Government

Republican incumbent John Garza was elected during the Republican sweep in the 2010 mid-term elections, but this year former San Antonio City Councilman Philip Cortez ended election night with 53 percent of voter support to win the seat.

Cortez said he pledges to fight any additional cuts to the Texas education system when he takes office in January.

“I will fight them tooth and nail because those dollars are for our children and for the resources that teachers need to ensure we are properly educating the future leaders of this great state of Texas,” Cortez said.

Bexar County will have a new sheriff after the Republican challenger unseated Democratic incumbent Amadeo Ortiz.  

Bexar County Sheriff-Elect Susan Pamerleau had a smile from ear to ear with an early vote lead of nine percent when the polls closed on election night. In the end, Pamerleau had won by a slim margin with 51 percent.

At the Republican watch party, Pamerleau dropped hints that she is intent on changing some of the inner workings of the sheriff’s department.

With nearly 64 percent of the votes in Congressional District 20, Joaquín Castro won the seat being vacated by the long-serving Charlie Gonzalez who is retiring at the end of this term.

San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro introduced his brother, Joaquín as a newly-elected congressman, saying that he will be a breath of fresh air in Washington, D.C.

The euphoria of Barack Obama's supporters on election night four years ago was replaced Tuesday by relief, as the incumbent president won a second term over Republican Mitt Romney in an effort powered more by organization than by ideas.

To retain the White House, Obama managed to overcome the handicap of an economy just finding its footing after a devastating recession, and an unemployment rate higher than it's been under any president seeking re-election since Franklin Roosevelt during the Great Depression.

(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.