2012 Texas House of Representatives election

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2012 Texas House of Representatives election
Flag of Texas.svg
  2010 November 6, 2012 2014  

All 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives
76 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
  Joe Straus voting (cropped).jpg CraigEiland.jpg
Leader Joe Straus Craig Eiland
Party Republican Democratic
Leader sinceJanuary 13, 2009January 9, 2007
Leader's seat 121st 23rd
Last election9951
Seats before10248
Seats won9555
Seat changeDecrease2.svg7Increase2.svg7
Popular vote4,237,9872,272,530
Percentage62.37%33.45%
SwingDecrease2.svg2.19%Increase2.svg1.93%

TxHouse2012Election1.svg
2012 Texas State House election voteshares.svg
     Republican hold     Democratic hold
     Democratic gain
Republican:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     ≥90%
Democratic:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     ≥90%

The 2012 Texas House of Representatives elections took place as part of the biennial United States elections. Texas voters elected state senators in all 150 State House of Representatives districts. The winners of this election served in the 83rd Texas Legislature, with seats apportioned according to the 2010 United States census. State representatives serve for two-year terms.

Contents

At the beginning of the Eighty-second Texas Legislature following the 2010 Texas State House of Representatives elections, the Democrats held 49 seats to the Republicans' 101.

As of 2022, this is the last time Democrats won a state house seat in Chambers or Galveston county. This is also the first time a Republican has ever won a state house seat in Jefferson County (although the incumbent was a former Democrat who switched parties after winning re-election in 2010). [1] [2]

Redistricting

Following the 2010 United States census, the Texas Legislature underwent its decennial redistricting. Due to Texas's shifting population from rural and urban areas to suburban areas, many rural representatives became vulnerable to having their districts moved across the state. Although Republicans had ousted almost every Democrat representing rural Texas in the 2010 elections, those gains were temporary, as many of the regions they won had lost population over the last decade. As such, it was seen as unlikely that Republicans would be able to draw maps that would allow them to maintain their supermajority in the chamber after the 2012 elections, despite their full control over the redistricting process. [3]

Texas House of Representatives districts follow the "county line rule," effectively granting individual counties delegations of state house seats based on their population. [4] The census found that Texas had a population of 25,145,561 in 2010, [5] giving each district an "ideal population" of 167,637 people. In 2000, the "ideal population for a district" was 139,006 people. Counties with at least this number of people must fully contain at least one state house district. Counties with sufficient population for two or more districts must be divided into that number of districts. Should a county have sufficient population for one or more district plus a fraction of another, one district from another county may extend into it to represent the remaining population. District delegations for counties with at least one district changed as follows following the 2010 Census: [6]

County2000 pop. [7] SeatsPartial2010 pop. [7] SeatsPartial+/– W+/– P
Bell County 238,0001Yes310,2351YesSteady2.svgSteady2.svg
Bexar County 1,393,03510No1,714,77310NoSteady2.svgSteady2.svg
Brazoria County 241,8051Yes313,1661YesSteady2.svgSteady2.svg
Brazos County 152,4361Yes194,8511YesSteady2.svgSteady2.svg
Cameron County 334,8842Yes406,2202YesSteady2.svgSteady2.svg
Collin County 491,2723Yes782,3414YesIncrease2.svg1Steady2.svg
Dallas County 2,216,80816No2,368,13914NoDecrease2.svg2Steady2.svg
Denton County 433,0653No662,6144NoIncrease2.svg1Steady2.svg
El Paso County 679,5685No800,6475NoSteady2.svgSteady2.svg
Fort Bend County 354,2862Yes585,3753YesIncrease2.svg1Steady2.svg
Galveston County 250,1781Yes291,3091YesSteady2.svgSteady2.svg
Harris County 3,401,13925No4,092,45924NoDecrease2.svg1Steady2.svg
Hidalgo County 569,0994No774,7694YesSteady2.svgIncrease2.svg
Jefferson County 251,9681Yes252,2731YesSteady2.svgSteady2.svg
Lubbock County 242,6441Yes278,8311YesSteady2.svgSteady2.svg
McLennan County 213,5251Yes234,9061YesSteady2.svgSteady2.svg
Montgomery County 293,7792Yes455,7462YesSteady2.svgSteady2.svg
Nueces County 313,5122Yes340,2232NoSteady2.svgDecrease2.svg
Smith County 174,8611Yes209,7141YesSteady2.svgSteady2.svg
Tarrant County 1,449,29010No1,809,03411NoIncrease2.svg1Steady2.svg
Travis County 811,7766No1,024,2666NoSteady2.svgSteady2.svg
Webb County 193,1241Yes250,3041YesSteady2.svgSteady2.svg
Williamson County 250,4661Yes422,6792YesIncrease2.svg1Steady2.svg

As a result of these changes, the following districts drastically moved:

  1. District 33 moved from Nueces County to Collin County.
  2. District 35 moved from South Texas to Hidalgo County.
  3. District 85 moved from West Texas to Fort Bend County.
  4. District 101 moved from Dallas County to Tarrant County.
  5. District 106 moved from Dallas County to Denton County.
  6. District 136 moved from Harris County to Williamson County.

Predictions

Despite the rising Latino vote's potential to help the Democratic party and the falling approval ratings of Republican governor Rick Perry, analysts did not expect these to be enough to make the chamber remotely competitive.

SourceRankingAs of
Governing [8] Safe ROct. 24, 2012

Results

Statewide

Summary of the November 6, 2012 Texas House of Representatives election results
Texas House 2012 Seat Results.svg
PartyCandi-
dates
Votes %Seats+/–
Republican Party 1174,237,98762.37%95Decrease2.svg7
Democratic Party 862,272,53033.45%55Increase2.svg7
Libertarian Party 38230,0083.9%0
Green Party 1353,1890.78%0
Write-in 17150.01%0
Total6,794,519100.00%150
Popular vote
Republican
62.37%
Democratic
33.45%
Libertarian
3.39%
Green
0.78%
Write-in
0.01%
House seats won
Republican
63.33%
Democratic
36.67%

Close races

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

  1. District 107, 1.68%
  2. District 105, 1.81%
  3. District 43, 3.10%
  4. District 144, 6.53% (gain)
  5. District 117, 7.64% (gain)
  6. District 78, 7.66% (gain)
  7. District 23, 7.86%
  8. District 114, 8.30%
  9. District 134, 9.28%

Notable races

District 43: Representative J.M. Lozano (D-Kingsville) was re-elected as a Democrat in 2010 with 77.90% of the vote. On March 5, 2012, he announced that he would switch parties and seek re-election as a Republican. [9] He would later go on to narrowly win re-election in 2012 with 51.55% of the vote.

Texas's 43rd state house district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican J.M. Lozano 24,074 51.55%
Democratic Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles22.62948.45%
Total votes46,703 100.00%
Republican hold

Results by district

District Democratic Republican OthersTotalResult
Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%
District 1 --42,08082.64%8,83917.36%50,919100.00%Republican hold
District 2 --46,025100.00%--46,025100.00%Republican hold
District 3 --46,383100.00%--46,383100.00%Republican hold
District 4 --44,181100.00%--44,181100.00%Republican hold
District 5 --46,204100.00%--46,204100.00%Republican hold
District 6 --42,49988.76%5,38011.24%47,879100.00%Republican hold
District 7 --41,727100.00%--41,727100.00%Republican hold
District 8 13,33927.04%35,99672.96%--49,335100.00%Republican hold
District 9 --49,02798.56%7151.44%49,742100.00%Republican hold
District 10 --46,051100.00%--46,051100.00%Republican hold
District 11 --40,962100.00%--40,962100.00%Republican hold
District 12 21,79343.11%28,76256.89%--50,555100.00%Republican hold
District 13 --53,503100.00%--53,503100.00%Republican hold
District 14 14,61436.22%24,26960.15%1,4633.63%40,346100.00%Republican hold
District 15 --57,52086.64%8,87213.36%66,392100.00%Republican hold
District 16 --46,983100.00%--46,983100.00%Republican hold
District 17 18,83737.76%31,05562.24%--49,982100.00%Republican hold
District 18 --38,703100.00%--38,703100.00%Republican hold
District 19 --51,674100.00%--51,674100.00%Republican hold
District 20 --51,554100.00%--51,554100.00%Republican hold
District 21 --51,104100.00%--51,104100.00%Republican hold
District 22 40,467100.00%----40,467100.00%Democratic hold
District 23 30,42353.93%25,98746.07%--56,410100.00%Democratic hold
District 24 17,56526.72%48,17773.28%--65,742100.00%Republican hold
District 25 --41,421100.00%--41,421100.00%Republican hold
District 26 22,66237.03%38,54162.97%--61,203100.00%Republican hold
District 27 42,30468.96%18,11929.54%9201.50%61,343100.00%Democratic hold
District 28 --44,932100.00%--44,932100.00%Republican hold
District 29 21,38834.48%40,64265.52%--62,030100.00%Republican hold
District 30 17,75031.67%38,30468.33%--56,054100.00%Republican hold
District 31 27,85666.29%14,16333.71%--42,019100.00%Democratic hold
District 32 --35,094100.00%--35,094100.00%Republican hold
District 33 --50,63185.34%8,70114.66%59,332100.00%Republican hold
District 34 25,48257.17%19,08842.83%--44,570100.00%Democratic gain
District 35 22,329100.00%----22,329100.00%Democratic gain
District 36 23,385100.00%----23,385100.00%Democratic hold
District 37 22,076100.00%----22,076100.00%Democratic hold
District 38 22,40870.76%7,98425.21%1,2744.02%31,666100.00%Democratic hold
District 39 23,90977.64%6,88622.36%--30,795100.00%Democratic hold
District 40 20,513100.00%----20,513100.00%Democratic gain
District 41 20,96361.73%12,99838.27%--33,961100.00%Democratic hold
District 42 30,018100.00%----30,018100.00%Democratic hold
District 43 22,62948.45%24,07451.55%--46,703100.00%Republican hold
District 44 --49,930100.00%--49,930100.00%Republican hold
District 45 26,55742.39%33,60453.63%2,4953.98%62,656100.00%Republican hold
District 46 35,56086.45%--5,57213.55%41,132100.00%Democratic hold
District 47 31,29436.93%49,22058.09%4,2164.98%84,730100.00%Republican hold
District 48 46,51259.20%27,92235.54%4,1345.26%78,568100.00%Democratic hold
District 49 50,97382.73%--10,64017.27%61,613100.00%Democratic hold
District 50 41,035100.00%----41,035100.00%Democratic hold
District 51 32,87888.17%--4,41111.83%37,289100.00%Democratic hold
District 52 --31,99170.28%13,52629.72%45,517100.00%Republican hold
District 53 -53,539100.00%--53,539100.00%Republican hold
District 54 19,87942.49%26,91057.51%--46,789100.00%Republican hold
District 55 --32,153100.00%--32,153100.00%Republican hold
District 56 --38,52879.47%9,95420.53%48,482100.00%Republican hold
District 57 --43,042100.00%--43,042100.00%Republican hold
District 58 --45,861100.00%--45,861100.00%Republican hold
District 59 10,21221.77%36,70678.23%--46,918100.00%Republican hold
District 60 --55,404100.00%--55,404100.00%Republican hold
District 61 --55,73788.91%6,95411.09%62,691100.00%Republican hold
District 62 12,92824.32%40,21975.68%-53,147100.00%Republican hold
District 63 --51,50085.31%8,86514.69%60,365100.00%Republican hold
District 64 19,27534.39%34,24561.10%2,5264.51%56,046100.00%Republican hold
District 65 20,48138.58%31,38659.12%1,2242.31%53,091100.00%Republican hold
District 66 --42,012100.00%-42,012100.00%Republican hold
District 67 --42,594100.00%--42,594100.00%Republican hold
District 68 --39,191100.00%--39,191100.00%Republican hold
District 69 --38,98087.06%5,79512.94%44,775100.00%Republican hold
District 70 --46,997100.00%--46,997100.00%Republican hold
District 71 --44,271100.00%--44,271100.00%Republican hold
District 72 --43,886100.00%--43,886100.00%Republican hold
District 73 --64,02988.20%8,56511.80%72,594100.00%Republican hold
District 74 22,66660.38%14,87039.62%-37,536100.00%Democratic hold
District 75 19,789100.00%----19,789100.00%Democratic hold
District 76 27,050100.00%----27,050100.00%Democratic hold
District 77 24,180100.00%----24,180100.00%Democratic hold
District 78 22,65053.83%19,43046.17%--42,080100.00%Democratic gain
District 79 27,832100.00%----27,832100.00%Democratic hold
District 80 29,963100.00%----29,963100.00%Democratic hold
District 81 --34,154100.00%--34,154100.00%Republican hold
District 82 --42,572100.00%--42,572100.00%Republican hold
District 83 --49,332100.00%--49,332100.00%Republican hold
District 84 --33,17982.58%6,99917.42%40,178100.00%Republican hold
District 85 20,43541.65%28,62658.35%--49,061100.00%Republican hold
District 86 --53,287100.00%--53,287100.00%Republican hold
District 87 9,56722.71%32,56477.29%--42,131100.00%Republican hold
District 88 --39,941100.00%--39,941100.00%Republican hold
District 89 --46,621100.00%--46,621100.00%Republican hold
District 90 17,597100.00%----17,597100.00%Democratic hold
District 91 --40,058100.00%--40,058100.00%Republican hold
District 92 --37,08480.67%8,88419.33%45,968100.00%Republican hold
District 93 18,79737.52%29,52758.95%1,7683.53%50,092100.00%Republican hold
District 94 --42,20882.21%9,13317.79%51,341100.00%Republican hold
District 95 37,59477.36%11,00422.64%--48,598100.00%Democratic hold
District 96 --36,94080.53%8,93119.47%45,871100.00%Republican hold
District 97 24,15937.65%38,13959.43%1,8732.92%64,171100.00%Republican hold
District 98 --57,53985.58%9,69414.42%67,233100.00%Republican hold
District 99 16,76330.21%36,71566.17%2,0093.62%55,487100.00%Republican hold
District 100 34,965100.00%----34,965100.00%Democratic hold
District 101 28,94387.90%--3,98412.10%32,927100.00%Democratic gain
District 102 22,73642.87%30,30357.13%--53,039100.00%Republican hold
District 103 22,287100.00%----22,287100.00%Democratic hold
District 104 22,544100.00%----22,544100.00%Democratic hold
District 105 20,92348.26%21,70550.07%7251.67%43,353100.00%Republican hold
District 106 --41,78583.17%8,45516.83%50,240100.00%Republican hold
District 107 25,01849.16%25,86850.84%--50,886100.00%Republican hold
District 108 --43,67579.69%11,13320.31%54,808100.00%Republican hold
District 109 53,98293.59%--3,7006.41%57,682100.00%Democratic hold
District 110 33,972100.00%----33,972100.00%Democratic hold
District 111 47,498100.00%----47,498100.00%Democratic hold
District 112 --32,515100.00%--32,515100.00%Republican hold
District 113 --28,72780.94%6,76319.06%35,490100.00%Republican hold
District 114 28,76245.85%33,97054.15%--62,732100.00%Republican hold
District 115 21,78441.43%29,08255.31%1,7113.25%52,577100.00%Republican hold
District 116 31,006100.00%----31,006100.00%Democratic hold
District 117 22,39753.82%19,21446.18%--41,611100.00%Democratic gain
District 118 23,99259.85%16,09540.15%--40,087100.00%Democratic hold
District 119 25,13061.89%15,47338.11%--40,603100.00%Democratic hold
District 120 33,75687.89%--4,65112.11%38,407100.00%Democratic hold
District 121 --50,53080.24%12,44419.76%62,974100.00%Republican hold
District 122 --66,679100.00%--66,679100.00%Republican hold
District 123 32,95887.52%--4,70012.48%37,658100.00%Democratic hold
District 124 31,91584.93%--5,66115.07%37,576100.00%Democratic hold
District 125 28,85761.19%17,50137.11%7991.69%47,157100.00%Democratic hold
District 126 --40,311100.00%--40,311100.00%Republican hold
District 127 19,43529.79%45,81370.21%--65,248100.00%Republican hold
District 128 --42,682100.00%--42,682100.00%Republican hold
District 129 --46,438100.00%--46,438100.00%Republican hold
District 130 --54,59690.15%5,9679.85%60,563100.00%Republican hold
District 131 36,76594.50%--2,1395.50%38,904100.00%Democratic hold
District 132 --33,59280.69%8,03719.31%41,629100.00%Republican hold
District 133 --52,05084.97%9,21015.03%61,260100.00%Republican hold
District 134 36,48045.36%43,94454.64%--80,424100.00%Republican hold
District 135 21,03039.64%32,02360.36%--53,053100.00%Republican hold
District 136 24,85140.72%32,38353.06%3,8026.23%61,036100.00%Republican hold
District 137 15,83265.76%8,24534.24%--24,077100.00%Democratic hold
District 138 --29,64580.45%7,20219.55%36,847100.00%Republican hold
District 139 39,02277.08%11,60422.92%--50,626100.00%Democratic hold
District 140 18,320100.00%----18,320100.00%Democratic hold
District 141 33,18087.85%4,58712.15%--37,767100.00%Democratic hold
District 142 34,010100.00%----34,010100.00%Democratic hold
District 143 21,86972.94%8,11227.06%--29,981100.00%Democratic hold
District 144 12,44652.07%10,88545.54%5732.40%23,904100.00%Democratic gain
District 145 20,892100.00%----20,892100.00%Democratic hold
District 146 40,724100.00%----40,724100.00%Democratic hold
District 147 43,58992.21%--3,6837.79%47,272100.00%Democratic hold
District 148 25,96485.96%--4,24114.04%30,205100.00%Democratic hold
District 149 26,01761.12%16,55138.88%--42,568100.00%Democratic hold
District 150 19,34330.32%44,45469.68%--63,797100.00%Republican hold
Total2,272,53033.45%4,237,98762.37%283,9124.18%6,794,253100.00%Source: [10]

References

  1. "Legislative Reference Library | Legislators and Leaders | Texas Legislators: Past & Present". lrl.texas.gov. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  2. Ramsey, Ross (December 12, 2010). "TribBlog: Ritter Confirms He's Switching Parties". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  3. Ramsey, Ross (March 3, 2011). "Numbers Tell Tale of Who's Vulnerable in Redistricting". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  4. "Legal Requirements". redistricting.capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  5. "Resident Population Data - 2010 Census". December 25, 2010. Archived from the original on December 25, 2010. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  6. "History". redistricting.capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  7. 1 2 "County Intercensal Tables: 2000-2010". Census.gov. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  8. Daigneau, Elizabeth; Jacobson, Louis (October 23, 2012). "The Latest Chamber-by-Chamber Analysis of the 2012 State Legislative Elections". Governing. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  9. Aguilar, Julián (March 5, 2012). "Rep. J.M. Lozano Says He Plans to Switch to GOP". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  10. "Race Summary Report – 2012 General Election". elections.sos.state.tx.us. Archived from the original on February 17, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2022.