Daniel Alders, Republican candidate for Texas House of Representatives District 6, came out to meet voters with his family at The Hub in the March primary. Joanna Alders stands next to Daniel with Trinity Alders, 12, and Madeline Alders, 10. (Raquel Villatoro/Tyler Morning Telegraph File)

From Staff Reports

Red dominated in Smith County on a historic Election Day.

Local residents turned out to the polls — both during early voting and on Tuesday — in efforts to make their voices heard in local, state and national races.

With a 64% turnout in Smith County, the elections office reported that 81,990 people voted early, 19,394 people voted on Election Day, and 2,796 mail-in ballots were received of the 162,000 registered voters in Smith County. About 52% voted early.

Smith County Election Officials posted the mail-in ballots early Wednesday morning, making voting totals complete but unofficial. Results are considered unofficial until they are canvassed, typically about two weeks after the election in Smith County.

Among the highlights from Tuesday’s election include Republican dominance locally, including Smith County Precinct 3 candidate J. Scott Herod earning a victory while Daniel Alders got the nod for Texas House District 6.

Herod secured the commissioner seat over Democrat Edith Mayfield-Wilson. Herod will be sworn in on Jan. 1, replacing longtime Pct. 3 Republican Commissioner Terry Phillips.

Herod received 18,668 votes, or 78.41%, while Mayfield-Wilson received 5,141 votes, or 21.59%, according to the unofficial results reported by the county elections office.

The commissioners court handles the county’s finances and operations, including the annual budget. It comprises a county judge and four commissioners, each representing a precinct. Precinct 3 is the largest of the four commissioner precincts in Smith County. Its commissioners represent the entire northern half of the county, which includes several small communities such as Lindale and Winona and parts of Overton, Tyler and Hideaway.

A lifelong East Texan, Herod is a small business owner and rancher with a finance background. Herod said he believes his professional experience, Christian faith and family values will contribute to his success as a county commissioner.

In the House race against Democrat Cody Grace, Alders received 55,158 Smith County votes, or 72.36%, while Grace received 21,070 votes, or 27.64%, according to unofficial results. In the district, the Texas Tribune reported Alders with 71.9% of the vote and Grace with 28.1%.

Alders’ victory secures his spot in Austin for the 89th Texas Legislature starting in January. He will replace Rep. Matt Schaefer, who announced in August 2023 that he would not be seeking reelection.

The Texas House has 150 members, each representing around 113,000 people for two-year terms. The Legislature meets every odd-numbered year to pass laws and address state issues. Bills go through committee review, public hearings, and multiple votes in both chambers before becoming law.

House District 6 encompasses 81% of Smith County, 100% of the cities of Arp, Emerald Bay, New Chapel Hill, Noonday, Tyler, and Whitehouse and a majority of Bullard and Troup.

Seventh-generation Texan and East Texas native Alders ran for state representative to advocate for life, liberty, and personal responsibility in Austin. Alders is president of Tyler-based Drake Management Services, a commercial property management company.

Smith County voters also overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump in the U.S. Presidential race and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in the Senate race.

Here’s how Smith County voted in other races, according to unofficial results:

County

County Court at Law No. 2 (unexpired term)

Sara Maynard (R) 78,036 votes, or 100%

Sheriff (uncontested)

Larry Smith (R) 79,636 votes, or 100%

County Tax Assessor/ Collector (uncontested)

Gary Barber (R) 79,037 votes, or 100%

County Commissioner, Precinct 1 (uncontested)

Christina Drewry (R) 25,345 votes, or 100%

County Commissioner, Precinct 3

WINNER: J. Scott Herod (R) 18,668 votes, or 78.41%

Edith Mayfield Wilson (D) 5,141 votes, or 21.59%

Constable, Precinct 1 (uncontested)

Ralph Caraway Jr. (D) 7,911 votes, or 100%

Constable, Precinct 2 (uncontested)

Wayne Allen (R) 29,630 votes, or 100%

Constable, Precinct 3 (uncontested)

Jim Blackmon (R) 21,424 votes, or 100%

Constable, Precinct 4 (uncontested)

Josh Joplin (R) 7,423 votes, or 100%

Constable, Precinct 5 (uncontested)

Wesley Hicks (R) 14,218 votes, or 100%

Smith County Emergency Service District No. 1 — Lindale VFD

Commissioners, District 4

Ken Smith 811 votes, or 39.99%

Chris Bellar 260 votes, or 12.82%

Cory Crowell 957 votes, or 47.19%

Smith County Emergency Services District No. 2

Commissioner, District 1

Brent Dominy 4,484 votes, or 72.95%

Quint Balkcom 1,663 votes, or 27.05%

Smith County Emergency Service District No. 2

Commissioners, District 4

Johnny Brown 4,664 votes, or 78.43%

Robert Templin 1,283 votes, or 21.57%

City of Overton

City Council, Place 1

Cory Moose 41 votes, or 71.93%

Sheri Schmoll 16 votes, or 28.07%

City Council, Place 3 (uncontested)

Casey True 56 votes, or 100%

City Council, Place 5 (uncontested)

Michael Paul Williams 53 votes, or 100%

State

Railroad commissioner

Christi Craddick (R) 70,073 votes, or 72.10%

Katherine Culbert (D) 23,419 votes, or 24.10%

Hawk Dunlap (L) 2,457 votes, or 2.53%

Eddie Espinoza (G) 1,188 votes, or 1.22%

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2

Jimmy Blacklock (R) 72,655 votes, or 74.57%

Dasean Jones (D) 24,779 votes, or 25.43%

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 4

John Devine (R) 71,596 votes, or 73.88%

Christine Vinh Weems (D) 25,315 votes, or 26.12%

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 6

Jane Bland (R) 70,659 votes, or 72.72%

Bonnie Lee Goldstein (D) 24,118 votes, or 24.82%

J. David Roberson (L) 2,391 votes, or 2.46%

Presiding judge, Court of Criminal Appeals

David J. Schenck (R) 71,590 votes, or 73.94%

Holly Taylor (D) 25,229 votes, or 26.06%

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 7

Gina Parker (R) 71,877 votes, or 74.38%

Nancy Mulder (D) 24,752 votes, or 25.62%

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 8

Lee Finley (R) 72,207 votes, or 74.82%

Chika Anyiam (D) 24,295 votes, or 25.18%

State Representative, District 5 (uncontested)

Cole Hefner (R) 17,070 votes, or 98.20%

State Representative, District 6

WINNER: Daniel Alders (R) 55,158 votes, or 72.36%

Cody Grace (D) 21,070 votes, or 27.64%

Justice, 12th Court of Criminal Appeals District, Place 3 (uncontested)

Greg Neeley (R) 77,982 votes, or 100%

District Judge, 7th Judicial District (uncontested)

Kerry L. Russell (R) 78,266 votes, or 100%

District Judge, 114th Judicial District (uncontested)

Austin Reeve Jackson (R) 78,187 votes, or 100%

District Judge, 475th Judicial District (uncontested)

Taylor Heaton (R) 78,008 votes, or 100%

Federal

President/ Vice President

WINNER: Donald J. Trump/JD Vance (R) 73,221 votes, or 72.46%

Kamala D. Harris/Tim Walz (D) 26,568 votes, or 26.29%

Chase Oliver/Mike Ter Maat (L) 550 votes, or .54%

Jill Stein/Ruldolf Ware (G) 347 votes, or .34%

U.S. senator

WINNER: Ted Cruz (R) 70,562 votes, or 70.44%

Colin Allred (D) 27,545 votes, or 27.50%

Ted Brown (L) 1,991 votes, or 1.99%

U.S. representative District 1 (uncontested)

Nathaniel Moran (R) 78,339 votes, or 100%