Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta defeated Democratic challenger Robert Pruett with 62 percent, 68,556 votes, supporting him in a rematch from a 2014 contest.

Sebesta, who lives in Angleton, emphasized that the county had lowered its tax rate over three years. He cited the coming addition of toll lanes and related work to Texas 288 as one of the most beneficial projects he's overseen. Sebesta has served in public office for 28 years beginning on the planning and zoning committee in Angleton in 1990. He subsequent held posts as a council member and mayor for that city then as Brazoria County commissioner.

Pruett, a retired Galena Park police chief and former administrator for that city, campaigned with ideas such a tax abatement to first-time home buyers for one year to help ease the financial hurdle into home ownership. Pruett, a Army veteran, described himself as a fiscally conservative Democrat but argues that county taxpayers aren't getting enough in services for what they pay and argued that having a mix of Democrats and Republican elected county officials makes for better government.

In the race for Brazoria County Precinct 2, incumbent Ryan Cade, a Republican, ran against Democrat Jackie K. Funkhouser.

Cade, an insurance agent who lives in Bailey’s Prairie, said his goal was to pursue responsible and efficient ways to handle growth. Funkhouser, a 53-year-old Silverlake resident, said that if elected, her first step will be to listen to constituents and that she believed that “Pearland needs a voice in the county.”

Robert Pruett

Sebesta defeats challenger in county judge match