Prop K suffers dramatic Election Night defeat: recap
El Paso County voters headed to the polls today to weigh in on 11 charter amendments, including the hotly-debated El Paso Climate Charter and a handful of seats on the El Paso Independent School District’s board of trustees.
Voters in Ysleta, Socorro and Anthony also cast votes in school board races while city races unfold in Anthony, Horizon City and San Elizario.
Locally, more than 32,000 El Pasoans went to the polls during the early voting period, which ran from Monday, April 24, until Tuesday, May 2 — while an additional 2,363 mail ballots were returned.
El Paso County Elections Administrator Lisa Wise said early voting turnout had been “steadier (than) expected when compared to other charter elections.”
Proposition K suffers dramatic Election Night defeat
Despite some early momentum on the part of Sunrise El Paso and its army of young, progressive organizers, the ambitious El Paso Climate Charter was roundly defeated.
The proposal was doomed when early voting totals were released after polls closed at 7 p.m. — of the more than 35,000 early ballots cast, over 28,000 voted against the proposal. Even if every vote cast on Election Day had been in favor of the climate charter, there were not enough ballots cast to change the overwhelming defeat.
Shortly after 10 p.m., 38,293 voters had cast ballots against Prop K while 8,553 voters supported the measure. Eighty-two percent of voters were against the climate charter proposition, according to unofficial Election Day results.
-Adam Powell
More: El Paso voters reject El Paso Climate Charter proposal by wide margin
US Rep. Tony Gonzales comments on Prop K voting results
U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales released the following statement Saturday night, “Today — El Paso rejected an extreme ballot initiative which would have codified the Green New Deal. This result is a victory for blue-collar workers, small businesses, and everyday taxpayers.
"In March, I proudly announced opposition to Prop K after hearing concerns from my constituents that Prop K would take away jobs, raise electric rates, and increase taxes. Since then, my team and I worked hard to defeat it. We knocked on doors, met with voters, and held rallies.
"One thing that is clear from tonight’s election results is that El Paso will not allow out-of-town interest groups to dictate local policy at the expense of the people who live and work here."
-Aaron Bedoya
Sunrise El Paso condemns El Paso Electric at Election Day watch party
Organizers with Sunrise El Paso were giving emotional concession speeches at the Hoppy Monk in West El Paso after early voting results were released.
Dozens of people were on hand for an Election Day watch party, and despite the sad nature of the procession of speakers, they cheered and clapped for the gains the movement was able to make.
Speakers condemned El Paso Electric and the Texas Gas Service for “stepping on” the community and the climate movement organizers sought to build.
Organizer Miguel Escoto mourned the loss but celebrated the great effort he and other organizers put forth during the charter campaign.
“That’s what happens when we punch above our weight class,” Escoto said. “Sometimes we lose.”
-Adam Powell
Live election results: May 2023 Uniform Election
Early voting totals oppose Proposition K climate change measure
Early voters have rejected an ambitious proposition that would have made El Paso one of Texas’ only cities to write climate change actions into its city charter.
Voters cast 28,164 (84%) ballots against Proposition K while 5,275 (16%) voters cast ballots in favor of the measure, according to early voting results released by the El Paso County Election Department.
The final outcome of the climate change measure will likely remain unchanged by the more than 15,000 voters who cast ballots today. Final results will not be available until later this evening.
Nearly 35,000 voters cast their ballots early in the May 2023 Uniform Election, which features 11 city charter measures and a number of local school board member races.
Sunrise El Paso and Ground Game Texas activists placed Proposition K on the May 6 ballot by collecting more than 36,000 signatures. It calls for aggressive renewable energy goals, study purchasing El Paso Electric and limiting the use of local resources on oil-related enterprises.
The city does not have a comprehensive climate change action plan.
El Paso business leaders and outsiders with strong ties to Texas oil and gas industries worked hard leading up to Election Day to defeat Proposition K. The El Paso Chamber of Commerce and the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce also worked to defeat the measure.
Opponents mounted an aggressive campaign, using billboards and mailed leaflets urging voters to defeat the measure. They claimed the proposition would cost taxpayers more than $30 million and kill thousands of jobs.
-El Paso Times staff
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Election Day voting results oppose Prop K climate charter
