2014 Texas elections

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2014 Texas Election
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The 2014 general election was held in the U.S. state of Texas on November 4, 2014. All of Texas's executive officers were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, and all of Texas's thirty-six seats in the United States House of Representatives. Primary elections were held on March 4, 2014. Primary runoffs, required if no candidate wins a majority of the vote, were held on May 27, 2014. Elections were also held for the Texas legislature and proposition 1, seeking funds for Texas highways (which passed).

Contents

A combination of retirements, incumbents seeking other offices and a primary defeat means that after the election, for the first time since 1874, all of Texas's executive offices were held by new officeholders.

The Tea Party made large gains in the 2014 elections, with Tea Party-backed candidates being elected into offices such as lieutenant governor and attorney general, among other offices. [1] [2] [3]

Governor

Incumbent Republican Governor Rick Perry, who has served in the office since December 21, 2000, when George W. Bush resigned ahead of being sworn in as President of the United States, has announced that he will not run for a fourth full term as governor. This will be the first open election for governor since 1990, when Ann Richards was elected.

Greg Abbott won the Republican primary, Wendy Davis won the Democratic primary. Kathie Glass won the Libertarian Party of Texas nomination in convention. They and a Green candidate will contest the general election.

Abbott won the general election, defeating Davis by twenty points.

Lieutenant governor

Incumbent Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst ran for an unprecedented fourth term, but was defeated in the Republican primary by his more conservative opponent, state senator Dan Patrick. Patrick would go on to win the general election in a landslide over Leticia Van de Putte. Patrick was sworn in on January 20, 2015.

Attorney General

Incumbent Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott was eligible to seek re-election to a fourth term, but instead decided to run for governor. Republican state senator Ken Paxton defeated Democratic attorney Sam Houston with 58.81% of the vote.

Comptroller of Public Accounts

Incumbent Republican Comptroller Susan Combs retired and did not seek a third term in office.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Glenn
Hegar		Harvey
Hilderbran		Debra
Medina		Raul
Torres		OtherUndecided
UoT/Texas Tribune [9] February 7–17, 2014461±4.56%24%26%39%11%——
UoT/Texas Tribune [10] October 18–27, 2013519±5.02%4%2%14%5%—75%

Results

Republican primary results [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Glenn Hegar 612,269 49.99
Republican Harvey Hilderbran318,89926.04
Republican Debra Medina236,53119.31
Republican Raul Torres56,9374.64
Total votes1,224,636 100

A runoff was to be held, but with Hegar only narrowly below the 50% threshold and with several thousand provisional and overseas ballots to be counted, Hildebran withdrew on March 7, 2014, and endorsed Hegar. [12] When the final results were released, Hegar had come only 50 votes short of winning the primary outright.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Libertarian nomination

Candidates

Declared

Green nomination

Candidates

Declared

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Glenn
Hegar (R)		Mike
Collier (D)		OtherUndecided
UoT/Texas Tribune [15] October 10–19, 2014866± 3.6%49%34%17% [16] —
UoT/Texas Tribune [17] May 30–June 8, 20141,200± 2.83%32%25%7% [18] 37%

Results

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts election, 2014 [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Glenn Hegar 2,692,803 58.36
Democratic Mike Collier1,739,30837.69
Libertarian Ben Sanders136,9692.96
Green Deb Shafto44,9240.97
Majority953,49520.67%
Total votes4,614,004 100
Turnout 32.89
Republican hold

Commissioner of the General Land Office

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Jerry E. Patterson did not run for re-election to a fourth term. He instead ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Results

Republican primary results [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican George P. Bush 937,987 72.99
Republican David Watts346,94927.00
Total votes1,284,936 100

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Libertarian nomination

Candidates

Declared

Withdrew

Knight won the Libertarian nomination

Green nomination

Candidates

Declared

  • Ulises Cabrera [14]

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		George P.
Bush (R)		John
Cook (D)		OtherUndecided
UoT/Texas Tribune [15] October 10–19, 2014866± 3.6%50%32%17% [25] —
UoT/Texas Tribune [17] May 30–June 8, 20141,200± 2.83%36%25%9% [26] 30%
Public Policy Polling [27] April 10–13, 2014559± 4.1%50%32%—18%

Results

Texas Commissioner of the General Land Office election, 2014 [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican George P. Bush 2,821,359 60.68
Democratic John Cook 1,641,85835.31
Libertarian Justin Knight126,2032.71
Green Valerie Alessi59,9921.29
Majority1,179,50125.37%
Total votes4,649,412 100
Turnout 33.14
Republican hold
Results by county Bush: .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% 90-100% Cook: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% 2014 Texas land commissioner election results map by county.svg
Results by county
Bush:
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  •   90–100%
Cook:
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%

Commissioner of Agriculture

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Todd Staples did not run for re-election to a third term. He instead ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor. On September 18, he announced that he would resign within the next two months, to become President of the Texas Oil and Gas Association. [28]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Withdrew

Declined

Results

Republican primary results [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Sid Miller 411,560 34.56
Republican Tommy Merritt 249,440 20.94
Republican Eric Opiela207,22217.40
Republican Joe Cotten174,34814.64
Republican J. Allen Carnes148,22212.44
Total votes1,190,792 100

Runoff

Results

Republican primary runoff results [35]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Sid Miller 362,573 53.08
Republican Tommy Merritt320,43446.92
Total votes683,007 100

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

Democratic primary results [39]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jim Hogan 190,090 38.74
Democratic Kinky Friedman 185,180 37.74
Democratic Hugh Fitzsimons115,39523.51
Total votes490,665 100

Runoff

Results

Democratic primary runoff results [35]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jim Hogan 105,763 53.71
Democratic Kinky Friedman91,15446.29
Total votes196,917 100

Libertarian nomination

Candidates

Declared

  • Rick Donaldson [14]
  • David "Rocky" Palmquist, rancher [24]

Palmquist won the Libertarian nomination.

Green nomination

Candidates

Declared

  • Kenneth Kendrick, food safety advocate and whistleblower [14]

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Sid
Miller (R)		Jim
Hogan (D)		OtherUndecided
UoT/Texas Tribune [15] October 10–19, 2014866± 3.6%47%35%18% [40] —
UoT/Texas Tribune [17] May 30–June 8, 20141,200± 2.83%32%24%9% [41] 34%

Results

Texas Commissioner of Agriculture election, 2014 [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Sid Miller 2,693,466 58.58
Democratic Jim Hogan1,694,05936.84
Libertarian David "Rocky" Palmquist132,2992.87
Green Kenneth Kendrick77,4161.68
Majority999,40721.74%
Total votes4,597,240 100
Turnout 32.77
Republican hold
Results by county Miller: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% 90-100% Hogan: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% 2014 Texas agriculture commissioner election results map by county.svg
Results by county
Miller:
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  •   90–100%
Hogan:
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%

Railroad Commissioner

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Barry Smitherman did not run for re-election to a full term. He instead ran unsuccessfully for attorney general.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

  • Becky Berger, geologist and candidate for the Railroad Commission in 2012 [42]
  • Malachi Boyuls, attorney and venture capitalist [43]
  • Wayne Christian, former state representative [44]
  • Ryan Sitton, oil and gas engineer and candidate for the Texas House of Representatives in 2012 [45]

Withdrew

Declined

Results

Republican primary results [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Wayne Christian 503,634 42.68
Republican Ryan Sitton 360,125 30.52
Republican Becky Berger198,67216.83
Republican Malachi Boyuls117,5119.95
Total votes1,179,942 100

Runoff

Results

Republican primary runoff results [35]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Ryan Sitton 398,652 57.25
Republican Wayne Christian297,65442.75
Total votes696,306 100

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

  • Steve Brown, former chairman of the Fort Bend County Democratic Party [49]
  • Dale Henry, perennial candidate

Results

Democratic primary results [39]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Steve Brown 299,009 64.02
Democratic Dale Henry168,03635.97
Total votes467,045 100

Libertarian nomination

Candidates

Declared

  • Jason Kute [14]
  • Mark Miller, businessman [24]

Miller won the Libertarian nomination.

Green nomination

Candidates

Declared

  • Martina Salinas [14]

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Ryan
Sitton (R)		Steve
Brown (D)		OtherUndecided
UoT/Texas Tribune [15] October 10–19, 2014866± 3.6%48%34%19% [50] —
UoT/Texas Tribune [17] May 30–June 8, 20141,200± 2.83%32%24%10% [51] 33%

Results

Texas Railroad Commissioner election, 2014 [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Ryan Sitton 2,679,537 58.27
Democratic Steve Brown1,679,65836.52
Libertarian Mark Miller145,1273.15
Green Kenneth Kendrick93,9882.04
Majority999,87921.74%
Total votes4,598,310 100
Turnout 32.78
Republican hold
Results by county Sitton: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% 90-100% Brown: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% Tie: 40-50% 2014 Texas railroad commissioner election results map by county.svg
Results by county
Sitton:
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  •   90–100%
Brown:
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
Tie:
  •   40–50%

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 House of Representatives

AffiliationParty
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
Before 2014 elections95551500
Voting share
After 2014 elections98521500
Voting share

Texas Senate

AffiliationParty
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
Before 2014 elections1912310
Voting share
After 2014 elections2011310
Voting share

United States Senate

Incumbent Republican senator and Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn ran for re-election to a third term. [52] He won the Republican primary with 59% of the vote, easily turning back a primary challenge from U.S. Representative Steve Stockman and six others. The Democratic primary went to a runoff after businessman David Alameel took 47% of the vote and Worldwide LaRouche Youth Movement activist Kesha Rogers took 22% of the vote. Alameel won the runoff.

In the general election, Cornyn defeated Alameel 61.6%–34.4%. [53]

United States House of Representatives

All of Texas's thirty-six seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2014.

References

  1. ↑ Fernandez, Manny (May 27, 2014). "Lieutenant Governor Loses Texas Runoff as Tea Party Holds Sway". The New York Times . Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  2. ↑ Koppel, Nathan (January 21, 2015) - "Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Moves Quickly to Advance Conservative Agenda". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  3. ↑ Grissom, Brandi. Tea Party Conservatives Win Top GOP Runoff Contests, Texas Tribune , May 28, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Comptroller candidates pounce on Combs' endorsement of Hegar". Houston Chronicle. October 22, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Rep. Harvey Hilderbran announces bid for comptroller". The Dallas Morning News. September 19, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Tea party activist Medina to run for Texas comptroller". The Dallas Morning News. November 13, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Raul Torres Launches Campaign for Texas Comptroller". Texas Inside. August 29, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Susan Combs to Retire; 2014 Dominoes to Fall Without Rick Perry Decision". Burnt Orange Report. May 30, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  9. ↑ UoT/Texas Tribune
  10. ↑ UoT/Texas Tribune
  11. 1 2 3 4 "1992 - 2006 ELECTION HISTORY". Archived from the original on November 8, 2006. Retrieved January 3, 2007. 2014 Republican Party Primary Election
  12. ↑ "Kate Alexander, "Glenn Hegar wins GOP comptroller primary after Harvey Hilderbran bows out of runoff"". Austin American-Statesman . Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Democrat Collier enters race for Texas comptroller". The Dallas Morning News. October 7, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "2014 Texas Statewide Candidates". Burnt Orange Report. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  15. 1 2 3 4 UoT/Texas Tribune
  16. ↑ Ben Sanders (L) 11%, Deb Shafto (G) 6%
  17. 1 2 3 4 UoT/Texas Tribune
  18. ↑ Ben Sanders (L) 5%, Deb Shafto (G) 2%
  19. 1 2 3 4 "Office of the Secretary of State 2014 General Election Election Night Returns". Texas Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 5, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  20. ↑ "George P. Bush formally files to run for Texas land commissioner". The Dallas Morning News. November 19, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  21. ↑ "REPUBLICAN TEXAS LAND COMMISSIONER CANDIDATE DAVID WATTS TO VISIT LUBBOCK". KYFO. July 1, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson Wants 4 States Out of U.S." 5nbcdfw. October 11, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Candidate Filing Roundup; Sen. Wendy Davis and General Greg Abbott to Face Primary Challengers". Burnt Orange Report. November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  24. 1 2 3 "Libertarian Kathie Glass Announces Bid for Governor". The Texas Tribune. June 26, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  25. ↑ Justin Knight (L) 10%, Valerie Alessi (G) 7%
  26. ↑ Justin Knight (L) 6%, Valerie Alessi (G) 3%
  27. ↑ Public Policy Polling
  28. ↑ "Texas agriculture commissioner to resign". Star Tribune. September 19, 2014. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  29. ↑ "Uvalde mayor, J. Allen Carnes, makes bid for agriculture commissioner official". The Dallas Morning News. September 5, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Republican candidate for Texas agricultural commissioner talks industry growth". Texas Chronicle. December 11, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Former Rep. Tommy Merritt entering race for Ag Commissioner". The Dallas Morning News. October 18, 2013. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  32. 1 2 "Shake-up in race for Texas Ag Commissioner". Houston Chronicle. October 17, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  33. ↑ "Texas agriculture commissioner candidate Eric Opiela focuses on water, rights". The Washington Examiner. October 26, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  34. ↑ "TEXAS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE TODD STAPLES EXPLAINS SUPPORT OF PROPOSITION 6 AND HIS VOTE ON DPS ID BILL [AUDIO]". KYFO. October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  35. 1 2 3 "Texas - Summary Vote Results". Associated Press. May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  36. ↑ "For Ag commissioner". Houston Chronicle. January 31, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Kinky Friedman running for agriculture commissioner". Houston Chronicle. October 15, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Statewide Candidate Filings Trickle In". The Austin Chronicle. November 22, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  39. 1 2 "1992 - 2006 ELECTION HISTORY". Archived from the original on November 8, 2006. Retrieved January 3, 2007. 2014 Democratic Party Primary Election
  40. ↑ Kenneth Kendrick (G) 9%, Rocky Palmquist (L) 9%
  41. ↑ Kenneth Kendrick (G) 5%, Rocky Palmquist (L) 4%
  42. ↑ "Railroad Commission candidates hit campaign trail". My West Texas. July 17, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  43. ↑ "MALACHI BOYULS SAYS "FREE MARKET PRINCIPLES" MUST PLAY ROLE IN REGULATION FROM TEXAS RAILROAD COMMISSION [AUDIO]". KYFO. August 7, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  44. ↑ "Texas Digest: Wayne Christian announces for railroad commissioner; feds nix Texas waiver to reduce tests for high-performing students". statesman.com. September 9, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  45. 1 2 "Will Texas Railroad Commission Race Draw Attention?". My High Plains. September 25, 2013. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  46. ↑ "State lawmaker drops out of Railroad Commission race". Houston Chronicle. October 22, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  47. ↑ "Former state Rep. Ray Keller announces for RR Commissioner". The Dallas Morning News. July 23, 2013. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  48. ↑ "Texas AG Candidate Barry Smitherman Can Shoot All the Guns". Dallas Observer. November 20, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  49. ↑ "Steve Brown to Run for Railroad Commissioner". The Texas Tribune. November 8, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  50. ↑ Mark Miller (L) 10%, Martina Salinas (G) 9%
  51. ↑ Mark Miller (L) 6%, Martina Salinas (G) 4%
  52. ↑ "John Cornyn Airs First Re-Election Campaign Spot". Roll Call. October 7, 2013. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  53. ↑ "Office of the Secretary of State 2014 General Election Election Night Returns". Texas Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 5, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
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