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PORT NECHES — U.S. Sen. John Cornyn did more of acknowledging Texas Independence Day and encouraging everyone eligible to vote in today’s primary elections than make his own campaign push Monday at the Jefferson County Republican Party.

Cornyn is seeking a fourth six-year term as Virgil Bierschwale, Dwayne Stovall, John Anthony Castro and Mark Yancey challenge him in the Republican primary.

State Rep. Dade Phelan stumped for Cornyn during Monday’s visit, adding Cornyn looks forward to getting a Veterans Affairs hospital established in Southeast Texas. Phelan sent an open letter to President Donald Trump on Jan. 7 suggesting either the former CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Mary facility in Port Arthur or the former Baptist Orange Hospital could be converted into a VA hospital, as veterans currently are being transported to Houston.

“There’s no more sacred obligation than to support the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces when they are on active duty and when they retire,” Cornyn said. “That’s the commitment we made.”

The Democratic ballot for Cornyn’s senate seat is a little more crowded.

Democratic voters today will choose from a pool of 12 as their nominee: Jack Daniel Foster Jr., Victor Hugo Harris, Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez, Mary “M.J.” Hegar, Sema Hernandez, Chris Bell, Royce West, Michael Cooper, Amanda K. Edwards, Annie “Mama” Garcia, D.R. Hunter and Adrian Ocegueda.

In Jefferson County, incumbent Zena Stephens is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for sheriff, as she seeks a second term. Emil Serda and David Odom are facing off in the Republican primary.

Among contested races locally, the race for Ninth Court of Appeals chief justice is an all-Republican contest: Scott Goleman, Chuck Meyer, Jarrod Lee Walker, Colleen Cordts Rice and Jay Wright.

The two constable races impacting Port Arthur are both on the Democratic ticket. Port Arthur Police Officer Terry Tran is challenging incumbent Christopher Bates in Precinct 2, while Bates’ chief deputy, Gene Winston, takes on Eddie Collins in Precinct 8.

Voting numbers

As of Monday, 146,582 in Jefferson County have registered to vote. In the Democratic Primary, 11,398 voted early in the county, with 1,424 mail ballots returned. The Republican Primary saw 7,767 in the county vote early, with 113 mail ballots returned.

Where people can vote

Residents in Mid- and South County can vote between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the following locations:

• Port Arthur: De Queen Elementary School, 740 DeQueen Blvd.; Zion Hill Baptist Church, 5848 Roosevelt Ave.; Jefferson County Sub-Courthouse, 525 Lakeshore Dr.; Port Acres Elementary, 6301 Pat Ave.; O.W. Collins Retirement Center, 4440 Gulfway Dr.; Port Arthur Library, 4615 9th Ave.; R.L Gabby Eldridge Center, 5262 S. Gulfway Dr., Sabine Pass; Travis Elementary, 1115 Lakeview Ave.; Sam Houston Elementary, 3245 36th St.
• Groves: Groves Public Library, 5600 W. Washington; Groves Activity Building, 6150 39th St.
• Nederland: Central Gardens Fire Station, 2026 Spurlock Rd.; Nederland City Hall, 207 N. 12th St.; Marion & Ed Hughes Public Library, 2712 Nederland Ave.
• Port Neches: Port Neches City Hall, 1005 Merriman.

Other races

General elections for Port Arthur city offices will be held May 2. The fall general election day is Nov. 3.

Democratic Party Primary Election candidates

(Note: Candidates are listed in order of ballot; the Democratic ballot also includes 11 propositions)

President

Michael Bennet, Cory Booker, Marianne Williamson, Tom Steyer, Andrew Yang, Robby Wells, Bernie Sanders, Deval Patrick, Julian Castro, Tulsi Gabbard, Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg, John K. Delaney, Elizabeth Warren, Michael R. Bloomberg, Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente, Joseph R. Biden

U.S. Senator

Jack Daniel Foster Jr., Victor Hugo Harris, Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez, Mary “M.J.” Hegar, Sema Hernandez, Chris Bell, Royce West, Michael Cooper, Amanda K. Edwards, Annie “Mama” Garcia, D.R. Hunter, Adrian Ocegueda

U.S. Representative District 14

Mikal Williams, Sanjanetta Barnes, Robert “Puga” Thomas, Adrienne Bell, Eddie Fisher

Railroad Commissioner

Chrysta Castañeda, Kelly Stone, Mark Watson, Roberto R. “Beto” Alonza

Chief Justice, Supreme Court

Jerry Zimmerer, Amy Clark Meachum

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 6, Unexpired Term

Larry Praeger, Kathy Cheng

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 7

Staci Williams, Brandy Voss

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 8

Gisela D. Triana, Peter Kelly

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3

William Pieratt Diamond, Elizabeth Davis Frizzell, Dan Wood

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4

Steven Miears, Tina Clinton

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9

Brandon Birmingham

State Senator, District 4

Jay Stittleburg

State Representative, District 22

Joe Deshotel

District Judge, 60th Judicial District

Justin Gary Sanderson

District Judge, 136th Judicial District

Baylor Wortham

Sheriff

Zena Stephens

County Commissioner, Precinct 3

Michael Shane Sinegal

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 1

George Milhouse, Naomi Showers Doyle, Cathy Bennett Dollinger

 Constable, Precinct 1

Donald Jackson, Jevonne “J.C.” Pollard

Constable, Precinct 2

Christopher L. Bates, Terry Tran

Constable, Precinct 6

Joe “QB” Stevenson, Dana (Big) Baker

Constable, Precinct 8

Eddie Collins, Gene Winston

County Chair

Joseph Paul Trahan, Paul M. Martin, Ava Y. Graves

Precinct 70 Chair

David E. Ball, Anthony Cooper

Republican Party Primary Election candidates

(Note: Candidates are listed in order of ballot; the Republican ballot also includes 10 propositions)

President

Matthew John Matern, Joe Walsh, Donald J. Trump, Bob Ely, Bill Weld, Zoltan G. Istvan, Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente Guerra

U.S. Senator

John Cornyn, Virgil Bierschwale, Dwayne Stovall, John Anthony Castro, Mark Yancey

U.S. Representative District 14

Joshua Foxworth, Randy Weber

Railroad Commissioner

James “Jim” Wright, Ryan Sitton

Chief Justice, Supreme Court

Nathan Hecht

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 6, Unexpired Term

Jane Bland

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 7

Jeff Boyd

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 8

Brett Busby

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3

Bert Richardson, Gina Parker

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4

Kevin Patrick Yeary

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9

David Newell

State Senator, District 4

Brandon Creighton

State Representative, District 21

Dade Phelan

State Representative, District 22

Jacorion Randle

Chief Justice, 9th Court of Appeals District

Scott Golemon, Chuck “Charles B” Meyer, Jarrod Lee Walker, Colleen Cordts Rice, Jay Wright

Sheriff

Emil Serda, David Odom

County Tax Assessor-Collector

Allison Nathan Getz

County Commissioner, Precinct 1

Vernon Pierce

Constable, Precinct 1

Mark Mann

Constable, Precinct 4

Bryan Werner

Constable, Precinct 7

Robert “Bobby’ Adams Jr.

County Chair

Judy Nichols