Published: November 05, 2008 01:52 am      

Edwards wins re-election, loses Johnson County

Orr wins third term

U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, defeated Republican challenger Rob Curnock Tuesday to secure a 10th term.

Edwards represents District 17, which stretches from Hood County to Grimes County and includes Johnson County.

With 10 of the 12 counties in the district reporting, Edwards led Curnock by a vote of 130,807 to 111,103.

“That’s a 19,704 vote margin compared to the 2004 presidential election when I had a 9,809 vote margin,” Edwards said. “So we nearly doubled my vote margin from the last presidential-election year, and at the end of the day, I carried nine of the 12 counties.”

But Edwards failed to carry Johnson County. With all 34 precincts reporting, Edwards had received 21,683 votes to Curnock’s 26,521.

“While I would have loved to have carried Johnson County, I think it’s understandable given that [Sen.. John] McCain beat [Sen. Barack] Obama three to one in Johnson County,” Edwards said. “Still, I’m happy 7,000 voters split the ticket to vote for me and McCain. I’m going back to work tomorrow for all the great families in Johnson County to help work toward better roads, schools and healthcare.”

Edwards said he’s pleased so many Republicans and independents elsewhere in the district split their tickets to also vote for him.

“I always knew this was going to be a tough election being a Democrat in a Republican-leaning district,” Edwards said.

Attempts to reach Curnock for comment were unsuccessful. Edwards said he talked to Curnock earlier on Tuesday night, however.

“Rob called, and he was very gracious,” Edwards said. “We’ve known each other for years. And even though it was a tough race, I appreciate him and his family and wish him all the best in the future.”



Orr wins

State Rep. Rob Orr, R-Burleson, won a third term, defeating his Democratic challenger Greg Kauffman. The race signaled Kauffman’s third loss to Orr. Orr represents District 58, which includes Johnson and Bosque counties. With 24 of District 58’s 52 precincts reporting, Orr led Kauffman by a 70.6 percent margin, which translated to 30,185 votes for Orr to 11,211 votes for Kauffman. Libertarian candidate Tom Stewart received 1,348, or 3.2 percent, of the vote.

“I’m tired but very excited,” Orr said early Wednesday morning. “I think [the victory] goes to the fact that we have good constituent services, an open-door policy and the desire to work with everyone in the community to make things better. During the election we worked hard to talk to people and make sure we were addressing their concerns. And, I’m proud they sent me back for another term.”

Kauffman said he plans to call Orr today to congratulate him.

“A lot of people in the county are scared of Obama, and R.C. McFall and I fell victim to that,” Kauffman said. “A lot of people in Johnson County are afraid of a black president. I hope in four years they see a great man can be of any skin color and then maybe things will be different.”