KACAL, BIUS HEADED TO RUNOFF IN HD-12 RACE; RUNOFFS ALSO EXPECTED FOR HD-17, HD-85 RACES

Josh Blaschke March 2, 2022

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Results are too close to call in the race for State Representative District 12, and the race will be headed to a runoff.

Five-term incumbent Kyle Kacal received 47.2 percent of the vote, while Huntsville businessman Ben Bius received 41.5 percent. Joshua Hamm, a U.S. Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient from Brazos County, received 11.2 percent.

Kacal said relationships are the key to success in Austin, and he hopes to continue meeting with residents to educate them on the matters facing this new District 12.

Kacal said his goal is to ensure that rural Texas has a seat at the table when discussing plans for incoming growth, as well as the infrastructure and school systems to accommodate it.

Bius said his conservative stance and the issues he is campaigning on have resonated with the voters of this new district.

Bius thanked State Representative Ben Leman for his support, saying it has made a big difference in the new part of the district.

Hamm said while this election may not have resulted in victory, he is still very pleased with the outcome.

Hamm said he plans to continue his efforts and will likely run again, depending on the runoff’s outcome.

Kacal was the leading candidate in Brazos, Robertson and Madison counties. Bius received the most votes in Washington, Grimes and Walker counties.

The winner between Kacal and Bius will be unopposed come November’s general election.

Races for State Representative District 17 and District 85 appear headed toward runoff elections as well.

For the House District 17 seat formerly held by John Cyrier, who is not running for a fifth term, Smithville City Councilmember and former Trump Administration advisor Stan Gerdes led all candidates with 29.9 percent of the vote. Bastrop County Judge Paul Pape trailed with 27.7 percent, followed by Lee County resident and retired ExxonMobil executive Tom Glass with 25.6 percent, Lee County resident and former Marine Trey Rutledge with 10.1 percent and southern Bastrop County resident and small business owner Jennifer Bezner with 6.5 percent.

The new House District 17 consists of Bastrop, Burleson, Caldwell, Lee and Milam counties. The Republican nominee will go on to face Democrat and nonprofit founder Madeline Eden in November’s general election.

In House District 85, five-term incumbent Phil Stephenson received 39.9 percent of the vote, while former Waller County Commissioner and current Brookshire-Katy Drainage District General Manager Stan Kitzman received 34.5 percent. Insurance agent and rancher Fred Roberts of Colorado County received 15.7 percent of votes, and Waller County resident and career educator Artemio “Art” Hernandez received 9.7 percent.

After redistricting, the new House District 85 includes Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Waller and Wharton counties, along with parts of Fort Bend County. The winning Republican will run against Democrat and U.S. Navy veteran Larry Baggett of Hockley in November.

Runoff elections are scheduled for May 24^th.

Total Vote Breakdown for HD-12