Horny Toad Pulls Ahead to Win Runoff

The results are in from the Texas Critter Election Runoff! The Texas Horned Toad won with 78 votes to the Mexican Free-tailed Bat’s 59 votes. 

Any person 18 or under was eligible to cast a ballot whether or not they voted in the initial election. In both the original election with the bat, the toad and the Texas Longhorn as candidates, and the runoff,  eligible voters drew the candidate or wrote its name on a vote form and placed it in the ballot box.

The results have been certified by the Comal Area Board despite a report that the UT Texas Longhorn Mascot Bevo is considering legal action to dispute the general election results.  “I think the Horned Toad’s ability to spit blood from its eyes impressed these young voters and perhaps the smaller size of the two runoff candidates was appealing.  Our poll workers noticed that the youngsters seemed to enjoy drawing the bat and toad more than the longhorn cow. We were a little surprised by the runoff results since in the earlier general election, the Bat led with 40.8% followed by the Horned Toad at 30.9%, the Texas Longhorn at 26.3% and 3 write-in candidates at 2% of 152 ballots“ stated LWVCA President Jerrie Champlin.  Youth Empowerment Director Sheila Pattison added "whatever Bevo's disappointment in the Longhorn's  loss, we are confident in the Critter Election process."

The runoff polling took place at the New Braunfels Back to School Bash on August 6, National Voter Registration Day at New Braunfels Main Library and the Westside Branch on September 19, the Comal County Fair Parade on September 22 and Dia de los Muertos on October 28.  General Election ballots were cast this past summer at the Earth Day Celebration at Headwaters on Comal, CycloVIVA, New Braunfels Pride 2023 and the Juneteenth Celebration at Westside Community Center. "This Critter Election has been fun for all involved while introducing a younger group to the basics and excitement of voting", commented Champlin.  "The runoff gave us further opprtunities to discuss how elections work with future voters."