Texas State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for 15 of the 31 seats in the Texas State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 4, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was December 9, 2013.
Elections to all 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Texas State Legislature, also took place in 2014. Seven statewide elected positions in the state government, including the office of Governor of Texas, were also at stake.
Both chambers of the Texas State Legislature were dominated by Republicans heading into November 2014.
Following the general election, there was no change to the majority control of the Texas State Senate. The Republican majority increased from 18 to 20 seats. The Democratic Party sustained a net loss of one seat, dropping from 12 to 11 seats. The chamber's vacant seat was filled during the general election.
Incumbents retiring
In the 15 Texas senate districts with elections in 2014, three incumbents chose not to seek re-election. Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Current Office |
|---|---|---|
| Dan Patrick |  Republican |
Senate District 7 |
| Ken Paxton | Republican |
Senate District 8 |
| Wendy Davis |  Democratic |
Senate District 10 |
Majority control
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 4 election, the Republican Party held the majority in the Texas State Senate:
| Texas State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2014 | After November 4, 2014 | |
| Democratic Party | 12 | 11 | |
| Republican Party | 18 | 20 | |
| Vacancy | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 31 | 31 | |
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in the Texas State Senate, a candidate must be:[1]
- A U.S. citizen
- 26 years old before the general election
- A five-year resident of Texas before the general election
- A district resident for 1 year prior to the general election
Redistricting lawsuit
The Texas State Legislature was sued for unconstitutional redistricting of the state house districts following the 2010 census.[2] The U.S. Department of Justice argued on July 14, 2014, that the redistricting of the state's legislative districts "discriminated against Hispanic voters and tried to protect Republican incumbents."[3] In 2013, Texas was one of fifteen states with a history of voting discrimination that was deemed by the high court as no longer needing approval from Washington under the Voting Rights Act to change election laws.[4][5] The Justice Department argued that Texas should still be required to obtain federal approval. Attorney for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, Bryan Sells, said that Texas has "adopted maps that discriminated against its citizens" since 1970.[5] Patrick Sweeten, an Assistant Texas Attorney General, said, "No one in the Texas Legislature discriminated on the basis of race."[5] If the Texas Legislature is proven to be guilty of discrimination, it could have to be approved for election or voting law changes by the U.S. Attorney General or federal judges.[3] A map of the State House districts for the 83rd Legislature can be found on the Texas Legislative Council website. This lawsuit had no effect on the 2014 legislative elections.
Competitiveness
Candidates unopposed by a major party
In 7 of the 15 districts up for election in 2014, there was only one major party candidate running for election. A total of one Democrat and six Republicans were guaranteed election barring unforeseen circumstances. Just one of these seats, District 10, held competitive elections in 2012.
- District 10: Konni Burton (R) won election to the seat vacated by Wendy Davis (D). Davis ran for Governor of Texas in 2014, but won her seat in 2012 by a margin of victory of 2 percent.
Two major party candidates faced off in the general election in 8 of the 19 districts up for election.
Primary challenges
Six incumbents faced primary competition on March 4. One of them, long-time incumbent John Carona, narrowly lost his March 4 bid for another term to newcomer Donald Huffines. Another incumbent, Bob Deuell, was defeated in the May 27 runoff election by Bob Hall. Six incumbents sailed through the primary without an opponent.
The state senators who faced primary opposition were:
- District 2: Incumbent Bob Deuell (R) was challenged in the Republican primary by Bob Hall and Mark Thompson. Deuell was defeated by Hall in a primary runoff.
- District 15: Incumbent John Whitmire (D) was challenged in the Democratic primary by Damian LaCroix.
- District 16: Incumbent John Carona (R) was successfully challenged in the Republican primary by political newcomer Donald Huffines. Carona was first elected to this seat in 1996, after having served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives.[6]
- District 17: Incumbent Joan Huffman (R) was challenged in the Republican primary by Derek Anthony.
- District 25: Incumbent Donna Campbell (R) was challenged in the Republican primary by Elisa Chan and Mike Novak.
- District 31: Incumbent Kel Seliger (R) was challenged in the Republican primary by Mike Canon.
Retiring incumbents
Three incumbent senators did not run for re-election, while 12 (80.0%) ran for re-election. A list of those incumbents, one Democrat and two Republicans, can be found above.
List of candidates
District 2
March 4 Democratic primary candidates:
- No candidates filed.
March 4 Republican primary candidates:
- Bob Deuell: 23,863
- Incumbent Deuell first assumed office in 2003. - Bob Hall: 19,102
- Mark Thompson 6,244
- Bob Deuell: 23,863
- May 27 Republican runoff candidates:
Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
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District 3
- March 4 Democratic primary candidates:
- No candidates filed.
- March 4 Republican primary candidates:
- Robert Nichols: 70,138 - Incumbent Nichols first assumed office in 2007.
- Robert Nichols: 70,138
- Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Robert Nichols: 140,069
- J. Tyler Lindsay: 14,605
District 5
- March 4 Democratic primary candidates:
- Joel Shapiro: 10,806
- Joel Shapiro: 10,806
- March 4 Republican primary candidates:
- Charles Schwertner: 45,150 - Incumbent Schwertner first assumed office in 2013.
- Charles Schwertner: 45,150
- Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Joel Shapiro: 54,286
- Charles Schwertner: 112,930
- Matthew Whittington: 6,595
District 7
Note: Incumbent Dan Patrick (R) did not run for re-election.
- March 4 Democratic primary candidates:
- Jim Davis: 4,567
- Jim Davis: 4,567
Note: Michael Shawn Kelly did not appear on the primary election ballot.
- March 4 Republican primary candidates:
- Paul Bettencourt: 39,461
- James Wilson: 4,792
- Paul Bettencourt: 39,461
- Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Jim Davis: 45,230
- Paul Bettencourt: 123,551
- Whitney Bilyeu: 3,244
District 8
Note: Incumbent Ken Paxton (R) did not run for re-election.
- March 4 Democratic primary candidates:
- No candidates filed.
- March 4 Republican primary candidates:
- Van Taylor: 31,596
- Van Taylor: 31,596
- Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Van Taylor: 114,498
- Scott Jameson: 30,312
District 9
- March 4 Democratic primary candidates:
- Greg Perry: 8,941
- Greg Perry: 8,941
- March 4 Republican primary candidates:
- Kelly Hancock: 27,379 - Incumbent Hancock first assumed office in 2013.
- Kelly Hancock: 27,379
- Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Greg Perry: 47,965
- Kelly Hancock: 89,331
Note: Nicolas Wallace was removed from the candidate list before the election.
District 10
Note: Incumbent Wendy Davis (D) did not run for re-election.
- March 4 Democratic primary candidates:
- Mike Martinez: 10,047
- Libby Willis: 13,041
Note: George Boll withdrew before the primary but remained on the primary election ballot.
- March 4 Republican primary candidates:
- Konni Burton: 19,288
- Tony Pompa: 5,595
- Jon Schweitzer: 1,368
- Mark Shelton: 15,689
- Mark Skinner: 2,677
- Konni Burton: 19,288
- May 27 Republican runoff candidates:
Green candidates:
- Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Libby Willis: 80,872
- Konni Burton: 95,532
- John Tunmire: 1,094
- Gene Lord: 3,340
District 14
- March 4 Democratic primary candidates:
- Kirk Watson: 36,761 - Incumbent Watson first assumed office in 2007.
- Kirk Watson: 36,761
- March 4 Republican primary candidates:
- No candidates filed.
- Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Kirk Watson: 154,391
- James Strohm: 38,648
District 15
- March 4 Democratic primary candidates:
- John Whitmire: 9,766 - Incumbent Whitmire first assumed office in 1983.
- Damian LaCroix: 3,239
- John Whitmire: 9,766
- March 4 Republican primary candidates:
- Ron Hale: 13,563
- Ron Hale: 13,563
- Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- John Whitmire: 74,192
- Ron Hale: 48,249
- Gilberto Velasquez, Jr.: 2,947
District 16
- March 4 Democratic primary candidates:
- No candidates filed.
- March 4 Republican primary candidates:
- John Carona: 24,509 - Incumbent Carona first assumed office in 1996.
- Donald Huffines: 25,141
- Libertarian candidates:
Note: Dooling did not appear on the general election ballot.
November 4 General election candidates:
District 17
- March 4 Democratic primary candidates:
- Rita Lucido: 8,047
- Rita Lucido: 8,047
- March 4 Republican primary candidates:
- Joan Huffman: 33,011 - Incumbent Huffman first assumed office in 2008.
- Derek Anthony: 7,699
- Joan Huffman: 33,011
- Libertarian candidates:
- Green candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Rita Lucido: 60,934
- Joan Huffman: 113,817
- George Hardy: 3,642
- David Courtney: 1,303
District 23
- March 4 Democratic primary candidates:
- Royce West: 32,493 - Incumbent West first assumed office in 1993.
- Royce West: 32,493
- March 4 Republican primary candidates:
- John Lawson: 6,227
- John Lawson: 6,227
- Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Royce West: 99,102
- John Lawson: 23,520
- Jonathan F. Erhardt: 2,204
District 25
- March 4 Democratic primary candidates:
- Daniel Boone: 15,537
- Daniel Boone: 15,537
- March 4 Republican primary candidates:
- Donna Campbell: 40,867 - Incumbent Campbell first assumed office in 2013.
- Elisa Chan: 17,916
- Mike Novak: 14,973
- Donna Campbell: 40,867
- Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Daniel Boone: 75,012
- Donna Campbell: 153,536
- Brandin Lea: 7,106
District 30
- March 4 Democratic primary candidates:
- No candidates filed.
- March 4 Republican primary candidates:
- Craig Estes: 57,911 - Incumbent Estes first assumed office in 2001.
- Craig Estes: 57,911
- Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Craig Estes: 140,240
- Cory Lane: 21,599
District 31
- March 4 Democratic primary candidates:
- No candidates filed.
- March 4 Republican primary candidates:
- Kel Seliger: 36,777 - Incumbent Seliger first assumed office in 2004.
- Mike Canon: 33,252
- Kel Seliger: 36,777
- Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Kel Seliger: 107,030
- Steven Gibson: 11,355
See also
External links
- Texas Secretary of State, Official primary candidate list
- Texas Secretary of State, 2014 Democratic primary results
- Texas Secretary of State, 2014 Republican primary results
- Texas Tribune, 2014 Primary results
- Green Party of Texas, Greens Release Candidate List
- The Libertarian Party of Texas, 2014 Texas Representative Candidate List
- Texas Secretary of State, 2014 general election results
Footnotes
- ↑ Qualifications for running for Texas Senate
- ↑ Amarillo Globe-News, "Multiple plaintiffs sue state Legislature," July 13, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Washington Post, "Texas' legislative districts accused of discriminating against Hispanics and protecting Republicans," July 15, 2014
- ↑ KTRH, "DOJ: Texas Election Changes Need Pre-Approval," July 15, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Statesman, "Feds: Texas voting maps deliberately discriminated," July 14, 2014
- ↑ Dallas News, "Huffines narrowly wins nailbiter and ends Carona’s long Legislative career," March 5, 2014
