2017 El Paso mayoral election

El Paso mayoral election, 2017

May 6, 2017 (2017-05-06) (general)
June 10, 2017 (2017-06-10) (runoff)
Turnout7.86% (general)[1]
8.26% (runoff)[2]
 
Candidate Dee Margo David Saucedo Emma Acosta
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
General 14,915 7,883 5,239

45.32% 23.95% 15.92%
Runoff 17,148 12,937 Eliminated

57.00% 43.00%

Mayor before election

Oscar Leeser
Democratic

Elected mayor

Dee Margo
Republican

The 2017 El Paso mayoral election took place on May 6, 2017 alongside elections for El Paso's city council. As none of the candidates received a majority of the total votes, a runoff election was held on June 10.[3]

General election

Candidates

Advanced to runoff

Eliminated

  • Emma Acosta, city council representative (2008–2017)[6]
  • Jorge Artalejo, perennial candidate[6]
  • Willie Cager, former UTEP basketballer[7]
  • Elisa Morales, health science researcher and legislative aide to Senator Tom Udall[8]
  • Jaime Perez, perennial candidate[9]
  • Charles Stapler, member of the El Paso County Historical Commission board[10]

Declined

  • Estela Casas, KVIA news anchor[11]
  • Oscar Leeser, incumbent mayor[11]
  • Cortney Niland, city council representative (2011–2017)[12]
  • Emma Schwartz, president and CEO of the Medical Center of the Americas Foundation[13]
  • Joe Wardy, former mayor of El Paso (2003–2005)[14]

Endorsements

Dee Margo
State legislators

Results

El Paso mayoral election results, 2017
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Dee Margo 14,915 45.32%
Nonpartisan David Saucedo 7,883 23.95%
Nonpartisan Emma Acosta 5,239 15.92%
Nonpartisan Elisa Morales 1,845 5.61%
Nonpartisan Willie Cager 1,388 4.22%
Nonpartisan Jaime Perez 950 2.89%
Nonpartisan Charlie Stapler 412 1.25%
Nonpartisan Jorge Artalejo 280 0.85%
Total votes 32,912 100%

Runoff

Campaign

Although mayoral elections in El Paso are officially nonpartisan, both of the 2017 runoff candidates were associated with the Republican Party.[16] El Paso traditionally leans Democratic, and some Democratic Party leaders emphasized the option of not voting in the mayoral race.[17] "Both [Dee Margo and David Saucedo] are Republican and don't hold the same values as Democratic values," El Paso County Democratic Party Chair Iliana Holguin said. "We are trying to inform people and educate them that there is a third option [of not voting in the mayoral race]."[18]

Endorsements

Dee Margo
State legislators
Local officials
David Saucedo
Trade unions

Results

2017 El Paso mayoral election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Dee Margo 17,148 56.99%
Nonpartisan David Saucedo 12,937 43.01%
Total votes 30,085 100%

References

  1. ^ "Election Summary Report 2017 MAY UNIFORM ELECTION Summary For Jurisdiction Wide, All Counters, All Races OFFICIAL FINAL ELECTION RESULTS" (PDF). El Paso County. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Election Summary Report 2017 JUNE UNIFORM RUNOFF AND SPECIAL ELECTION OFFICIAL FINAL ELECTION RESULTS" (PDF). El Paso County. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Municipal elections in El Paso, Texas (2017)". Ballotpedia.
  4. ^ Crowder, David (August 4, 2016). "First hat in the ring: Margo will run for mayor". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  5. ^ Perez, Elida S. (August 29, 2016). "2 more El Paso mayoral candidates announce". El Paso Times. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  6. ^ a b Crowder, David (October 3, 2016). "Lucky No. 7? Acosta to run for mayor". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017. (endorsed Margo in the runoff)
  7. ^ "Mayor, city rep races attract 30". El Paso Inc. February 20, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  8. ^ "About – Elisa Morales for El Paso Mayor". Elisa Morales for El Paso Mayor. April 24, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  9. ^ Borunda, Daniel (February 17, 2017). "El Paso mayoral race to feature 7 candidates". El Paso Times. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  10. ^ Crowder, David (September 20, 2016). "Retired postal worker joins race for mayor". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  11. ^ a b Crowder, David (August 29, 2016). "So who else is running? Not Estela Casas". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  12. ^ Crowder, David (January 16, 2017). "Ready for the next election? Mayor's race is May 6". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  13. ^ Wadsworth, Ford (September 19, 2016). "Whispers: No, she isn't". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  14. ^ Wadsworth, Ford (September 12, 2016). "Whispers: It's a boy!". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  15. ^ a b Flores, Aileen B. "Dee Margo launches campaign for mayor". El Paso Times.
  16. ^ Crowder, David (29 August 2016). "Saucedo wants to be city's youngest mayor". El Paso Inc.
  17. ^ Paterson, Kent. "Battles for the heart and soul of El Paso". nmpolitics.net.
  18. ^ Perez, Elida S. "'Undervoting' may rise in mayoral runoff". USA TODAY.
  19. ^ a b Perez, Elida S. "Mayor, some city reps endorse Margo". El Paso Times.

Notes

  1. ^ Ordaz has since been elected to the Texas House of Representatives, but was still a councilor at the time of the 2017 mayoral election