Amarillo Pioneer readers made their voices heard in the first primary survey of the season.
The unscientific survey was conducted over a week, polling readers of the Amarillo Pioneer on who their top picks were for the March 6th Republican and Democratic primary elections. Voters made their choices clear in both counties' contests. About 70 votes were cast in each race.
Statewide, Amarillo Pioneer readers named Senator Ted Cruz and Governor Greg Abbott as their favorites in the top ballot races by large margins. In both counties, Cruz netted 80 percent or better in the Senate race, while Governor Greg Abbott pulled in just shy of 90 percent in both counties with his top competition coming from Barbara Krueger.
In other statewide races, readers in both counties chose Dan Patrick, George P. Bush and Sid Miller as their favorites for Lt. Governor, Land Commissioner and Agriculture Commissioner, respectively.
In local races, readers chose Victor Leal for State Senate by whopping margins. Leal pulled in the support of 82 percent of Potter County readers and 74 percent of Randall County readers. Readers also narrowly chose Four Price over Fritch city manager Drew Brassfield in the District 87 State Representative race.
For Potter County's judicial races, readers chose Steven Denny, Walt Weaver and Matt Hand as their favorites for 320th District Judge and both Potter County Court-at-Law spots, respectively. Potter readers also chose Crystal Flores in a narrow race for district clerk and challenger Robert Taylor over incumbent Justice of the Peace Richard Herman.
Randall County readers, on the other hand, split over incumbents and challengers. Tam Boatler won the favor of Randall County readers in his race for Randall County Commissioner against incumbent Mark Benton and Terry Harman narrowly topped realtor Jinger White among readers surveyed for Randall County Republican Party chairman. Randall readers also narrowly picked Susan Allen for county clerk.
On the Democratic side, votes were much slimmer from Pioneer readers. Pioneer Democrats had Beto O'Rourke for U.S. Senate, Tom Wakely for Governor and Mike Collier for Lt. Governor with 100 percent each. No votes were cast in any other Democratic races.
