Craig wins County Commissioner

Alan Craig won the Precinct 3 County Commissioner’s seat and Brent Hagenbuch captured the Republican nomination for the District 30 State Senate race in the May 28 runoff election.

Mr. Craig, a businessman, bested Scott “Scooter” Philipp, a farmer-rancher, in the nonpartisan race for County Commissioner by 235 votes to 229 votes, or 50 percent to 49 percent, according to unofficial election results posted by the Young County Elections Coordinator. Mr. Craig begins his four-year term next January, taking over from Commissioner Stacey Rogers, who retires after 16 years in office.

Mr. Hagenbuch, a businessman endorsed by former President Donald Trump and Gov. Greg Abbott, beat attorney Jace Yarbrough for the Republican nomination, 682 to 444 votes, or 60.6 to 39.4 percent, the unofficial County tally showed.

Mr. Yarbrough, who traveled to Olney twice during the primary campaign, said he plans to “keep fighting for the conservative values our state holds dear.”

“I have no regrets about the campaign - rather, I’m grateful for the opportunity to stand up for hte values I believe in,” he said in a statement.

Mr. Hagenbuch will face Democrat Dale Frey in the general election on Nov. 4.

Mr. Frey, a web developer, beat Michael Braxton in the Democratic Party runoff, 24 votes to 17 votes, or 58.5 percent to 41.5 percent, the unofficial results showed.

Mr. Hagenbuch said he will spend the months until the general election traveling the 11 counties of District 30 listening to his would-be constituents. He said conservative voters in the district “have made clear that border security, education choice, property taxes, and economic growth are top priorities.”

Mr. Hagenbuch said those issues “will be my focus.”

Mr. Hagenbuch still faces questions about whether he lives in District 30. His primary opponent, Dr. Carrie de Moor, sued Mr. Hagenbuch claiming his primary residence is in District 12 rather than the District 30 office building listed on his campaign filings.

A judge allowed Mr. Hagenbuch to continue campaigning but if he is found ineligible by August, he could lose his place on the ballot.

His Democratic opponent, Mr. Frey, suggested that he will not let “This has been a long road, but I am honored to become the Democratic nominee for Texas State Senate 30,” he said in a Facebook post. “And now I look forward to a bigger task in these next few months! It’s time to face off against the only nonviable candidate in this race, Brent, a guy who doesn’t live in the district!”