Laredo College Board Race Heads to Runoff
Tita Vela and Dr. Eduardo Lopez will face each other in a citywide runoff for Position 9 on the Laredo College Board of Trustees.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Elections
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No candidate won a majority in the three-way race for Laredo College Board of Trustees Position 9, so Tita Vela, who received about 42% of the vote, and Dr. Eduardo Lopez, who received approximately 34%, will compete in a runoff. The runoff is set for Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026.
Why it matters
Texas Education Code requires community colleges to hold runoffs rather than award pluralities, meaning the leading vote-getter cannot win outright without a majority. The outcome will determine who fills the seat on the nine-member college board for Laredo residents.
The November 3, 2026 results showed Vela at about 42% and Lopez at approximately 34%, with the remaining share going to a third candidate whose total was not reported. The runoff is expected to cost between $88,000 and $90,000, split between Laredo College and the City of Laredo, while the runoff turnout remains unknown.
The players
Tita Vela
Vela is a current member of the Laredo College Board of Trustees who has served on the board for 12 years and finished first in the Position 9 race with about 42% of the vote.
Dr. Eduardo Lopez
Lopez is an educator with a doctorate in education and more than 24 years of experience who works for the Laredo Independent School District and placed second with approximately 34% of the vote.
The details
Three candidates appeared on the Position 9 ballot, and neither leading candidate reached a majority, triggering the runoff under state law. Vela has served on the board for 12 years, while Lopez holds a doctorate in education, has worked as an educator for more than 24 years, and works for the Laredo Independent School District.
Timeline
Nov. 3, 2026: Position 9 election held with no majority winner.
Nov. 30 through Dec. 5, 2026: Early voting for the runoff.
Dec. 12, 2026: Citywide runoff election for Position 9.
Political Context
Texas law requires community college boards to hold runoffs when no candidate wins a majority, rather than letting the top vote-getter take the seat. That rule is why Laredo College voters will return to the polls on December 12 instead of having a winner determined in November.
Laredo voters will have a second chance to vote in December, with early voting running from November 30 through December 5 before the December 12 runoff. Because the college and city share the roughly $88,000 to $90,000 cost, the expense is spread across both budgets.
The takeaway
Local elections with more than two candidates can require a second round before a winner is certain, so checking the early voting dates and the runoff date is the practical step for Laredo voters who want a say in the Position 9 outcome.
What happens next
Early voting for the Position 9 runoff runs from Nov. 30 through Dec. 5, 2026, ahead of the citywide runoff election on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026.
Further reading
For more on how local voting races are decided, explore Elections coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kgns.
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Do you think community college board races should require runoffs when no candidate wins a majority?
