Lupe Valdez wins close race with Andrew White in Dems' gubernatorial runoff

Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidates Andrew White (left) and Lupe Valdez debate May 11, 2018, at St. James Episcopal Church in Austin. Valdez defeated White in the Democratic gubernatorial runoff Tuesday. Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidates Andrew White (left) and Lupe Valdez debate May 11, 2018, at St. James Episcopal Church in Austin. Valdez defeated White in the Democratic gubernatorial runoff Tuesday. Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Lupe Valdez wins close race with Andrew White in Dems' gubernatorial runoff 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN – Former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez widened an early lead over Houston entrepreneur Andrew White late Tuesday to win the Democratic nomination for governor.

The contest was much closer than expected, by just about five percentage points late Tuesday, after Valdez outdistanced White in the March 6 by nearly a two-to-one margin.

Shortly before 10 p.m., White conceded to Valdez, congratulating her in a phone call that "she has my endorsement and my support," he said.

Valdez, a onetime migrant farmworker who rose to become a Democratic sheriff in Dallas after years of Republican domination, will face incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott in November as the first Latina and out lesbian to be a major-party gubernatorial nominee in Texas.

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Valdez had taken an early lead in the vote tallies, but White had come back and held the lead for some time as the contest ran neck-and-neck.

With more than three-quarters of the precincts tallied late Tuesday, Valdez led White in her home town of Dallas and in San Antonio, where she grew up, as well as Fort Worth, El Paso, Laredo and Hispanic-strong areas of South Texas.

Photo: Associated Press Former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez widened an early lead over...

White won Houston and most surrounding counties, as well as Beaumont, Waco and many rural counties across the state.

He and Valdez appeared to have closely split Travis County, with several precincts still uncounted.

Speaking to his supporters at a Houston rally, White said he was "proud of what we accomplished in the last six months, and now I'm going to fight for Beto, Lupe and all the great Democratic candidates.

"To everyone who put their hope in me to lead our state, I'm sorry. But, I'm not done," he said. "Texas is counting on us, so let's get started."

Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa applauded Valdez's win.

"Lupe Valdez has spent a lifetime breaking down barriers and defending Texans. In Lupe's story, we see the resiliency and tenacity of Texans. Her candidacy is a signal to every child that no matter the color of your skin, who you love, or where you come from, in Texas, you've got a fair shot," he said.

"Now, it's time to take on Greg Abbott. It's an uphill battle, but Texas is a single-digit state, the blue wave is rising, and as Lupe always says, she's 'pretty good at uphill battles.'"

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After a six-month campaign distinguished for its lackluster intensity and the smallest campaign war chests in any recent governor's race, Valdez polled well ahead of White, a Houston entrepreneur and son of the late Gov. Mark White, who served from 1983-87.

Mike Ward, the Houston Chronicle's Austin Bureau chief, covers Texas politics and the governor's office and the executive branch, along with criminal justice and ethics issues. Follow him on Twitter @ChronicleMike and send him story tips at Mike.Ward@Chron.com.