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]
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16 of the 31 seats in the Texas State Senate 16 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Republican hold Democratic hold Democratic gain Republican: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% ≥90% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 edit
One incumbent did not run for re-election in 2020:
Democrats edit
- District 29: José R. Rodríguez: Retiring
Incumbents defeated edit
In the general election edit
Republicans edit
- District 19: Pete Flores lost to Roland Gutierrez.
Predictions edit
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
The Cook Political Report[4] | Likely R | October 21, 2020 |
Results summary edit
Party | Candidates | Votes | Seats | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | Before | Up | Won | After | +/– | ||||||||
Republican | 14 | 2,660,120 | 53.28 | 19 | 9 | 8 | 18 | 1 | ||||||
Democratic | 15 | 2,226,640 | 44.59 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 1 | ||||||
Libertarian | 4 | 57,147 | 1.14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
Green | 1 | 49,202 | 0.99 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
Total | 4,993,109 | 100.00 | 31 | 16 | 16 | 31 | ||||||||
Source: Texas Elections Results |
Close races edit
District | Winner | Margin |
---|---|---|
District 19 | Democratic (flip) | 3.29% |
Summary of results by State Senate District edit
State Senate District[5] | 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% | D gain from R |
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:[6] |
Detailed results by State Senate District edit
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 edit
Republican primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Bryan Hughes (incumbent) | 99,356 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 99,356 | 100.0% |
Democratic primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Audrey Spanko | 29,162 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 29,162 | 100.0% |
General election edit
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 edit
Republican primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brandon Creighton (incumbent) | 76,775 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 76,775 | 100.0% |
Democratic primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jay Stittleburg | 37,848 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 37,848 | 100.0% |
General election edit
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 edit
Democratic primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Carol Alvarado (incumbent) | 31,938 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 31,938 | 100.0% |
General election edit
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 edit
Republican primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Larry Taylor (incumbent) | 63,378 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 63,378 | 100.0% |
Democratic primary edit
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 edit
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 edit
Republican primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jane Nelson (incumbent) | 63,061 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 63,061 | 100.0% |
Democratic primary edit
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 edit
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 edit
Democratic primary edit
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 edit
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 edit
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 edit
Republican primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Lois Kolkhorst (incumbent) | 98,215 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 98,215 | 100.0% |
Democratic primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Michael Antalan | 41,182 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 41,182 | 100.0% |
General election edit
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 edit
Republican primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Pete Flores (incumbent) | 35,526 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 35,526 | 100.0% |
Democratic primary edit
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 edit
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 edit
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 edit
Democratic primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Juan Hinojosa (incumbent) | 55,410 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 55,410 | 100.0% |
Republican primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Judith Cutright | 21,246 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 21,246 | 100.0% |
General election edit
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 edit
Democratic primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Judith Zaffirini (incumbent) | 70,443 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 70,443 | 100.0% |
Republican primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Frank Pomeroy | 29,774 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 29,774 | 100.0% |
General election edit
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 edit
Republican primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brian Birdwell (incumbent) | 89,609 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 89,609 | 100.0% |
Democratic primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Robert Vick | 36,751 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 36,751 | 100.0% |
General election edit
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 edit
Republican primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Dawn Buckingham (incumbent) | 90,605 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 90,605 | 100.0% |
Democratic primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Clayton Tucker | 39,280 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 39,280 | 100.0% |
General election edit
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 edit
Democratic primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jose Menendez (incumbent) | 67,062 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 67,062 | 100.0% |
General election edit
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 edit
Democratic primary edit
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 edit
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 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Vanessa Tijerina | 11,343 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 11,343 | 100.0% |
General election edit
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 edit
Republican primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Charles Perry (incumbent) | 90,762 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 90,762 | 100.0% |
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Charles Perry (incumbent) | 248,025 | 100.00% | |
Total votes | 248,025 | 100.00% | ||
Republican hold |
District 29 edit
Democratic primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Cesar Blanco | 59,620 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 59,620 | 100.0% |
Republican primary edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Bethany Hatch | 15,817 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 15,817 | 100.00% |
General election edit
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 edit
District 14 edit
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.
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 edit
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.
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 edit
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 edit
References edit
- ^ "State Senate Districts, 86th Legislature, 2019-2020" (PDF). Texas Legislative Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ "Texas - State Legislative District Maps (Upper Chamber) - Geography". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 12, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ "Race Summary Report 1994 General Election". elections.sos.state.tx.us. November 8, 1994. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ "October Overview: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
- ^ "Texas State Senate elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ "Election Night Results". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
- ^ "District 4 Election Results".
- ^ "State Sen. Kirk Watson to retire from Texas Senate". Texas Tribune. February 18, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
External links edit
- Elections Division at the Texas Secretary of State official website
- Texas Election Results
- Texas at Ballotpedia
- University of Texas Libraries, "Voting and Elections", Research Guides
- "League of Women Voters of Texas". (State affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)
- Texas 2019 & 2020 Elections, OpenSecrets