Democrat John R. "Buster" Brown held an early lead over incumbent Republican Chris Hill in the race for Collin County judge on Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to unofficial early voting results reported by Community Impact.

Brown had 183,429 early votes, or 50.66%, compared with Hill's 178,629, or 49.34%, as of 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3, Community Impact reported. Those totals reflect early voting and mail ballots only. Election Day in-person votes had not yet been added.

The AP had not called the Collin County judge race as of election night. Texas was among the states where vote counting began during the 8 p.m. hour, according to AP's midterm election coverage. All results remain unofficial until canvassed.

In a statewide race on the same ballot, the AP called the Texas U.S. Senate contest for Democrat James Talarico over Republican Ken Paxton at 11:03 p.m. EST on Nov. 3. Talarico's win marks the first time a Democrat has won a statewide office in Texas since 1994, according to AP.

Polls were open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to the county's election order. Registered Collin County voters could cast ballots at any of 90 Election Day locations countywide.

Collin County residents of Prosper could vote at Prosper Town Hall, 250 W. First St., or at Children's Health Stadium at Prosper ISD, 2000 Stadium Dr. Collin County residents of Celina could head to Bethany Worship Center, 12160 CR 132, or the Collin College Celina Campus, 2505 Kinship Pkwy. Residents of either community who live in Denton County must use that county's voting locations and did not have the Collin County judge race on their ballots.

Who was on the ballot

Hill, a Republican, has served as Collin County judge since 2019, according to election data compiled by BallotReady. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Texas A&M University-Commerce, now East Texas A&M University, according to his campaign biography.

Brown ran as a Democrat. Community Impact reached out to both candidates for its voter guide published in September.

The county judge presides over the five-member Commissioners Court, which adopts the county budget. The judge shares spending decisions with the four commissioners.

What else was at stake

The county judge race was not the only major item on the ballot. Collin County voters also decided on a four-proposition, $817.5 million bond package. The bond election order breaks down the proposals:

  • Proposition A: $296.5 million for court facilities, adult detention facilities and medical and mental health detention facilities.
  • Proposition B: $475 million for non-tolled roads and bridges, including land acquisition and joint county-city projects.
  • Proposition C: $6 million for parks and open space.
  • Proposition D: $40 million for a new county elections and records storage facility.

Each proposition is labeled a tax increase. A separate $600 million Collin College bond proposition was also on the ballot.

When to expect final results

The county's Central Counting Station plan states results are updated roughly every 30 minutes after the initial 7 p.m. report until all locations are counted.

Results are posted on the county elections website. The county also offers live streaming of the counting process.

Collin County Commissioners Court is scheduled to canvass the results on Monday, Nov. 16, at 1:30 p.m. at the Collin County Administration Building, 2300 Bloomdale Rd., Suite 4192, in McKinney, according to the canvass notice.