BEAUMONT, Texas — Southeast Texas voters aren’t done yet with the Republican primary election race for District 21 Texas State Representative as a runoff has been declared.
Texas Speaker Dade Phelan, who received 14,542 votes, or 43.2% of the vote, will face David Covey, who received 15,576 votes, or 46.3% of the votes.
The date across Texas for runoffs in the primary election is Tuesday, May 28, 2024.
Early voting for the May runoff will run from May 20 through May 24, 2024 and the last day to register to vote in the runoff is April 29, 2024.
Here's how the race broke down across all three counties...
- Phelan: 6,106
- Covey: 4,076
- Davis: 419
- Covey: 8,203
- Phelan: 5,917
- Davis: 925
- Covey: 3,300
- Phelan: 2,524
- Davis: 2,173
12news was not able to speak to Phelan Tuesday night but he released a statement later that night.
“Against a tidal wave of outside influence and the relentless flood of special interest dollars pouring into House District 21, our campaign emerges today still standing strong against the tides that have sought to unseat me," Phelan said n a statement sent to 12News late Tuesday night.
"The barrage aimed at our campaign over the past year was meant to be my undoing, and yet here I am, emerging from the most contentious and expensive primary in state history still fighting and more determined than ever. Clearly, what these outsiders have underestimated is the strength of Southeast Texas voters. I cannot thank them enough for their support."
Read Phelan's full statement below.
Covey was not available before the newscast but spoke to 12News after 10:30 p.m.
"I am extremely excited and happy with the results here," Covey told 12News late Tuesday night. "It looks like we're going to be going into a runoff. This gives us more time to go meet the voters and interact with them and that's what our campaign has been established on."
"We were not surprised we put a tremendous amount of effort in and just meeting the people in this district and in 84 days we'll do this again," Covey said.
"I am so happy for all the people who showed up on a week night," Covey said, "People love our community they love our state and their going to be with us to the end."
Recently Covey told 12News his main focus was on border security and election integrity but was still reacting to Phelan’s criticisms during the campaign telling 12News he wanted to the record straight.
"I am not an attorney; I've never claimed to be an attorney. I do have a law degree but that doesn't make me an attorney,” Covey said, adding “I'm running as an everyday person here. I work at the plants in Southeast Texas. I'm a normal person and I'm going to continue to work the best I can to represent my community.”
Kirbyville native Alicia Davis told 12News recently that she built her platform around grassroots politics and the pursuit to improve the quality of life for Texans. She also said that she had spent the last five years fighting to eliminate property taxes.
Read Texas House Speaker's full statement...
“Against a tidal wave of outside influence and the relentless flood of special interest dollars pouring into House District 21, our campaign emerges today still standing strong against the tides that have sought to unseat me. The barrage aimed at our campaign over the past year was meant to be my undoing, and yet here I am, emerging from the most contentious and expensive primary in state history still fighting and more determined than ever. Clearly, what these outsiders have underestimated is the strength of Southeast Texas voters. I cannot thank them enough for their support.
“What they’ve also underestimated is the power of a platform based on actual results. As Speaker, I have proudly presided over the two most conservative sessions in state history, securing numerous victories including an $18 billion property tax cut, constitutional carry, a ban on abortion, increased penalties for illegal voting, the strongest border security measures in the country, protecting our kids from the radical woke agenda and more. While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, they are not entitled to their own facts. Despite the lies and attempts by my opponents to disparage this conservative record of the Texas House, the facts speak for themselves -- my leadership has led to the passage of conservative legislation that Republican voters have long been fighting for.
“This runoff is not just another race, it’s the frontline of the battle for the soul of our district. While my opponent hides behind empty rhetoric, dishonest advertising and surrogate voices, I stand before voters with a clear record of service and conservative success for Southeast Texas. Our campaign has been and will continue to be about the issues that matter, the results we've achieved, and the victories we've secured for House District 21. I am confident we will ultimately be victorious, carrying our momentum into the runoff and securing a resounding win that reflects the true will of our district – not the will of fringe West Texas billionaires.
“In the next couple of months, the deceit and vitriol we’ve witnessed from my opponent and his dark money allies is poised to escalate to even greater heights. I urge the citizens of Southeast Texas to meet the coming storm with a critical eye and recognize the external forces desperate to claim what is ours.
“With the power and support of the voters in Jasper, Jefferson and Orange counties behind our campaign, I have full faith the true will of Southeast Texas will triumph. This May, we will show them that our district, our values, and our speakership are not for sale.”