Montoya, Ugarte, Perez unofficial winners in Democrat runoffs
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — James Montoya and Oscar Ugarte are the apparent winners in the Democratic runoff elections for district attorney and El Paso County sheriff, respectively, according to unofficial final results released at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28.
Both Montoya and Ugarte led all evening from the release of early voting totals at 7 p.m. until unofficial final results were announced at 11 p.m.
Former County Commissioner Vince Perez is the unofficial winner in House District 77, also according to unofficial final results.
Montoya, a public defender and former assistant district attorney, has 52 percent of the vote or 12,585 votes, according to unofficial final results.
Alma Trejo, a lawyer and a retired county criminal court at law judge, has 48 percent or 11,617 votes.
The winner will face off with Republican incumbent Bill Hicks in the November general election.
Back in March, Montoya got 37.57 percent of the vote and Trejo was a close second at 35.53 percent. Trejo led for most of that night before late results were tabulated and pushed Montoya ahead.
The District Attorney’s Office represents the state and victims of crime in the prosecution of adult felony and misdemeanor cases committed in El Paso, Culberson and Hudspeth counties, according to the DA Office Website.
Hicks was appointed to the office after previous DA Yvonne Rosales resigned in December 2022 under a swirl of controversy.
In the El Paso County sheriff race, Ugarte has 57.36 percent or 14,068 votes after final unofficial results were released. Bobby Flores has 42.64 percent or 10,459 votes.
Ugarte is the county constable for Precinct 1, while Flores is a retired assistant chief for the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
Back in the March Primary, Ugarte had 43.39 percent of the votes, but couldn’t secure a majority. Flores had 23.95 percent, followed by Ryan Urrutia at 23.58 percent. Just 132 votes separated Flores and Urrutia, deciding the second spot in the runoff in Flores’ favor.
The winner will face Republican Minerva Torres Shelton in the general election.
Candidates for sheriff are vying to succeed incumbent Richard Wiles, who did not seek re-election and is retiring after four terms in office.
There are two other Democratic runoff races depending on where you live.
In House District 77, former County Commissioner Vince Perez is the apparent winner, according to unofficial final results.
Perez has 63.90 percent or 4,853 votes. Former state Rep. Norma Chavez has 36.10 percent or 2,742 votes.
There is no Republican running in this race.
They were facing off to succeed state Rep. Lina Ortega, D-Texas, who is serving her fourth term in the Legislature and decided not to run for re-election.
Perez served two terms on the County Commissioners Court before being defeated for re-election in 2020. Chavez served in the state Legislature from 1997-2011.
In constable Precinct 1, Frank Almada is the unofficial winner with 60.91 percent or 2,526 votes. Andrea “Andi” Baca has 39.09 percent or 1,621 votes.
Again, there is no Republican in the race.
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