2013 Texas elections

2013 Texas elections

←  2012 November 5, 2013 2014  →

Elections were held in Texas on November 5, 2013. This included nine legislatively-referred ballot measures to amend the Constitution of Texas, along with special elections for the 50th district of the State House and the 6th district of the State Senate. ^[1]

State

Ballot measures

Nine proposed amendments to the Constitution of Texas appeared on the November 5, 2013 general election ballot. All nine amendments were successfully passed. ^[2]

Proposition 1

Proposition 1 provided for an exemption from ad valorem taxation on all or part of the market value of the residence of a surviving spouse of a United States Armed Forces member killed in action. ^[3]

The measure passed. ^[4]

Texas Proposition 1 ^[5]

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	999,724	86.98
No	149,613	13.02
Total votes	1,149,337	100.00

Proposition 2

Proposition 2 repealed a constitutional provision that required the formation of a State Medical Education Board and a State Medical Education Fund. ^[3]

The measure passed. ^[6]

Texas Proposition 2 ^[5]

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	950,046	84.70
No	171,666	15.30
Total votes	1,121,712	100.00

Proposition 3

Proposition 3 increased the number of days that aircraft parts held in the state could be exempt from ad valorem taxation. ^[3]

The measure passed. ^[7]

Texas Proposition 3 ^[5]

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	626,602	57.73
No	458,767	42.27
Total votes	1,085,369	100.00

Proposition 4

Proposition 4 provided for an exemption from ad valorem taxation on part of the market value of a residence if it was the home of a partially disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a partially disabled veteran, and had been donated to the disabled veteran by a charitable organization. ^[3]

The measure passed. ^[8]

Texas Proposition 4 ^[5]

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	965,377	85.14
No	168,435	14.86
Total votes	1,133,812	100.00

Proposition 5

Proposition 5 authorized the making of a reverse mortgage loan for the purchase of homestead property, and amended other regulations surrounding reverse mortgage loans. ^[3]

The measure passed. ^[9]

Texas Proposition 5 ^[5]

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	683,402	62.61
No	408,197	37.39
Total votes	1,091,599	100.00

Proposition 6

Proposition 6 provided for the creation of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas (SWIRFT) to assist in the financing of projects in the state water plan. ^[3]

The measure passed. ^[10]

Texas Proposition 6 ^[5]

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	839,369	73.35
No	304,981	26.65
Total votes	1,144,350	100.00

Proposition 7

Proposition 7 authorized a home-rule municipality to detail in its charter the procedure on filling a vacancy on its governing body in which the unexpired term is 12 months or less. ^[3]

The measure passed. ^[11]

Texas Proposition 7 ^[5]

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	809,844	74.38
No	278,878	25.62
Total votes	1,088,722	100.00

Proposition 8

Proposition 8 repealed the constitutional provision for the creation of a hospital district in Hidalgo County. ^[3]

The measure passed. ^[12]

Texas Proposition 8 ^[5]

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	743,510	72.37
No	283,933	27.63
Total votes	1,027,443	100.00

Proposition 9

Proposition 9 expanded the types of sanctions against a judge or justice following disciplinary proceedings instituted by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. ^[3]

The measure passed. ^[13]

Texas Proposition 9 ^[5]

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	925,509	84.65
No	167,825	15.35
Total votes	1,093,334	100.00

Special elections

Texas's 50th House of Representatives district special election

2013 Texas's 50th House of Representatives district special election (runoff)

←  2012 January 28, 2014 2014  →

Nominee Celia Israel Mike VanDeWalle Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 6,275 4,245 Percentage 59.65% 40.35%

Representative before election Mark Strama Democratic Elected Representative Celia Israel Democratic

A special election took place in Texas's 50th House of Representatives district after the resignation of Democratic Representative Mark Strama, who left politics to lead Google Fiber's operations in Austin. ^[14] As no candidate reached 50% of the vote in the November 5, 2013 election, a runoff election took place on January 28, 2014. The runoff was won by Democratic candidate Celia Israel, who defeated Republican Mike VanDeWalle. ^[15]

November 5, 2013

Candidates

• Jade Chang Sheppard (Democratic), owner of Gideon Contracting ^[16]
• Celia Israel (Democratic), realtor and community activist ^[16]
• Rico Reyes (Democratic), attorney and former Marine ^[16]
• Mike VanDeWalle (Republican), chiropractor ^[16]

Endorsements

Celia Israel (D)

State representatives

• Eddie Rodriguez, 51st district (2003−present) ^[16]

Political parties

• Austin Environmental Democrats ^[16]
• University Democrats ^[16]
• Stonewall Democrats of Austin ^[16]

Organizations

• Equality Texas ^[16]

Mike VanDeWalle (R)

Individuals

• Michael Cargill, guns rights activist ^[16]

Political parties

• Travis County Republican Party ^[16]

Results

2013 Texas House of Representatives 50th district special election ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike VanDeWalle	5,853	39.19%
	Democratic	Celia Israel	4,755	31.84%
	Democratic	Jade Chang Sheppard	2,335	15.63%
	Democratic	Rico Reyes	1,993	13.34%
Total votes			14,936	100.00%

January 28, 2014 (runoff)

Results

2013 Texas House of Representatives 50th district special runoff election ^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Celia Israel	6,275	59.65%
	Republican	Mike VanDeWalle	4,245	40.35%
Total votes			10,520	100.00%
	Democratic hold

Texas's 6th Senate district special election

2013 Texas's 6th Senate district special election (runoff)

←  2012 March 2, 2013 2016  →

Nominee Sylvia Garcia Carol Alvarado Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 9,595 8,546 Percentage 52.89% 47.11%

Senator before election Mario Gallegos Jr. Democratic Elected Senator Sylvia Garcia Democratic

On October 16, 2012 State Senator Mario Gallegos Jr. of the 6th district died from complications associated with his liver transplant. ^[19] However, during the 2012 general election, Gallegos' name remained on the ballot and he was re-elected. As a result, a special election was called for January 26, 2013. ^[20] As no candidates reached at least 50% of the vote in the special election, a runoff took place on March 2. There, Democrat Sylvia Garcia defeated fellow Democrat Carol Alvarado to win the seat. ^[21]

January 26, 2013

Candidates

• Carol Alvarado (Democratic), State Representative from the 145th district ^[22]
• R.W. Bray (Republican), 2012 election candidate ^[22]
• Susan Delgado (Democratic), real estate broker ^[22]
• Sylvia Garcia (Democratic), former Harris County Commissioner and City of Houston Controller ^[22]
• Joaquin Martinez (Democratic), community leader ^[22]
• Dorothy Olmos (Republican), educator and State Board of Education candidate ^[22]
• Rodolfo Reyes (Democratic), business consultant and former League City Council member ^[22]
• Maria Selva (Green), community organizer ^[22]

Results

2013 Texas Senate 6th district special election ^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sylvia Garcia	7,424	45.35%
	Democratic	Carol Alvarado	6,813	41.62%
	Republican	R.W. Bray	1,015	6.20%
	Republican	Dorothy Olmos	461	2.82%
	Democratic	Joaquin Martinez	405	2.47%
	Democratic	Rodolfo Reyes	125	0.76%
	Green	Maria Selva	73	0.45%
	Democratic	Susan Delgado	53	0.32%
Total votes			16,369	100.00%

March 2, 2013 (runoff)

Results

2013 Texas Senate 6th district special runoff election ^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sylvia Garcia	9,595	52.89%
	Democratic	Carol Alvarado	8,546	47.11%
Total votes			18,141	100.00%
	Democratic hold

Local elections

• Arlington: Incumbent mayor Robert Cluck was re-elected for a sixth term. ^[25]
• El Paso: Oscar Leeser was elected to his first term as mayor, as incumbent John Cook was unable to seek a third term due to term limits. ^[26]
• Houston: Incumbent mayor Annise Parker was re-elected to a third term. ^[27]
• San Antonio: Incumbent mayor Julian Castro was re-elected to a third term. ^[28]

See also

• 2013 United States elections

References

1. "Texas elections, 2013". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
2. "Texas 2013 ballot measures". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
3. "Explanatory Statements for the November 5th, 2013 Constitutional Amendment Election". Texas Secretary of State. Archived from the original on January 16, 2025.
4. "Texas Tax Exemption on Residences of Service Members Killed in Action Amendment, Proposition 1 (2013)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
5. "Race Summary Report − 2013 Constitutional Amendment Election". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
6. "Texas State Medical Education Board and State Medical Education Fund Elimination Amendment, Proposition 2 (2013)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
7. "Texas Political Subdivision for Aircraft Tax Exemption Amendment, Proposition 3 (2013)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
8. "Texas Disabled Veteran Residence Tax Exemption Amendment, Proposition 4 (2013)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
9. "Texas Reverse Mortgage Loan Amendment, Proposition 5 (2013)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
10. "Texas State Water Fund Amendment, Proposition 6 (2013)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
11. "Texas Home Rule Charter Provision Amendment, Proposition 7 (2013)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
12. "Texas Repeal of Hidalgo County Hospital District Amendment, Proposition 8 (2013)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
13. "Texas Expanded Judicial Sanctions Amendment, Proposition 9 (2013)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
14. Koh, Elizabeth (June 26, 2013). "Strama Resigns to Lead Google Fiber in Austin". The Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on January 15, 2025.
15. Philpott, Ben (January 29, 2014). "Democrat Celia Israel Wins HD 50 Runoff". KUT News. Archived from the original on January 26, 2025.
16. "Meet the Candidates in HD 50 Special Election". KUT News. October 23, 2013. Archived from the original on January 26, 2025.
17. "Race Summary Report − Special Election State Representative District 50". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
18. "Race Summary Report − Special Runoff Election, House District 50". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
19. Swartsell, Nick (October 16, 2012). "State Sen. Mario Gallegos Jr. Dies at Age 62". The Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on November 11, 2024.
20. Stutz, Terrence. "Governor sets special election for senate seat in Houston area". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on March 20, 2017.
21. Aguilar, Julián (March 2, 2013). "Updated: Garcia Wins Houston Senate Race". The Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on February 21, 2025.
22. Aguilar, Julián (January 2, 2013). "Packed Field Could Mean a Runoff in SD-6". The Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on January 15, 2025.
23. "Race Summary Report − Special Election State Senator, District 6". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
24. "Race Summary Report − Special Runoff Election State Senator, District 6". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
25. Heinz, Frank (November 5, 2013). "26 Mayoral Elections Held Saturday". NBC DFW.
26. "Landslide Victory For Oscar Leeser In El Paso Mayoral Race". KRWG Public Media. June 15, 2013. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023.
27. Johnson, Laurie (November 5, 2013). "Houston Mayor Annise Parker Wins Third Term, Pledges Hard Work Ahead". Houston Public Media. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023.
28. "San Antonio mayor re-elected among Texas elections". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. May 12, 2013.