The winners of the 2024 General Election in Jim Wells County took their oaths of office this morning at the court house. Unlike the Presidential election, local candidates are sworn-in on the first day of January.
This year marks the first time a Republican has ever been sworn-in as Jim Wells County Sheriff, according to election data that goes back to the early 1900s. Joseph “Guy” Baker, a Republican narrowly defeated Democratic incumbent Danny Bueno in the November election. Despite the close margin, this victory is part of a larger trend that is sweeping across South Texas.
Traditionally a stronghold for Democratic Party politics, their popularity among rural hispanic voters has been declining since 2016. Hillary Clinton won counties across South Texas with very wide margins. In Jim Wells County specifically, she earned 54% to Donald Trump’s 43%. Yet just four years later, Donald Trump beat Joe Biden by 10 points, earning 54% to Biden’s 44%. By 2024, Trump grew his lead by another two points, winning Jim Wells County with 56% to Kamala’s 43%.
Despite the results of the Presidential and Sheriff elections, Democrats still remain in a strong position in Jim Wells County. They currently enjoy a supermajority on the Commissioner’s Court with only one elected Republican, Renee Kirchoff Chapa of Precinct 3.
Cindy Ordonez Rios, Chair of the Jim Wells County Democratic Party congratulated all of the elected officials this morning, “On behalf of the Democratic Party, congratulations to all,” she wrote on Facebook.
Below is a list of the candidates who were sworn-in this morning:
- Michael Ventura Garcia (D) | 79th District Judge
- Carlos Omar Garcia (D) | 79th District Attorney
- Rumaldo “Rumy” Solis (D) | County Court at Law Judge
- Michael Guerra (D) | County Attorney
- Joseph “Guy” Baker (R) | Sheriff
- Mary Lozano (D) | Tax Assessor-Collector
- George Aguilar (D) | County Commissioner Precinct 1
- Renee Kirchoff Chapa (R) | County Commissioner Precinct 3
- Albert Martinez (D) | Constable Precinct 1
- Jim Long (R) | Constable Precinct 3
- Frank Davila Jr. (D) | Constable Precinct 4
- Gerald D. Arismendez (R) | Constable Precinct 5
- Ray Escamilla Jr. (D) | Constable Precinct 6