Amarillo voters re-elected incumbents and elected a few new faces to office on Tuesday night.
Voters elected Republican Dr. Ronny Jackson to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R–Clarendon). Jackson won 80 percent of the vote, easily defeating Democrat Gus Trujillo and Libertarian Jack Westbrook. Jackson’s general election victory came about four months after his Republican runoff victory over a lobbyist backed by the incumbent Thornberry, which was hailed as a victory for the grassroots.
Another outgoing incumbent was also replaced on Tuesday, with voters electing Republican Jay Johnson, a Pampa dentist, to replace State Board of Education District 15 member Marty Rowley. Johnson won the seat with 78 percent of the vote, defeating former Amarillo Independent School District Trustee John Betancourt, a Democrat.
In the race for Potter County Attorney, Republican incumbent Scott Brumley handily won re-election over his opponent, criminal defense attorney Ryan Brown, a Democrat. In official results released on Tuesday, Brumley won 72 percent of the vote against Brown’s 28 percent. While Brown did outperform other Democrats who were on the ballot in Potter County, it was not enough to overcome Brumley’s support in key precincts.
Another incumbent also claimed victory in Potter County on Tuesday, with Precinct 4 Constable Idella Thomas-Jackson, a Democrat, fending off a challenge from Republican Kerry Haney. Thomas-Jackson won 56 percent of the vote to Haney’s 44 percent, while winning all but one voting precinct in Precinct 4.
Outside of these races, Potter County Precinct 2 Constable Georgia Estrada won re-election after her opponent was declared ineligible to appear on the ballot. Newcomer Chip Parker was also elected Potter County’s Precinct 3 constable in an unopposed contest.
