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Early voting has begun for July 14 runoffs, and these are our picks for the primaries.

Early voting begins today for the July 14 Democratic and Republican primary runoff elections. The editorial board has made recommendations in 15 of these runoffs. Below is a summary of those endorsements.

Republicans

Wendell Champion in primary for U.S. House District 18. The West Point graduate and Army veteran brings a broad life experience and a thoughtful approach to politics.

Troy Nehls in primary for U.S. House District 22. The two-term Fort Bend County sheriff has the edge in public service, elected office experience.

Paul Day in primary for Harris County Sheriff. He touts nearly a halfcentury of law enforcement experience at the Houston Police Department and the sheriff ’s office as a patrol deputy. He impressed the editorial board with his fair-mindedness and passion. And unlike his opponent, he has not been fired for falsifying records.

Terry Adams in primary for 1st Court of Appeals, Place 5. He has 30 years of meaningful appellate experience and a solid reputation in the community for being an even-handed, accomplished attorney. He has been a primary lawyer on more than 200 appellate cases, including cases at every level including the U.S. Supreme Court. Adams was a briefing attorney for the Texas Supreme Court and is a member of the State Bar Court Rules Committee.

Democrats

Royce West in primary for U.S. Senate. The 26-year veteran of the Texas Senate brings experience, a record of achievement and a moderate’s passion for results. He is also a trailblazing advocate for racial equity at a time when such voices should be lifted up.

Mike Siegel in primary for U.S. House District 10. The lawyer and activist is a dedicated public servant whose 4-point loss against the incumbent in 2018 put the race on the map for Democrats. He should be allowed to finish what he started.

Akilah Bacy in primary for Texas House District 138. Bacy has strong on-the-ground experience that speaks to her passion and smarts. Bacy grew up in northwest Houston and has an insider’s knowledge of its challenges, which she stressed include education, health care, flooding, climate, employment rights, restorative justice — all issues voters in her district care deeply about.

Harold Dutton Jr. in primary for Texas House District 142. His role in 2015 legislation enabling state takeover of HISD is not a good reason to ignore years of accomplishment, nor the advantages that his seniority in the Legislature confers.

Anna Eastman in primary for Texas House District 148. Her record as an eight-year member of the HISD school board, plus the work she’s done since voters chose to send her to Austin in the January special election, shows she has a firm handle on how to get results for constituents. She has promised to make education one of her top priorities.

Michael Moore in primary for Harris County Commissioners Court, Precinct 3. The former chief of staff for Houston Mayor Bill White shows attention to detail and focus that helps him navigate the intricacies of issues and policies of county government. That drive will equip him to grapple with flood mitigation, infrastructure, traffic, an underfunded hospital district and other challenges in our growing region.

Chrysta Castañeda in primary for Railroad Commission of Texas. The engineer and attorney with decades of experience in the oil and gas industry knows how to balance the economic concerns of the oil and gas industry with the need to protect the environment for all Texans. That’s especially important during this time of economic uncertainty.

Michelle Palmer in primary for SBOE District 6. Her years as a social studies teacher make her instantly familiar with curriculum and will provide a much-needed voice on the State Board of Education. She also shows a zeal for change and for expanding history lessons to include a broader array of perspectives.

Cheri Thomas in primary for 14th Court of Appeals, Place 7. She has served as a staff attorney for this court of appeals, and has earned endorsements from three of her primary opponents. An honors graduate of University of Texas School of Law and a former clerk for U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis, she had a civil litigation practice at Baker Botts, the international law firm founded in Houston, before joining the staff of the court of appeals in 2017.

Te’iva Bell in primary for 339th District Court. Bell has served in the felony courts from three perspectives — as a prosecutor, a criminal defense attorney and a public defender. Her reputation in trial is superb after 15 years of practice. She says justice should not depend on wealth, judges should not control the appointment process and bond conditions should be about community safety.

Cheryl Elliott Thornton in primary for 164th District Court. Thornton knows the legal landscape in Harris County well, as she has been senior assistant county attorney since 2011. She has also served Texas as an assistant attorney general and an administrative law judge. Her opponent has been suspended from her bench and is under federal indictment.