The Texas Supreme Court denied a plea from Rep. Nathan Macias' lawyers to replace the judge hearing his case. And the court recount of his election defeat in HD-73 is set for Monday, May 19.

Macias, a freshman Republican from Bulverde, lost the GOP primary to former New Braunfels Mayor Doug Miller. It was close, though, and Macias thinks alleged hanky-panky in Gillespie County's Box 5 — where the votes came in late, and for a time, Miller's sister-in-law mingled with the counters — might have cost him his reelection. His lawyers wanted the judge removed without stating a reason; the judge — upheld on appeal — said that works in regular cases, but not election contests. The difference between the winner and the loser: 17 votes. Trivia: Two years ago, Macias beat incumbent Rep. Carter Casteel, R-New Braunfels, by just 45 votes.