Anticipation was felt throughout the nation Tuesday night as election results rolled in, and that feeling wasn’t lost in Texas. A historically red state since 1976, Texas became contested this year as a battleground state, according to AP. 

Yet the results conclude the state to remain red with President Donald Trump winning Texas by 661,891 votes, Senator John Cornyn reelected by over a million votes, and District 3’s Van Taylor returning to the U.S. House with over 50,000 votes. 

Though much of the focus was on the Presidential race, junior Anikha Guda, who interned for Taylor’s challenger Democratic candidate Lulu Seikaly, urges her classmates to recognize the importance of local elections. 

“I think it is so important to be cognizant and active in local elections because oftentimes many people overlook local politics thinking voting for local leaders won’t affect them, which is actually ironic because they often have more of a difference,” Guda said. “Speaking from firsthand experience from working with a congressional candidate, many people who we called were unaware of the candidates and their stances, and many did not even care. This is actually so dangerous because if voters and citizens do not care about the legislators they want to elect and the ones that need to be held accountable, how can we expect the people in office who don’t care?”

Frisco ISD saw incumbent victory as well, with Debbie Gillespie reelected to Place 5 of the Board of Trustees after running unopposed. Aside from that, a contested four-way race to fill Place 4 ended with voters electing Dynette Davis with a plurality of 35.86 percent. 

Davis will be the first Black woman to serve on the district’s nonpartisan Board of Trustees. 

“I awoke with a profound sense of gratitude and a renewed hope for a brighter tomorrow, knowing that our best days are still yet to come,” Davis said. “I thank God for this incredible blessing.” 

The Board of Trustee results from Collin and Denton counties are not official until canvassed later this month, according to the Frisco ISD website. The unofficial results show Davis has won, and she is ready to fill the role after months of campaigning.  

“Just as I promised during my campaign, I will listen to your concerns of our FISD families with an open heart and an open mind,” she said. “From Liberty to Lone Star, Heritage to Hosp, Miller to Mooneyham and everywhere in between, I remain committed to being a champion for all students [and] teachers. Campaigning is not easy. It requires a lot of hard work and sacrifice, not just for the candidate but for our families as well. To my girls, I love you and I thank you for all of your understanding during this incredibly long journey.”