000. Bius, according to reports, raised on $44,280 but spent more than $320,000, much of it apparently his own money.

The district includes all or part of Brazos, Burleson, Freestone, Grimes, Houston, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Madison, Milam, Robertson, Trinity, Walker and Williamson counties.