San Patricio County in Texas recently concluded its primary elections, with local and statewide races drawing voters to the polls, as law enforcement agencies also responded to a fatal standoff in Odem. Meanwhile, a historical discovery in Florida linked to San Patricio, or St. Patrick, is challenging long-held beliefs about the Irish diaspora in America.

San Patricio County Primary Results Emerge

Voters in San Patricio County headed to the polls on March 3 for the primary elections, with unofficial results now released. The county saw a voter turnout just under 14 percent, according to preliminary figures from the local elections office.

Several local offices featured competitive contests. Races for county judge, county clerk, and county treasurer all drew significant attention. In the Republican primary for county judge, David R. Krebs and Mark Roach ran a close race, reflecting the competitive nature of the local ballot.

Statewide Republican primary results also registered in San Patricio County. For United States Senator, Ken Paxton garnered 2,633 votes (44.04%) in the county, narrowly leading John Cornyn, who received 2,383 votes (39.86%). Other candidates like Wesley Hunt secured 678 votes (11.34%), while John O. Adefope, Virgil John Bierschwale, Anna Bender, Sara Canady, and Gulrez "Gus" Khan each received smaller percentages.

Governor Greg Abbott dominated his primary in the county, securing 4,925 votes (83.87%). His challengers, including Pete "Doc" Chambers with 569 votes (9.69%) and Evelyn Brooks with 83 votes (1.41%), saw considerably less support. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick also posted strong numbers, taking 4,902 votes (85.21%) against challengers like Timothy Mabry (430 votes, 7.47%) and Perla Muñoz Hopkins (329 votes, 5.72%).

In the race for Attorney General, Chip Roy led the county's Republican primary with 2,092 votes (37.66%). Mayes Middleton was close behind with 1,544 votes (27.79%), followed by Joan Huffman (1,281 votes, 23.06%) and Aaron Reitz (638 votes, 11.49%). Don Huffines won the Republican primary for Comptroller of Public Accounts in San Patricio County, earning 2,856 votes (51.01%), outpacing Christi Craddick (1,053 votes, 18.81%) and Kelly Hancock (1,259 votes, 22.49%).

Some candidates ran unopposed in their primaries within the county. Monica De La Cruz secured 100% of the vote for U.S. Representative, District 15, with 2,963 votes. Dawn Buckingham also took 100% for Commissioner of the General Land Office with 5,090 votes. Likewise, J.M. Lozano received all 5,164 votes for State Representative, District 43. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Jimmy Blacklock, and Justices James P. Sullivan, Kyle Hawkins, and Brett Busby also ran unopposed in their respective Supreme Court races. Kevin Patrick Yeary ran unopposed for Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4.

For U.S. Representative, District 27, Michael Cloud received 2,130 votes (86.97%), defeating Chris Hatley, who had 319 votes (13.03%). Sid Miller won the Commissioner of Agriculture primary with 3,283 votes (60.27%) against Nate Sheets' 2,164 votes (39.73%). In the Railroad Commissioner race, Jim Wright led with 2,248 votes (42.01%), followed by Bo French (1,167 votes, 21.81%) and James (Jim) Matlock (1,094 votes, 20.44%).

Fatal Standoff in Odem

A multi-agency law enforcement standoff in the Bethel Estates area south of Odem, San Patricio County, concluded with the death of a 62-year-old man identified as Jesus P. Ybanez. The incident began Monday afternoon and lasted until nearly midnight.

San Patricio County Sheriff Oscar Rivera reported that deputies initially responded to a call from a woman who said she, her spouse, and their child were shot at while checking their mail at a multi-family dwelling on County Road 1876. A family member, Ybanez, who lived behind one of the homes, allegedly began firing at them. The woman sought cover as her husband tried to drive away with their child in the back seat. Their vehicle was struck multiple times by gunfire.

An Odem ISD school bus, dropping off students, drove by during the shooting. The bus driver quickly backed away, with the husband and child following in their damaged vehicle. Moments later, deputies arrived and approached the driveway, at which point Ybanez reportedly opened fire on them. A deputy returned fire before Ybanez retreated into a mobile home.

The Texas Department of Public Safety and other agencies rushed to help. Authorities obtained search and arrest warrants for Ybanez. When Ybanez wouldn't come out, DPS rammed an armored vehicle through the mobile home. Inside, Ybanez was found dead from what authorities believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

No one got hurt—not the family, not the school kids, not the deputies. "Our sincere condolences to the families for this tragic outcome," Rivera said. "We are grateful that no one was injured, and the response and support from all responding agencies speak volumes when it comes to public safety." Investigators and Texas Rangers are still working the scene.

First St. Patrick's Day Celebration Uncovered in Florida

Historians found something surprising: the first St. Patrick's Day procession in North America wasn't in Boston or New York—it happened in St. Augustine, Florida. In 2018, University of South Florida historian J. Michael Francis, while conducting research in Spanish archives, found a passage describing St. Augustine residents marching through the streets on March 17, 1600, to honor the feast day of San Patricio, or St. Patrick.

The discovery sparked a museum exhibition. The exhibition, which opened on March 9 at the St. Augustine Visitor Information Center, chronicles the history of the Irish diaspora in Florida and their significant impact from 1595 to 1840. Francis explained that the exhibit provides a deeper understanding of the long-standing Irish connection with Florida, beginning with the first recorded Irishman arriving in 1595. It features animated stories, traditional museum panels, illustrative maps, and historical documents.

Sarah Kavanagh, the Consul General of Ireland in Miami, noted that the exhibition challenges common preconceptions. "Most of us assume that the story of the Irish in America begins in nineteenth century Boston, New York or Philadelphia, in British colonies or a newly created USA," Kavanagh said. She highlighted that persecution and dispossession often drove many Irish Catholics to the European continent and then to the Spanish Empire in the Americas and the Caribbean.

The idea for the exhibition originated in 2025 when Kavanagh contacted Francis after learning about his St. Patrick's Day discovery. She proposed commemorating the event, and Francis expanded the concept to highlight the broader history of the Irish in eastern Florida. Francis, who also serves as the chief academic adviser for La Florida: The Interactive Digital Archives of the Americas, collaborated with the project's team to bring the exhibit to fruition. They meticulously combed through archival collections in Spain and the United States to identify every Irish person who resided in colonial East Florida.

The exhibition is set to run through April 30 in St. Augustine. Organizers hope it will then embark on a tour to other locations across Florida and potentially even travel across the Atlantic to Ireland, sharing this overlooked chapter of Irish-American history with a wider audience.

The exhibition features 15 animated stories of Irish people in colonial Florida, including Darby Glavin, who is recognized as the first recorded Irishman in the region.