The election results are in! Here are the “down and dirty” results of races of interest in Texas. For more detailed information, go to the Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/. A future memo will provide more detailed analysis of the Texas election results and the implications for the upcoming legislative session. We will also follow any possible recounts and election challenges.
PRESIDENTIAL RACE
Despite losing the election, Republican Mitt Romney carried Texas as expected. Romney got 57% of the vote over President Barack Obama who received 41%.
U.S. SENATE
Republican Ted Cruz defeated Democrat Paul Sadler in the race to replace retiring U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.
U.S. HOUSE
After redistricting, Texas now has 36 Congressional seats. The partisan balance of the Texas Congressional delegation now includes 24 Republicans and 12 Democrats.
Two of the most highly contested congressional races in the country were here in Texas. In CD 14 – retiring Congressman Ron Paul’s district, Republican Randy Weber defeated Democrat Nick Lampson. In CD 23, Democrat Pete Gallego defeated U.S.Rep. Francisco Canseco (R). There will be eight new members in the Texas delegation, including Republicans Randy Weber (CD 14), Roger Williams(CD 25), and Steve Stockman (CD 36) and Democrats Beto O’Rourke (CD 16); Joaquin Castro (CD 20); Pete Gallego (CD 23); Marc Veasey (CD 33), and Filemon Vela (CD 34).
STATEWIDE RACES
There were a few statewide races on the ballot. Two seats on the Texas Railroad Commission were up for grabs. In Place 1, Republican Christi Craddick defeated Democrat Dale Henry. In Place 2, incumbent Republican Commissioner Barry Smitherman defeated Libertarian Jamie Perez.
There were three contested races for spots on the Texas Supreme Court although only one involved major party opposition. In Place 2, Republican incumbent Justice Don Willett defeated Libertarian Roberto Koelsh. In Place 4, Republican John Devine defeated Libertarian Tom Oxford. In Place 6, Incumbent Republican Justice Nathan Hecht defeated Democrat Michele Petty. There was one contested race for a seat on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Republican incumbent Justice Sharon Keller defeated Democrat Keith Hampton.
TEXAS SENATE
Due to redistricting, all 31 seats were on the ballot. The Texas Senate will have five new members. Former Texas House members Charles Schwertner (SD 5), Ken Paxton (SD 8), Kelly Hancock (SD 9), and Larry Taylor (SD 11) will join the Texas Senate along with Donna Campbell (SD 25). In the highly contested and expensive Senate District 10 race, Democratic incumbent Sen. Wendy Davis held off a challenge by Rep. Mark Shelton (R-Ft. Worth). In Senate District 6, deceased Sen.
Mario Gallegos was elected posthumously. A special election will be held sometime in December.
Assuming Senate District 6 elects a Democrat as the district is drawn to do, that will leave the Texas Senate with 19 Republicans and 12 Democrats. This is the same partisan split as the last session.
TEXAS HOUSE
In the Texas House, all 150 seats were up for reelection. Thirty incumbents did not seek reelection. Ten incumbents were defeated in the primary elections. Seventy-six incumbents faced no major party opposition. Immediately prior to the election, the partisan balance of the House was 102 Republicans to 48 Democrats. Due to the results listed below, the House partisan balance stands at 95 Republicans and 45 Democrats.
Last night, three House incumbents were defeated. In House District 34 in the Corpus Christi area, Incumbent Rep. Connie Scott (R-Corpus Christi) was defeated by former state representative Abel Herrero (D-Corpus Christi). In House District 78 in El Paso, Incumbent Rep. Dee Margo (R-El Paso) lost to former state representative Joe Moody (D-El Paso). In House District 117 in San Antonio, Incumbent Rep. John Garza (R-San Antonio) lost to former San Antonio City Councilman Phillip Cortez (D).
There were 39 “open” House races for newly created seats or seats held by members who were not seeking reelection or were defeated in the primary. The results are listed below with the current member in parentheses.
District 3: Open seat in Mongomery, Waller counties
Cecil Bell, Jr. (R-Magnolia)
District 6: (Rep. Leo Berman R-Tyler)
Matt Schaefer (R-Tyler)
District 9: (Rep. Wayne Christian R-Center)
Chris Paddie (R-Marshall)
District 11: (Rep. Chuck Hopson R-Jacksonville)
Travis Clardy (R-Nacogdoches)
District 12: Open seat in Brazos, McLennon counties
Kyle Kacal (R-Bryan)
District 15: (Rep. Rob Eissler R-The Woodlands)
Steve Toth (R-The Woodlands)
District 20: (Rep. Charles Schwertner R-Georgetown)
Marsha Farney (R-Georgetown)
District 24: (Rep. Larry Taylor R-Friendswood)
Greg Bonnen (R-Friendswood)
District 26: (Rep. Charlie Howard R-Sugarland)
Rick Miller (R-Sugarland)
District 29: (Rep. Randy Weber R-Pearland)
Ed Thompson (R-Pearland)
District 33: Open seat in Collin, Rockwall counties
Scott Turner (R-Frisco)
District 35: Open seat in Cameron, Hidalgo counties
Oscar Longoria (D-Mission)
District 40: (Rep. Aaron Pena R-Edinburg)
Terry Canales (D-Edinburg)
District 57: (Rep. Marva Beck R-Centerville)
Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin)
District 59: (Rep. Sid Miller R-Stephenville)
Republican JD Sheffield defeated Democrat Bill Norris
District 65: (Rep. Burt Solomons R-Carrollton)
Republican Ron Simmons defeated Democrat Gary Brown
District 67: (Rep. Jerry Madden R-Plano)
Jeff Leach (R-Plano)
District 68: (Rep. Rick Hardcastle R-Vernon)
Drew Springer (R)
District 69: (Rep. Lanham Lyle R-Wichita Falls)
James Frank (R-Wichita Falls)
District 70: (Rep. Ken Paxton R-McKinney)
Scott Sanford (R-McKinney)
District 74: (Rep. Pete Gallego D-Alpine)
Democrat Poncho Nevarez defeated Republican Thomas Kincaid
District 75: (Rep. Chente Quintanilla D-El Paso)
Mary Gonzalez D-El Paso
District 85: Open seat in Ft. Bend, Jackson counties)
Republican Phil Stephenson defeated Democrat Doro Olivo
District 88: (Rep. Jim Landtroop R-Plainview/Rep. Warren Chisum R-Pampa)
Ken King (R-Canadian)
District 91: (Rep. Kelly Hancock R-Nth Richland Hills)
Stephanie Klick (R-Ft. Worth)
District 92: (Rep. Todd Smith R-Bedford)
Jonathan Strickland (R-Hurst)
District 93: (Rep. Barbara Nash (R-Arlington)
Matt Krause (R-Ft. Worth)
District 95: (Rep. Marc Veasey D-Ft. Worth)
Democrat Nicole Collier defeated Republican Monte Mitchell
District 97: (Rep. Mark Shelton R-Ft. Worth)
Republican Craig Goldman defeated Democrat Gary Grassia
District 98: (Rep. Vicki Truitt R-Keller)
Republican Giovanni Capriglione defeated Democrat Shane Hardon
District 101: Open seat in Tarrant County
Chris Turner (D-Ft. Worth)
District 106: Open seat in Denton County
Pat Fallon (R-Denton)
District 110: (Rep. Barbara Mallory Caraway D-Dallas)
Toni Rose (D-Dallas)
District 114: (Rep. Will Hartnett R-Dallas)
Republican Jason Villalba defeated Democrat Carol Kent
District 115: (Rep. Jim Jackson R-Dallas)
Republican Bennett Ratliff defeated Democrat Mary Clare Fabishak
District 125: (Rep. Joaquin Castro D-San Antonio)
Democrat Justin Rodriguez defeated Republican Alma Perez Jackson
District 136: Open seat in Williamson County
Republican Tony Dale defeated Democrat Matt Stillwell
District 137: (Rep. Scott Hochberg D-Houston)
Democrat Gene Wu defeated Republican MJ Kahn
District 144: (Rep. Ken Legler R-Houston)
Democrat Mary Ann Perez defeated Republican David Pineda
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
The new partisan split of the State Board of Education is 10 Republicans to 5 Democrats. There will be 8 new members. One incumbent was defeated – Republican Charlie Garza in El Paso.
District 1: Democrat Martha Dominguez defeated Incumbent Carlos “Charlie” Garza (R-El Paso)
District 2: Democrat Ruben Cortez defeated Republican Laurie Turner
District 3: Democrat Marisa Perez defeated Republican David Williams
District 4: Incumbent Lawrence Allen Jr. (D-Houston) defeated Republican Dorothy Olmos
District 5: Incumbent Ken Mercer (R-San Antonio) defeated Democrat Rebecca Bell-Metereau
District 6: Republican Donna Bahorich defeated Democrat Traci Jensen
District 7: Incumbent David Bradley (R-Beaumont) (no major party opposition)
District 8: Incumbent Barbara Cargill (R-The Woodlands) defeated Democrat Dexter Smith
District 9: Incumbent Thomas Ratliff (R-Mount Pleasant) (no major party opposition)
District 10: Republican Tom Maynard (R) defeated Democrat Judy Jennings
District 11: Incumbent Patricia Hardy (R-Weatherford) (no major party opposition)
District 12: Republican Tincy Miller defeated Democrat Lois Parrot
District 13: Incumbent Mavis Knight (D-Dallas) defeated Republican S.T. Russell
District 14: Republican Sue Melton (R) (no major party opposition)
District 15: Republican Marty Rowley defeated Democrat Steve Schafersman