Republican Chris Gober and Democrat Caitlin Rourk will face each other in November’s general election to see who will represent the U.S. 10th District in Congress. There were 10 Republicans and three Democrats running in the recently redrawn district.
Gober accrued just over 51% of the vote in the Republican primary, avoiding a runoff against Ben Bius. Rourk comfortably secured the Democratic nomination with roughly a 61% share of the vote.
Although those redrawn 10th District lines encompass new counties and voters, the majority of it still polled as solidly Republican. Smaller candidates with less name-recognition faced an uphill battle in securing votes.
Incumbent Michael McCaul chose not to run. He assumed office on Jan. 3, 2005, and represented the district for over two decades. In an interview, he cited a desire of looking for new challenges as his reasoning.
Gober, an Austin attorney with the largest financial backing and endorsements by Texas GOP heads, has run a platform on the trust and support he has built in Washington, as well as the major conservative concerns over border security, government overreach and economic prosperity.
Rourk is an Army veteran whose platform is focused on the affordability of healthcare for all Texans, as well as other economic reforms, such as raising the minimum wage.