Unofficial results from Harris County show that Barineau captured 28 percent, while DeAyala took 27 percent. Former Houston City Council member Greg Travis landed in third place with 23 percent.
A small business owner, attorney, and 18-year Republican precinct chair, Barineau launched her campaign last fall with a policy speech that covered affordable housing, education, crime, human trafficking, and a slew of other issues.
“We are excited to be in the lead after Election Day and look forward to the runoff,” Barineau said in a statement to The Texan. “We will continue a race to the finish by knocking on doors and discussing the issues on the minds of the voters in HD133. Our amazing volunteers are excited, engaged, and ready to work until 7:00PM on May 24th. We will not rest until the final vote is cast.”
Also an attorney, DeAyala was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to serve on the Texas Board of Criminal Justice and serves as chairman of the Hispanic Republicans of Texas.
“I am thankful to the voters of House District 133 for this opportunity. I have a track record of fighting for border security, working to reduce crime, fighting to secure our elections, leading a massive conservative voter registration effort, fighting to keep CRT out of education and working to grow the Republican Party,” DeAyala said in a statement to The Texan.
“Voters want results and I plan to continue to deliver conservative results for this district in the Texas House.”
In the weeks prior to primary election day, Travis seemed to have momentum, but after video emerged of a man pulling down a Barineau campaign sign and throwing it onto a dumpster, Travis admitted he was the vandal.
The winner of the runoff election slated for May 24 will face Democrat Mohamad Maarouf, a program director at the School Empowerment Network and a board member for the Texas Center for Justice & Equity, a nonprofit dedicated to ending “mass incarceration.” However, the west Houston suburban and Energy Corridor district is rated R-57% according to The Texan’s Texas Partisan Index, and the Republican nominee will be favored to win in November.
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Holly Hansen
Holly Hansen is a regional reporter for The Texan living in Harris County. Her former column, “All In Perspective” ran in The Georgetown Advocate, Jarrell Star Ledger, and The Hill Country News, and she has contributed to a variety of Texas digital media outlets. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Central Florida with a degree in History, and in addition to writing about politics and policy, also writes about faith and culture.
