The polls are open throughout the Katy area and across Texas as voters cast their ballots in the Democratic and Republican primaries.
Voters will pick, among others, their respective party’s gubernatorial candidates for the November general election.
Elections administrators in Fort Bend, Harris and Waller counties are all expecting a stronger-the-usual turnout.
For the GOP, incumbent Rick Perry, who already holds the record as Texas’ longest-serving governor, is seeking his party’s nomination for an unprecedented third four-year term. He is being challenged by veteran U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and former Wharton County GOP chair Debra Medina.
Polls indicate Perry will probably be the top vote-getter, but may have to face either Hutchison or Medina in a runoff.
On the Democratic ticket, former Houston Mayor Bill White and Houston businessman Farouk Shami are vying for the their party’s nomination.
A host of congressional, state and local primary contests are also on the ballot.
In the Katy area, 10th Congressional District GOP incumbent Michael McCaul is being challenged by consultant Joe Petronis.
Also, the 14th Congressional District’s maverick GOP incumbent Ron Paul is facing challenges from school business administrator John Gay, Katy resident Tim Graney and petro-chemical engineer Gerald Wall. Political observers say, with Paul facing three challengers, a runoff is possible.
Waller County voters will pick from among five candidates to replace retiring County Judge Owen Ralston, as well as seven running to replace an indicted justice of the peace.
County Commissioner Glenn Beckendorff, Ralph “Bubba” Franz and Waller Mayor Paul Wood are all vying for the GOP nomination for county judge. Dorothy Bottos is running on the Democratic ticket, while Larry Parr is an independent candidate.
Seven people are vying for Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 to replace DeWayne Charleston, who is under indictment on federal bribery charges.
Marian Jackson, Johnny Johnson and Karen Maresh are running in the Democratic primary, while Brian Murray-Wachtendorf, Leon Overby, Carrie Robinson and Milton Whiting are the GOP candidates.
Polls will remain open until 7 p.m. today.
