The Eastern New Mexico News - Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, defeated Kirk Edwards, R-Odessa, by an 8-percent margin with 95 percent of precincts reporting in the Texas District 31 special runoff election Tuesday.

Seliger will complete the term of former Sen. Teel Bivins, R-Amarillo, who recently was appointed ambassador to Sweden by President Bush.

District 31 covers the top of the Texas Panhandle through Midland-Odessa, including Bailey and Parmer counties.

At 10:30 p.m. (CST), with 210 of the 220 precincts reporting, Seliger had 36,469 votes to Edwards’ 31,476.

According to the Texas Secretary of State Web site, Seliger drew 491 votes from Parmer County, while Edwards received 153.

In Bailey County, Seliger received 185 votes to Edwards’ 60.

However, both Seliger and Edwards will be on the March 9 Texas primary election ballot, giving voters an opportunity to decide who will begin the new term as district senator.

Seliger served as mayor of Amarillo for four terms, first serving as commissioner.

Edwards is a professional engineer and has spent most of his career in the oil and gas industry.

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Texas senate special election results

Candidate: Party: Total votes: Percent:

Kirk Edwards REP 31,476 46.33%

Kel Seliger REP 36,469 53.67%

• 210 of 220 precincts reporting