2018 Texas elections

The 2018 general election was held in the U.S. state of Texas on November 6, 2018. All of Texas's executive officers were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, and all of Texas's 36 seats in the United States House of Representatives. The Republican and Democratic Parties nominated their candidates by primaries held on March 6, 2018. Convention parties nominated their candidates at a series of conventions. County conventions were held on March 17, 2018; district conventions were held on March 24, 2018; and a state convention was held on April 14, 2018.^[1] There is currently only one convention party in Texas, the Libertarian Party. Other parties may seek to achieve ballot access.^[2]

2018 Texas elections

← 2016 November 6, 2018 2020 →

Turnout in the November general election reached historic levels, rivaling turnout in a presidential election.^[3] While the Republican Party won every statewide position, the margin of victory was narrower than in previous elections.^[4][5][6]

Federal

United States Senate

Main article: United States Senate election in Texas, 2018

Democratic U.S. Representative Beto O'Rourke and Libertarian candidate Neal Dikeman challenged U.S. Senator Ted Cruz for re-election. Cruz narrowly defeated O'Rourke by 2.6%.

United States House of Representatives

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2018

All of Texas's 36 seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2018.^[7] No open seats changed hands, but two Republican incumbents lost to Democrats.

Executive

Governor

Main article: Texas gubernatorial election, 2018

Incumbent governor Greg Abbott ran for a second term. He was first elected in 2014 after serving twelve years as Texas Attorney General, and he succeeded Rick Perry as governor.

Abbott won the March 20, 2018, Republican primary, while Lupe Valdez won the Democratic runoff against Andrew White, becoming the first Latina nominated by a major party for statewide office in Texas.

Libertarian Mark Tippetts also ran against Abbott. Tippetts defeated Kathie Glass, Patrick "Not Governor" Smith, and Kory Watkins at the party convention to earn his nomination.^[8]

Lieutenant governor

Main article: 2018 Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election

Incumbent Lieutenant governor Dan Patrick ran for a second term, having first been elected in 2014.

In the Republican primary, Patrick easily dispatched his primary challengers for the Republican nomination.

In the Democratic primary, Mike Collier narrowly defeated Michael Cooper for the Democratic nomination.

Patrick would go on to win a second term in the general election, but by a significantly reduced margin from his first run. His margin was likely pulled down due to the national environment favoring Democrats while President Trump was in office and a strong candidacy by Democrat Beto O'Rourke at the top of the ticket against Senator Ted Cruz.^[9]

Attorney general

Main article: 2018 Texas Attorney General election

Comptroller of Public Accounts

2018 Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →

Nominee Glenn Hegar Joi Chevalier Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 4,376,828 3,570,693 Percentage 53.2% 43.4%

County results Precinct results Hegar:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Chevalier:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Sanders:      >90% Tie:      40–50%      50%      No data

Comptroller before election Glenn Hegar Republican Elected Comptroller Glenn Hegar Republican

Incumbent Republican comptroller Glenn Hegar ran for re-election to a second term.^[7]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Glenn Hegar, incumbent comptroller

Results

Republican primary results^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Glenn Hegar (incumbent)	1,271,222	100.0%
Total votes			1,271,222	100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Joi Chevalier, business owner^[11]
• Tim Mahoney, attorney, former Austin Community College trustee^[12]

Results

Democratic primary results^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joi Chevalier	486,702	51.87%
	Democratic	Tim Mahoney	451,687	48.13%
Total votes			938,389	100.0%

Libertarian state convention

Candidates

• Ben Sanders^[14]

General election

Results

2018 Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts election^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Glenn Hegar (incumbent)	4,376,828	53.19%	−5.19%
	Democratic	Joi Chevalier	3,570,693	43.39%	+5.70%
	Libertarian	Ben Sanders	281,081	3.42%	+0.46%
Total votes			8,228,602	100.00%
	Republican hold

Commissioner of the General Land Office

2018 Texas Land Commissioner election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →

Nominee George P. Bush Miguel Suazo Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 4,435,202 3,567,927 Percentage 53.7% 43.2%

County results Bush:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Suazo:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Land Commissioner before election George P. Bush Republican Elected Land Commissioner George P. Bush Republican

Republican primary

Candidates

• George P. Bush, incumbent Commissioner of the General Land Office^[16]
• Davey Edwards, professional land surveyor^[17][18]
• Jerry E. Patterson, former Commissioner of the General Land Office (2003–2015)^[19]
• Rick Range, retired teacher and firefighter^[20]

Results

Republican primary results^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	George P. Bush (incumbent)	856,512	58.22%
	Republican	Jerry Patterson	439,602	29.67%
	Republican	Davey Edwards	101,359	6.84%
	Republican	Rick Range	78,124	5.27%
Total votes			1,481,597	100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Tex Morgan, software engineer, former member of VIA Metropolitan Transit board^[21]
• Miguel Suazo, energy and natural resources attorney^[21]

Results

Democratic primary results^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Miguel Suazo	665,344	70.15%
	Democratic	Tex Morgan	283,096	29.85%
Total votes			948,440	100.0%

Libertarian state convention

Candidates

• Matt Piña^[22]

General election

Endorsements

George P. Bush

Presidents of the United States

• George H. W. Bush, 41st president of the United States^[23]
• Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States^[24]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	George P. Bush (R)	Miguel Suazo (D)	Matt Pina (L)	Other	Undecided
Dixie Strategies[25]	September 6–7, 2018	519	± 4.3%	46%	30%	3%	–	22%

Results

2018 Texas Commissioner of the General Land Office election^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	George P. Bush (incumbent)	4,435,202	53.68%	−7.00%
	Democratic	Miguel Suazo	3,567,927	43.19%	+7.87%
	Libertarian	Matt Piña	258,482	3.13%	+0.42%
Total votes			8,261,611	100.0%
	Republican hold

Commissioner of Agriculture

2018 Texas Agriculture Commissioner election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →

Nominee Sid Miller Kim Olson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 4,221,527 3,822,137 Percentage 51.3% 46.4%

County results Miller:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Olson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Agriculture Commissioner before election Sid Miller Republican Elected Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller Republican

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Sid Miller ran for re-election to a second term.^[7]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Trey Blocker, lobbyist^[26]
• Jim Hogan, Democratic nominee for Agriculture Commissioner in 2014^[27]
• Sid Miller, incumbent Commissioner of Agriculture^[28][29]

Results

Republican primary results^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Sid Miller (incumbent)	755,498	55.65%
	Republican	Jim Hogan	310,431	22.87%
	Republican	Trey Blocker	291,583	21.48%
Total votes			1,357,512	100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Kim Olson, retired U.S. Air Force colonel, former member of the Weatherford Independent School District Board of Trustees^[30]

Results

Democratic primary results^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Kim Olson	883,575	100.0%
Total votes			883,575	100.0%

Libertarian state convention

Candidates

• Richard Carpenter^[22]

General election

Results

2018 Texas Commissioner of Agriculture election^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Sid Miller (incumbent)	4,221,527	51.26%	−7.34%
	Democratic	Kim Olson	3,822,137	46.41%	+9.57%
	Libertarian	Richard Carpenter	191,639	2.33%	−0.55%
Total votes			8,235,303	100.0%
	Republican hold

Railroad Commissioner

2018 Texas Railroad Commissioner election

← 2012 November 6, 2018 2024 →

Nominee Christi Craddick Roman McAllen Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 4,376,729 3,612,130 Percentage 53.2% 43.9%

County results Craddick:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% McAllen:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Railroad Commissioner before election Christi Craddick Republican Elected Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick Republican

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Christi Craddick ran for re-election to a second six-year term.^[7]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Christi Craddick, incumbent railroad commissioner^[31]
• Weston Martinez, former Texas Real Estate Commissioner^[31]

Results

Republican primary results^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Christi Craddick (incumbent)	1,042,663	75.83%
	Republican	Weston Martinez	332,374	24.17%
Total votes			1,375,007	100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Roman McAllen, historic preservation officer^[32]
• Chris Spellmon, businessman^[33]

Results

Democratic primary results^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Roman McAllen	539,785	58.51%
	Democratic	Chris Spellmon	382,795	41.49%
Total votes			922,580	100.0%

Libertarian state convention

Candidates

• Mike Wright^[22]

General election

Results

2018 Texas Railroad Commissioner election^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Christi Craddick (incumbent)	4,376,729	53.20%	−5.14%
	Democratic	Roman McAllen	3,612,130	43.91%	+7.43%
	Libertarian	Mike Wright	237,984	2.89%	−0.26%
Total votes			8,226,843	100.0%
	Republican hold

Judicial

Supreme Court

Place 2

2018 Texas Supreme Court Place 2 election

← 2012 November 6, 2018 2024 →

Nominee Jimmy Blacklock Steven Kirkland Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 4,358,756 3,838,411 Percentage 53.2% 46.8%

Justice before election Jimmy Blacklock Republican Elected Justice Jimmy Blacklock Republican

Incumbent Justice Jimmy Blacklock ran for a full term after being appointed by Governor Greg Abbott on January 2, 2018. Justice Blacklock filled the vacant seat left by Don Willett due to his appointment by President Donald Trump to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jimmy Blacklock, incumbent associate justice^[34]

Results

Republican primary results^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jimmy Blacklock (incumbent)	1,215,844	100.0%
Total votes			1,215,844	100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Steven Kirkland, judge of the Harris County District Court (334th District)^[35]

Results

Democratic primary results^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Steven Kirkland	875,297	100.0%
Total votes			875,297	100.0%

General election

Results

2018 Texas Supreme Court Place 2 election^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jimmy Blacklock (incumbent)	4,358,756	53.17%	N/A
	Democratic	Steven Kirkland	3,838,411	46.83%	N/A
Total votes			8,197,167	100.0%
	Republican hold

Place 4

2018 Texas Supreme Court Place 4 election

← 2012 November 6, 2018 2024 →

Nominee John Devine R.K. Sandill Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 4,399,890 3,792,144 Percentage 53.7% 46.3%

Justice before election John Devine Republican Elected Justice John Devine Republican

Incumbent Justice John Devine ran for re-election to a second six-year term.

Republican primary

Candidates

• John Devine, incumbent associate justice^[36]

Results

Republican primary results^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Devine (incumbent)	1,211,769	100.0%
Total votes			1,211,769	100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• R.K. Sandill, judge of the Harris County District Court (127th District)^[37]

Results

Democratic primary results^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	R.K. Sandill	863,593	100.0%
Total votes			863,593	100.0%

General election

Results

2018 Texas Supreme Court Place 4 election^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John Devine (incumbent)	4,399,890	53.71%	−21.35%
	Democratic	R.K. Sandill	3,792,144	46.29%	N/A
Total votes			8,192,034	100.0%
	Republican hold

Place 6

2018 Texas Supreme Court Place 6 election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2020 →

Nominee Jeff Brown Kathy Cheng Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 4,404,602 3,796,001 Percentage 53.7% 46.3%

Justice before election Jeff Brown Republican Elected Justice Jeff Brown Republican

Incumbent Justice Jeff Brown ran for a full eight-year term after being elected to finish Chief Justice Nathan Hecht's term in 2014.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jeff Brown, incumbent associate justice^[38]

Results

Republican primary results^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jeff Brown (incumbent)	1,197,450	100.0%
Total votes			1,197,450	100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Kathy Cheng, business litigator^[38]

Results

Democratic primary results^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Kathy Cheng	874,029	100.0%
Total votes			874,029	100.0%

General election

Results

2018 Texas Supreme Court Place 6 election^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jeff Brown (incumbent)	4,404,602	53.71%	−0.01%
	Democratic	Kathy Cheng	3,796,001	46.29%	+4.38%
Total votes			8,200,603	100.0%
	Republican hold

Court of Criminal Appeals

Presiding Judge

2018 Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge election

← 2012 November 6, 2018 2024 →

Nominee Sharon Keller Maria Jackson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 4,288,913 3,734,179 Percentage 52.2% 45.5%

Presiding Judge before election Sharon Keller Republican Elected Presiding Judge Sharon Keller Republican

Incumbent presiding judge Sharon Keller ran for re-election to a 5th six-year term.

Republican primary

Candidates

• David Bridges, incumbent associate justice of the Fifth Court of Appeals of Texas^[39]
• Sharon Keller, incumbent presiding judge

Results

Republican primary results^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Sharon Keller (incumbent)	674,889	52.16%
	Republican	David Bridges	618,982	47.84%
Total votes			1,293,871	100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Maria T. Jackson, judge of the Harris County District Court (339th District)^[40]

Results

Democratic primary results^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Maria T. (Terri) Jackson	878,581	100.0%
Total votes			878,581	100.0%

General election

Results

2018 Texas Criminal Court of Appeals Presiding Judge election^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Sharon Keller (incumbent)	4,288,913	52.24%	−3.25%
	Democratic	Maria T. (Terri) Jackson	3,734,179	45.48%	+4.24%
	Libertarian	William Bryan Strange III	187,384	2.28%	−0.98%
Total votes			8,210,476	100.0%
	Republican hold

Place 7

2018 Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 7 election

← 2012 November 6, 2018 2024 →

Nominee Barbara Hervey Ramona Franklin Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 4,429,113 3,750,114 Percentage 54.1% 45.9%

Judge before election Barbara Hervey Republican Elected Judge Barbara Hervey Republican

Incumbent Judge Barbara Hervey ran for re-election to a 4th six-year term.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Barbara Parker Hervey, incumbent judge^[41]

Results

Republican primary results^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Barbara Parker Hervey (incumbent)	1,171,978	100.0%
Total votes			1,171,978	100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Ramona Franklin, judge of the Harris County District Court (338th District)

Results

Democratic primary results^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ramona Franklin	872,150	100.0%
Total votes			872,150	100.0%

General election

Results

2018 Texas Criminal Court of Appeals Place 7 election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Barbara Parker Hervey (incumbent)	4,429,113	54.15%	−23.73%
	Democratic	Ramona Franklin	3,750,114	45.85%	N/A
Total votes			8,179,227	100.0%
	Republican hold

Place 8

2018 Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 8 election

← 2012 November 6, 2018 2024 →

Nominee Michelle Slaughter Mark Ash Party Republican Libertarian Popular vote 4,760,576 1,614,119 Percentage 74.7% 25.3%

Judge before election Elsa Alcala Republican Elected Judge Michelle Slaughter Republican

Incumbent Judge Elsa Alcala did not seek re-election to a second term.^[42]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jay Brandon, Bexar County assistant district attorney^[43]
• Michelle Slaughter, judge of the Galveston County District Court (405th District)^[43]
• Dib Waldrip, judge of the Comal County District Court (433rd District)^[43]

Results

Republican primary results^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Michelle Slaughter	669,949	52.84%
	Republican	Jay Brandon	389,753	30.74%
	Republican	Dib Waldrip	208,179	16.42%
Total votes			1,267,881	100.0%

General election

Results

2018 Texas Criminal Court of Appeals Place 8 election^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Michelle Slaughter	4,760,576	74.68%	−3.38%
	Libertarian	Mark Ash	1,614,119	25.32%	+3.38%
Total votes			6,374,695	100.0%
	Republican hold

State Board of Education

Member, District 2

Republican primary

Republican primary results^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Charles "Tad" Hasse	31,717	67.12%
	Republican	Eric Garza	15,536	32.87%
Total votes			47,253	100%	+47,253

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Ruben Cortez, Jr. (incumbent)	31,289	52.34%	−47.66%
	Democratic	Michelle Arevalo Davila	28,487	47.65%
Total votes			59,776	100%	+15,817

General election

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ruben Cortez, Jr. (incumbent)	206,689	53.60%
	Republican	Charles "Tad" Hasse	178,923	46.40%
Total votes			385,612	100%

Member, District 3

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Marisa B. Perez-Diaz (incumbent)	60,027	75.93%	−24.07%
	Democratic	Dan Arellano	19,022	24.06%
Total votes			79,049	100%	+33,721

General election

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Marisa B. Perez-Diaz (incumbent)	302,242	100%
Total votes			302,242	100%

Member, District 4

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Lawrence Allen Jr. (incumbent)	45,162	66.9%	−33.1%
	Democratic	Steven A. Chambers	22,337	33.09%
Total votes			67,499	100%	+41,084

General election

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Lawrence Allen Jr. (incumbent)	311,590	100%
Total votes			311,590	100%

Member, District 7

Republican primary

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Matt Robinson		100%
Total votes				100%

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Elizabeth Markowitz		100%
Total votes				100%

General election

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Matt Robinson	369,752	59.45%
	Democratic	Elizabeth Markowitz	252,158	40.55%
Total votes			621,910	100%

Member, District 11

Republican primary

Republican primary results^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Patricia "Pat" Hardy (incumbent)	58,796	55.75%	+6.18%
	Republican	Feyi Obamehinti	25,580	24.25%
	Republican	Cheryl Surber	21,073	19.98%
Total votes			105,449	100%	+18,482

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Carla Morton	33,217	57.89%
	Democratic	Celeste Light	24,156	42.1%
Total votes			57,373	100%	+34,520

General election

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Patricia "Pat" Hardy (incumbent)	366,245	57.16%
	Democratic	Carla Morton	259,276	40.46%
	Libertarian	Aaron Gutknecht	15,241	2.38%
Total votes			640,762	100%

Member, District 12

Republican primary

Republican primary results^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Pam Little	82,548	100%
Total votes			82,548	100%

Democratic primary

First round

Democratic primary results^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Suzanne Smith	35,460	48.06%
	Democratic	Laura Malone-Miller	19,426	26.33%
	Democratic	Tina Green	18,883	25.59%
Total votes			73,769	100%	+6,404

Malone-Miller withdrew after the first round, eliminating the need for a runoff.

General election

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Pam Little	334,584	49.43%
	Democratic	Suzanne Smith	324,307	47.91%
	Libertarian	Rachel Wester	18,002	2.66%
Total votes			676,893	100%

Member, District 13

Republican primary

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	A. Denise Russell		100%
Total votes				100%

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Aicha Davis		100%
Total votes				100%

General election

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Aicha Davis	309,926	76.32%
	Republican	A. Denise Russell	96,136	23.68%
Total votes			406,062	100%

Texas Legislature

Every seat in the Texas House of Representatives and about half of the seats in the Texas Senate were up for election.

Texas Senate

Main article: 2018 Texas State Senate election

Senate districts and results

  Republican hold

  Democratic gold

  Republican gain

  Democratic gain

Texas House of Representatives

Main article: 2018 Texas House of Representatives election

House districts and results

  Republican hold

  Democratic hold

  Democratic gain