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AUSTIN — Janet Dudding has claimed victory in the Democratic runoff for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
Dudding, a CPA endorsed by Planned Parenthood and the Texas AFL-CIO, said she bested opponent Ángel Luis Vega and was leading by a large margin, with most precincts reporting unofficial results late Tuesday evening. Vega did not respond to requests for comment.
Dudding will face Glenn Hegar, the incumbent Republican, in the November general election. A Democratic has not been elected to statewide office in more than 25 years.
In acknowledging her win, Dudding said Tuesday did not feel like a celebratory day due to the school shooting in Uvalde that left at least 21 people dead.
“Today we celebrate. Tomorrow we get back to work,” Dudding said in a tweeted statement. “Because Texans deserve to have faith in their government.”
The Texas comptroller is the state’s chief tax collector and also provides the Legislature with information on the tax revenue it has available to spend. Its revenue projections can be powerful determinations of how lawmakers view the state of the Texas economy.
Dudding ran on a platform that espoused legalizing recreational marijuana, expanding broadband access and making tax reductions for corporations more transparent. Vega, a business strategist who lives in Fort Bend County, said he wanted to connect the job of the comptroller more with average Texans by establishing regular listening sessions with citizens.