Tom Green County’s May 3 general election saw 11,057 ballots cast out of 66,127 registered voters, resulting in a voter turnout of 16.72 percent, according to unofficial results from the Tom Green County Elections Office. This marks the highest voter turnout for May elections in recent years.
“It’s always been my experience that based on certain elections and the issues that are on that particular ballot, that’s what draws the interest and has well participation, and certainly what we just experienced on Saturday was two bonds and a mayor’s race, both of which are very popular with our voters,” Tom Green County Election Administrator Vona Hudson told The Concho Observer. “I expected to have a little bit higher turnout because of the interest on what was on the ballot.”
The 2025 election featured several races, including the Mayoral race, won by Thomas “Tom” N. Thompson, and City Council seats for SMD 2 and SMD 4.
Patrick Keely won the race for SMD 4 handily with almost 68 percent of the vote over Jamal Shumpert.
The three-way race for SMD 2 resulted in a runoff, to be held June 7, between Joe Self Jr. and Dudra D. Butler.
Mary Coffey, who ran unopposed, will represent SMD 6.
Voters also approved two major bond measures: the City of San Angelo’s Coliseum bond, which passed with 53.04-percent in-favor, will fund $41.66 million in upgrades to the Coliseum and Fairgrounds, and SAISD’s Proposition A, approved by 54.31 precent of voters, which will provide $397 million for a new middle school and facility renovations at most campuses.
Hudson also pointed to education and outreach efforts as another contributing factor:
“There was better outreach, especially with the bonds. I know the city was working and trying to get voters educated with it, and that always helps, too,” she said. “If voters can understand what’s going on with the issues and so forth on the ballot, then I think that helps people feel more comfortable voting.”
The 2024 general election had a slightly lower turnout than this year’s, with 15.35 percent of voters participating—8,056 ballots cast out of 52,495 registered voters. That election included races such as chief of police, which was won by Mike Hernandez, and races for school board. Voters also passed SAISD’s Proposition A, authorizing the reallocation of funds to increase state funding the district.
Comparatively, the 2023 general/special election had a severely-low turnout of just 2.40 percent. In that election, 1,490 ballots were cast out of 62,087 registered voters. The election included City Council SMD 3, where Harry Thomas won, and three approved propositions: Proposition A set qualifications for the police chief, Proposition B aligned the chief’s term with council terms, and Proposition C clarified the chief’s authority.
