State Sen. Kip Averitt beat Burleson’s Darren Yancy in Tuesday’s Republican primary, a coup for his supporters who sought to re-elect the senator despite his decision not to campaign.

He had cited health problems related to diabetes and high blood pressure.

With almost three-quarters of the precincts reporting in the 10-county district, Averitt had 63.5 percent of the vote to Yancy’s 36.5 percent.

Kip Averitt received more than 70 percent of the vote in McLennan County, despite withdrawing from the race.

Averitt had more than 70 percent of the vote in McLennan County.

He was neck and neck with Yancy in Johnson County, Yancy’s home area.

The question now is whether Averitt — who didn’t draw a Democratic opponent — will consider serving another term in the Senate, and if not, when he’ll step down.

The 55-year-old Averitt, an accountant, has not issued any statements or given interviews since putting out a January news release that detailed his health problems.

On election night, Averitt’s staff said the senator would not be issuing any statement with immediate reaction to the results.

There have been no clues from the Averitt camp as to whether or when he might step down in case of a victory.

If Averitt leaves after the general election, there would be a special election for the seat.

If he leaves his post before the general election, 10 Democratic and 10 Republican county party chairs would select replacement candidates for the November ballot.

The 44-year-old Yancy, who works in the insurance and real estate fields, didn’t return a phone message left late Tuesday.

He has said in recent weeks that he thought he would be the choice of the district’s GOP county chairs to go on the November ballot if Averitt opts to withdraw before the general election.

Several Averitt supporters disputed that Tuesday. They said they aren’t convinced a majority of the county chairs in the district, which stretches from Waco to Johnson and Ellis counties, would end up picking Yancy.

For Averitt supporters, the election-night numbers brought relief and joy after a tense few weeks of uncertainty about the outcome of the race.

Darren Yancy fell to State Sen. Kip Averitt on Tuesday, despite Averitt’s late withdrawal from the race.
Michael W. Shapiro/Waco Tribune-Herald

“In a way I’m surprised, but in a way I’m not surprised,” said Waco’s Chris DeCluitt, who sits on the State Republican Executive Committee.

“I think Yancy has done it to himself,” DeCluitt said. “He’s shown himself to be somewhat irascible, somewhat combative and not a very friendly person when you disagree with him.”

Another key Averitt supporter, former state Sen. David Sibley, put it a little differently.

“I think people are saying they want a redo,” he said, “though my first preference would be that Senator Averitt leave his name on the (general election) ballot and serve the term.”

Waco’s next senator will serve a two-year term, since all senators have to run for re-election after redistricting.

mshapiro@wacotrib.com

757-5707

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