In Tuesday’s March 5 primary, Wood County voters will choose Republican nominees for two county commission seats and two constables, as well as participate with neighboring counties in selecting the area’s representative in the Texas legislature.

Early voting continues through Friday, March 1 at the county elections office in Quitman. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voting day hours are also 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

As of Monday, 2,202 early votes had been cast in Wood County, 2,003 Republican and 199 Democrat.

The two incumbent county commissioners have drawn challengers, including one Democrat.

Precinct One Commissioner Virgil Holland has two Republican opponents, Randy Dunn and Justin Bowring.

Should none of the three receive 50% of the votes, a runoff will be held May 28.

Precinct Three Commissioner Mike Simmons faces David Eishen in the Republican primary, and then the winner will face Democrat Madeline Gibson in the November general election.

The Precinct One constables’s position will be decided between LaDawn Foley-McGee and Robert Holland, and the winner has no opponent in November.

Three men are seeking the Precinct Two constable’s post: Bobby Tucker, Joshua Davis and Stephen Nichols. It could also be determined in a runoff.

There is no Democrat on the November ballot.

Incumbent constables Steve McQueen and Chase Glover drew no challengers.

Three men are seeking the District 5 seat in the statehouse, including former Wood County District Judge Jeff Fletcher; Dewey Collier of Talco who also ran in 2022; and the four-term incumbent, Cole Hefner of Mt. Pleasant.

That race is one of several statewide that has drawn support from Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, with Paxton supporting Fletcher over Hefner’s vote to impeach the AG and Abbott supporting Hefner for his support of the failed plan to introduce school vouchers.

Unopposed in the primary are Wood County Sheriff Kelly Cole, District Judge Brad McCampbell, and Angie Lumen was the only one to file to replace Carol Taylor as the tax assessor-collector.

This is also the presidential primary for the state, and a number of judicial races also appear on the ballots.

The only other statewide race is for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission.

U.S. Congressman Lance Gooden has no opposition within his party and will face Democrat Ruth “Truth” Torres in November.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has drawn a number of opponents from both parties.

The parties also have propositions for voters to weigh in on.

This year’s election will feature separate primaries for the parties, unlike the joint elections held in recent years.

But they will still be held in the same locations. The Quitman City Hall location will have Republicans in the usual location on the west side of the building while the Democrats will be at the east side.

Sample ballots may be accessed on the mywoodcounty.com website.

Tuesday night’s results will be posted when available online at wood.cm.

Polling Locations

1-1 Carroll Green Civic Center; 602 McAllister St., Quitman

3-1 Quitman Public Library; 202 E. Goode St., Quitman

1-2 Yantis Community Center; 101 City Circle, Yantis

3-2 Holly Lake Volunteer F.D.; 126 PR 7869, Holly Lake Ranch

1-3 Alba Community Center; 106 N. Hopkins St., Alba

3-3 Hawkins Community Center; 301 Lynch St., Hawkins

1-4 Harold Simmons Community Center; 5921 FM 779, Golden

4-1, 4-4 Quitman City Hall (separate locations); 401 E Goode St., Quitman, Tx.

2-2 Mineola City Hall; 300 Greenville Hwy., Mineola

4-2, 4-3  Winnsboro City Auditorium; Hwy. 515 to Wheeler Dr., Winnsboro

2-1, 2-3  First Methodist Ministries Center; 612 N. Newsom St., Mineola