Early voting for the 2024 general election starts Monday, and races at all levels are treated as high stakes.
The race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris has been touted as the race that saves democracy; at the state level, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz is facing stiff competition from Democrat U.S. Rep. Colin Allred and Libertarian Ted Brown, while incumbent Rep. Morgan Luttrell faces Democrate Laura Jones; and since Janis Holt defeated incumbent Earnest Bailes in the primary election, she will face Libertarian Seth Steele for State Representative District 18.
At the county level, a lawsuit over the results of the primary election sheriff between incumbent Greg Capers and Constable Sam Houston has been filed; while Houston’s name is on the ballot, the results of the civil suit could changes things.
Houston won the primary election; however, Capers filed a suit contesting the results. A trial had been scheduled to begin on Monday as well; however, Capers’ attorney is seeking to delay the trial until Nov. 18.
Houston’s attorney has filed an answer to the suit, denying all allegations made in Capers' filing and claiming it was filed too late, and since ballots have been delivered and early voting has started, the case is moot.
Last week, Capers put a press release on social media stating there are numerous misconceptions and misinformation being spread concerning the Sheriff’s election contest lawsuit against Mr. Sam Houston.
The release states the Sheriff’s Office received complaints from residents of San Jacinto County alleging possible voter fraud had occurred in the San Jacinto County primary elections, but only after the recount had occurred.
An investigation was initiated, and investigators found a number of illegal/ineligible votes had been cast and counted, according to the statement.
The investigators then contacted the Election Integrity Division of the Texas Attorney General’s Office concerning this investigation, and subsequently, Capers filed his lawsuit, which is the only means to contest an election result. Judge Albert McCaig was assigned to the case.
Capers said in the statement that the civil trial has no bearing on the criminal investigation, and that his lawsuit is about “doing what’s right” and ensuring that the truth is exposed to the public.
A release from Sam Houston states that while he believes it is in the best interest of the residents of San Jacinto County to have investigations into elections, those that involve a sitting official should be conducted by a third party to ensure fairness.
Law enforcement should focus its efforts on investigating crimes and protecting residents and on upholding peace and safety, and taxpayer dollars and crucially important man-hours should not be spent bolstering a civil lawsuit, the statement reads.
It also states that Houston refutes allegations of improper votes affecting the election and has every confidence that the San Jacinto County public servants conducting the election did an outstanding job.
