Bullock, Swetnam Claim Victory in County Run-Off Election

Voters delivered a decisive verdict in the May 26 Republican primary runoff election, returning former County Judge John Charles Bullock to office and electing Bobby Swetnam as the next Precinct 4 commissioner in races dominated by debate over a proposed Project Saltworks data center and the Tapaderos Solar project in southern Young County.

Judge Bullock defeated incumbent County Judge Win Graham with 1,850 votes, or 57.42 percent, to Judge Graham’s 1,372 votes, or 42.58 percent. The race drew 3,222 votes.

The result marks a political comeback for Judge Bullock, who retired from the county judge’s office three years ago after serving more than two decades on the Commissioners Court and as county judge. Judge Graham succeeded him in 2023.

During the campaign, both candidates addressed questions about economic development, county growth and the proposed Project Saltworks development, which has generated intense opposition among some residents concerned about its potential impact on water resources, electricity prices, and rural quality of life.

In the Precinct 4 commissioner runoff, Bobby Swetnam defeated Cooper Dodd, receiving 350 votes, or 53.03 percent, to Mr. Dodd’s 310 votes, or 46.97 percent.

Mr. Swetnam will succeed longtime Precinct 4 Commissioner Jimmy Wiley, who is retiring after more than two decades on Commissioners Court. Mr. Dodd, who campaigned as an opponent of the proposed data center project, carried election-day voting but was unable to overcome Mr. Swetnam’s advantage in absentee and early voting.

County election records show 3,334 voters participated in the runoff election countywide.

In other Republican contests, Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in Young County, receiving 1,842 votes, or 59.27 percent, compared with 1,266 votes, or 40.73 percent for Cornyn.

For attorney general, Mayes Middleton won Young County with 1,574 votes, or 52.94 percent, while Chip Roy received 1,399 votes, or 47.06 percent.

Jim Wright won the Republican nomination for railroad commissioner with 1,815 votes, or 63.59 percent, defeating Bo French, who received 1,039 votes, or 36.41 percent.

In the race for Judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3, Thomas Smith carried Young County with 1,507 votes, or 57.48 percent, while Alison Fox received 1,115 votes, or 42.52 percent.

Democratic turnout was significantly smaller. In the lieutenant governor runoff, Vikki Goodwin received 62 votes, or 69.66 percent, to Marcos Isaías Vélez’s 27 votes, or 30.34 percent.

In the Democratic attorney general runoff, Nathan Johnson narrowly carried Young County with 46 votes, or 53.49 percent, while Joe Jaworski received 40 votes, or 46.51 percent.

The Republican winners in the statewide races advance to the November general election. Mr. Swetnam and Judge Bullock have no Democratic opponents and will take office on Jan. 1, 2027.