Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.

Texas' 23rd Congressional District election, 2020 (July 14 Republican primary runoff)

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search



2022
2018
Texas' 23rd Congressional District
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
Democratic primary
Republican primary
Republican primary runoff
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:
Will Hurd (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting in Texas
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Lean Democratic
Inside Elections: Tilt Democratic
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Lean Democratic
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2020
See also
Texas' 23rd Congressional District
U.S. Senate1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th15th16th17th18th19th20th21st22nd23rd24th25th26th27th28th29th30th31st32nd33rd34th35th36th
Texas elections, 2020
U.S. Congress elections, 2020
U.S. Senate elections, 2020
U.S. House elections, 2020

Tony Gonzales defeated Raul Reyes Jr. in the Republican primary runoff for Texas' 23rd Congressional District on July 14, 2020. Gonzales defeated Reyes by a margin of 39 votes out of more than 24,000 cast.[1]

On July 31, the Republican Party of Texas certified Gonzales as the winner of the primary, with unofficial vote totals showing him leading by 45 votes.[2] Reyes filed a request for a recount on August 3 and abandoned the recount on August 21.[3][4]

Gonzales advanced to the general election on November 3, 2020. In the March 3 Republican primary, Gonzales received 28.1% of the vote to Reyes' 23.3%, out of a nine-candidate field. Incumbent Will Hurd (R), who was first elected in 2014, did not seek re-election.[5]

Both Gonzales and Reyes highlighted their military backgrounds. Gonzales served in the Navy, and Reyes served in the Air Force. President Donald Trump (R), U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and U.S. Reps. Hurd, Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), and Steve Scalise (R-La.) endorsed Gonzales. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Young Conservatives of Texas, Texas Family Action, and Texas Right to Life endorsed Reyes.

A Gonzales campaign ad said he was "running for Congress to stand with President Trump and fight for our conservative values, secure our borders, finish the wall, and end sanctuary city policies."[6] Reyes described himself as a "true constitutional conservative Trump Republican" and said Gonzales was "an elitist who’s already up to his neck in the establishment swamp."[7]

On March 20, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued a proclamation postponing primary runoff elections, originally scheduled for May 26, to July 14 due to the coronavirus pandemic.[8][9]

Hurd won his last election in 2018 49.2-48.7%. Independent election observers rated the general election as lean Democratic. The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+1, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 1 percentage point more Republican than the national average. Click here to learn more about what's at stake in the general election.

Click on candidate names below to view their key messages:


Gonzales

Reyes



Democratic Party For more information about the Democratic primary, click here.
Grey.png For more information about the general election, click here.

Candidates and election results

Republican primary runoff election

Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 23

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tony Gonzales
Tony Gonzales Candidate Connection
 
50.1
 
12,342
Image of Raul Reyes Jr.
Raul Reyes Jr.
 
49.9
 
12,297

Total votes: 24,639
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.

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.[10] Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.

Image of Tony Gonzales

WebsiteFacebookTwitter

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "Retired Navy Master Chief Tony Gonzales was raised between San Antonio, Devine, and Camp Wood Hills, Texas. As a careeer Cryptologist, Tony deployed multiple times in support of combat operations to Iraq and Afghanistan, and throughout Asia. He previously served on Capitol Hill as a Department of Defense Legislative Fellow in Senator Rubio's office where he contributed to the defense, foreign policy, and intelligence portfolios. As an active member in his community, he founded the Tony Gonzales Foundation, a non-profit focused on empowering and encourage growth and development in impoverished areas of San Antonio by uniting local businesses, schools, and families. In 2018, Tony was selected as a National Security Fellow for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a non-profit, non-partisan Washington D.C. institute focused on foreign policy and national security. Tony also serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland system where he instructs counterterrorism, U.S. Government, and political science courses. Tony holds a Graduate Certificate in Legislative Studies from Georgetown University, a Master's degree in International Relations from American Public University and is a Ph.D. candidate in International Development with an emphasis on Security Studies and International Politics at the University of Southern Mississippi. Tony is married to Angel Gonzales and has five wonderful children: Christina, Jesus, Emmanuel, Daniel, and Gabriel."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


Tony is 100% pro-life and believes all life is sacred, starting at conception. Human rights are fundamental to the core of American principles and our laws must protect it. He believes the family is the most important component in American society and advocates for pro-family legislative policies such as school choice, expanding the child tax credit, and supporting advanced skills to adult learners. The family unit is at the heart of American society and thus must be supported with opportunities, not hand-outs. The U.S. government should focus on its future generation of citizens by improving access for adult learners to earn a livable wage through reduction of unnecessary regulations and streamlining the trade skill certification process.


Tony supports a strong national defense and foreign policy based on the principles of American military strength, active protection of our economy, and constant advocacy for our core values around the globe. Tony unequivocally supports the right to keep and bear arms. He will always support our 2nd Amendment rights and advocate in any forum when they are infringed upon. Tony supports the construction of a border wall where appropriate, enhanced use of technology to cover vast rural areas, increasing manpower along the border, and a modern entry/exit program. Ultimately, we MUST adopt an 'all-of-the-above' approach to secure the border and keep our families safe.  


Economic opportunities and free Enterprise are at the center of a thriving community. Tony is focused on reducing regulations to support the dignity of work for blue collar Americans who are fighting to better the lives of themselves and their families. The individual knows how to best spend their money, not government, and Tony supports cutting taxes along with unnecessary regulations which increases the cost of doing business for small business owners. The American dream is what makes our nation special and part of that dream is having employment which can provide a livable wage. Attending higher learning institutions is important when obtaining new skills but equally as important are earning these skills through trade programs. 

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 23 in 2020.

Image of Raul Reyes Jr.

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography:  Reyes graduated with a B.S. in math from Angelo State University and later received an M.A. in computer resource and information management. Reyes served in the U.S. Air Force as a Cyber Space Officer and Foreign Area Officer. After retiring as a lieutenant colonel, Reyes was chief information officer and vice president of administrative affairs at Southwest Texas Junior College. He then returned to the Air Force as a program manager. As of his 2020 campaign, Reyes owned a home construction business.



Key Messages

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


Reyes wrote, "The Texas border region is my home, I live here as your neighbor. Currently, our borders are in a chaotic state. With your support, I vow to defend them and our family’s way of life." His campaign website said, "Raul will work with local, state and federal partners to defend the district from the illegal mass migration currently taking place on our borders." 


Reyes stated, "As a business owner, I know how to what it takes to build and bring jobs to our communities. I bring a fresh perspective to building an environment whereby we can attract industry and manufacturing jobs back to the border region that is our district. We will identify the 'economic engines' to help develop and coordinate jobs growth."


Reyes said, “Unlike Will Hurd or Tony Gonzales, I am a proud supporter of this great President! You will have a clear choice, you either want an elitist who’s already up to his neck in the establishment swamp and or a true constitutional conservative Trump Republican. Grassroots folks, that’s who we are. We were betrayed once before, I won’t let that happen again!”


Show sources

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 23 in 2020.

Noteworthy primary endorsements

Runoff endorsements

This section includes noteworthy endorsements issued in the primary, added as we learn about them. Click here to read how we define noteworthy primary endorsements. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please email us.

Endorsements made after the March 3 Republican primary election and ahead of the July 14 runoff are shown in the table below.

Click on the links below to explore each candidate's full list of endorsements on their campaign websites:

If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please email us.

Runoff election endorsements
Endorsement Gonzales Reyes
Elected officials
President Donald Trump (R)[11]
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)[12]
U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas)[13]
U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)[14]
U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.)[15]
Individuals
March 3 primary candidate Alma Arredondo-Lynch (R)[16]
March 3 primary candidate Darwin Boedeker[17]
Organizations
Gun Owners of America[18]
Maverick PAC[19]

Primary endorsements

Republican primary endorsements
Endorsement Gonzales
Newspapers and editorials
San Antonio Express-News[20]
Elected officials
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)[21]
U.S. Rep. Daniel Crenshaw (R-Texas)[22]
U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas)[23]
U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.)[24]
U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.)[25]
Organizations
Empower America[26]
War Veterans Fund[27]


Timeline

2020

Campaign themes

See also: Campaign themes

Tony Gonzales

Gonzales' campaign website stated the following:

COMMUNITY
Tony is focused on reducing regulations to support the dignity of work for blue collar Americans who are fighting to better the lives of themselves and their families.

Economic opportunities and free enterprise are at the center of a thriving community. The individual knows how to best spend their money, not government, and Tony supports cutting taxes along with unnecessary regulations which increases the cost of doing business for small business owners.

The American dream is what makes our nation special and part of that dream is having employment which can provide a livable wage. Attending higher learning institutions is important when obtaining new skills but equally as important are earning these skills through trade programs.

Tony will fight for hard working men and women who have been long forgotten in the 21st economy by improving access to high wage-earning skill sets.

Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) play an ever-increasing role with improving stability in our nation and across the world. Advocating for NGOs who fill the voids left by government and free enterprise is an important measure when creating a strong foundation for the next generation of leaders in America.

Tony is an active neighbor in his community. Recently, he founded the Tony Gonzales Foundation, a non-profit focused on empowering and encouraging growth and development in impoverished areas of San Antonio by uniting local businesses, schools, and families.

COUNTRY
Tony supports a strong national defense and foreign policy based on the principles of American military strength, active protection of our economy, and constant advocacy for our core values around the globe.

The world looks to America for leadership and guidance as we fight a rise in terrorism, intellectual theft, human rights violations, and dictatorship. America has the most formidable military in the world, and we must maintain constant support to our warriors in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Intelligence community to ensure they successfully combat our adversaries. Improving military strength stems from increasing troop levels, increasing the size of the Navy (to 350 ships), and providing state of the art technology to our support elements.

Protecting the global economic environment is imperative to travel and trade as Americans depend on the ability to transit freely in the international marketplace. Chaos across the globe weakens American economic power by making it unsafe for Americans who live and work abroad. Tony believes the American dream is our greatest asset as a nation and must be supported through policies based on democratic principles, defense of human rights, and protection of the sovereignty of our allies. As the leader of the free world, we must advocate for peace and prosperity for all those seeking a better life.

Tony unequivocally supports the right to keep and bear arms. He will always support our 2nd Amendment rights and advocate in any forum when they are infringed upon.

Our immigration system is broken. There’s no doubt in my mind that immigration reform starts with southern border security. Tony supports the construction of a border wall where appropriate, enhanced use of technology to cover vast rural areas, increasing manpower along the border, and a modern entry/exit program. Ultimately, we MUST adopt an ‘all-of-the-above’ approach to secure the border and keep our families safe.

Washington has been talking about it for years, but Congress failed to make it a reality. As your Congressman, Tony will fight for increased border security and make our national security a top priority.

GOD & FAMILY
Tony is 100% pro-life and believes all life is sacred, starting at conception.

Human rights are fundamental to the core of American principles and our laws must protect its citizens as such. The U.S. government should not play an active role in funding abortions but instead focus on reforming the adoption process. For over 45 years, the Supreme Court’s flawed decision in Roe v. Wade has resulted in the death of over 60 million innocent babies. Tony strongly supports the nuclear family and prays for the day when unborn babies are protected.

Tony believes the family is the most important component in American society and advocates for pro-family legislative policies such as school choice, expanding the child tax credit, and supporting advanced skills to adult learners.

The family unit is at the heart of American society and thus must be supported with opportunities, not hand-outs. The U.S. government should focus on its future generation of citizens by improving access for adult learners to earn a livable wage through reduction of unnecessary regulations and streamlining the trade skill certification process.

Tony supports all forms of educational opportunities to include, but not limited to, charter schools, public schools, private schools, religious schools, and home schooling. He understands that education is primarily a state and local issue but encourages federal involvement when appropriate.

Tony’s five children, Christina, Jesus, Emmanuel, Daniel, and Gabriel have attended all different types of schools during his 20 years in military service, and he believes “choice” should be left up to the parents. Education is the ultimate equalizer and we all benefit when a child reaches their full potential in life.

PRO LIFE
I am 100% pro life and I believe all life is sacred, with life beginning at conception.

PRO FAMILY
I will advocate for pro-family policies including school choice, expanding the child tax credit and supporting advanced skills to adult learners.

PRO 2ND AMENDMENT
I am a strong 2nd amendment supporter and received a perfect grade on my NRA questionnaire.

STRONG AMERICA
After 20 years in the Navy, I understand what it takes to protect our country. I believe in ‘peace through strength’ and will always support our military and veterans.

SECURE BORDER
I will support significant increases in border security, with new border wall in high traffic areas, and work to shut down sanctuary cities, and modernize our entry/exit system to limit fraud.

PRO GROWTH
I will support supply side policies which reduce taxes and regulation to help grow the economy, raise wages, and increase private sector hiring.[30]

—Tony Gonzales[31]


Raul Reyes Jr.

Reyes' campaign website stated the following:

General Congressional Federal Legislation & Budgets

I pledge to be present for all Federal Legislation Congressional House votes. I pledge to hold the line by saying no special interest pork provisions, no all corrupt liberal agendas, and no to BIG GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS THAT ALWAYS FAIL!

I will work continuously to Expose Congressional Legislative Corruption!

I will work continuously to Restore Common-Sense Conservative Values Legislation!

I will work continuously for a Strong U.S. Military but with a CRACKDOWN on Pentagon inefficiencies!

Like republican Abraham Lincoln, I am for SMALL GOVERNMENT & MUCH LOWER TAXES!

Secure Texas: Immigration and the Crisis at the Border

The border crisis is not a “myth”, it is a REAL THREAT which calls for action now. American families along the border live in constant duress from illegal aliens traversing their land. Migrating families and children face extreme danger, such as rape, extortion, sickness, sex-trafficking, and death. Our border ports of entry are being adversely affected by the rerouting of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to assist Border Patrol Agents with processing duties. Interior checkpoints have been shut down to send agents to processing duties leaving our roadways open to terrorists, including drug and human smugglers. Detention facilities have been saturated and non-government organizations are being overwhelmed by these caravans. Over 400,000 ILLEGAL men, women and children have been released into our cities due to the inability to detain them. Most will not show up to asylum hearings. It’s time to STOP this egregious violation of our NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY.

I will LEAD in reforming immigration laws and work on passing legislation in Congress to remove loopholes and to secure funds needed to “Build and Finish the Wall,” and BETTER EQUIP the Federal Border Patrol. I’ll stop the flow of caravans by asking for measures that restrict “asylum seekers” to present their claims at US embassies in their country of origin.

I will PROTECT labor and wages here in District 23 by ensuring safe, legal immigration into this country.

I will WORK to ensure our Federal Border Patrol Agents have BETTER training, equipment, and compensation (overtime pay reform) for the heroic patrols they do in defense of our U.S. borders. THEY ROUTINELY REQUEST THESE CRITICAL IMPROVEMENTS! We must address the abuse of our system of benefits which was intended for law-abiding citizens. We will demagnetize the border and make coming to this country illegally an unappealing prospect. We are a nation of laws that must be followed and enforced!

WE LOVE IMMIGRANTS! LEGAL IMMIGRANTS! I will push hard to STREAMLINE our LEGAL IMMIGRATION system to HELP FREEDOM LOVING foreigners from all around the world to come to our nation with a vigorous work ethic and join our great nation with a vigorous defense of freedom!!!

We need leadership CHANGE in District 23! The past democrat and current RINO incumbent have ignored this issue during their tenures and have repeatedly opposed President Trump’s administration by voting against measures to secure the border. I will be a champion for our district, state and country focusing on securing our Nation’s borders from DAY ONE.

Building Prosperity in District 23: JOBs, JOBS, and MORE JOBS!

Texas District 23 is the largest Mexico border district in the United States. Its vastness has led to neglect of numerous parts of our district, left out of federal and state job creation plans. Because of this, District 23 has some of the steepest impoverished areas in the nation. We need to capitalize on the opportunities and direct our efforts to get the Trump administration and Texas leaders to focus on our rich resources including our people.

I will BRING jobs and job creating energy to District 23 that benefits all of us. As a business owner, I know how to do what it takes to build and bring jobs with DIGNITY to our communities. I bring a fresh perspective to building a BUSINESS-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT whereby we can attract industry and manufacturing jobs back to the border region that is our district. We will diversify the “economic engines” to help develop, coordinate, and sustain jobs growth.

We will BUILD the infrastructure needed for future jobs. I will coordinate congressional (local, state, and federal) efforts to develop the people needed to provide a work force ready to tackle jobs at ALL LEVELS including apprentice through senior executive!

I will LEAD an aggressive “sales” effort to display the attractiveness that is District 23 and ensure we bring better jobs back! Our children do not have to grow up and go away to bigger cities to find jobs; we can create jobs right here in District 23!

GUN RIGHTS: Protect our Constitutional 2nd Amendment Rights

Our 2nd Amendment rights are constantly being attacked by those who want to infringe on our liberty and right to legally protect & defend ourselves. Everyday there are corrupt organizations, legislators and media creating false narratives about gun-control. We cannot stand idly by and let this continue. I have sworn the oath, many times, to protect and defend our beloved U.S. Constitution with my very life, so HELP ME GOD!

I will DEFEND the 2nd Amendment against any bill or law that would infringe on our rights to keep our guns. An informed and armed citizenry is the last great defender of freedom and the most dreaded enemy of tyranny. Unfortunately, the history of the world is filled with Tyranny as the rule of governments and not the exception. Samuel Adams stated, “The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.” As the U.S. representative for District 23, I will work continuously to prevent any legislation or attempt that goes against our 2nd Amendment rights!

Pro-Life, Women’s Health, and Biblical Family Values

I am PRO-LIFE. I believe life begins at conception. We know abortion has terrible consequences for both woman and child. I am a leader that offers and seeks alternatives to abortion.

I will WORK continuously to OVERTURN ROE VS WADE and give the people at the state level the right to decide on these state governed laws. We will work with our adoption and crisis pregnancy centers to give families the support and resources they need. We must prevent the traumatic emotional, mental, physical and spiritual effects of abortion. We will work with congress to pass legislation that protects the unborn child and gives women the appropriate medical care they need.

I am PRO-FAMILY to build a strong life-giving culture as BIBLICALLY DEFINED. There should be no special rights for sexual nor gender preferences. Sexual relations were designed for marriage of ONE MAN and ONE WOMAN, NOT fornication, NOR adultery, NOR homosexuality. (This is NOT a civil rights issue.) Biblically, we are commanded to LOVE all people, and part of this love is to NOT condone behaviors that bring damage into their lives. ALL people of ANY sexual preferences should be rewarded in the work and business places based on their work performance and nothing else.

Veterans

As a retired Air Force Veteran, I fully understand the need to provide the heroes that served our nation with the best care. Suicide, depression and PTSD rates among veterans have spiked in the last 15 years. Our VA System has been bogged down by inefficiencies, bureaucratic red tape and subpar services to our Veterans. Many of them have lost dear loved ones in warfare and have been injured themselves. Most have sacrificed and suffered LONG DEPLOYMENTS separated from loving family and friends. We cannot continue ignoring the needs of our military Veterans.

I will KEEP our Nation’s promise to provide expert, timely care for our Veterans during and after their service to our nation. We will continue reforming the VA system to ensure it provides the reliable service and care options our heroes deserve. I will work with Congress to eliminate bureaucratic red tape, inefficiencies and long wait times to get the healthcare our heroes need!

General Healthcare

Obamacare has been a disaster for individuals and families. Premiums have skyrocketed, leaving you less options for providers and making healthcare unaffordable for some.

I will SEEK to repeal Obamacare. We will work to pass legislation that gives you the freedom to buy the best healthcare insurance to meet your needs. A free market healthcare system with competition is key to driving cost down. BIG GOVERNMENT WITH LITTLE ACCOUNTABILITY IS NEVER THE BEST SOLUTION!

I will FIGHT to ensure healthcare protects those with preexisting conditions. Persons with preexisting conditions must not lose their healthcare coverage. BIG INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL NOT TAKE THEIR PREMIUMS AND THEN CUT AND RUN!

Israel

Israel is being attacked daily by those bent on destroying them with a barrage of missiles and anti-Semitic rhetoric. Every nation has a right to be self-governing and able to protect its citizens. All nations on the face of the Earth must maintain control of their borders and fiercely defend their SOVEREIGNTY to provide the best quality of life for their families.

I BELIEVE in the God of the Bible and I believe Israel is a SOVEREIGN NATION. I will work with Congress to ensure Israel remains our strong ally. SOVEREIGN NATIONS bring our best chances at WORLD PEACE; but globalization brings tyranny![30]

—Raul Reyes Jr.[32]


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.

Tony Gonzales

Supporting Gonzales

"President Trump Needs Your Help!" - Gonzales campaign ad, released July 13, 2020
"President Trump Endorses Tony Gonzales for Congress" - Gonzales campaign ad, released July 7, 2020
"Tony Will Defend and Support Our Veterans" - Gonzales campaign ad, released May 20, 2020
"Team Tony is Pro-Life!" - Gonzales campaign ad, released May 20, 2020
"Conservative Fighters for TX-23" - Gonzales campaign ad, released March 13, 2020


Opposing Reyes


Raul Reyes Jr.


A sample ad from the candidate's Facebook page is embedded below. Click here to see the candidate's Facebook Video page.


Satellite group ads

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
Tony Gonzales Republican Party $2,882,972 $2,851,613 $31,359 As of December 31, 2020
Raul Reyes Jr. Republican Party $412,451 $411,886 $565 As of December 31, 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.[33][34][35]

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.

  • U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's (R-Texas) Jobs, Freedom and Security leadership PAC announced a "six-figure" ad campaign running July 1 through the election.[12]
  • Future Leaders Fund launched an ad supporting Gonzales on Fox News with a "five figure" ad buy. Politico reported the spending on February 20, 2020.[36]

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)[37]

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.'[30]

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.[38]

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."[39]


What was at stake in the general election?

See also: Texas' 23rd Congressional District election, 2020

U.S. House elections were held on November 3, 2020, and coincided with the 2020 presidential election. All 435 House districts were up for election, and the results determined control of the U.S. House in the 117th Congress.

At the time of the election, Democrats had a 232-197 advantage over Republicans. There was one Libertarian member, and there were five vacancies. Republicans needed to gain a net 21 seats to win control of the House. Democrats needed to gain seats or lose fewer than 14 net seats to keep their majority.

In the 2018 midterm election, Democrats had a net gain of 40 seats, winning a 235-200 majority in the House. Heading into the 2018 election, Republicans had a 235-193 majority with seven vacancies.

In the 25 previous House elections that coincided with a presidential election, the president's party had gained House seats in 16 elections and lost seats in nine. In years where the president's party won districts, the average gain was 18. In years where the president's party lost districts, the average loss was 27. Click here for more information on presidential partisanship and down-ballot outcomes.


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.[40]
  • 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.[41][42][43]

Race ratings: Texas' 23rd Congressional District election, 2020
Race trackerRace ratings
November 3, 2020October 27, 2020October 20, 2020October 13, 2020
The Cook Political ReportLean DemocraticLean DemocraticLean DemocraticLean Democratic
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesTilt DemocraticTilt DemocraticTilt DemocraticLean Democratic
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallLean DemocraticLean DemocraticLean DemocraticLean Democratic
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+1, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 1 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Texas' 23rd Congressional District the 227th most Republican nationally.[44]

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 0.93. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.93 points toward that party.[45]

District represented by a Republican in 2020 and won by Hillary Clinton in 2016

See also: U.S. House districts represented by a Republican in 2020 and won by Hillary Clinton in 2016

This district was one of five Republican-held U.S. House districts up in 2020 that Hillary Clinton (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Most were expected to be among the House's most competitive elections in 2020.


Republican-held U.S. House districts won by Hillary Clinton in 2016
District Incumbent Ran in 2020? 2018 congressional margin 2016 presidential margin 2012 presidential margin
New York's 24th Republican Party John Katko Yes Republicans+5.3 Clinton+3.6 Obama+15.9
North Carolina's 2nd Republican Party George Holding Retired Republicans+5.6 Clinton+24.4 Obama+15.3
North Carolina's 6th Republican Party Mark Walker Retired Republicans+13.2 Clinton+21.5 Obama+17.7
Pennsylvania's 1st Republican Party Brian Fitzpatrick Yes Republicans+2.5 Clinton+2.0 Obama+2.6
Texas' 23rd Republican Party Will Hurd Retired Republicans+0.4 Clinton+3.4 Romney+2.6
Source: Sabato's Crystal Ball and Daily Kos


Click here to see the 30 U.S. House districts represented by a Democrat in 2020 and won by Donald Trump (R) in 2016.

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

One of 254 Texas counties—0.4 percent—is a Pivot County. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Jefferson County, Texas 0.48% 1.61% 2.25%

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Texas with 52.2 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 43.2 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Texas cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 66.7 percent of the time. In that same time frame, Texas supported Democratic candidates slightly more often than Republicans, 53.3 to 46.7 percent. The state, however, favored Republicans in every presidential election between 2000 and 2016.

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Texas. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[46][47]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 54 out of 150 state House districts in Texas with an average margin of victory of 37.4 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 65 out of 150 state House districts in Texas with an average margin of victory of 36.4 points. Clinton won 10 districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 96 out of 150 state House districts in Texas with an average margin of victory of 36.2 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 85 out of 150 state House districts in Texas with an average margin of victory of 34.5 points.


District election history

2018

See also: Texas' 23rd Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Texas District 23

Incumbent William Hurd defeated Gina Ortiz Jones and Ruben Corvalan in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 23 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of William Hurd
William Hurd (R)
 
49.2
 
103,285
Image of Gina Ortiz Jones
Gina Ortiz Jones (D)
 
48.7
 
102,359
Image of Ruben Corvalan
Ruben Corvalan (L)
 
2.1
 
4,425

Total votes: 210,069
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.

Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 23

Gina Ortiz Jones defeated Ricardo Jose Treviño Jr. in the Democratic primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 23 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Gina Ortiz Jones
Gina Ortiz Jones
 
66.8
 
16,696
Image of Ricardo Jose Treviño Jr.
Ricardo Jose Treviño Jr.
 
33.2
 
8,296

Total votes: 24,992
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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 23

Gina Ortiz Jones and Ricardo Jose Treviño Jr. advanced to a runoff. They defeated Judith Ann Canales, Jay Hulings, and Angela Villescaz in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 23 on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Gina Ortiz Jones
Gina Ortiz Jones
 
41.6
 
18,443
Image of Ricardo Jose Treviño Jr.
Ricardo Jose Treviño Jr.
 
17.4
 
7,710
Image of Judith Ann Canales
Judith Ann Canales
 
17.0
 
7,538
Image of Jay Hulings
Jay Hulings
 
15.0
 
6,649
Image of Angela Villescaz
Angela Villescaz
 
9.1
 
4,032

Total votes: 44,372
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 23

Incumbent William Hurd defeated Alma Arredondo-Lynch in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 23 on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of William Hurd
William Hurd
 
80.4
 
24,569
Image of Alma Arredondo-Lynch
Alma Arredondo-Lynch
 
19.6
 
5,986

Total votes: 30,555
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.

2016

Texas' 23rd Congressional District was a battleground district in 2016. Incumbent Will Hurd (R) won re-election to his second term, and defeated former Rep. Pete Gallego (D) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Hurd ousted Gallego in the 2014 general election to win the seat. Hurd defeated William Peterson in the Republican primary on March 1, 2016, while Gallego defeated Lee Keenen to win the Democratic nomination. Ruben Corvalan (L) is also seeking election to the seat.[48][49]

U.S. House, Texas District 23 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngWill Hurd Incumbent 48.3% 110,577
     Democratic Pete Gallego 47% 107,526
     Libertarian Ruben Corvalan 4.7% 10,862
Total Votes 228,965
Source: Texas Secretary of State

Primary election

U.S. House, Texas District 23 Republican Primary, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngWill Hurd Incumbent 82.2% 39,870
William Peterson 17.8% 8,628
Total Votes 48,498
Source: Texas Secretary of State
U.S. House, Texas District 23 Democratic Primary, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngPete Gallego 88.4% 43,223
Lee Keenen 11.6% 5,688
Total Votes 48,911
Source: Texas Secretary of State

2014

BattlegroundRace.jpg

The 23rd Congressional District of Texas held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014.

See also: Texas' 23rd Congressional District elections, 2014


U.S. House, Texas District 23 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngWill Hurd 49.8% 57,459
     Democratic Pete Gallego Incumbent 47.7% 55,037
     Libertarian Ruben Corvalan 2.5% 2,933
Total Votes 115,429
Source: Texas Secretary of State

2012

See also: Texas' 23rd Congressional District elections, 2012

The 23rd Congressional District of Texas held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012, in which Pete Gallego (D) won election. He defeated incumbent Francisco Canseco (R), Jeffrey Blunt (L) and Ed Scharf (G) in the general election. This switched partisan control of the district.[50]

U.S. House, Texas District 23 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngPete Gallego 50.3% 96,676
     Republican Francisco Canseco Incumbent 45.6% 87,547
     Libertarian Jeffrey C. Blunt 3% 5,841
     Green Ed Scharf 1.1% 2,105
Total Votes 192,169
Source: Texas Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

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.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Senate D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
House D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

Texas quick stats
  • Became a state in 1845
  • 28th state admitted to the United States
  • 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
  • U.S. representatives: 36

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 Texas Tribune, "After recount, Tony Gonzales is still winner of GOP runoff for U.S. Rep. Will Hurd's seat," August 21, 2020
  2. The Texas Tribune, "Raul Reyes seeking recount in Republican runoff against Tony Gonzales for U.S. Rep. Will Hurd’s seat," July 31, 2020
  3. Texas Scorecard, "Recount Filed in Close Texas GOP Congressional Race," August 3, 2020
  4. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named recountresult
  5. The Texas Tribune, "U.S. Rep. Will Hurd to retire from Congress," August 1, 2019
  6. YouTube, "Tony Gonzales: Conservative Fighters for TX-23," March 13, 2020
  7. Raul Reyes 2020 campaign website, "Grassroots vs Establishment," December 16, 2019,
  8. 8.0 8.1 The Marshall News Messenger, "Governor postpones primary election runoffs," March 20, 2020
  9. 9.0 9.1 Office of the Texas Governor, "Governor Abbott Postpones Runoff Primary Election In Response To COVID-19," March 20, 2020
  10. 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.
  11. 11.0 11.1 The Texas Tribune, "Donald Trump endorses Tony Gonzales to replace U.S. Rep. Will Hurd," July 3, 2020
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 The Texas Tribune, "Bucking party leaders, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz intervenes in Republican runoff for Will Hurd's seat," June 30, 2020
  13. Tony Gonzales 2020 campaign website, "Congressman Mike Conaway Endorses Tony Gonzales for Congress," accessed April 26, 2020
  14. Twitter, "Tony Gonzales on May 13, 2020," accessed May 14, 2020
  15. Twitter, "Tony Gonzales on April 27, 2020," accessed May 14, 2020
  16. 16.0 16.1 News 4 San Antonio, "Former Hurd challenger endorses Tony Gonzales in upcoming District 23 runoff," May 6, 2020
  17. Facebook, "Darwin Boedeker for Congress on March 9, 2020," accessed March 24, 2020
  18. Facebook, "Raul Reyes For Congress on May 20, 2020," accessed June 18, 2020
  19. Facebook, "Tony Gonzales on June 10, 2020," accessed June 18, 2020
  20. San Antonio Express-News, "Editorial: Ortiz Jones and Gonzales best in CD 23," February 7, 2020
  21. Facebook, "Tony Gonzalez on February 17, 2020," accessed June 18, 2020
  22. Tony Gonzales 2020 campaign website, "Rep. Dan Crenshaw Endorses Tony Gonzales for Congress," October 12, 2019
  23. Tony Gonzales 2020 campaign website, "Will Hurd Endorses Tony Gonzales for Congress," November 13, 2019
  24. Tony Gonzales 2020 campaign website, "Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14) Endorses Tony Gonzales for Congress," January 8, 2020
  25. Twitter, "Tony Gonzales on January 28, 2020," accessed February 14, 2020
  26. Twitter, "Matt Mackowiak on February 10, 2020," accessed February 14, 2020
  27. Tony Gonzales 2020 campaign website, "War Veterans Fund Endorses Tony Gonzales for Congress," January 13, 2020
  28. Federal Election Commission, "Texas - House District 23," accessed July 12, 2020
  29. Federal Election Commission, "Texas - House District 23," accessed April 20, 2020
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  31. Tony Gonzales 2020 campaign website, "Issues," accessed September 15, 2020
  32. Raul Reyes Jr. 2020 campaign website, "Issues," accessed July 12, 2020
  33. OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed September 22, 2015
  34. OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed September 22, 2015
  35. National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," November 6, 2015
  36. Politico, "Morning Score," February 20, 2020
  37. Texas Statutes, "Section 172.086," accessed October 7, 2024
  38. Texas Legislature, "Chapter 172. Primary Elections," accessed July 10, 2020
  39. Texas Secretary of State, "Election Advisory No. 2020-05," February 11, 2020
  40. Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
  41. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
  42. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
  43. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
  44. Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
  45. FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
  46. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  47. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
  48. Texas Secretary of State, "2016 March Primary Election Candidate Filings by County," accessed December 15, 2015
  49. The New York Times, "Texas Primary Results," March 1, 2016
  50. Politico, "2012 Election Map, Texas," November 6, 2012


Senators
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)



Category:U.S. House elections, Texas, 2020 Category:U.S. House elections, 2020 Category:U.S. Congress elections, 2020 Category: Republican primary elections, U.S. House, 2020 Category:Marquee, completed election, 2020