2012 elections preview: Texas voters to select winners in congressional, legislative runoffs

July 30, 2012

By Ballotpedia's Congressional and State legislative teams

The primary season continues tomorrow with runoff elections in Texas.

Here's what to watch for in Texas, where polling places will be open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm Central Time.

Congress

U.S. Senate

See also: United States Senate elections in Texas, 2012

A runoff election will be held in both parties tomorrow. In the Democratic runoff, Paul Sadler competes with Grady Yarbrough for the nomination. On the Republican side, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst is vying for the nomination with Ted Cruz.

The GOP runoff race is the most expensive congressional race in this election and has attracted a total of $13 million in super PAC campaign spending. Dewhurst has raised a total of nearly $30 million for the runoff, nearly three times that of Cruz. Super PACs backing Cruz have spent $7 million, while super PACs backing Dewhurst have spent $6 million.

U.S. House

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2012

There will be a total of 11 runoff elections in the U.S. House tomorrow.

Democratic runoffs will take place in the following districts: 5, 7, 23, 27, 33, and 34.

Republican runoffs will take place in districts 14, 15, 25, 34, and 36.

District 5: Tom Berry faces off against Linda Mrosko in the Democratic runoff.

District 7: James Cargas is running against Lissa Squiers for a chance to face incumbent John Culberson (R) in the general election.

District 14: In the GOP runoff, Felicia Harris faces Randy Weber.

District 15: Dale Brueggemann and Eddie Zamora compete in the Republican runoff. The winner will face incumbent Ruben Hinojosa Sr. (D) in the general election.

District 23: In the Democratic runoff, Pete Gallego competes against Ciro Rodriguez for a chance to unseat incumbent Francisco Canseco (R).

District 25: Wes Riddle and Roger Williams vie for the Republican nomination in the runoff.

District 27: Rose Meza Harrison and Jerry Trevino fight in the Democratic runoff for a chance to challenge incumbent Blake Farenthold (R).

District 33: Democrats Domingo Garcia and Marc Veasey face off.

/ District 34: Denise Saenz Blanchard and Filemon Vela square off in the Democratic runoff. Meanwhile, Jessica Puente Bradshaw faces Adela Garza in the Republican primary runoff.

District 36: Steve Stockman and Stephen Takach vie for the Republican nomination in the newly created 36th District.

State Legislative

Texas will hold a total of 18 state legislative primary runoffs on July 31 -- 1 Senate and 17 House with 4 Democratic and 14 Republican runoffs. A total of 5 incumbents will be facing off against their opponents in the primary runoffs.

Senate

District 25: Incumbent Jeff Wentworth and Donna Campbell

House

District 11: Incumbent Chuck Hopson and Travis Clardy
District 12: Tucker Anderson and Kyle J. Kacal
District 23: Wayne Faircloth and W.M. Wallace
District 24: Greg Bonnen and Ryan Sitton
District 26: Jacquie Chaumette and Rick Miller
District 40: Agustin Hernandez, Jr. and Terry Canales
District 43: Incumbent J.M. Lozano and Bill T. Willson, II
District 59: Incumbent Sid Miller and J.D. Sheffield
District 67: Jon Cole and Jeff Leach
District 68: Trent McKnight and Drew Springer
District 88: Incumbent Jim Landtroop and Ken King
District 91: Stephanie Klick and Ken Sapp
District 95: Nicole Collier and Jesse Gaines
District 114: Bill Keffer and Jason Villalba
District 115: Steve Nguyen and Bennett Ratliff
District 117: Philip Cortez and Tina Torres
District 137: Jamaal R. Smith and Gene Wu

See also

• United States Senate elections in Texas, 2012
• United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2012
• Texas State Senate elections, 2012
• Texas House of Representatives elections, 2012