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Texas' 21st Congressional District election, 2020 (March 3 Democratic primary)

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Texas' 21st Congressional District
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: December 9, 2019
Primary: March 3, 2020
Primary runoff: July 14, 2020
General: November 3, 2020
Pre-election incumbent:
Chip Roy (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting in Texas
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Inside Elections: Toss-up
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Lean Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2020
See also
Texas' 21st Congressional District
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Texas elections, 2020
U.S. Congress elections, 2020
U.S. Senate elections, 2020
U.S. House elections, 2020

Wendy Davis defeated Jennie Lou Leeder in the Democratic primary for Texas’ 21st Congressional District to advance to the general election. Davis defeated Leeder by 72.4 percentage points. Davis will face off against incumbent Rep. Chip Roy on November 3, 2020, for a two-year term in office that begins January 3, 2021.[1]

Davis led in endorsements and media attention. In 2013, as a state senator, Davis received national attention after filibustering a bill banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. In 2014, she ran as the Democrats' gubernatorial nominee, losing in the general election to Republican Greg Abbott. On July 22, 2019, Davis announced her candidacy for Texas' 21st Congressional District. In campaign events and candidate forums, Davis emphasized her experience in elected office.[2]

Leeder, a former Democratic chairwoman of Llano County, ran as the Democratic nominee for Texas' 11th Congressional District in 2018, losing to incumbent Mike Conaway (R). In 2016, she unsuccessfully sought the District 24 seat in the Texas State Senate. On April 24, 2019, Leeder announced her candidacy for Texas' 21st Congressional District. In the course of the campaign, she highlighted her experience as a party activist and official.[2]

Heading into the general election, the incumbent was Chip Roy (R), who was first elected in 2018. As of January 28, 2020, two election forecasters had rated the general election Lean Republican. In 2018, Roy defeated Democratic candidate Joseph Kopser by a margin of 2.6 percent. Click here to learn more about what's at stake in the general election.

Click on candidate names below to view their key messages:


Davis
Leeder


This page focuses on Texas' 21st Congressional District Democratic primary. For more in-depth information on the district's Republican primary and the general election, see the following pages:

Election procedure changes in 2020

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

Texas modified its primary election process as follows:

  • Election postponements: The primary runoff elections were postponed from May 26 to July 14.
  • Political party events: The Republican Party of Texas convention, scheduled for July 16-18 in Houston, was cancelled. The party conducted its convention online.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.


Candidates and election results

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 21

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Wendy Davis
Wendy Davis
 
86.3
 
84,593
Image of Jennie Lou Leeder
Jennie Lou Leeder
 
13.7
 
13,485

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 98,078
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[3] Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.

Wendy Davis

Image of Wendy Davis

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

Biography:  Davis earned her B.A. from Texas Christian University in 1990 and her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1993. She was admitted to the bar in 1993. From 2009 to 2015, Davis was a member of the Texas State Senate, representing District 10. She ran for governor of Texas in 2014 and lost in the general election.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Davis identified education funding, college affordability, and school safety as policy priorities. On her campaign website, she wrote, "I think about Texans who are working two jobs and still can’t seem to make ends meet. And those who worry not only about their children getting a quality education, but who also worry whether they’ll be safe in school. ... It’s why, as a state senator, I fought against $5.4 billion in cuts to our public schools."

In an interview with MSNBC on July 22, 2019, Davis voiced her support for Roe v. Wade and said she would "continue making sure that I carry the message on and continue to fight for as part of my campaign." 

In interviews with The Texas Tribune and Texas Public Radio, Davis pointed to lowering the cost of prescription drugs and preserving Social Security as priorities. 

Show sources

Sources: Wendy Davis for Congress, "Meet Wendy," accessed January 29, 2020; Texas Public Radio, "Wendy Davis Officially Files To Run For Texas' 21st Congressional Seat," December 4, 2019; CNN, "Texas Democrat Wendy Davis running for US Congress," July 23, 2019; The Texas Tribune, "Wendy Davis announces bid for Congress, will challenge U.S. Rep. Chip Roy," July 22, 2019; Martindale, "Sen. Wendy R. Davis," accessed January 29, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 21 in 2020.

Jennie Lou Leeder

Image of Jennie Lou Leeder

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography:  Leeder earned a bachelor's degree in agriculture education from Southwest Texas State University and a master's degree in athletic administration from Ohio University. Leeder’s career experience includes working as a teacher. She served as Democratic chairwoman of Llano County from 2007 until 2017.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Leeder supported single-payer universal healthcare. On her campaign website, she said, "It’s time in America for single-payer universal healthcare for all. In advanced nations, people should not be forced to choose between paying their rent or groceries and paying for lifesaving medicine or care."

On her campaign website, Leeder pointed to election security, voter accessibility, and redistricting reform as priorities. "Investments in election security must address the changing nature of technology, as well as the technological capabilities of global 'bad actors' looking to exploit the democratic process. At the same time, barriers designed to make it more difficult for eligible individuals to vote, such as voter ID laws, must be removed. Finally, districts designed to give unfair advantage of one party over another must be reviewed and redrawn to ensure equitable representation."

Leeder said, "A woman’s choice with regard to family planning is her own to make, in consultation with her family, doctor, personal conscience, and/or faith, as she chooses."

Show sources

Sources: Leeder for U.S. Congress, TX-21, "The Issues," accessed January 29, 2020; Leeder for U.S. Congress, TX-21, "About Jennie Lou," accessed January 29, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 21 in 2020.


Endorsements

This section lists endorsements issued in this election. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please email us.

Democratic primary endorsements
Endorsement Davis Leeder
Elected officials
Congressional Hispanic Caucus[4] ✔
Organizations
Austin Environmental Democrats[5] ✔
Austin Young Democrats[5] ✔
Annie's List[5] ✔
Black Austin Democrats[5] ✔
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence[6] ✔
Central Austin Democrats[5] ✔
EMILY's List[7] ✔
End Citizens United[8] ✔
Hays County Tejano Democrats[5] ✔
International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers[5] ✔
Jolt Action[9] ✔
League of Conservation Voters[10] ✔
NARAL Pro-Choice America[11] ✔
New Democrat Coalition[5] ✔
North East Bexar County Democrats[5] ✔
Off the Sidelines PAC[12] ✔
Planned Parenthood Action Fund[13] ✔
Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio[5] ✔
Texas Democrats with Disabilities[5] ✔
Texas AFL-CIO[5] ✔
United Steelworkers[5] ✔
University Democrats at the University of Austin[5] ✔
West Austin Democrats[14] ✔
Wimberly Indivisible[5] ✔

Campaign themes

See also: Campaign themes

Wendy Davis

Campaign website

Davis's campaign website stated the following:

“

Quality, Affordable Health Care For All Texans

Texas families and small businesses are struggling as the cost of health care coverage continues to rise. That’s if they’re fortunate enough to have insurance at all or to find the type of coverage they need.

Unfortunately, politicians in control in Washington just don’t seem to care. Because they aren’t doing anything about it.

Texas has the highest percentage of uninsured people in the country. That includes the highest percentage of uninsured women. The highest percentage of uninsured children.

I’m a grandmother of 1 and 3-year-old granddaughters, and when I think about children and mothers across this state who are being denied the care that they need, I get angry.

I’m running for Congress because I believe that we need representation in Washington that will listen to us and work every day to assure that EVERY person in America has healthcare.

Here are six steps we can take immediately:

1. Create a public option to provide a competitive driver in the insurance marketplace and provide coverage for all. That includes allowing all families the option to obtain Medicare coverage and provide a subsidized buy-in for those left without coverage because of Texas’ failure to expand Medicaid;

2. Allow Medicare to use its muscle to negotiate the cost of prescription drug prices;

3. Increase the number of rural health centers and rural insurance plans;

4. Expand the number of families who receive tax breaks to pay for their plans;

5. Expand the use of telemedicine and new technologies;

6. Increase the focus on preventative care which will improve healthcare outcomes and drive down long term costs.

Quality, Affordable Education For All Texans

As I talk to Texas families, they tell me over and over again that they are concerned about shrinking resources at their public schools; teachers that are underpaid and overworked; about a lack of affordable, quality pre-k and childcare options and the rising cost of college tuition.

Unfortunately, politicians in control in Washington aren’t responding to the need to create the educated workforce that we need for tomorrow. They’re doing nothing to improve our public schools or make things easier for parents struggling to ensure their kids get access to higher education or trade schools.

I’m running for Congress to be a voice for parents, students and children. I was privileged to serve as a member of the Texas Senate’s Public Education Committee, and I was proud to fight against cuts to our public schools and to fight for the needs of our students. I will be that same partner in our nation’s Capitol, working every day to create the opportunities that our children and grandchildren deserve.

Here are seven steps I will work on immediately when I get to Washington:

1. Increase funding to states and school districts to raise teacher compensation and recruit and retain a strong, diverse workforce;

2. Invest in school infrastructure and resources;

3. Increase funding capacity in Title I schools and ensure all students have access to academic opportunities like computer science, music, and civics;

4. Meet our federal commitment to fund special education;

5. Enact and fund full day, quality Pre-K for every child;

6. Create affordable quality childcare for all families;

7. Make public and community college free for middle and lower income families.

Protecting The Retirement Dreams for All Texans

Too many Texans are concerned that Medicare and Social Security are not going to be there when they retire. Who can blame them when they hear politicians in Washington talk openly about slashing or even eliminating these vital programs?

My mom is 82-years-old. She struggled throughout her working life in a low-wage job that did not create the social security investment needed to keep her secure in her retirement years. Thankfully, my siblings and I are able to help her. But what about all the other seniors across Texas and across the country who don’t have family support available to them?

I’m running for Congress to ensure that Texans can retire with dignity after a lifetime of hard work. And I’ll work for our retirees as though they were my own mom.

Here’s my pledge when I get to Washington:

1. I’ll fight any attempt to cut Social Security, Medicare or the benefits retirees have earned by even a single dollar and assure that cost-of living increases are a part of these benefits, making more resources available to our retirees, not less;

2. I’ll work to provide financing to put failing pension plans back on solid ground to ensure they can meet their commitments to retirees today and workers for decades to come;

3. I’ll put safeguards in place so pension plans remain strong in order to be there for today’s workers when they retire.

Immigration

We continue to face a humanitarian crisis on the border. As a mother and grandmother, it breaks my heart to see children the same age as my grandchildren, Ellis and Sawyer, being taken away from their mothers and put in freezing cold cages without access to adequate medical attention or food. That can’t be who we are as a nation. And it must stop, immediately.

I’m running for Congress because we need a comprehensive solution to address immigration.

Here are a few things we can do immediately:

1. Pass comprehensive immigration reform that provides a pathway to citizenship for those currently living in the shadows and protects our border with effective security methods recommended by experts;

2. Pass protections for Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status holders;

3. Honor our nation’s asylum laws, while assigning more caseworkers and judges to speed the process;

4. Assure that no one who has served our country in battle is deported after giving their all to fight for our country and its values.

Gun Safety

I am heartbroken about the senseless loss of life as Texas and our nation tries to come to terms with tragic mass shootings. I am equally troubled by the proliferation of hand-gun violence, which claims the lives of far too many, whether in struggling communities, in domestic-violence incidents or in deaths by suicide.

But I'm also angry. I'm angry at the inaction by Washington politicians more interested in courting the NRA than protecting the lives of the people they were elected to serve.

Thoughts and prayers aren't good enough.

I’m running for Congress because It's time for common-sense action to address this gun violence epidemic. I’m running because I think our kids need to go to school to learn how to think critically, not learn to hide from an active shooter.

Here are things we can do immediately:

1. Pass universal background checks;

2. Ban the sale of military assault-style weapons and large capacity magazines;

3. Ensure that known and suspected terrorists, domestic abusers and those who have been demonstrated to be a danger to themselves or others can’t get their hands on guns through the creation of red-flag laws;

4. Lift the ban on academic institutions and research facilities and allow them to study the impact of gun violence on public health, providing needed resources to conduct those studies.

Standing Up For Our Armed Services and Veterans

We have an obligation to protect our brave men and women in uniform both while on active duty and after they come home. This has always been one of my top priorities.

I was proud to serve on the Veterans Affairs Committee throughout my 6 years in the Texas Senate. As a senator, I was proud to reach across the aisle to help pass a constitutional amendment that provides tax exemptions for disabled veterans and their spouses. I was also proud when I created a source of funding through the renewal of drivers licenses and motor vehicle registrations and co-authored the creation of a veterans’ specific lottery ticket, each of which have raised millions to support our veterans.

Unfortunately, too many politicians in Washington like to pay lip service to our veterans without providing them with needed support after they’ve sacrificed so much on our collective behalf.

As a member of Congress, I will work to:

1. Increase investments in mental health services, disability benefits and job training;

2. Expand access to small business tax credits to encourage hiring veterans;

3. Increase the travel reimbursements for long distance care and increase benefits for caregivers, spouses and dependents;

4. Expand critical benefits that assist with homeownership;

5. Fully fund the Post 9/11 GI Bill, which provides economic and education opportunities for our service members;

6. Fight the growing homelessness problem for our returning service members and ensure that no person who serves our country should ever be homeless;

7. Protect funding for our military bases like Joint Base San Antonio from being raided for other purposes.

Climate And Clean Energy Jobs

Climate change is a crisis that poses an existential threat to the United States and the world. Anyone who isn’t urgently working to address it is failing our responsibility to our kids and grandkids. When I think about the world we are leaving for my grandchildren to inherit, I feel an extraordinary commitment to them. I want to be able to tell them that I did my part to assure they will live in a world that can sustain their children and grandchildren.

That’s why I support aggressive action now that leads to the United States attaining carbon neutrality by at least 2050.

There are those on the other side who like to talk about the economic costs of action. But we really should be talking about the costs of inaction as climate induced natural disasters like hurricanes, droughts and wildfires become increasingly commonplace.

We should also be thinking about opportunities that addressing climate change can present. We can achieve the ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by ensuring that states like Texas become the leader in green technology, creating thousands of jobs that can’t be shipped overseas.

Steps that can be taken immediately include:

1. Restoring protections once provided through the Environmental Protection Agency that have been systematically unwound by the current presidential administration and that have left communities with little to no protections against air and water pollutants;

2. Incentivizing clean energy solutions like wind, solar and geo-thermal energy;

3. Providing job training for the clean energy jobs of the future;

4. Re-entering the Paris Climate Accord and owning our responsibility as a country to lead the way in clean energy solutions.

Economic Justice

Almost half of Texans are struggling to pay bills each month for basics like housing, food, and childcare. That second job or extra credit card just doesn’t cover the costs anymore.

I know what that feels like. I grew up poor in Texas, many times feeling like I was on the brink of financial disaster. I know what’s like not to be able to pay the light bill and to sit at home at night in the dark. I know how it feels to stand at the grocery cashier, looking over my items and deciding what to leave out because I don’t have enough money in my checking account to cover it all. I know what it feels like to make what should be one meal stretch into two or three. I know what it feels like to have a flat tire and worry that it will be what finally pushes you over the edge into financial ruin.

Sometimes it feels like there’s nobody that wants to help, least of all the people elected to serve us in Washington. It’s like we don’t have a voice.

That’s why I’m running for Congress. We need someone fighting every single day to create an economy that works for all of us, one that’s thinks about a family’s budget, equity and justice.

That’s why my priorities in Congress will be to:

1. Pass a $15 dollar an hour federal minimum wage;

2. Support the Paycheck Fairness Act, which will help close the wage gap between men and women;

3. Pass strong paid family leave, universal pre-K and child care to ensure fathers and mothers aren’t punished for growing their families;

4. Pass strong paid sick leave so that serious illness doesn’t mean families lose their home or their jobs;

5. Crack down on payday lenders taking advantage of families living paycheck to paycheck;

6. Pass tax relief and increase access to credit for Texas small businesses to help them grow;

7. Invest in good paying clean energy jobs in Texas that can’t be shipped overseas.

8. Invest in infrastructure like roads, bridges, high speed rail and broadband.

Equality for All

The phrase “we the people” in the constitution refers to ALL of us. That’s why in Congress I will be a champion for human and civil rights, using my voice to protect and empower the LGBTQIA community.

My priorities in congress will include:

1. Passing the Equality Act, which will amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to end discrimination based on sexual orientation, sex and gender identity and provide critical protections on employment, housing and education.

2. Working to protect public school students from bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

3. Working to reverse the discharge status of any member of the military discharged as a result of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

4. Amending the Fair Housing Act to explicitly provide protections for LGBT Americans.

Ending the discriminatory ban on transgender service members trying to serve their country openly. [15]

”
—Wendy Davis' campaign website (2020)[16]

Jennie Lou Leeder

Campaign website

Leeder's campaign website stated the following:

“

HEALTHCARE

It’s time in America for single-payer universal healthcare for all. In advanced nations, people should not be forced to choose between paying their rent or groceries and paying for lifesaving medicine or care.

Where women’s health is concerned, I am pro-care from the womb to the tomb. I believe women of all ages have a right to proactive, informed care, and that each and every woman must have autonomy in decisions made over her body and the care that she receives for any issue.

Medicaid and Medicare are essential safety nets for senior citizens, our disabled folks, and children living under the poverty line. I believe both these essential systems should be expanded and eventually merged into a universal healthcare system.

ELECTIONS

It is our government’s responsibility to ensure that our elections maintain their integrity, meaning that the vote cast is the vote counted, that every American eligible to vote is able to vote, and that voter power is not diminished via gerrymandering. Investments in election security must address the changing nature of technology, as well as the technological capabilities of global “bad actors” looking to exploit the democratic process. At the same time, barriers designed to make it more difficult for eligible individuals to vote, such as voter ID laws, must be removed. Finally, districts designed to give unfair advantage of one party over another must be reviewed and redrawn to ensure equitable representation. Our democracy only works if the government elected truly represents the will of the people.

WOMEN’S RIGHTS

A woman’s choice with regard to family planning is her own to make, in consultation with her family, doctor, personal conscience, and/or faith, as she chooses. I support investment in family planning initiatives that would increase the accessibility of family planning facilities and information for Texas women, and especially for poor and rural women who may have limited access to care. I support efforts to decrease teen and unwanted pregnancies through age-appropriate sexual education and contraception availability. I support paid maternity/paternity leave and funding to make available affordable and quality childcare for working families.

Women work as hard as men and should be paid the same amount for the same work. I support the passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would provide stronger incentives for companies to follow the law ratified in the Equal Pay Act of 1963, enhance federal enforcement capabilities, and prohibit retaliation for wage practice inquiries.

EDUCATION

Access to a quality public education is a right guaranteed by the Constitution. As a daughter of two retired teachers and former teacher myself, I know the challenges teachers and students are faced with today. Addressing those problems begins with properly funding public schools and ensuring that state and federal tax dollars paid into public schooling remain dedicated to public schooling.

Increasing federal funding for public education would decrease inequities in rural/urban/suburban schools and reduce the burden on local taxpayers. School facilities must be invested in as infrastructure projects, so that we can ensure the best quality learning environments for all students, including high speed internet access at school so students may complete their school projects and access educational material. I also strongly support the inclusion of trade programs at high schools for those students who do not wish to attend college.

In addition, higher education—including post-secondary vocational schooling, community college, and university education—should be affordable for all who wish to attend. Students should not be saddled with debt upon graduation.

BORDER SECURITY

I believe in building bridges of diplomacy, not walls. In addition to being our neighbor, with whom we share 1,954 miles of beautiful ecology and geography, Mexico is our third largest trading partner, and we are her single largest trading partner. While we do need strong border security to ensure that criminal and terrorist actors are not taking advantage of this relationship, that security would be better achieved through providing our Border Agents with needed training, high-tech surveillance equipment including drones, and by increasing agents’ pay and the number of agents on the ground. We need to end Trump’s zero tolerance policy at the border and reunite the migrant children with their parents and offer them a pathway to citizenship.

DACA

Dreamers should be provided with a path to permanent citizenship. They should be afforded the rights that all U.S. born citizens have once they have completed the path to citizenship. DACA recipients should also be granted access to all programs they have paid into via their paychecks, including Social Security and Medicare.

ENERGY

The energy platform of the future will be based in low-carbon, renewable resources. At this time of transition, however, we must work to bring together solar, wind, and petroleum energy to fill the current and future needs of our nation’s energy usage without leaving behind those communities whose economies are based in petroleum extraction. We can accomplish this through investment in alternative fuels—wind, sun, and natural gas—which are as plentiful as crude, if not more so, in our district. Already, Texas is the nation’s leader in wind energy. With investments, we could also be the nation’s leader in solar energy.

GUNS

We need commonsense gun law reform in our country. This includes closing the gun show and internet purchase loopholes, changing the legal age to 21 to purchase long guns, and making automatic weapons and bump stocks illegal. I would support the reinstatement of the Clinton Assault Weapon Ban. As a former teacher, I strongly oppose the president’s proposal to arm teachers. Our educators have a job to do, and that job does not include serving as an armed patrol. I do believe that we need community service officers on school campuses to increase campus safety and act as liaisons with vital service providers in the community.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Our national infrastructure is more than just our roads and bridges. It’s the pipes that carry our drinking water, the rail system, National Wildlife refuges, levee and other flood protection systems, port and shipyards, the power grid, hospital and medical systems, and broadband connectivity. When we create the projects to fix all these aspects of our national infrastructure, we create jobs. If we invest in not only fixing but maintaining these systems, we create stable jobs for the future.

LGBTQ RIGHTS

I don’t judge a person by who they love, or what they wear, or what their gender identity is, and neither should our government. Every American deserves equal rights and equal protection under the law. Marriage equality is the law of the land, and will remain rightly so. In addition, I support the extension of Title IX protections to LGBTQ students, especially and including transgender students.

SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE

Social Security and Medicare are promises we make to the American worker, ensuring that he or she is able to enjoy a more secure retirement at a reasonable age. These programs must be protected and should not be altered in a manner that would push back the age of retirement for American workers.[15]

”
—Jennie Lou Leeder's campaign website (2020)[17]

Campaign advertisements

This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.

Democratic Party Wendy Davis

"Amazing" - Davis campaign ad, released July 22, 2019


Democratic Party Jennie Lou Leeder

"Leeder For Congress" - Leeder campaign ad, released February 20, 2020
"Leeder For Congress" - Leeder campaign ad, released November 21, 2019
"Jennie Lou Leeder at Hutto Detention Facility" - Leeder campaign ad, released August 8, 2019
"Chip in to send Jennie Lou to Congress!" - Leeder campaign ad, released June 29, 2019


Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

If you are aware of polls conducted in this race, please email us.

Campaign finance

The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.


Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Wendy Davis Democratic Party $10,428,476 $10,366,865 $61,611 As of December 31, 2020
Jennie Lou Leeder Democratic Party $55,341 $55,479 $0 As of June 30, 2020

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2020. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.


Satellite spending

See also: Satellite spending

Satellite spending, commonly referred to as outside spending, describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[18][19][20]

This section lists satellite spending in this race reported by news outlets in alphabetical order. If you are aware of spending that should be included, please email us.

Debates and forums

February 1, 2020

On February 1, 2020, Davis and Leeder participated in a candidate forum hosted by the Comal County Democratic Party. A report on the forum, including excerpts, is available here.

January 18, 2020

On January 18, 2020, Davis and Leeder participated in a candidate forum hosted by Indivisible Project. A complete video of the forum can be accessed here. A report on the forum, including excerpts, is available here.

Primaries in Texas

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Texas utilizes an open primary system. Voters do not have to register with a party in advance in order to participate in that party's primary. The voter must sign a pledge stating the following (the language below is taken directly from state statutes)[21]

“ The following pledge shall be placed on the primary election ballot above the listing of candidates' names: 'I am a (insert appropriate political party) and understand that I am ineligible to vote or participate in another political party's primary election or convention during this voting year.'[15] ”

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Runoff elections in Texas

In Texas, a primary election candidate for congressional, state, or county office must receive a majority of the vote (more than 50%) to be declared the winner. If no candidate wins the requisite majority, a runoff election is held between the top two vote-getters.[22]

As of 2020, the Texas Secretary of State office stated, "There is no requirement to have previously voted in the general primary election in order to participate in the subsequent primary runoff election. Therefore, if a qualified voter did not vote in the general primary election, they are still eligible to vote in the primary runoff election." The office also stated that "if a voter votes in the primary of one party, they will only be able to vote in that party’s primary runoff election. ... After being affiliated with a party, a voter is not able to change or cancel their party affiliation until the end of the calendar year."[23]


What's at stake in the general election?

In 2018, incumbent Chip Roy (R) defeated Democrat Joseph Kopser by a margin of 2.6 percentage points to win his first term in office representing the 21st District. In 2016, President Donald Trump (R) carried the district by a margin of 10 percentage points. In 2012, 2014, and 2016, Lamar Smith won by margins exceeding 20 percentage points.

The outcome of this race affected partisan control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 117th Congress. All 435 seats in the House were up for election. At the time of the election, Democrats had a 232 to 198 majority over Republicans. The Libertarian Party had one seat. Four seats were vacant. Democrats defended 30 districts Donald Trump (R) won in 2016. Republicans defended five districts Hillary Clinton (D) won in 2016.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

  • Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
  • Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
  • Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[24]
  • Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[25][26][27]

Race ratings: Texas' 21st Congressional District election, 2020
Race trackerRace ratings
November 3, 2020October 27, 2020October 20, 2020October 13, 2020
The Cook Political ReportToss-upToss-upToss-upToss-up
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesToss-upToss-upToss-upTilt Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallLean RepublicanToss-upToss-upToss-up
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every week throughout the election season.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+10, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 10 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Texas' 21st Congressional District the 136th most Republican nationally.[28]

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.11. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.11 points toward that party.[29]

District election history

The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2010.

2018

See also: Texas' 21st Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Texas District 21

Chip Roy defeated Joseph Kopser and Lee Santos in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 21 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Chip Roy
Chip Roy (R)
 
50.2
 
177,654
Image of Joseph Kopser
Joseph Kopser (D) Candidate Connection
 
47.6
 
168,421
Image of Lee Santos
Lee Santos (L)
 
2.1
 
7,542

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 353,617
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 21

Joseph Kopser defeated Mary Wilson in the Democratic primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 21 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Joseph Kopser
Joseph Kopser Candidate Connection
 
57.9
 
14,765
Image of Mary Wilson
Mary Wilson
 
42.1
 
10,722

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 25,487
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary runoff election

Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 21

Chip Roy defeated Matt McCall in the Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 21 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Chip Roy
Chip Roy
 
52.7
 
18,088
Image of Matt McCall
Matt McCall
 
47.3
 
16,243

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 34,331
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 21

Mary Wilson and Joseph Kopser advanced to a runoff. They defeated Derrick Crowe and Elliott McFadden in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 21 on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Mary Wilson
Mary Wilson
 
30.9
 
15,736
✔
Image of Joseph Kopser
Joseph Kopser Candidate Connection
 
29.0
 
14,787
Image of Derrick Crowe
Derrick Crowe
 
23.1
 
11,742
Image of Elliott McFadden
Elliott McFadden
 
17.0
 
8,667

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 50,932
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 21

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 21 on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Chip Roy
Chip Roy
 
27.1
 
19,428
✔
Image of Matt McCall
Matt McCall
 
16.9
 
12,152
Image of William Negley
William Negley
 
15.5
 
11,163
Image of Jason Isaac
Jason Isaac
 
10.0
 
7,208
Image of Jenifer Sarver
Jenifer Sarver
 
5.6
 
4,027
Image of Robert Stovall
Robert Stovall
 
4.8
 
3,414
Image of Susan Narvaiz
Susan Narvaiz
 
3.8
 
2,720
Image of Francisco Canseco
Francisco Canseco
 
3.5
 
2,489
Image of Ryan Krause
Ryan Krause
 
3.2
 
2,300
Image of Al Poteet
Al Poteet
 
1.8
 
1,300
Image of Peggy Wardlaw
Peggy Wardlaw
 
1.8
 
1,285
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Samuel Temple
 
1.4
 
1,020
Image of Anthony White
Anthony White
 
1.3
 
952
Image of Eric Burkhart
Eric Burkhart
 
1.0
 
723
Image of Mauro Garza
Mauro Garza
 
0.9
 
663
Image of Autry Pruitt
Autry Pruitt
 
0.6
 
455
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Foster Hagen
 
0.5
 
394
Image of Ivan Andarza
Ivan Andarza
 
0.1
 
96

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 71,789
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

State profile

See also: Texas and Texas elections, 2019
USA Texas location map.svg

Partisan data

The information in this section was current as of January 22, 2020

Presidential voting pattern

  • Texas voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

Congressional delegation

State executives

State legislature

Texas Party Control: 1992-2025
Three years of Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-three years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

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Texas quick stats
  • Became a state in 1845
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  • Texas was an independent republic from 1836 to 1845
  • Members of the Texas State Senate: 31
  • Members of the Texas House of Representatives: 150
  • U.S. senators: 2
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More Texas coverage on Ballotpedia:


Demographic data for Texas
 TexasU.S.
Total population:27,429,639316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):261,2323,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:74.9%73.6%
Black/African American:11.9%12.6%
Asian:4.2%5.1%
Native American:0.5%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0.1%0.2%
Two or more:2.5%3%
Hispanic/Latino:38.4%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:81.9%86.7%
College graduation rate:27.6%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$53,207$53,889
Persons below poverty level:19.9%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Texas.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The New York Times, "Texas Primary Election Results: 21st House District," accessed March 4, 2020
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Austin Chronicle, "Dem Candidates Wendy Davis & Jennie Lou Leeder Take the Stage," January 20, 2020
  3. ↑ Candidate Connection surveys completed before September 26, 2019, were not used to generate candidate profiles. In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
  4. ↑ The Hill, "Congressional Hispanic Caucus campaign arm endorses two Texas Democrats," December 12, 2019
  5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 Wendy Davis for Congress, "Endorsements," accessed March 2, 2020
  6. ↑ Brady, "Brady endorses Wendy Davis for Congress: We need to stand with Wendy," November 25, 2019
  7. ↑ EMILY's List, "EMILY’s List Endorses Wendy Davis in Texas’ 21st Congressional District," October 24, 2019
  8. ↑ End Citizens United, "End Citizens United endorses Wendy Davis for TX-21," September 11, 2019
  9. ↑ Jolt Action, "JOLT ACTION ENDORSES WENDY DAVIS FOR U.S. CONGRESS: WE NEED TO STAND WITH WENDY," January 15, 2020
  10. ↑ League of Conservation Voters, "LCV Action Fund endorses Wendy Davis for Congress," November 20, 2019
  11. ↑ NARAL Pro-Choice America, "NARAL Pro-Choice America Endorses Wendy Davis for Congress," October 28, 2019
  12. ↑ Medium, "Off the Sidelines Endorsed Candidates," February 5, 2020
  13. ↑ Planned Parenthood Action Fund, "Full List of Endorsements," accessed January 29, 2020
  14. ↑ West Austin Democrats, "Primary Endorsements 2020," accessed March 2, 2020
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  16. ↑ Wendy Davis for Congress, “Wendy Davis' Platform,” accessed March 2, 2020
  17. ↑ Leeder for U.S. Congress, TX-21, “The issues,” accessed March 2, 2020
  18. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed September 22, 2015
  19. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed September 22, 2015
  20. ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," November 6, 2015
  21. ↑ Texas Statutes, "Section 172.086," accessed October 7, 2024
  22. ↑ Texas Legislature, "Chapter 172. Primary Elections," accessed July 10, 2020
  23. ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Election Advisory No. 2020-05," February 11, 2020
  24. ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
  25. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
  26. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
  27. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
  28. ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
  29. ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
  30. ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2016 March Primary Election Candidate Filings by County," accessed December 15, 2015
  31. ↑ The New York Times, "Texas Primary Results," March 1, 2016
  32. ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, Texas," November 6, 2012


Texas' current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
John Cornyn (R)
Ted Cruz (R)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
Al Green (D)
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
Vacant
District 19
District 20
District 21
Chip Roy (R)
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
Republican Party (27)
Democratic Party (12)
Vacancies (1)


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