SAN ANGELO, Texas — In a contentious race that centered around private school vouchers, incumbent State Representative, Dist. 72, Drew Darby and opponent Stormy Bradley campaigned to the bitter end – all the way to up to Super Tuesday.
By 10:03 p.m. Tuesday, Darby held more than a 20-point lead over Bradley.
Wednesday morning, the Associated Press projected Darby as the winner with almost 99% of voter ballots counted. The incumbent received 14,008 votes to the challenger's 10,592 votes.
Bradley received endorsements from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and former President Donald J. Trump. Trump said Bradley would “champion school choice”. She also received endorsements from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Senator Ted Cruz along the campaign trail.
Tuesday, Bradley received more votes (1,766) than Darby (1,172) in her home county, Howard, but that wasn't enough to pull her into the lead overall.
Last week, Darby responded to criticism from Trump and Abbott - who has been at odds with Darby over his lack of support for the private school vouchers - by saying he hasn't changed through his time in office.
Darby also said he believes he and his colleagues can stop any future attempts to pass a voucher bill, should he retain his seat.
At his watch party Tuesday night, Darby told our Damien Bartonek the voters would elect who they want to elect without someone else telling them what to do.
He said he couldn’t say enough about the supporters at the watch party, saying the folks in the Concho Valley are the people who matter.
House District 72 represents Coke, Coleman, Concho, Glasscock, Howard, Irion, Reagan, Runnels, Sterling and Tom Green counties.
Darby said he's headed to Bible study Wednesday, then to pick up campaign signs.
Unofficial final results by county (some have not yet posted results):
Coke County