By Jeremy A. Corley

Managing Editor

Incumbents ruled the day during Tuesday's primary elections.

Gov. Rick Perry easily held off challengers Debra Medina and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and avoided a runoff with a slight majority in the statewide vote, up from the 46.3 percent he garnered in Grayson County.

He will face former Houston Mayor Bill White in November's general election. White earned 76 percent of the statewide vote and more than 80 percent in Grayson County to defeat six other candidates.

U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall earned the nomination for his 16th term in Congress by defeating five challengers. He narrowly avoided a runoff with Steve Clark, pulling in 58 percent of the Grayson County vote.

Railroad Commissioner Victor Carrillo was defeated by challenger David Porter, who earned more than 68 percent of the vote in Grayson County.

In the race most watched by many in Van Alstyne, incumbent Larry Ashley won the office of justice of the peace in Grayson County Precinct 4 by what both he and his opponent Doak Howarton called a surprising margin, 1,288 to 324.

"I'm very impressed, very honored to be re-elected on a fourth term by that commanding a difference," said Ashley of gaining almost 80 percent of the vote. "I hope to do my best to prove to the people that supported me (that) it was a good choice."

This will be the fifth term as JP for Ashley, who said he thought his experience led him to victory in Tuesday's election.

"The people ... have known me for 12 years and understand that I have a connection to them and the office and am trying to do the best job I can for the community where I serve," he said. "I think they rewarded me with another opportunity to serve, and I'll certainly do that."

Carol Siebman defeated Jack McGowen for the County Court at Law No. 2 seat, earning more than 67 percent of the vote.

Kelly Clark Ashmore took more than 61 percent of the Republican vote for district clerk, beating out Michele Guedea and Kathy Aaron.

Republicans passed all five ballot propositions, with four of them receiving at least 92 percent of the votes in Grayson County.

Proposition 5, which calls for a sonogram to be performed and shown to any woman about to undergo an elective abortion, gained 73.5 percent of Grayson County voters' support.

On the Democratic side, Linda Chavez-Thompson avoided a runoff in the lieutenant governor race by garnering 53 percent of the statewide vote, including 40.89 percent in Grayson County. Ronnie Earle earned 35 percent statewide and 40.95 percent in the county, while Marc Katz was a distant third.

Greg Middents received 57.5 percent of the vote in the Grayson county judge race to beat Glenn Melancon.

Hank Gilbert won a close primary against Kinky Friedman for the agriculture commissioner post, taking 52 percent of the statewide vote. Gilbert garnered more than 54 percent of the Grayson County vote.

Hector Uribe won 52 percent of the statewide vote to defeat Bill Burton in the land commissioner race.

Burton earned more than 71 percent of the vote in Grayson County.