Recently, Texans headed to the polls…and Texas REALTORS® played a major role in helping them decide who were the best candidates for issues important to private property rights, availability and affordability of property for Texans, and many other issues. Here’s an overview of how the elections turned out. First of all, RPAC and TREPAC took positions in 226 state and federal races, winning 224 – a 99.1% success rate! Congratulations to all … that is an astounding winning percentage. Interesting tidbits:
About 7.8 million Texans voted, but about 9.6 million registered voters did not. That will put turnout around 45% - a decrease of 7% from 2018, but still the second highest (for a mid-term) since 1994.
Republicans continued their dominance of statewide elections – 1994 was also the last year a democrat won a statewide position.
Combined expenditures in the gubernatorial race exceeded $200 million – the most expensive race in state history
Top vote getter statewide – Republican SCOTX Justice Rebeca Huddle with 4,520,223 votes (57.13%)
Highest percentage of vote – Republican CCA Justice Jesse McClure – 57.26%
Abbott percentage – 54.83%
Patrick percentage – 53.82%
Paxton percentage – 53.46% (lowest of any statewide R)
Close shave – SD 27 where TREPAC supported Morgan LaMantia narrowly beat Republican Adam Hinojosa by just 569 votes (out of 175,151 votes cast). There is a possibility of a recount in this race.
No incumbent legislator lost in November, but two lost their primaries (Art Fierro and Phil Stephenson)
Composition of the chambers after swearing in:
US Congress 25 Republicans, 13 Democrats (plus 2 republican senators)
Currently 23/13/2 (Texas picked up two seats in reapportionment)
Seven freshmen (5/2)
Texas Senate – 19 Republicans, 12 Democrats
Currently 18/13
Five freshmen (4/1) (does not include Pete Flores)
Texas House – 86 Republicans, 64 Democrats
Currently 85/65
28 Freshmen (20/8) – This includes three who were elected in special elections and sworn in during the interim (Reps. Erin Gamez, John Lujan, and Jolanda Jones), but does not include former Rep. John Bryant, who returns after a long hiatus, or Reps. David Spiller or Brian Harrison, who were sworn in and began serving during the 87thLegislature.
The two losses are painful, but not entirely unexpected. Republican Lesli Fitzpatrick lost her race for Place 4 on the 3rd Court of Appeals – that 24-county district is no longer favorable for Republicans. The entire court (six seats) has flipped since 2018. Check this out:
2014 – Republican Chief Justice Jeff Rose won with 54.13% of the vote
Mid-term with democratic president
2016 – Two incumbent republican justices were unopposed
Trump/Clinton presidential election
2018 – Four democrats defeated four republicans (including three incumbents) with an average of 53.5%, including TREPAC supported Michael Toth
Mid-term with republican president (Dems also flipped 2 congressional, 2 senate, and 12 House seats)
2020 – Democrat Darlene Byrne defeated TREPAC supported Chief Justice Rose with 52.1% of the vote
2022 –Democrat Rosa Theofanis defeats TREPAC supported Republican Fitzpatrick with 52.63%
Unfortunately, our efforts in our priority race, House District 70, fell just 821 votes short (out of 58,255 votes cast). Democrat Miheala Plesa (50.7%) defeated TREPAC-supported Jamee Jolly (49.3%). This stings, especially after Jamee’s hard-fought primary and primary runoff victories. At the end of the day, elections are just math – and the newly drawn HD 70 simply has more democrats than republicans. While we’re certainly disappointed, Jamee should be commended for running a fantastic race and leaving it all on the field.
Despite the result of this race, TREPAC should also be commended for getting behind our favored candidates early. Additionally, the PIC and other REALTORS® (both in and out of the district) really mobilized by making calls, block walking, and poll greeting. Special thanks also to our Political Affairs staff and field representatives.
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