2018 Texas elections
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elections were held in Texas on November 6, 2018. All of Texas's executive officers were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, and all of Texas's 36 seats in the United States House of Representatives. The Republican and Democratic Parties nominated their candidates by primaries held on March 6, 2018. Convention parties nominated their candidates at a series of conventions. County conventions were held on March 17, 2018; district conventions were held on March 24, 2018; and a state convention was held on April 14, 2018.[1] There is currently only one convention party in Texas, the Libertarian Party. Other parties may seek to achieve ballot access.[2]
 | |
November 6, 2018
| |
|
|
Turnout in the November general election reached historic levels, rivaling turnout in a presidential election.[3] While the Republican Party won every statewide position, the margin of victory was narrower than in previous elections.[4][5][6]
Federal
United States Senate
Democratic U.S. Representative Beto O'Rourke and Libertarian candidate Neal Dikeman challenged U.S. Senator Ted Cruz for re-election. Cruz narrowly defeated O'Rourke by 2.6%.
United States House of Representatives
All of Texas's 36 seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2018.[7] No open seats changed hands, but two Republican incumbents lost to Democrats.
Executive
Governor
Incumbent governor Greg Abbott ran for a second term. He was first elected in 2014 after serving twelve years as Texas Attorney General, and he succeeded Rick Perry as governor.
Abbott won the March 20, 2018, Republican primary, while Lupe Valdez won the Democratic runoff against Andrew White, becoming the first Latina nominated by a major party for statewide office in Texas.
Libertarian Mark Tippetts also ran against Abbott. Tippetts defeated Kathie Glass, Patrick "Not Governor" Smith, and Kory Watkins at the party convention to earn his nomination.[8]
Lieutenant governor
Incumbent Lieutenant governor Dan Patrick ran for a second term, having first been elected in 2014.
In the Republican primary, Patrick easily dispatched his primary challengers for the Republican nomination.
In the Democratic primary, Mike Collier narrowly defeated Michael Cooper for the Democratic nomination.
Patrick would go on to win a second term in the general election, but by a significantly reduced margin from his first run. His margin was likely pulled down due to the national environment favoring Democrats while President Trump was in office and a strong candidacy by Democrat Beto O'Rourke at the top of the ticket against Senator Ted Cruz.[9]
Attorney general
Comptroller of Public Accounts
| |||||||||||||||||
November 6, 2018
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
   Hegar: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Chevalier: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Sanders: >90% Tie: 40–50% 50% No data | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Incumbent Republican comptroller Glenn Hegar ran for re-election to a second term.[7]
Republican primary
Candidates
- Glenn Hegar, incumbent comptroller
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Glenn Hegar (incumbent) | 1,271,222 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 1,271,222 | 100.0% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Joi Chevalier, business owner[11]
- Tim Mahoney, attorney, former Austin Community College trustee[12]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joi Chevalier | 486,702 | 51.87% | |
| Democratic | Tim Mahoney | 451,687 | 48.13% | |
| Total votes | 938,389 | 100.0% | ||
Libertarian state convention
Candidates
- Ben Sanders[14]
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Glenn Hegar (incumbent) | 4,376,828 | 53.19% | −5.19% | |
| Democratic | Joi Chevalier | 3,570,693 | 43.39% | +5.70% | |
| Libertarian | Ben Sanders | 281,081 | 3.42% | +0.46% | |
| Total votes | 8,228,602 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
Commissioner of the General Land Office
| |||||||||||||||||
November 6, 2018
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
 County results Bush: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Suazo: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
.jpg)
Republican primary
Candidates
- George P. Bush, incumbent Commissioner of the General Land Office[16]
- Davey Edwards, professional land surveyor[17][18]
- Jerry E. Patterson, former Commissioner of the General Land Office (2003–2015)[19]
- Rick Range, retired teacher and firefighter[20]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | George P. Bush (incumbent) | 856,512 | 58.22% | |
| Republican | Jerry Patterson | 439,602 | 29.67% | |
| Republican | Davey Edwards | 101,359 | 6.84% | |
| Republican | Rick Range | 78,124 | 5.27% | |
| Total votes | 1,481,597 | 100.0% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Tex Morgan, software engineer, former member of VIA Metropolitan Transit board[21]
- Miguel Suazo, energy and natural resources attorney[21]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Miguel Suazo | 665,344 | 70.15% | |
| Democratic | Tex Morgan | 283,096 | 29.85% | |
| Total votes | 948,440 | 100.0% | ||
Libertarian state convention
Candidates
- Matt Piña[22]
General election
Endorsements
George P. Bush
Presidents of the United States
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
George P. Bush (R) |
Miguel Suazo (D) |
Matt Pina (L) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dixie Strategies[25] | September 6–7, 2018 | 519 | ± 4.3% | 46% | 30% | 3% | – | 22% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | George P. Bush (incumbent) | 4,435,202 | 53.68% | −7.00% | |
| Democratic | Miguel Suazo | 3,567,927 | 43.19% | +7.87% | |
| Libertarian | Matt Piña | 258,482 | 3.13% | +0.42% | |
| Total votes | 8,261,611 | 100.0% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
Commissioner of Agriculture
| |||||||||||||||||
November 6, 2018
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
 County results Miller: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Olson: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
.jpg)
.jpg)
Incumbent Republican Commissioner Sid Miller ran for re-election to a second term.[7]
Republican primary
Candidates
- Trey Blocker, lobbyist[26]
- Jim Hogan, Democratic nominee for Agriculture Commissioner in 2014[27]
- Sid Miller, incumbent Commissioner of Agriculture[28][29]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sid Miller (incumbent) | 755,498 | 55.65% | |
| Republican | Jim Hogan | 310,431 | 22.87% | |
| Republican | Trey Blocker | 291,583 | 21.48% | |
| Total votes | 1,357,512 | 100.0% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Kim Olson, retired U.S. Air Force colonel, former member of the Weatherford Independent School District Board of Trustees[30]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kim Olson | 883,575 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 883,575 | 100.0% | ||
Libertarian state convention
Candidates
- Richard Carpenter[22]
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sid Miller (incumbent) | 4,221,527 | 51.26% | −7.34% | |
| Democratic | Kim Olson | 3,822,137 | 46.41% | +9.57% | |
| Libertarian | Richard Carpenter | 191,639 | 2.33% | −0.55% | |
| Total votes | 8,235,303 | 100.0% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
Railroad Commissioner
| |||||||||||||||||
November 6, 2018
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
 County results Craddick: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% McAllen: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
.jpg)
Incumbent Republican Commissioner Christi Craddick ran for re-election to a second six-year term.[7]
Republican primary
Candidates
- Christi Craddick, incumbent railroad commissioner[31]
- Weston Martinez, former Texas Real Estate Commissioner[31]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Christi Craddick (incumbent) | 1,042,663 | 75.83% | |
| Republican | Weston Martinez | 332,374 | 24.17% | |
| Total votes | 1,375,007 | 100.0% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Roman McAllen | 539,785 | 58.51% | |
| Democratic | Chris Spellmon | 382,795 | 41.49% | |
| Total votes | 922,580 | 100.0% | ||
Libertarian state convention
Candidates
- Mike Wright[22]
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Christi Craddick (incumbent) | 4,376,729 | 53.20% | −5.14% | |
| Democratic | Roman McAllen | 3,612,130 | 43.91% | +7.43% | |
| Libertarian | Mike Wright | 237,984 | 2.89% | −0.26% | |
| Total votes | 8,226,843 | 100.0% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
Judicial
Supreme Court
Place 2
| |||||||||||||||||
November 6, 2018
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Incumbent Justice Jimmy Blacklock ran for a full term after being appointed by Governor Greg Abbott on January 2, 2018. Justice Blacklock filled the vacant seat left by Don Willett due to his appointment by President Donald Trump to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Jimmy Blacklock, incumbent associate justice[34]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jimmy Blacklock (incumbent) | 1,215,844 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 1,215,844 | 100.0% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Steven Kirkland, judge of the Harris County District Court (334th District)[35]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Steven Kirkland | 875,297 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 875,297 | 100.0% | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jimmy Blacklock (incumbent) | 4,358,756 | 53.17% | N/A | |
| Democratic | Steven Kirkland | 3,838,411 | 46.83% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 8,197,167 | 100.0% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
Place 4
| |||||||||||||||||
November 6, 2018
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Incumbent Justice John Devine ran for re-election to a second six-year term.
Republican primary
Candidates
- John Devine, incumbent associate justice[36]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Devine (incumbent) | 1,211,769 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 1,211,769 | 100.0% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
- R.K. Sandill, judge of the Harris County District Court (127th District)[37]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | R.K. Sandill | 863,593 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 863,593 | 100.0% | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Devine (incumbent) | 4,399,890 | 53.71% | −21.35% | |
| Democratic | R.K. Sandill | 3,792,144 | 46.29% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 8,192,034 | 100.0% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
Place 6
| |||||||||||||||||
November 6, 2018
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Incumbent Justice Jeff Brown ran for a full eight-year term after being elected to finish Chief Justice Nathan Hecht's term in 2014.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Jeff Brown, incumbent associate justice[38]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jeff Brown (incumbent) | 1,197,450 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 1,197,450 | 100.0% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Kathy Cheng, business litigator[38]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kathy Cheng | 874,029 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 874,029 | 100.0% | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jeff Brown (incumbent) | 4,404,602 | 53.71% | −0.01% | |
| Democratic | Kathy Cheng | 3,796,001 | 46.29% | +4.38% | |
| Total votes | 8,200,603 | 100.0% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
Court of Criminal Appeals
Presiding Judge
| |||||||||||||||||
November 6, 2018
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Incumbent presiding judge Sharon Keller ran for re-election to a 5th six-year term.
Republican primary
Candidates
- David Bridges, incumbent associate justice of the Fifth Court of Appeals of Texas[39]
- Sharon Keller, incumbent presiding judge
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sharon Keller (incumbent) | 674,889 | 52.16% | |
| Republican | David Bridges | 618,982 | 47.84% | |
| Total votes | 1,293,871 | 100.0% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Maria T. Jackson, judge of the Harris County District Court (339th District)[40]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Maria T. (Terri) Jackson | 878,581 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 878,581 | 100.0% | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sharon Keller (incumbent) | 4,288,913 | 52.24% | −3.25% | |
| Democratic | Maria T. (Terri) Jackson | 3,734,179 | 45.48% | +4.24% | |
| Libertarian | William Bryan Strange III | 187,384 | 2.28% | −0.98% | |
| Total votes | 8,210,476 | 100.0% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
Place 7
| |||||||||||||||||
November 6, 2018
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Incumbent Judge Barbara Hervey ran for re-election to a 4th six-year term.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Barbara Parker Hervey, incumbent judge[41]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Barbara Parker Hervey (incumbent) | 1,171,978 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 1,171,978 | 100.0% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Ramona Franklin, judge of the Harris County District Court (338th District)
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ramona Franklin | 872,150 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 872,150 | 100.0% | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Barbara Parker Hervey (incumbent) | 4,429,113 | 54.15% | −23.73% | |
| Democratic | Ramona Franklin | 3,750,114 | 45.85% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 8,179,227 | 100.0% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
Place 8
| |||||||||||||||||
November 6, 2018
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Incumbent Judge Elsa Alcala did not seek re-election to a second term.[42]
Republican primary
Candidates
- Jay Brandon, Bexar County assistant district attorney[43]
- Michelle Slaughter, judge of the Galveston County District Court (405th District)[43]
- Dib Waldrip, judge of the Comal County District Court (433rd District)[43]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Michelle Slaughter | 669,949 | 52.84% | |
| Republican | Jay Brandon | 389,753 | 30.74% | |
| Republican | Dib Waldrip | 208,179 | 16.42% | |
| Total votes | 1,267,881 | 100.0% | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Michelle Slaughter | 4,760,576 | 74.68% | −3.38% | |
| Libertarian | Mark Ash | 1,614,119 | 25.32% | +3.38% | |
| Total votes | 6,374,695 | 100.0% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
State Board of Education
Member, District 2
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Charles "Tad" Hasse | 31,717 | 67.12% | ||
| Republican | Eric Garza | 15,536 | 32.87% | ||
| Total votes | 47,253 | 100% | +47,253 | ||
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ruben Cortez, Jr. (incumbent) | 31,289 | 52.34% | −47.66% | |
| Democratic | Michelle Arevalo Davila | 28,487 | 47.65% | ||
| Total votes | 59,776 | 100% | +15,817 | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ruben Cortez, Jr. (incumbent) | 206,689 | 53.60% | |
| Republican | Charles "Tad" Hasse | 178,923 | 46.40% | |
| Total votes | 385,612 | 100% | ||
Member, District 3
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Marisa B. Perez-Diaz (incumbent) | 60,027 | 75.93% | −24.07% | |
| Democratic | Dan Arellano | 19,022 | 24.06% | ||
| Total votes | 79,049 | 100% | +33,721 | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Marisa B. Perez-Diaz (incumbent) | 302,242 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 302,242 | 100% | ||
Member, District 4
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lawrence Allen Jr. (incumbent) | 45,162 | 66.9% | −33.1% | |
| Democratic | Steven A. Chambers | 22,337 | 33.09% | ||
| Total votes | 67,499 | 100% | +41,084 | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lawrence Allen Jr. (incumbent) | 311,590 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 311,590 | 100% | ||
Member, District 7
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Robinson | 100% | |||
| Total votes | 100% | ||||
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Elizabeth Markowitz | 100% | |||
| Total votes | 100% | ||||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Robinson | 369,752 | 59.45% | |
| Democratic | Elizabeth Markowitz | 252,158 | 40.55% | |
| Total votes | 621,910 | 100% | ||
Member, District 11
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Patricia "Pat" Hardy (incumbent) | 58,796 | 55.75% | +6.18% | |
| Republican | Feyi Obamehinti | 25,580 | 24.25% | ||
| Republican | Cheryl Surber | 21,073 | 19.98% | ||
| Total votes | 105,449 | 100% | +18,482 | ||
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Carla Morton | 33,217 | 57.89% | ||
| Democratic | Celeste Light | 24,156 | 42.1% | ||
| Total votes | 57,373 | 100% | +34,520 | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Patricia "Pat" Hardy (incumbent) | 366,245 | 57.16% | |
| Democratic | Carla Morton | 259,276 | 40.46% | |
| Libertarian | Aaron Gutknecht | 15,241 | 2.38% | |
| Total votes | 640,762 | 100% | ||
Member, District 12
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Pam Little | 82,548 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 82,548 | 100% | ||
Democratic primary
First round
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Suzanne Smith | 35,460 | 48.06% | ||
| Democratic | Laura Malone-Miller | 19,426 | 26.33% | ||
| Democratic | Tina Green | 18,883 | 25.59% | ||
| Total votes | 73,769 | 100% | +6,404 | ||
Malone-Miller withdrew after the first round, eliminating the need for a runoff.
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Pam Little | 334,584 | 49.43% | |
| Democratic | Suzanne Smith | 324,307 | 47.91% | |
| Libertarian | Rachel Wester | 18,002 | 2.66% | |
| Total votes | 676,893 | 100% | ||
Member, District 13
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | A. Denise Russell | 100% | |||
| Total votes | 100% | ||||
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Aicha Davis | 100% | |||
| Total votes | 100% | ||||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Aicha Davis | 309,926 | 76.32% | |
| Republican | A. Denise Russell | 96,136 | 23.68% | |
| Total votes | 406,062 | 100% | ||
Texas Legislature
Every seat in the Texas House of Representatives and about half of the seats in the Texas Senate were up for election.
Texas Senate
Republican hold
Democratic gold
Republican gain
Democratic gain
Texas House of Representatives
Republican hold
Democratic hold
Democratic gain