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E.R. Doctor Donna Campbell Takes On School Teacher John Courage in Senate Dist. 25

State of Texas District Viewer

(Update: 12:10 a.m.) About 95 percent of precincts have been counted and Campbell is maintaining 66 percent of the vote to Courage's 34 percent; safe to say that this race is over.

(Update: 10:30 p.m.) With 72 percent of the vote counted, Campbell has 66 percent of the vote and looks to have this race easily won.

(Update: 8:50 p.m.) Texas Secretary of State's Office showing Campbell with 67 percent of the vote, effectively holding on to her commanding lead in early voting.

(Update: 7:30 p.m.) Early returns showing Campbell with a commanding lead, but it is still very early on and only a few precincts have reported results to the Texas Secretary of State's Office.

(Original Post:) Tea Party-backed Donna Campbell rode in on a wave of support from conservative voters who did not favor Senator Jeff Wentworth's more moderate beliefs, and also defeated former Texas Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones during the Republican primaries.

Campbell is an E.R. physician who has come under scrutiny for her new arrival to Senate District 25, having moved to New Braunfels, critics say, only to run in the district.

Campbell faces Democrat John Courage, a school teacher with support from the two largest newspapers in the district, the Express-News and the Austin American-Statesman.

Campbell vows to not raise taxes if elected, and talks of a possible school voucher program to allow parents to seek education alternatives for their children. Courage says the billions cut from public education must be restored in the next session and promises to fight for it.

Check back throughout the night for updates on this race from each camp's election party and as precincts report the results.

Ryan Loyd was Texas Public Radio's city beat and political reporter. He left the organization in December, 2014.