On election day, voters in Southeast Texas participated in pivotal local races and a special election for Texas Senate District 4. This included ballots for Jefferson County, Port Arthur, Nederland, and Orangefield.
Key Races in Jefferson County
In Jefferson County, the standout event was the special election for state Senate District 4. This vacancy arose when Brandon Creighton resigned to take the position of chancellor at Texas Tech University. The Republican candidate, Brett Liggin, emerged victorious against Democrat Ron Angeletti, an educator and small-business owner.
The two candidates are set for a rematch in November, aiming for a four-year term. Liggin will fulfill the remaining term of Creighton, which is scheduled to conclude at the start of the next legislative session in January.
Port Arthur Council Races
Several key races unfolded in Port Arthur, affecting city governance. In District 1, incumbent Councilman Willie Bae Lewis faced competition from Taylor Getwood and Artrell McCullar Sr. Since none of the candidates secured a majority, Lewis and Getwood will compete in a runoff.
- District 2: Cal Jones won a significant victory with 66% of the votes, succeeding Tiffany Hamilton-Everfield, who chose not to seek re-election.
- District 3: A runoff will occur between Warren Pena and Charlie Lewis Jr., as they both failed to achieve a 50% majority.
- District 4: Kaala Jones and Chuck Vincent will go head-to-head again in a runoff, with neither candidate reaching the required majority.
Port Arthur ISD Elections
The Port Arthur Independent School District also had important decisions on the ballot. Voters were tasked with selecting two at-large school board members. Out of candidates Kenenth Lofton Sr., Carolyn Brown, and Nathaniel Collins Jr., Lofton and Collins emerged as winners.
Nederland and Orangefield Results
In Nederland, incumbent Randy Sonnier retained his Ward 3 city council seat, gaining 58% of the votes against challenger Keith Bass.
Nederland Independent School District voters elected two at-large trustees from a field of six candidates, resulting in victories for A.J. DeLage and incumbent Kay DeCuir.
Meanwhile, Orangefield ISD approved Proposition A, a significant $13 million bond aimed at upgrading the baseball and softball fields, along with stadium improvements, achieving 69% approval.
Polling Locations
Voters across Jefferson County and Orange County had several polling locations. Key sites in Jefferson County included:
- Marion & Ed Hughes Public Library, Nederland
- Jefferson County Sub-Courthouse, Port Arthur
- Port Arthur Library, Port Arthur
- Jefferson County Courthouse, Beaumont
Orange County polling sites included the Orange Public Library and the Orange County Expo Center. All polls closed at 7 p.m.
