Election results: Abilene voters back firefighter bargaining as Democrats flip Texas governor and Senate seats

Abilene voters on Tuesday approved both city propositions on firefighter pay talks by wide margins, according to Taylor County's unofficial final count with all 68 precincts reporting. Proposition A, which replaces the city's meet-and-confer system with collective bargaining for firefighters, passed with 21,657 votes for and 7,690 against, about 74%. Proposition B, which allows binding arbitration when talks stall, passed with 22,324 votes for and 5,889 against, about 79%.

The measures landed on the ballot after this year's meet-and-confer talks ended without a deal. Under Proposition B, the firefighters' association can ask for arbitration if the two sides reach an impasse, with unresolved issues submitted within 45 days. Firefighter pay currently runs from about $70,000 to more than $150,000 depending on rank and years of service. The city has said raises have averaged around 6% a year and wants smaller, more sustainable increases, while firefighters want pay in line with 10 comparison cities. Negotiations are expected to start again.

Statewide, the night brought major upsets. Democrat Gina Hinojosa was projected to defeat Gov. Greg Abbott, who conceded on election night, making her the first Democratic governor since Ann Richards left office in 1995. Democrat James Talarico was projected to beat Attorney General Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate, the first Democratic statewide win in Texas since 1994. Taylor County voters went the other way, giving Abbott about 66% and Paxton about 64%.

Closer to home, Republicans carried the area's legislative and congressional races. Jay Hardaway was projected to win Texas House District 71, the seat Stan Lambert is leaving, taking about 71% in Taylor County over Democrat Diana Luna. Tom Sell was projected to win the 19th Congressional District, with about 70% in Taylor County over Democrat Kyle Rable. In the Taylor County treasurer race, incumbent Becky Freeman beat Democrat Pierce LoPachin 29,699 to 12,107. Turnout in Taylor County was about 46% of 92,662 registered voters.

In Brown County, about 55% of 23,781 registered voters cast ballots. Abbott took nearly 81% there and Paxton about 79%, and Rep. August Pfluger won about 84% in the 11th Congressional District. In the May ISD trustee race, where voters could pick up to four, the unofficial leaders were Bo E. Allen (620), Charles "Chuck" Woods (612), Ben McInnis (518) and Allison Vail (392), with Michael Seider close behind at 382. Most Brown County offices were uncontested.

Clyde CISD's Place 1 trustee race was on Taylor County ballots too, where Scott Berry led Paul Morris and Toni Brockway, though most of that district votes in Callahan County. Results across the Big Country stay unofficial until local canvasses are done.