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2020 Texas Senate election

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Not to be confused with 2020 United States Senate election in Texas.

2020 Texas Senate election
← 2018 November 3, 2020 2022 →
16 of the 31 seats in the Texas State Senate
16 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Paul Bettencourt José R. Rodríguez
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat 7th district 29th district
Last election 19 seats, 50.66% 12 seats, 47.82%
Seats before 19 12
Seats won 18 13
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 1
Popular vote 2,660,120 2,226,640
Percentage 53.28% 44.59%
     Republican hold      Democratic hold
     Democratic gain

Republican:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      ≥90%

Democratic:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
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The 2020 Texas 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. The winners of this election served in the 87th Texas Legislature. 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]

Following the 2018 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 broke Republican's effective supermajority in the chamber, as legislation typically requires 19 votes, three fifths, to pass the chamber.[3] At the urging of lieutenant governor Dan Patrick, the senate voted to reduce this threshold to 18, just as he had done to reduce the threshold from 21 to 19 during the 2015 session.[4]

Retirements

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

Democrats

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  1. District 29: José R. Rodríguez: Retiring

Incumbents defeated

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In the general election

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Republicans

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

Predictions

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Despite the state's competitive elections for President and House of Representatives, analysts considered the Texas Senate extremely unlikely to flip control due to the small number of competitive seats up for election in 2020.

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[5] Likely R October 21, 2020
Sabato's Crystal Ball[6] Safe R May 7, 2020

Results summary

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Summary of the November 3, 2020 Texas Senate election results
Party Candidates Votes Seats
No. % Before Up Won After +/–
Republican 14 2,660,120 53.28 19 9 8 18 Decrease1
Democratic 15 2,226,640 44.59 12 7 8 13 Increase1
Libertarian 4 57,147 1.14 0 0 0 0 Steady
Green 1 49,202 0.99 0 0 0 0 Steady
Total 4,993,109 100.00 31 16 16 31 Steady
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

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District Winner Margin
District 19 Democratic (flip) 3.29%

Summary of results by State Senate District

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State Senate District[7] Incumbent Party Elected Senator Party
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
District Democratic Republican Others Total Result
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
District 1 87,885 24.74% 267,404 75.26% - - 355,289 100.00% Republican hold
District 4 113,050 30.19% 281,105 67.35% 10,277 2.46% 417,401 100.00% Republican hold
District 6 137,895 84.05% - - 26,166 15.95% 164,061 100.00% Democratic hold
District 11 148,225 38.10% 231,268 59.45% 9,519 2.45% 389,012 100.00% Republican hold
District 12 177,610 37.71% 293,399 62.29% - - 471,009 100.00% Republican hold
District 13 200,195 80.47% 48,581 19.53% - - 248,776 100.00% Democratic hold
District 18 144,489 34.21% 277,872 65.79% - - 422,289 100.00% Republican hold
District 19 158,726 49.85% 148,213 46.55% 11,465 3.60% 318,404 100.00% Democratic gain
District 20 154,311 58.48% 109,563 41.52% - - 263,874 100.00% Democratic hold
District 21 167,672 60.14% 111,142 39.86% - - 278,814 100.00% Democratic hold
District 22 118,538 31.55% 257,208 68.45% - - 375,746 100.00% Republican hold
District 24 115,853 30.46% 264,517 69.54% - - 380,370 100.00% Republican hold
District 26 199,829 79.99% - - 50,004 20.01% 249,833 100.00% Democratic hold
District 27 134,035 64.81% 72,768 35.19% - - 206,803 100.00% Democratic hold
District 28 - - 248,025 100.00% - - 248,025 100.00% Republican hold
District 29 176,360 67.32% 85,619 32.68% - - 261,979 100.00% Democratic hold
Total 2,234,673 44.24% 2,696,684 53.38% 107,431 2.13% 5,051,685 100.00% Source:[8]

Detailed results by State Senate District

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

District 1

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Republican primary

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Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bryan Hughes (incumbent) 99,356 100.0%
Total votes 99,356 100.0%

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Audrey Spanko 29,162 100.0%
Total votes 29,162 100.0%

General election

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Texas's 1st State Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bryan Hughes (incumbent) 267,404 75.26%
Democratic Audrey Spanko 87,885 24.74%
Total votes 355,289 100.00
Republican hold

District 4

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Republican primary

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Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brandon Creighton (incumbent) 76,775 100.0%
Total votes 76,775 100.0%

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jay Stittleburg 37,848 100.0%
Total votes 37,848 100.0%

General election

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Texas's 4th State Senate District General Election, 2020[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brandon Creighton (incumbent) 281,105 67.35%
Democratic Jay Stittleburg 126,019 30.19%
Libertarian Cameron Brock 10,277 2.46%
Total votes 417,401 100.00%
Republican hold

District 6

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Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Carol Alvarado (incumbent) 31,938 100.0%
Total votes 31,938 100.0%

General election

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Texas's 6th State Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Carol Alvarado (incumbent) 137,895 84.05%
Libertarian Timothy Duffield 26,166 15.95%
Total votes 164,061 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 11

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Republican primary

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Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Larry Taylor (incumbent) 63,378 100.0%
Total votes 63,378 100.0%

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susan Criss 26,155 53.0%
Democratic Margarita Ruiz Johnson 23,188 47.0%
Total votes 49,343 100.0%

General election

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Texas's 11th State Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Larry Taylor (incumbent) 231,268 59.45%
Democratic Susan Criss 148,225 38.10%
Libertarian Jared Wissel 9,519 2.45%
Total votes 389,012 100.00%
Republican hold

District 12

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Republican primary

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Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jane Nelson (incumbent) 63,061 100.0%
Total votes 63,061 100.0%

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shadi Zitoon 32,831 57.5%
Democratic Randy Daniels 24,291 42.5%
Total votes 57,122 100.0%

General election

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Texas's 12th State Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jane Nelson (incumbent) 293,399 62.29%
Democratic Shadi Zitoon 177,610 37.71%
Total votes 471,009 100.00%
Republican hold

District 13

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Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Borris Miles (incumbent) 36,514 55.4%
Democratic Melissa Morris 22,840 34.7%
Democratic Richard Andrews 6,525 9.9%
Total votes 65,879 100.0%

Republican primary

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Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Milinda Morris 5,363 65.0%
Republican William Booher 2,884 35.0%
Total votes 8,247 100.0%

General election

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Texas's 13th State Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Borris Miles (incumbent) 200,195 80.47%
Republican Milinda Morris 48,581 19.53%
Total votes 248,776 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 18

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Republican primary

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Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lois Kolkhorst (incumbent) 98,215 100.0%
Total votes 98,215 100.0%

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Antalan 41,182 100.0%
Total votes 41,182 100.0%

General election

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Texas's 18th State Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lois Kolkhorst (incumbent) 277,872 65.79%
Democratic Michael Antalan 144,489 34.21%
Total votes 422,361 100.00%
Republican hold

District 19

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2020 Texas's 19th senate district election
← 2018
(special)		 November 3, 2020 2022 →
 
Nominee Roland Gutierrez Pete Flores
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 158,726 148,213
Percentage 49.85% 46.55%
County results
Gutierrez:      50–60%      60–70%
Flores:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Texas Senator before election

Pete Flores
Republican Party

Elected Texas Senator

Roland Gutierrez
Democratic Party

Incumbent Republican Pete Flores, who was elected in an upset in a 2018 special election, ran for re-election. He was defeated by Democratic state representative Roland Gutierrez.[10]

Republican primary

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Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Pete Flores (incumbent) 35,526 100.0%
Total votes 35,526 100.0%

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Xochil Pena Rodriguez 30,821 43.9%
Democratic Roland Gutierrez 26,550 37.8%
Democratic Freddy Ramirez 12,808 18.3%
Total votes 70,179 100.0%

Democratic primary runoff

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Roland Gutierrez 16,640 52.7%
Democratic Xochil Pena Rodriguez 14,940 47.3%
Total votes 31,580 100.0%

General election

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Texas's 19th State Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Roland Gutierrez 158,726 49.85%
Republican Pete Flores (incumbent) 148,213 46.55%
Libertarian Jo-Anne Valvdivia 11,465 3.60%
Total votes 318,404 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

District 20

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Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Juan Hinojosa (incumbent) 55,410 100.0%
Total votes 55,410 100.0%

Republican primary

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Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Judith Cutright 21,246 100.0%
Total votes 21,246 100.0%

General election

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Texas's 20th State Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Juan Hinojosa (incumbent) 154,311 58.48%
Republican Judith Cutright 109,563 41.52%
Total votes 263,874 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 21

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Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Judith Zaffirini (incumbent) 70,443 100.0%
Total votes 70,443 100.0%

Republican primary

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Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Pomeroy 29,774 100.0%
Total votes 29,774 100.0%

General election

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Texas's 21st State Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Judith Zaffirini (incumbent) 167,672 60.14%
Republican Frank Pomeroy 111,142 39.86%
Total votes 278,814 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 22

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Republican primary

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Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brian Birdwell (incumbent) 89,609 100.0%
Total votes 89,609 100.0%

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert Vick 36,751 100.0%
Total votes 36,751 100.0%

General election

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Texas's 22nd State Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brian Birdwell (incumbent) 257,208 68.45%
Democratic Robert Vick 118,538 31.55%
Total votes 375,746 100.00%
Republican hold

District 24

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Republican primary

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Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dawn Buckingham (incumbent) 90,605 100.0%
Total votes 90,605 100.0%

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Clayton Tucker 39,280 100.0%
Total votes 39,280 100.0%

General election

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Texas's 24th State Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dawn Buckingham (incumbent) 264,517 69.54%
Democratic Clayton Tucker 115,853 30.46%
Total votes 380,370 100.00%
Republican hold

District 26

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Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jose Menendez (incumbent) 67,062 100.0%
Total votes 67,062 100.0%

General election

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Texas's 26th State Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jose Menendez (incumbent) 199,829 79.99%
Green Julian Villarreal 50,004 20.01%
Total votes 249,833 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 27

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Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Eddie Lucio Jr. (incumbent) 31,046 49.8%
Democratic Sara Stapleton-Barrera 22,221 35.6%
Democratic Ruben Cortez Jr. 9,122 14.6%
Total votes 62,389 100.0%

Democratic primary runoff

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Eddie Lucio Jr. (incumbent) 16,883 53.6%
Democratic Sara Stapleton-Barrera 14,625 46.4%
Total votes 31,508 100.0%

Republican primary

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Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Vanessa Tijerina 11,343 100.0%
Total votes 11,343 100.0%

General election

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Texas's 27th State Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Eddie Lucio Jr. (incumbent) 134,035 64.81%
Republican Vanessa Tijerina 72,768 35.19%
Total votes 206,803 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 28

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Republican primary

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Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles Perry (incumbent) 90,762 100.0%
Total votes 90,762 100.0%

General election

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

District 29

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Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Cesar Blanco 59,620 100.0%
Total votes 59,620 100.0%

Republican primary

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Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bethany Hatch 15,817 100.0%
Total votes 15,817 100.00%

General election

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Texas's 29th State Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Cesar Blanco 176,360 67.32%
Republican Bethany Hatch 85,619 32.68%
Total votes 261,979 100.00%
Democratic hold

Special elections

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District 14

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The seat for District 14 became vacant on April 30, 2020, after the resignation of Kirk Watson.[11] 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
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sarah Eckhardt 59,267 49.7%
Democratic Eddie Rodriguez 40,384 33.8%
Republican Donald Zimmerman 15,565 13.0%
Republican Waller Thomas Burns II 1,442 1.2%
Independent Jeff Ridgeway 1,386 1.2%
Libertarian Pat Dixon 1,306 1.1%
Total votes 119,350 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 30

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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
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Shelley Luther 22,135 32.2%
Republican Drew Springer Jr. 21,971 31.9%
Democratic Jacob Minter 14,572 21.2%
Republican Christopher Watts 4,284 6.2%
Republican Craig Carter 3,413 5.0%
Republican Andy Hopper 2,432 3.5%
Total votes 68,807 100.0%

Runoff

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Texas's 30th State Senate District Special Election, 2020 runoff
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Drew Springer Jr. 32,599 56.45%
Republican Shelley Luther 25,146 43.55%
Total votes 57,745 100.0%
Republican hold

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "State Senate Districts, 86th Legislature, 2019-2020" (PDF). Texas Legislative Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  2. ^ "Texas - State Legislative District Maps (Upper Chamber) - Geography". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 12, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  3. ^ Svitek, Patrick (December 2, 2020). "On Election Day, Republicans lost a critical advantage in the state Senate. Will Dan Patrick push to change the rules?". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  4. ^ Samuels, Alex (January 14, 2021). "Texas Senate changes rules so Republicans can still bring bills to floor without Democratic support". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  5. ^ "October Overview: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  6. ^ Nuttycombe, Chaz (May 7, 2020). "The State of the States: The Legislatures". University of Virginia Center for Politics.
  7. ^ "Texas State Senate elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  8. ^ "Election Night Results". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  9. ^ "District 4 Election Results".
  10. ^ Rodriguez, Jakob; Marquez, RJ (October 30, 2020). "Election results 2020: Roland Gutierrez elected to Texas State Senate District 19 seat". KSAT. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  11. ^ "State Sen. Kirk Watson to retire from Texas Senate". Texas Tribune. February 18, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
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