Election Day Arrives
The polls are open this morning for the Primary Runoff Election.
Voters will choose party candidates in the U.S. Senate race. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and former Solicitor General Ted Cruz have been in a bitter struggle to be the Republican nominee. Former state Representative Paul Sadler and Grady Yarbrough, a retired educator, are in a runoff for the Democratic nomination.
Across the state, several U.S. congressional district seats, one state senate seat, several state representative seats and a spot on the Texas Supreme Court are also in the mix. 
Some Austinites will have a say in the race for the 25th Congressional District, which runs through western Travis and Hays counties. Republicans Roger Williams and Wes Riddle are vying for the spot.
The Travis County website has sample ballots for Republican and Democratic voters. Some polling locations have been combined for this election. You can confirm your polling place here.
Polls close at 7 p.m.
Austin Soldier Killed in Afghanistan
The Department of Defense has released the name of an Austin soldier who was killed in Afghanistan. Sgt. John E. Hansen was killed by an improvised explosive device on July 26 in Afghanistan. He was 41.
Hansen joined the Air Force in 1999. He then joined the Army almost seven years later. This was his first deployment in Afghanistan. He also served in Iraq.
Hansen was killed alongside another soldier in his battalion. They were based in Washington.
The Department of Defense confirms that as of yesterday: 6,526 U.S. service personnel have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, 577 were from Texas.
San Antonio Mayor, Julian Castro, Named Keynote for DNC
The Democratic National Convention Committee today announced that Julian Castro, Mayor of San Antonio, will address the Democratic National Convention as its keynote speaker this fall. Castro is scheduled to address the convention on September 4, in Charlotte, N.C. Castro, who is in his second term as mayor, will be the first Latino keynote speaker at a DNC.
The Republican National Convention kicks off August 27 in Tampa, Fla. No keynote speaker has been officially named but rumors surfaced last week that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will be featured.
