Republicans wield a wide broom in sweeping Galveston Co.

GALVESTON — Republicans here appeared poised Tuesday to take control of every major Galveston County office for the first time since Reconstruction.

With roughly two-fifths of precincts reporting, GOP candidates were leading Democrats in the races for county judge, county commissioner, district attorney, district clerk, county clerk, county treasurer, probate judge, three county court-at-law posts and a district court judgeship.

"It's going to be a sweep," said County Republican Party Chairman John LeCoure.

Noting that most of precincts in the strongly Democratic southern part of the county had already reported, leaving mostly Republican-leaning precincts in the north county, LeCoure said his party was prepared to take control of county government for the first time since Reconstruction following the Civil War.

"This is a very historic event in Galveston County, absolutely," LeCoure said.

County Democratic Party Chairman Lloyd Criss acknowledged it would be hard for his party's slate to overcome the early GOP leads.

The only Democrat to withstand the Republican wave was state Rep. Craig Eiland, District 23, who was leading challenger Gary Wilson by a wide margin.

In the most-watched race, Republican Mark Henry led incumbent County Judge Jim Yarbrough.

If the Republicans win the only county commissioners seat in play, they would control Commissioners Court for the first time in decades.

Republican Kevin O'Brien was leading incumbent Precinct 2 Commissioner Bryan Lamb.

harvey.rice@chron.com