Schoolcraft, Kuempel headed to May 28 primary runoff

Challenger Alan Schoolcraft and incumbent Rep. John Kuempel will face off in a Tuesday, May 28, primary runoff for the Texas House District 44 seat as the top two votegetters in the March 5 Republican primary.

With two other candidates — Greg Switzer and David Freimarck — in the race, neither Schoolcraft nor Kuempel could muster enough votes to cross the threshhold necessary for election — one more than 50 percent of the total number of votes cast in the race.

In complete but unofficial returns, with 100 percent of the votes counted, Schoolcraft received 10,910 votes, or 48.11 percent, to 10,213, or 45.04 percent, for Kuempel. Switzer had received 1,030 votes, or 4.54 percent, while Freimarck received 523, or 2.31 percent.

The winner of the May 28 runoff election will face the sole Democrat candidate, Eric Norman, in the November general election.

Schoolcraft touted his endorsements from several top Republicans, including Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, both of whom had targeted Kuempel due to his votes against Abbott’s school voucher plan and for his vote to impeach Paxton last year.

"From Day One, I have demonstrated that I am undeniably the real conservative in this race. Not a single moment have a I wavered from my dedication to faith, family values and conservative principles,” Schoolcraft said in a statement. "I urge every conservative of this district to stand up now in this runoff election and choose a true champion for their values.”

“I’m very grateful to thousands of Guadalupe and Gonzales County conservatives for propelling us into the runoff in such a strong position,” Kuempel said. “We are fighting relentlessly to advance our Christian values, deliver record-setting property tax relief, and fully secure our border. Now, it’s on to victory in the May 28 runoff and even more conservative results for our families God Bless Texas!”