2020 Texas State Senate election

Last updated

2020 Texas State Senate election
Flag of Texas.svg
  2018 November 3, 2020 2022  

16 of the 31 seats in the Texas State Senate
16 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
  Brian Birdwell, 2019.jpg JWMAction.jpg
Leader Brian Birdwell John Whitmire
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat 22nd district 15th district
Last election19 seats, 50.66%12 seats, 47.82%
Seats before1912
Seats won1813
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 1Increase2.svg 1
Popular vote2,660,1202,226,640
Percentage53.28%44.59%

TxSen2020Results.svg
Senate results by district
     Republican hold     Democratic hold
     Democratic gain
     No election

President Pro Tempore before election

Joan Huffman
Republican

Elected President Pro Tempore

Brian Birdwell
Republican

The 2020 Texas State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial United States elections. Texas voters elected state senators in 16 of the 31 state senate districts. State senators serve four-year terms in the Texas State Senate. Those elected in 2020 will only be elected for two years, however, as part of the 2-4-4 term system. A statewide map of Texas's state Senate districts can be obtained from the Texas Legislative Council. [1] and individual district maps can be obtained from the U.S. Census. [2]

Contents

Following the 2016 state senate elections, Republicans maintained effective control of the Senate with 19 members.

To claim control of the chamber from Republicans, the Democrats would have needed to net four Senate seats. The Democratic Party gained one seat (District 19), leaving the Republicans with an 18 to 13 majority in the chamber. This election marks the first time since 1994 that the Democrats fielded candidates in more State Senate districts than the Republicans. [3]

Retirements

One incumbent did not run for re-election in 2020:

Democrats

  1. District 29: José R. Rodríguez: Retiring

Incumbents defeated

In the general election

Republicans

  1. District 19: Pete Flores lost to Roland Gutierrez.

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [4] Likely ROctober 21, 2020

Results summary

Summary of the November 3, 2020 Texas Senate election results
87th Texas Senate.svg
PartyCandidatesVotesSeats
No. %BeforeUpWonAfter+/–
Republican 142,660,12053.28199818Decrease2.svg1
Democratic 152,226,64044.59127813Increase2.svg1
Libertarian 457,1471.140000Steady2.svg
Green 149,2020.990000Steady2.svg
Total4,993,109100.0031161631Steady2.svg
Source: Texas Elections Results
Popular vote
Republican
53.28%
Democratic
44.59%
Other
2.13%
Senate seats won
Republican
50.00%
Democratic
50.00%

Close races

DistrictWinnerMargin
District 19Democratic (flip)3.29%
District Results
Democratic
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40-50%
50-60%
60-70%
70-80%
80-90%
Republican
40-50%
50-60%
60-70%
70-80%
90-100% TxSen2020ElectionVoteshares.svg
District Results

Summary of results by State Senate District

State Senate District [5] Incumbent PartyElected SenatorParty
1st Bryan Hughes Rep Bryan Hughes Rep
4th Brandon Creighton Rep Brandon Creighton Rep
6th Carol Alvarado Dem Carol Alvarado Dem
11th Larry Taylor Rep Larry Taylor Rep
12th Jane Nelson Rep Jane Nelson Rep
13th Borris Miles Dem Borris Miles Dem
18th Lois Kolkhorst Rep Lois Kolkhorst Rep
19th Pete Flores Rep Roland Gutierrez Dem
20th Juan Hinojosa Dem Juan Hinojosa Dem
21st Judith Zaffirini Dem Judith Zaffirini Dem
22nd Brian Birdwell Rep Brian Birdwell Rep
24th Dawn Buckingham Rep Dawn Buckingham Rep
26th Jose Menendez Dem Jose Menendez Dem
27th Eddie Lucio Jr. Dem Eddie Lucio Jr. Dem
28th Charles Perry Rep Charles Perry Rep
29th José R. Rodríguez Dem Cesar Blanco Dem
DistrictDemocraticRepublicanOthersTotalResult
Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%
District 1 87,88524.74%267,40475.26%--355,289100.00%Republican hold
District 4 113,05030.19%281,10567.35%10,2772.46%417,401100.00%Republican hold
District 6 137,89584.05%--26,16615.95%164,061100.00%Democratic hold
District 11 148,22538.10%231,26859.45%9,5192.45%389,012100.00%Republican hold
District 12 177,61037.71%293,39962.29%--471,009100.00%Republican hold
District 13 200,19580.47%48,58119.53%--248,776100.00%Democratic hold
District 18 144,48934.21%277,87265.79%--422,289100.00%Republican hold
District 19 158,72649.85%148,21346.55%11,4653.60%318,404100.00%D gain from R
District 20 154,31158.48%109,56341.52%--263,874100.00%Democratic hold
District 21 167,67260.14%111,14239.86%--278,814100.00%Democratic hold
District 22 118,53831.55%257,20868.45%--375,746100.00%Republican hold
District 24 115,85330.46%264,51769.54%--380,370100.00%Republican hold
District 26 199,82979.99%--50,00420.01%249,833100.00%Democratic hold
District 27 134,03564.81%72,76835.19%--206,803100.00%Democratic hold
District 28 --248,025100.00%--248,025100.00%Republican hold
District 29 176,36067.32%85,61932.68%--261,979100.00%Democratic hold
Total2,234,67344.24%2,696,68453.38%107,4312.13%5,051,685100.00%Source: [6]

Detailed results by State Senate District

District 1District 4District 6District 11District 12District 13District 18District 19District 20District 21District 22District 24District 26District 27District 28District 29

District 1

Republican primary

Republican primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Bryan Hughes (incumbent) 99,356 100.0%
Total votes99,356 100.0%

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Audrey Spanko 29,162 100.0%
Total votes29,162 100.0%

General election

Texas's 1st State Senate District General Election, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Bryan Hughes (incumbent) 267,404 75.26%
Democratic Audrey Spanko87,88524.74%
Total votes355,289 100.00
Republican hold

District 4

Republican primary

Republican primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Brandon Creighton (incumbent) 76,775 100.0%
Total votes76,775 100.0%

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jay Stittleburg 37,848 100.0%
Total votes37,848 100.0%

General election

Texas's 4th State Senate District General Election, 2020 [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Brandon Creighton (incumbent) 281,105 67.35%
Democratic Jay Stittleburg126,01930.19%
Libertarian Cameron Brock10,2772.46%
Total votes417,401 100.00%
Republican hold

District 6

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Carol Alvarado (incumbent) 31,938 100.0%
Total votes31,938 100.0%

General election

Texas's 6th State Senate District General Election, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Carol Alvarado (incumbent) 137,895 84.05%
Libertarian Timothy Duffield26,16615.95%
Total votes164,061 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 11

Republican primary

Republican primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Larry Taylor (incumbent) 63,378 100.0%
Total votes63,378 100.0%

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Susan Criss 26,155 53.0%
Democratic Margarita Ruiz Johnson23,18847.0%
Total votes49,343 100.0%

General election

Texas's 11th State Senate District General Election, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Larry Taylor (incumbent) 231,268 59.45%
Democratic Susan Criss148,22538.10%
Libertarian Jared Wissel9,5192.45%
Total votes389,012 100.00%
Republican hold

District 12

Republican primary

Republican primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jane Nelson (incumbent) 63,061 100.0%
Total votes63,061 100.0%

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Shadi Zitoon 32,831 57.5%
Democratic Randy Daniels24,29142.5%
Total votes57,122 100.0%

General election

Texas's 12th State Senate District General Election, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jane Nelson (incumbent) 293,399 62.29%
Democratic Shadi Zitoon177,61037.71%
Total votes471,009 100.00%
Republican hold

District 13

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Borris Miles (incumbent) 36,514 55.4%
Democratic Melissa Morris22,84034.7%
Democratic Richard Andrews6,5259.9%
Total votes65,879 100.0%

Republican primary

Republican primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Milinda Morris 5,363 65.0%
Republican William Booher2,88435.0%
Total votes8,247 100.0%

General election

Texas's 13th State Senate District General Election, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Borris Miles (incumbent) 200,195 80.47%
Republican Milinda Morris48,58119.53%
Total votes248,776 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 18

Republican primary

Republican primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Lois Kolkhorst (incumbent) 98,215 100.0%
Total votes98,215 100.0%

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Michael Antalan 41,182 100.0%
Total votes41,182 100.0%

General election

Texas's 18th State Senate District General Election, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Lois Kolkhorst (incumbent) 277,872 65.79%
Democratic Michael Antalan144,48934.21%
Total votes422,361 100.00%
Republican hold

District 19

Republican primary

Republican primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Pete Flores (incumbent) 35,526 100.0%
Total votes35,526 100.0%

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Xochil Pena Rodriguez 30,821 43.9%
Democratic Roland Gutierrez 26,550 37.8%
Democratic Freddy Ramirez12,80818.3%
Total votes70,179 100.0%

Democratic primary runoff

Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Roland Gutierrez 16,640 52.7%
Democratic Xochil Pena Rodriguez14,94047.3%
Total votes31,580 100.0%

General election

Texas's 19th State Senate District General Election, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Roland Gutierrez 158,726 49.85%
Republican Pete Flores (incumbent)148,21346.55%
Libertarian Jo-Anne Valvdivia11,4653.60%
Total votes318,404 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

District 20

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Juan Hinojosa (incumbent) 55,410 100.0%
Total votes55,410 100.0%

Republican primary

Republican primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Judith Cutright 21,246 100.0%
Total votes21,246 100.0%

General election

Texas's 20th State Senate District General Election, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Juan Hinojosa (incumbent) 154,311 58.48%
Republican Judith Cutright109,56341.52%
Total votes263,874 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 21

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Judith Zaffirini (incumbent) 70,443 100.0%
Total votes70,443 100.0%

Republican primary

Republican primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Frank Pomeroy 29,774 100.0%
Total votes29,774 100.0%

General election

Texas's 21st State Senate District General Election, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Judith Zaffirini (incumbent) 167,672 60.14%
Republican Frank Pomeroy111,14239.86%
Total votes278,814 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 22

Republican primary

Republican primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Brian Birdwell (incumbent) 89,609 100.0%
Total votes89,609 100.0%

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Robert Vick 36,751 100.0%
Total votes36,751 100.0%

General election

Texas's 22nd State Senate District General Election, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Brian Birdwell (incumbent) 257,208 68.45%
Democratic Robert Vick118,53831.55%
Total votes375,746 100.00%
Republican hold

District 24

Republican primary

Republican primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dawn Buckingham (incumbent) 90,605 100.0%
Total votes90,605 100.0%

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Clayton Tucker 39,280 100.0%
Total votes39,280 100.0%

General election

Texas's 24th State Senate District General Election, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dawn Buckingham (incumbent) 264,517 69.54%
Democratic Clayton Tucker115,85330.46%
Total votes380,370 100.00%
Republican hold

District 26

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jose Menendez (incumbent) 67,062 100.0%
Total votes67,062 100.0%

General election

Texas's 26th State Senate District General Election, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jose Menendez (incumbent) 199,829 79.99%
Green Julian Villarreal50,00420.01%
Total votes249,833 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 27

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Eddie Lucio Jr. (incumbent) 31,046 49.8%
Democratic Sara Stapleton-Barrera 22,221 35.6%
Democratic Ruben Cortez Jr.9,12214.6%
Total votes62,389 100.0%

Democratic primary runoff

Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Eddie Lucio Jr. (incumbent) 16,883 53.6%
Democratic Sara Stapleton-Barrera14,62546.4%
Total votes31,508 100.0%

Republican primary

Republican primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Vanessa Tijerina 11,343 100.0%
Total votes11,343 100.0%

General election

Texas's 27th State Senate District General Election, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Eddie Lucio Jr. (incumbent) 134,035 64.81%
Republican Vanessa Tijerina72,76835.19%
Total votes206,803 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 28

Republican primary

Republican primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Charles Perry (incumbent) 90,762 100.0%
Total votes90,762 100.0%

General election

Texas's 28th State Senate District General Election, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Charles Perry (incumbent) 248,025 100.00%
Total votes248,025 100.00%
Republican hold

District 29

Democratic primary

Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Cesar Blanco 59,620 100.0%
Total votes59,620 100.0%

Republican primary

Republican primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Bethany Hatch 15,817 100.0%
Total votes15,817 100.00%

General election

Texas's 29th State Senate District General Election, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Cesar Blanco 176,360 67.32%
Republican Bethany Hatch85,61932.68%
Total votes261,979 100.00%
Democratic hold

Special elections

District 14

The seat for District 14 became vacant on April 30, 2020, after the resignation of Kirk Watson. [8] A special election was originally called for July 14, 2020. However, Eddie Rodriguez chose not to contest the resulting runoff, thus the scheduled runoff was canceled and Sarah Eckhardt was deemed elected.

Texas's 14th State Senate District Special Election, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Sarah Eckhardt 59,267 49.7%
Democratic Eddie Rodriguez 40,38433.8%
Republican Donald Zimmerman15,56513.0%
Republican Waller Thomas Burns II1,4421.2%
Independent Jeff Ridgeway1,3861.2%
Libertarian Pat Dixon1,3061.1%
Total votes119,350 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 30

A special election for Texas State Senate District 30 has been called for September 29, 2020. The candidate filing deadline was August 28, 2020. The seat became vacant after the resignation of Pat Fallon on August 23, 2020.

Texas's 30th State Senate District Special Election, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Shelley Luther 22,135 32.2%
Republican Drew Springer Jr. 21,971 31.9%
Democratic Jacob Minter14,57221.2%
Republican Christopher Watts4,2846.2%
Republican Craig Carter3,4135.0%
Republican Andy Hopper2,4323.5%
Total votes68,807 100.0%

Runoff

Texas's 30th State Senate District Special Election, 2020 runoff
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Drew Springer Jr. 32,599 56.45%
Republican Shelley Luther25,14643.55%
Total votes57,745 100.0%
Republican hold

See also

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References

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  2. "Texas - State Legislative District Maps (Upper Chamber) - Geography". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 12 October 2015. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  3. "Race Summary Report 1994 General Election". elections.sos.state.tx.us. November 8, 1994. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  4. "October Overview: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races". The Cook Political Report . Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  5. "Texas State Senate elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
  6. "Election Night Results". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  7. "District 4 Election Results".
  8. "State Sen. Kirk Watson to retire from Texas Senate". Texas Tribune. February 18, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.