Incumbent Hernandez scores easy re-election in El Paso Council District 3

COMPLETE RESULTS: Click here for full election results

EL PASO, Texas -- After being forced into a runoff in a special election last year, incumbent Cassandra Hernandez emerged as a big winner.

Hernandez, in Council District 3, has 11,957 votes or 54.08 percent. She leads her nearest competitor by more than 5,000 votes.

Challenger Jose Rodriguez had 6,740 votes or 30.49 percent and Will Veliz trailed with 3,412 votes or 15.43 percent.

Hernandez beat back a challenge to unseat her for the second time in a year.

District 3 includes parts of east and central El Paso.

Veliz and Hernandez ended up in a runoff last year after a Facebook post indicating Hernandez wanted to run for mayor triggered the city’s resign-or-run rule.

Hernandez maintained that the post was put up by a staffer without her permission, but she still had to run for her seat in a special election.

The other candidate is Rodriguez, a political newcomer and Realtor just like Veliz.