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Texas State Senate District 14

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Texas State Senate District 14
Incumbent
Assumed office: July 31, 2020

Texas State Senate District 14 is represented by Sarah Eckhardt (D).

As of the 2020 Census, Texas state senators represented an average of 941,396 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 815,110 residents.

About the office

Members of the Texas State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Texas legislators assume office at the beginning of the legislative session, which starts at noon on the second Tuesday in January in the year after the election.[1][2]

One-half of the Senate membership is elected every two years in even-numbered years, with the exception that all 31 Senate seats are up for election for the first legislature following the decennial census in order to reflect the newly redrawn districts. After the initial election, the Senate is divided by lot into two classes, with one class having a re-election after two years and the other having a re-election after four years.[3]

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

To be eligible to serve in the Texas State Senate, a candidate must be:[4]

  • A U.S. citizen
  • A qualified elector
  • 26 years old before the general election
  • A five-year resident of Texas before the general election
  • A district resident for one year prior to the general election


Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[5]
SalaryPer diem
$7,200/year$221/day

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Texas State Legislature, the governor must call a special election to fill the vacant seat.[6] A governor's proclamation to hold a special election must be delivered to county judges in the legislative district no later than 36 days before the scheduled election.[7]

The secretary of state can declare a candidate duly elected in a special election if there is no opposition.[8]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Texas Elec. Code § 203.001 et. seq.


District map

Redistricting

See also: Redistricting in Texas

In Texas, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the Texas State Legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.[9]

If the state legislature is unable to approve a state legislative redistricting plan, a backup commission must draw the lines (the backup commission is not involved in congressional redistricting). This backup commission, established in 1948, comprises the following members:[9]

  1. Lieutenant governor
  2. Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
  3. Attorney general
  4. State comptroller
  5. Commissioner of the General Land Office

The Texas Constitution requires that state legislative districts be contiguous and "that they preserve whole counties when population mandates permit."[9]

2020-2023

See also: Redistricting in Texas after the 2020 census

Texas renewed its state legislative district boundaries in June 2023 for use in 2024 and until the 2030 census. These districts were the same as those enacted by the state in October 2021. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed HB 1000 — establishing state House district boundaries — on June 12, 2023, and he allowed SB 375 — establishing state Senate district boundaries — to become law without his signature on June 18, 2023.[10][11]

The Texas Tribune's James Barragan wrote in January 2023 that Senate Legislative Redistricting Committee Chairwoman Joan Huffman (R) said the state was re-doing the redistricting process "to ensure that Legislature had met its constitutional requirement to apportion districts in the first regular session after the publishing of the results of the federal census, which is done every 10 years. Because of the pandemic, census numbers were not released until after the end of the last regularly scheduled legislative session on May 31, 2021. Redistricted maps were passed in a subsequent special session that year."[12] Texas had originally enacted new state legislative districts on October 25, 2021.

Below are the maps in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle. The map on the right was in effect for Texas' 2024 state legislative elections.

Texas State Senate District 14
until January 9, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Texas State Senate District 14
starting January 10, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2024

See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for Texas State Senate District 14

Incumbent Sarah Eckhardt won election in the general election for Texas State Senate District 14 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Sarah Eckhardt
Sarah Eckhardt (D)
 
100.0
 
321,035

Total votes: 321,035
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 14

Incumbent Sarah Eckhardt advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 14 on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Sarah Eckhardt
Sarah Eckhardt
 
100.0
 
64,908

Total votes: 64,908
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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2022

See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Texas State Senate District 14

Incumbent Sarah Eckhardt defeated Steven Haskett in the general election for Texas State Senate District 14 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Sarah Eckhardt
Sarah Eckhardt (D) Candidate Connection
 
82.2
 
265,094
Image of Steven Haskett
Steven Haskett (L) Candidate Connection
 
17.8
 
57,305

Total votes: 322,399
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 14

Incumbent Sarah Eckhardt advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 14 on March 1, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Sarah Eckhardt
Sarah Eckhardt Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
77,309

Total votes: 77,309
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Texas State Senate District 14

Pat Dixon advanced from the Libertarian convention for Texas State Senate District 14 on March 12, 2022.

Candidate
Image of Pat Dixon
Pat Dixon (L)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: Texas state legislative special elections, 2020

A special election for District 14 of the Texas State Senate was called for July 14, 2020. The candidate filing deadline was May 13, 2020.[13]

The seat became vacant after the resignation of Kirk Watson (D) on April 30, 2020. Watson resigned from the state Senate to become the dean of the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs.[14]

General election

Special general election for Texas State Senate District 14

The following candidates ran in the special general election for Texas State Senate District 14 on July 14, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Sarah Eckhardt
Sarah Eckhardt (D)
 
49.7
 
60,531
Image of Eddie Rodriguez
Eddie Rodriguez (D)
 
33.9
 
41,202
Image of Donald Zimmerman
Donald Zimmerman (R)
 
12.9
 
15,753
Waller Thomas Burns II (R)
 
1.2
 
1,464
Image of Jeff Ridgeway
Jeff Ridgeway (Independent) Candidate Connection
 
1.2
 
1,410
Image of Pat Dixon
Pat Dixon (L) Candidate Connection
 
1.1
 
1,323

Total votes: 121,683
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2018

General election

General election for Texas State Senate District 14

Incumbent Kirk Watson defeated George Hindman and Micah Verlander in the general election for Texas State Senate District 14 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kirk Watson
Kirk Watson (D)
 
71.9
 
276,052
Image of George Hindman
George Hindman (R)
 
25.2
 
96,834
Micah Verlander (L)
 
2.8
 
10,889

Total votes: 383,775
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

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 14

Incumbent Kirk Watson advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 14 on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kirk Watson
Kirk Watson
 
100.0
 
82,626

Total votes: 82,626
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 Texas State Senate District 14

George Hindman advanced from the Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 14 on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of George Hindman
George Hindman
 
100.0
 
24,168

Total votes: 24,168
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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2014

See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for 15 of the 31 seats in the Texas State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 4, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was December 9, 2013. Incumbent Kirk Watson was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Watson defeated James Strohm (L) in the general election. David Baron (L) withdrew prior to the Libertarian district convention.[15][16][17]

Texas State Senate, District 14 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngKirk Watson Incumbent 80% 154,391
     Libertarian James Strohm 20% 38,648
Total Votes 193,039

2012

See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Texas State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 29, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. Kirk Watson (D) defeated Ryan M. Dixon (L) in the general election. Watson was unopposed in the Democratic primary election.[18] In 2012, a total of $997,153 was raised in campaign contributions. Watson raised $996,453, and Dixon raised $700.[19]

Texas State Senate, District 14, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngKirk Watson Incumbent 80.3% 212,527
     Libertarian Ryan Dixon 19.7% 52,187
Total Votes 264,714

Campaign contributions

From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Texas State Senate District 14 raised a total of $11,272,779. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $563,639 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Texas State Senate District 14
Year Amount Candidates Average
2024 $517,645 1 $517,645
2022 $495,906 2 $247,953
2018 $1,911,102 3 $637,034
2014 $826,263 2 $413,132
2012 $997,153 2 $498,577
2010 $1,348,812 2 $674,406
2008 $912,691 1 $912,691
2006 $1,573,546 2 $786,773
2004 $226,394 1 $226,394
2002 $2,153,505 2 $1,076,753
2000 $309,762 2 $154,881
Total $11,272,779 20 $563,639


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Texas Government Code, "Title 3., Subtitle A., Sec. 301.001," accessed February 17, 2021
  2. Texas Constitution, "Article 3. Legislative Department, Section 4," accessed November 4, 2021
  3. Texas State Legislature, "Texas Constitution," accessed December 18, 2013(Referenced Article 3, Section 3)
  4. Texas Secretary of State, "Qualifications for All Public Offices," accessed May 23, 2025
  5. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  6. Texas Legislature, "Election Code," accessed February 16, 2021 (Statute 3.003 (3))
  7. Texas Legislature, "Election Code," accessed February 16, 2021 (Statute 3.003 (3)(b)-(c))
  8. Texas Legislature, "Election Code," accessed February 16, 2021 (Statute 2.055)
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 All About Redistricting, "Texas," accessed May 7, 2015
  10. Texas Legislature Online, "Bill: HB 1000," accessed June 21, 2023
  11. Texas Legislature Online, "Bill: SB 375," accessed June 21, 2023
  12. The Texas Tribune, "Texas Senate votes to take up redistricting again," January 11, 2023
  13. Office of the Texas Governor, "Governor Abbott Issues Proclamation Postponing Special Election For Texas Senate District 14," March 17, 2020
  14. The Texas Tribune, "State Sen. Kirk Watson to retire from Texas Senate," February 18, 2020
  15. Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current ELECTION HISTORY," accessed December 2, 2014
  16. Green Party of Texas, "Greens Release Candidate List," accessed July 26, 2014
  17. The Libertarian Party of Texas, "2014 Texas Senate Candidates List," accessed July 26, 2014
  18. Office of the Secretary of State, "State of Texas 2012 General Election," November 6, 2012
  19. followthemoney.org, "State of Texas 2012 Senate Candidates," accessed November 27, 2013


Current members of the Texas State Senate
Leadership
Senators
District 1
District 2
Bob Hall (R)
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
Vacant
District 10
Phil King (R)
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
Republican Party (19)
Democratic Party (11)
Vacancies (1)