UPDATE: Challenger Wesley Doolittle wins Republican primary runoff for Montgomery County sheriff

With all 41 precincts in Montgomery County, challenger Wesley Doolittle won the Republican nomination for Montgomery County Sheriff.

Doolittle received 13,423 votes, or 53.55% of the votes cast, and incumbent Rand Henderson received 11,642 votes, or 46.45% of the votes cast. All results are unofficial until reviewed.

Doolittle's campaign could not immediately be reached on election night.

Published on May 28 at 7:10 p.m.

With early and absentee votes in the Republican primary runoff for Montgomery County sheriff, challenger Wesley Doolittle has taken an early lead in the race.

Doolittle received 8,659 votes, or 52.71 percent of the early and absentee votes cast, according to unofficial results. Incumbent Rand Henderson received 7,770, or 47.29% of the early and absentee votes.

All results are unofficial until reviewed.

The backstory

Henderson and Doolittle faced off in a runoff because in the March election, each received just below the 50 percent of votes needed to declare victory in the primary.

In the March race, Henderson received 38,996 votes, or 49.97% of the vote, and Doolittle received 35,947 votes, or 46.06% of the vote. A third candidate, Kenton Ford, received 3,100 votes, or 3.97% of the total, in the March 5 election.

No Democratic candidates ran in the sheriff's primary election.

In case you missed it

Henderson was elected sheriff in 2016 and 2020. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office website says he has served in Montgomery County since 1994.

Doolittle said during a question-and-answer session with Impact on the community his experience includes 22 years with the Department of Public Safety, including 13 years as a Texas Ranger; and most recently Captain in the Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constable's Office.

And after?

The winner of the runoff will be the only candidate listed on the November ballot. Impact on the community will update this article as more Election Day results are released.

Visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide/election-results to see results from all local elections in your community.