Texas State Senate District 30 special election, 2020
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State legislative elections Gubernatorial elections • Ballot measures |
A special general election runoff was held on December 19, 2020, for District 30 of the Texas State Senate. Drew Springer (R) earned 56.5% of the vote in the general runoff, defeating Shelley Luther (R).
The general election took place on September 29, 2020. As no candidate earned more than 50% of the vote in the general election, the top two finishers advanced to a general runoff. Luther and Springer each received 32% of the vote. Jacob Minter (D) followed with 21%. No other candidate received over 10% of the vote. [1]
The candidates highlighted property tax cuts, health care, and other issues in their platforms. To view candidate responses to a Denton Record-Chronicle questionnaire, click here.
Springer replaced Pat Fallon (R) for the remainder of his term, expiring in 2023. Fallon submitted his letter of resignation on August 22, 2020, effective January 4, 2021, after he was nominated to run in the general election for Texas' 4th Congressional District.[2]
The candidate filing deadline was August 28, 2020.[3]
Candidates and election results
General runoff election
Special general runoff election for Texas State Senate District 30
Drew Springer defeated Shelley Luther in the special general runoff election for Texas State Senate District 30 on December 19, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Drew Springer (R) | 56.5 | 32,761 |
 | Shelley Luther (R) | 43.5 | 25,235 | |
| Total votes: 57,996 | |||
 = 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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General election
Special general election for Texas State Senate District 30
The following candidates ran in the special general election for Texas State Senate District 30 on September 29, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Shelley Luther (R) | 32.0 | 22,242 |
| ✔ | | Drew Springer (R) | 31.9 | 22,127 |
| Jacob Minter (D) | 21.4 | 14,825 | ||
| Christopher Watts (R) | 6.2 | 4,321 | ||
 | Craig Carter (R) | 5.0 | 3,448 | |
 | Andy Hopper (R) | 3.5 | 2,456 | |
| Total votes: 69,419 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Interviews and questionnaires
Denton Record-Chronicle questionnaire
On September 22, 2020, the Denton Record-Chronicle released the results of a questionnaire that included five of the six general election candidates. Shelley Luther (R) did not respond.[4] Click on the questions below to see how the candidates responded.
- What are the most pressing issues in District 30?
Craig Carter
“ Property taxes are infringing on our freedoms and forcing Texans out of their homes and businesses. Defending our freedoms, protecting the lives of the unborn and our children, and Second Amendment rights are top priority issues. ” Andy Hopper
“ Statewide executive orders and business closure by the governor. The closure of businesses violates Article 1, Section 17, of the Texas Constitution and constitutes the taking of property for public use. I believe Texas businesses have a valid claim for compensation from the state on this basis. Furthermore, the Legislature should clarify and add clear constraints on the use of executive power during emergencies so that such action is limited to a short period of time and the use of which automatically calls a special session to allow consent of our elected representatives.
Texans are naturally concerned that they will be taxed off their property or off of their ranches as the property taxes continue to climb at unsustainable levels. Texans deserve true property tax reform rather than what they received from the 86th Legislature.[4][5]
” Jacob Minter
“ Rural health care, public education funding, teacher salaries and redistricting.[4][5] ” Drew Springer
“ Addressing out-of-control property taxes has been a top priority of mine in the Texas House. I filed HB 2915 last session to provide homeowners a 50% reduction on their property tax bills. I co-sponsored and helped pass the Property Tax Reform & Transparency Act, which provides $5 billion in property tax relief, lowering school property taxes by an average of 8% in 2020 and 13% in 2021.
The act also requires government entities to have an election to get the taxpayer permission to raise taxes beyond 3.5%. We still have much work to do on this issue. In the Texas Senate, I plan to not only vote right on this issue but continue to champion meaningful reforms that will reduce the property tax burden of my constituents.[4][5]
” Christopher Watts
“ Property tax relief. Texas must continue to find additional funding for public education. One way is to take the incremental revenue from online sales tax collection from out-of-state sellers and use to augment public education funding. The additional sales tax dollars are only recent due to the Supreme Court decision South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc. This revenue stream has only seen one legislative cycle, therefore not relied on as heavily in the budget.
Rural health care is in a crisis. Hospitals and clinics are closing at an alarming rate. The 1115 waiver grant for Medicaid from the federal government is due to expire in 2022. The current grant was extended in 2017 and was $25 billion.
The grant was a primary source of reimbursement for rural hospitals that are losing $2 million a year to uncompensated care. We must renegotiate this year and strive to maintain as much of the $25 billion in funding as we can.
Access to high-speed internet is the next major issue confronting the district, especially the rural areas. The Legislature missed a great opportunity last session when they cut the franchise fees to the telecom industry to the tune of about $200 million to use part of those cost savings to fund an initiative and incentive to provide high-speed internet to rural areas.[4][5]
”
- How do you propose to resolve those issues?
Craig Carter
“ We have to not only cut property taxes by 50%, we also need to freeze property taxes and school taxes for seniors. We need to lower property taxes for homeowners and small businesses, which will be crucial for retaining jobs and growing our economy coming out of COVID. Protecting the lives of the unborn and our children, I will be creating a task force to combat child sex trafficking and corruption. I will also support legislation that abolishes abortion.
Second Amendment: I will support legislation that allows constitutional carry. Term limits: I will author a bill to mandate term limits, [with] no more than three terms in the same office.[4][5]
” Andy Hopper
“ Texans aren’t typically getting 10% raises, and yet their property taxes can, and often do, go up 10% each year. We need to cap this growth to a mere 5%, and we need to institute an automatic across-the-board exemption for single family residential dwellings in addition to the homestead exemption. Furthermore, Texas should, as quickly as possible, move to a consumption tax system, which does not provide a disincentive to land ownership. Citizens should not be renting their property from the government.
Texas had a comprehensive statewide water plan during the first half of the 20th century that we followed but abandoned late in the century. The state of Texas needs to establish a new 100-year water plan, which will focus on engineering rather than merely conservation, which will encourage growth and meet the agricultural needs of Texas by moving water from wet areas in the east to arid areas in the west with more irregular rainfall.[4][5]
” Jacob Minter
“ Rural health care: Helping to create community health centers and small trauma centers to reduce travel times for EMS units. Expanding Medicaid like our neighboring states already have with the money that’s already been allocated to us with the Affordable Care Act. Public education funding and teacher salaries: Creating an audit of our independent school districts to ensure that money is not being wasted or left on the table. Past that, we can reduce or eliminate tax abatements for commercial businesses in Texas to make sure that Texas homeowners aren’t the only ones carrying the load for our schools, and to make certain that these companies are paying their fair share.
Redistricting: Create an independent redistricting commission that is citizen-based, not politician-based.[4][5]
” Drew Springer
“ We must stop the far-left attempts to defund the police. I am proud to have the endorsement of local sheriffs and the Texas Municipal Police Association — the largest law enforcement association in Texas with more than 30,000 local, county and state law enforcement officers across Texas. Government should not be able to use our tax dollars to hire lobbyists to advocate against our interests. I will continue to fight to ban government-to-government lobbying in the Texas Senate.[4][5]
” Christopher Watts
“ If more residents are going to use telemedicine, they need reliable high-speed internet. As schools shift to remote learning during COVID-19 outbreaks, rural students need the same opportunity to participate in class and complete their homework. Without high-speed internet, they are at a distinct disadvantage. Lastly, our rural agricultural businesses deserve the same opportunity to utilize technology to expand their businesses.[4][5]
”
- What makes you a better candidate than your opponents?
Craig Carter
“ I am a businessman, not a politician. I have serious skin in the game like the citizens of District 30, and we have to make immediate tax reforms if we want small businesses to keep creating jobs and our district to thrive in hard times. I have created over 100 jobs from the inception of the Old Nocona Boot Factory business. I have created, personally funded and actively operate a food bank in Nocona, Texas, for 3½ years, and I will continue to open food banks across Texas and create jobs beyond political office.
I am a visionary and very results-driven. This has allowed me success in business with over 12 retail stores (Old Boot Factory) and a coffee brand (Nocona Coffee) over the span of two years. I have aggressive plans to bring boot manufacturing back into the Old Nocona Boot Factory and bring more jobs to the area once again.[4][5]
” Andy Hopper
“ I am an engineer — not a lawyer or a politician. I solve problems for a living, and I would come into the job as a person who sees what must be done, rather than merely what can be done.[4][5] ” Jacob Minter
“ My work ethic. I don’t leave jobs half-finished. I work until it’s done, as well as my ability and desire to listen to the people of District 30.[4][5] ” Drew Springer
“ I have a proven record of standing up for our values in the Texas House. In fact, according to a scientific and nonpartisan study conducted by Rice University, I was ranked in the top 10% most conservative members of the Texas House since being elected in 2012. I have supported legislation that banned sanctuary cities, protected unborn life, expanded Second Amendment protections and fought to protect the Texas Miracle to ensure the Texas economy remains the envy of the nation.[4][5]
” Christopher Watts
“ I have had 6½ years as mayor and six years as council member of a city with a proposed budget in excess of $1 billion this year. We also are proposing a tax rate at or below the no new tax rate as prescribed by the state and calculated by the appraisal district. We have lowered the tax rate by 10 cents together with reducing utility rates. We are a full-service city, so I have a wide range of experience dealing with complex issues.
My experience practicing law and building my real estate business from the ground up has equipped me to handle complex financial and legal issues.
There is not much I have not seen. Finally, my commitment to public service. I work hard to understand and resolve constituent needs as they arise. I have firsthand knowledge of how new legislation impacts our citizens.
If a legislator has not had local government experience, it is easy to overlook how the decisions made in Austin impact people in their daily lives.[4][5]
”
Endorsements
The following candidates had endorsements listed on their campaign websites, as of September 23, 2020:
Campaign videos
Click the links below to view each candidate's YouTube channel or video page on their website:
District election history
2018
- See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Texas State Senate District 30
Pat Fallon defeated Kevin Lopez in the general election for Texas State Senate District 30 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Pat Fallon (R) | 73.9 | 234,374 |
| Kevin Lopez (D) | 26.1 | 82,669 | ||
| Total votes: 317,043 | |||
| = 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
- Keely Briggs (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 30
Kevin Lopez advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 30 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Kevin Lopez | 100.0 | 15,760 | |
| Total votes: 15,760 | |||
| = 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 30
Pat Fallon defeated incumbent Craig Estes and Craig Carter in the Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 30 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Pat Fallon | 62.0 | 53,796 |
 | Craig Estes | 22.6 | 19,614 | |
| Craig Carter | 15.4 | 13,346 | |
| Total votes: 86,756 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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 Craig Estes was unopposed in the Republican primary. Estes defeated Cory Lane (L) in the general election.[6][7][8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Craig Estes Incumbent |
86.7% | 140,240 | |
| Libertarian | Cory Lane | 13.3% | 21,599 | |
| Total Votes | 161,839 | |||
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. Incumbent Craig Estes (R) defeated Richard Forsythe (L) in the general election. Estes defeated Jim Herblin in the Republican primary election.[9] In 2012, a total of $870,547 was raised in campaign contributions. Estes raised $807,200, and Herblin raised $63,347 before being defeated in the primary election. Forsythe did not raise any money.[10]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Craig Estes Incumbent |
86.1% | 217,877 | |
| Libertarian | Richard Forsythe | 13.9% | 35,127 | |
| Total Votes | 253,004 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Craig Estes Incumbent |
65.3% | 42,464 |
| Jim Herblin | 34.7% | 22,599 |
| Total Votes | 65,063 | |
Partisan breakdown
The boxes below show the partisan composition of both chambers directly before and after the general elections in 2018 and 2016. For the most up-to-date numbers on partisan composition in this legislature, see here (Senate) and here (House).
State profile
- See also: Texas and Texas elections, 2019
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
- Following the 2018 elections, both U.S. senators from Texas were Republicans.
- Twenty-three of Texas' 36 U.S. representatives were Republicans and 13 were Democrats.
State executives
- Republicans held six of Texas' nine state executive offices. The other three offices were nonpartisan.
- Texas' governor was Republican Greg Abbott.
State legislature
- Republicans controlled the Texas State Senate with a 19-12 majority.
- Republicans controlled the Texas House of Representatives with a 83-67 majority.
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 |
|
|
| Demographic data for Texas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Texas | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 27,429,639 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 261,232 | 3,531,905 |
| 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
- Texas state legislative special elections, 2020
- State legislative special elections, 2019
- State legislative special elections, 2018
- State legislative special elections, 2017
- State legislative special elections, 2016
- Texas State Legislature
Footnotes
- ↑ The Eagle, "Gov. Greg Abbott sets Sept. 29 special election to replace state Sen. Pat Fallon," August 23, 2020
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Texas State Sen. Pat Fallon wins GOP nomination to replace John Ratcliffe on November ballot, becoming Ratcliffe's likely successor," August 8, 2020
- ↑ Office of Governor Greg Abbott, "Proclamation by the Governor of the State of Texas," accessed August 25, 2020
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 Denton Record-Chronicle, "What are the priorities for Texas Senate District 30 candidates? Property tax relief, for one," accessed September 23, 2020
- ↑ 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 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current ELECTION HISTORY," accessed December 2, 2014
- ↑ Green Party of Texas, "Greens Release Candidate List," accessed July 26, 2014
- ↑ The Libertarian Party of Texas, "2014 Texas Senate Candidates List," accessed July 26, 2014
- ↑ Office of the Secretary of State, "State of Texas 2012 General Election," November 6, 2012
- ↑ followthemoney.org, "State of Texas 2012 Senate Candidates," accessed November 27, 2013
