Early Voting Underway in Runoffs

EAST TEXAS — Early voting for the May 24 runoff elections is underway and continues through May 20. In East Texas, Bryan Hughes faces David Simpson in the battle for State Senate District 1. The winner will replace Kevin Eltife, who’s retiring from the post. Also, Cole Hefner squares off against Jay Misenheimer in the contest for Hughes’s State House District 5 seat. All four candidates are Republicans. There are other races to be decided as well. In Smith County, incumbent Precinct 4 Constable John Smith faces a GOP primary challenge from Josh Joplin. The winner will go up against Democrat Larry Reddic in November. There’s also a Republican runoff between Mary Lou Bruner of Smith County and Keven Ellis of Lufkin for State Board of Education District 9. The winner of that election will face Democrat Amanda Rudolph this fall.