Notable Texas races, 2016
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| Notable Texas Races | |
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| Primary | March 1, 2016 |
| General | November 8, 2016 |
| 2016 Notable Races | |
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| Choose a state below: | |
Among the 11 notable contests Ballotpedia identified in the 2016 Texas legislative primary elections, prominent Republican incumbents faced challengers claiming to be more conservative.
| HIGHLIGHTS | |
What makes a race notable?
Ballotpedia uses these criteria to identify notable races:
- Incumbents facing more conservative or liberal challengers
- Rematches between candidates
- Races that receive considerable media attention
- Races that could significantly affect the state's partisan balance
- Competitive races involving party leaders
- Open, competitive races with Republican and Democratic primaries
- Races that capture money and attention from outside groups, including key endorsements
Know of an interesting race we should include here? Email us!
Texas State Senate
- Main article: Texas State Senate elections, 2016
District 1
Incumbent State Sen. Kevin Eltife (R) did not run for re-election in 2016. Four Republican candidates ran in the primary: State Rep. David Simpson, State Rep. Bryan Hughes, James K. Red Brown and Mike Lee. No Democratic candidates filed for election.
Hughes and Simpson defeated Brown and Lee in the Republican primary. Hughes defeated Simpson in a runoff election on May 24, 2016. Simpson and Hughes received the most endorsements of the four candidates.
Simpson was endorsed by State Rep. Jonathan Stickland (R) and Open Carry Texas: Texarkana.[1][2]
Bryan Hughes received key endorsements from Lt. Governor Dan Patrick (R) and the following state conservative groups:[3][4]
- Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
- Texas Right to Life
- Conservative Republicans of Texas
- Grassroots America We the People (GAWTP)
- Young Conservatives of Texas
Hughes and Simpson sparred on illegal immigration. Both candidates claimed to oppose providing public education to those living in the country illegally.
Hughes said Simpson voted in favor of driver’s licenses for illegal residents, a claim Simpson called "false." PolitiFact Texas found that it was "mostly true" that Simpson strongly opposed the driver's licenses. Hughes noted that conservative groups like Young Conservatives of Texas (which endorsed Hughes) and others opposed the amendment for which Simpson voted in the state House.[5][6]
Texas State House of Representatives
- Main article: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2016
A total of $8 million was spent on the races of House Speaker Joe Straus and three members of his leadership team, including Rep. Byron Cook, who won his primary race, and Reps. Marsha Farney and Debbie Riddle, who lost their primary races.[7]
District 1
Incumbent State Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R), who defeated previous incumbent George Lavender in the 2014 Republican primary, defeated Lavender again in the 2016 primary. VanDeaver received the endorsement of the Texas Parent PAC.[8]
Lavender received the endorsements of the following professional groups:[9]
- Texans for Lawsuit Reform
- Texas Apartment Association
- Texas Association of Business
- Texas Association of Realtors
- Texas Farm Bureau AgFund
VanDeaver and Lavender argued over who was the most conservative on the issues. Lavender criticized VanDeaver's record as less conservative than his. "His [VanDeaver's] record is a tough record to get past and he has certainly made some good votes, but he’s made several really bad votes," said Lavender. VanDeaver touted his record on the issues. "I feel really good about my voting record, I feel really good about the way I've represented the district," VanDeaver said.[10]
District 2
Incumbent State Rep. Dan Flynn defeated Bryan Slaton in the Republican primary. No Democratic candidates filed for election. Flynn received the endorsements of the following state professional groups:[11]
- Texas Farm Bureau Ag Fund
- Texas State Association of Fire Fighters
- National Rifle Association
- Texas State Rifle Association
- Texas State Teachers Association
Meanwhile, Slaton received the endorsements of the following state conservative groups:[12][13]
- Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
- Texas Right to Life
- Empower Texans
- Concerned Women for America
- Texas Home School Coalition
- Grassroots America We the People (GAWTP)
Flynn and Slaton sparred over who was more conservative on the issues. Flynn touted his work on increasing border security to help stop illegal immigration and helping fund highway projects in District 2. Slaton indicated that Flynn's voting record become less conservative over time. "He’s been there quite a long time, and the longer you stay there, the more likely your voting record is to change," said Slaton.[13]
District 8
Incumbent Texas Rep. Byron Cook defeated Thomas McNutt in the Republican primary.
| Did Thomas McNutt want to centralize control of education? | |
| In a February 3 interview with the Palestine Herald-Press, Byron Cook claimed that “my opponent Thomas McNutt and his supporters want to take money and local control away from our rural and small public school districts and then centralize the control of education with a single state agency in Austin.” Was Cook’s claim about McNutt's position true? | |
McNutt, vice president of his family's fruitcake bakery, received the following endorsements:
Cook received the following endorsements:[17]
- National Rifle Association
- Texas State Rifle Association
- Texas Alliance for Life
- Texans for Life
The candidates clashed on immigration and abortion. Competing pro-life organizations supported the two candidates; District 8 was the "most important race for us," the political director for Texas Right to Life told the Texas Tribune.[18]
District 14
Incumbent State Rep. John Raney defeated Jess Fields in the Republican primary. Raney received endorsements from the National Rifle Association, the Texas Alliance for Life and the following state business and professional groups:[19]
- National Federation of Independent Business
- Texas Association of Business
- Texas Retailers Association
- Texas Medical Association
- Texas Farm Bureau
Meanwhile, Fields received the endorsements of State Sens. Don Huffines (R), Konni Burton (R) and the following state conservative groups:[20]
- Texas Right to Life
- Texas Values Action
- Texas Home School Coalition
- Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
Raney and Fields argued over who is more consistently conservative on the issues. Raney brought up his work during the 84th legislative session where he supported a border security bill, tax cuts, and anti-abortion legislation. Fields noted that Raney voted for a block grant in 2013 that would expand Medicaid in Texas, a policy Raney said he opposed.[21]
Citing a Rice University study, Fields said Raney is the "fifth-most liberal Republican in the Texas House" and contrasted himself as a "consistent conservative."[21]
District 60
Incumbent State Rep. Jim Keffer did not run for re-election in 2016. Mike Lang defeated Kevin Downing in the Republican primary. No Democratic candidates filed for election. Lang received key endorsements from the following state conservative groups:[22]
- Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
- Texas Right to Life
- Young Conservatives of Texas
- Concerned Women for America
- Texas Values Action
- Texas Home School Coalition
- National Association for Gun Rights
Downing's website did not list any endorsements, though he was endorsed by Texas Parent PAC.[23][24]
District 99
Incumbent State Rep. Charlie Geren defeated Bo French in the Republican primary. No Democratic candidates filed for election. Geren received the endorsements of the following state professional groups:[25][26][27]
- Texas Realtors Association
- Texas Municipal Police Officers Association
- Manufacturers PAC of Texas
French received the endorsements of the following state conservative groups:[28]
- Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
- Conservative Republicans of Texas
- Texas Right to Life
- Texas Home School Coalition
- National Association for Gun Rights
- Texas Values Action
The Fort Worth Star‑Telegram called the race between Geren and French "one of the most costly, controversial local races that pits moderate conservatives against movement conservatives." Describing himself as part of "the next generation of conservative leaders," French received the support of conservative groups and donors trying to oust representatives like Geren for being too moderate. Meanwhile, Geren received "strong support from the Fort Worth business community and the Austin lobby," according to Mark P. Jones, a political science professor at Rice University.[29]
District 115
Incumbent State Rep. Matt Rinaldi defeated Bennett Ratliff in the Republican primary. The 2016 Republican primary was the third match between the two candidates; Ratliff beat Rinaldi in the 2012 primary, but lost the seat to him in 2014 by 92 votes.[30]
Rinaldi received the following endorsements:[31]
- National Association for Gun Rights
- National Rifle Association, Political Victory Fund
- Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
- Texas Home School Coalition
- Texas Right to Life
- Texas State Rifle Association
- Texas Values
- Young Conservatives of Texas
Ratliff received the following endorsements:[32]
- Texas Alliance for Life
- Texans for Life
- Dallas Morning News
District 121
State House Speaker Joe Straus defeated Jeff Judson and Sheila Bean in the Republican primary. Judson received key endorsements from the following state conservative groups:[33]
- Texas Right to Life
- Texas Values Action
- Conservative Republicans of Texas
- Texas Home School Coalition Association
- Texas Eagle Forum
- Concerned Women for America
Bean's website did not list any endorsements. Straus's website showed individual endorsements rather than group endorsements. Straus was endorsed by the San Antonio Express-News.[34][35][36]
Judson challenged Straus from the right, saying Straus had not governed as a conservative. "I’m a true conservative, and I think Joe campaigns as a Republican but governs like a Democrat," said Judson. Straus spoke favorably about his record on tax cuts, budget transparency, and job growth. Bean said she was the best candidate because of her "conservative principles and experience as a classroom teacher and small business owner."[37][38]
According to Governing.com, a total of $8 million was spent on the races of Straus and the three members of his leadership team, including Rep. Byron Cook, who won his primary race, and Reps. Marsha Farney and Debbie Riddle, who lost their primary races.[39]
District 128
Briscoe Cain and incumbent State Rep. Wayne Smith defeated Melody McDaniel in the Republican primary. Cain defeated Smith in a runoff election on May 24, 2016. Cain received key endorsements from the following state and national conservative groups:[40]
- Conservative Republicans of Texas
- Texas Home School Coalition
- Texas Values Action
- National Association for Gun Rights
- Texas Right to Life
- Pro-Life Texas
- Pro-Life Nation
- National Organization for Marriage
Smith received endorsements from the following state groups:[41]
- Texas Alliance for Life PAC
- National Rifle Association
- National Federation of Independent Business in Texas
- Texas State Rifle Association
- Texas Association of Realtors
- Texas Medical Association
District 150
Valoree Swanson defeated incumbent State Rep. Debbie Riddle, Al Zolli and Theresa Hearn-Haynes in the Republican primary. Riddle received endorsements from the following state professional groups:[42]
- Texas Association of Business
- Texas Association of Firefighters
- Texas Restaurant Association
- Houston Realty Business Coalition (HBRC)
Swanson, who challenged Riddle, received endorsements from the following state conservative groups:[43][44]
- Texas Eagle Forum
- C Club of Houston
- Conservative Republicans of Texas
- Texas Right to Life
- Texas Patriots PAC
- Grassroots America We the People (GAWTP)
- Texas Home School Coalition Association
- Empower Texans
- Young Conservatives of Texas
Hearn-Haynes and Zolli's websites did not list any endorsements.[45][46]
Freshman legislators
The following is a list of challengers who won election on November 8.
- Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (Democratic), .Texas House of Representatives, District 120
- Borris Miles (Democratic), .Texas State Senate, District 13
- Briscoe Cain (Republican), .Texas House of Representatives, District 128
- Bryan Hughes (Republican), .Texas State Senate, District 1
- Cole Hefner (Republican), .Texas House of Representatives, District 5
- Dawn Buckingham (Republican), .Texas State Senate, District 24
- Diana Arevalo (Democratic), .Texas House of Representatives, District 116
- Ernest Bailes (Republican), .Texas House of Representatives, District 18
- Evelina Ortega (Democratic), .Texas House of Representatives, District 77
- Gina Hinojosa (Democratic), .Texas House of Representatives, District 49
- Hugh Shine (Republican), .Texas House of Representatives, District 55
- Jay Dean (Republican), .Texas House of Representatives, District 7
- Justin Holland (Republican), .Texas House of Representatives, District 33
- Kevin Roberts (Texas) (Republican), .Texas House of Representatives, District 126
- Kyle Biedermann (Republican), .Texas House of Representatives, District 73
- Lance Gooden (Republican), .Texas House of Representatives, District 4
- Lynn Stucky (Republican), .Texas House of Representatives, District 64
- Mary Ann Perez (Democratic), .Texas House of Representatives, District 144
- Mike Lang (Texas) (Republican), .Texas House of Representatives, District 60
- Philip Cortez (Democratic), .Texas House of Representatives, District 117
- Scott Cosper (Republican), .Texas House of Representatives, District 54
- Shawn Thierry (Democratic), .Texas House of Representatives, District 146
- Stan Lambert (Republican), .Texas House of Representatives, District 71
- Terry Wilson (Texas) (Republican), .Texas House of Representatives, District 20
- Tom Oliverson (Republican), .Texas House of Representatives, District 130
- Tomas Uresti (Democratic), .Texas House of Representatives, District 118
- Valoree Swanson (Republican), .Texas House of Representatives, District 150
- Victoria Neave Criado (Democratic), .Texas House of Representatives, District 107
Defeated incumbents
The following is a list of incumbents who were defeated on November 8.
- Gilbert Pena (Republican), .Texas House of Representatives, District 144
- John Lujan (Republican), .Texas House of Representatives, District 118
- Kenneth Sheets (Republican), .U.S. House, Texas, District 5
- Laura Thompson (Independent), .Texas House of Representatives, District 120
- Rick Galindo (Republican), .Texas House of Representatives, District 117
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ DavidSimpson.com, "Open Carry Texas: Texarkana Endorses Simpson," January 5, 2016
- ↑ DavidSimpson.com, "Rep. Jonathan Stickland Proudly Endorses David Simpson," September 26, 2015
- ↑ BryanHughes.com, "Endorsements," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ DavidSimpson.com, "Endorsements," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ The Marshall News Messenger, "Hughes and Simpson clash over immigration issue in senate race," December 3, 2015
- ↑ PolitiFact Texas, "David Simpson mostly right about his staunch opposition to driver's licenses for 'illegal aliens'," December 11, 2015
- ↑ Governing.com, "The Week in Politics: Super Tuesday Results You May Have Missed," March 4, 2016
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Endorsements for Gary VanDeaver for Texas House (1) - Republican Primary," accessed February 23, 2016
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Endorsements for George Lavender for Texas House (1) - Republican Primary," accessed February 23, 2016
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "VanDeaver, Lavender Face Off Again in NE Texas House Race," February 17, 2016
- ↑ Dan Flynn, "Endorsements," January 14, 2016
- ↑ Bryan Slaton, "Endorsements," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Texas Tribune, "Rep. Dan Flynn Faces Challenger From the Right," February 18, 2016
- ↑ Kaufman County Tea Party, "ENDORSED: Candidate for Texas House District 8 – Thomas McNutt Questionnaire," January 31, 2016
- ↑ Texas Right to Life, "Texas Right to Life PAC backs Thomas McNutt for State House District 8," September 22, 2015
- ↑ Empower Texas, "TFR: McNutt For Texas House 8," October 5, 2015
- ↑ Byron Cook, "2016 Primary Endorsements," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Cook Re-election Bid Already Rancorous," November 2, 2015
- ↑ Raney for Texas, "Endorsements," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ JessFields, "Endorsements," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 The Eagle, "Raney, Fields spar at Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce forum," February 18, 2016
- ↑ Vote Mike Lang, "Endorsements," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ Texas Parent PAC, "Read and Act Today - Friends and Family Campaigning," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ Downing for Texas, "Home Page," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ Charlie Geren on Twitter, "TX Manufacturers PAC endorsement," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ TMPA.org, "2016 primary endorsements," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ Texas Realtors, "Why We Support Charlie Geren," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ Bo French, "Endorsements," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ Star-Telegram, "GOP battle for Texas House District 99," February 10, 2016
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "A Rinaldi vs. Ratliff Rematch for Texas House Seat," June 8, 2015
- ↑ Matt Rinaldi, "Endorsements," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ Bennett Ratliff, "Endorsements," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ Jeff Judson, "Endorsements," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ Joe Straus Republican State Representative, "SAEN Endorses Joe Straus," accessed February 23, 2016
- ↑ Joe Straus, "Endorsement Map," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ Sheila Bean, "Home Page," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ Texas Public Radio, "HD 121 Candidates Attempt To Persuade Voters On First Day Of Primaries," February 16, 2016
- ↑ KSAT, "GOP District 121 House race heating up," February 17, 2016
- ↑ Governing.com, "The Week in Politics: Super Tuesday Results You May Have Missed," March 4, 2016
- ↑ Briscoe Cain, "Endorsements," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ Wayne Smith Campaign, "Endorsements," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ Debbie Riddle, "Endorsements," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ Valoree Swanson, "Endorsements," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ C Club, "C Club 2016 Primary Endorsements," accessed March 1, 2016
- ↑ The Voice of Texas, "Home Page for Al Zolli 2016 Campaign," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ Vote Theresa Hearn-Haynes, "Endorsements," accessed February 22, 2016
