Hagenbuch, Yarbrough in runoff for State Senate

Voters will determine the shape of the District 30 Texas Senate race in the May 28 runoff election, when Republicans Brent Hagenbuch and Jace Yarbrough and Democrats Michael Braxton and Dale Frey face each other for the nominations.

County voters chose trucking company CEO Brent Hagenbuch and attorney Jace Yarbrough as the top two candidates for the District 30 Texas Senate seat that Sen. Drew Springer will vacate in January of 2025. Hagenbuch, who was endorsed by Gov. Greg Abbott and Mr. Springer, won 43.9 percent and Yarbrough won 29.6 percent of the vote in Young County. The race was tighter in District 30 as a whole, with 36 percent for Mr. Hagenbuch and 34 percent for Mr. Yarbrough.

On the Democratic side, the race was similarly tight, with 37 percent voting for Mr. Braxton, the owner of Braxton’s Barbershop in Denison and pastor of Bethel Communtiy Baptist Church, and 33 percent for Mr. Frey, a web developer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Mr. Hagenbuch, who received more votes than any other primary candidates, said he was “humbled and amazed at the outpouring of support” for his candidacy. He also bested Frisco physician Dr. Carrie de Moor and Cody Clark, a former Denton police officer who owns a company that provides care to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“We faced tough competition in Mr. Yarbrough, Dr. de Moor, and Mr. Clark. But those who know me know I am a competitor. As a collegiate athlete and as a naval officer, I have trained and prepared for battle,” Mr. Hagenbuch said. “My training at the US Naval Academy and as a decorated officer and company commander in the Seabees, I am equipped to build and to fight. We have built an organization, and I will fight every day between now and May 28 to win.”

Mr. Yarbrough could not be reached for comment.

Mr. Frey and Mr. Braxton could not be reached for comment.