Texas judicial elections, 2016

2016 State Judicial Elections
2017 » « 2015
Part 1: Overview
Part 2: Supreme Courts
Part 3: Partisanship
Part 4: Changes in 2016

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Twenty-six seats on Texas' state-level courts, along with many local court seats, were on the general election ballot of November 8, 2016, with a primary held on March 1.

HIGHLIGHTS

Three Texas Supreme Court seats were up for re-election this year; all three Republican incumbents won re-election.

On the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the lone Democratic incumbent was defeated by Republican challenger Mary Lou Keel.

Republicans held a 9-0 majority on the Texas Supreme Court and an 8-1 majority on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals heading into the election. They hold a 9-0 majority on both courts following the election.

All district court of appeals judges who ran unopposed in 2016 were Republicans.

Introduction

Main articles: Texas Supreme Court elections, 2016 and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals elections, 2016

Three seats on the Texas Supreme Court joined three seats on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and twenty seats on the fourteen district courts of appeal on the ballot for November 2016.

Within the Texas Supreme Court and Texas Court of Criminal appeals, Judge Cheryl Johnson of the state’s Court of Criminal Appeals was the only incumbent not seeking re-election.

Race background

Context of Texas courts

See also: Texas Supreme Court, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and Texas Courts of Appeals

Texas is one of two states with two courts of last resort (Oklahoma is the other). The Texas Supreme Court is the highest court in the state of Texas for civil matters, while the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals handles criminal cases. Each justice elected to these courts serves a six-year term and is chosen in a statewide election.

Texas also has fourteen lower courts of appeals. Each of these courts covers a different geographical region of Texas. Like the two higher courts in Texas, judges on these district courts are elected to serve six-year terms in partisan statewide elections.

Partisan balance

Republican control

Texas was one of 30 states with a trifecta control of state government in 2016, in which the governorship and both chambers of the legislature are controlled by the same party. The Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives were controlled by Republicans by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.

Republican dominance of state courts was even stronger in 2016. Every seat on the Texas Supreme Court was held by a Republican, and 8 out of 9 seats on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals were held by Republicans. The lone seat on the criminal appeals court held by a Democrat was contested in 2016 and therefore could be won by a Republican. However, the incumbent, Justice Meyers, won statewide election to that court in 1992, 1998, 2004 and 2010.

Courts of Appeals

A majority of the district courts of appeals were under Republican control heading into the election. Democrats filed to run in six out of the fourteen districts, leaving 11 Republican-held seats in eight districts without a Democratic candidate. Democrats had advantages in some districts too. In 2016, the Texas Eighth District Court of Appeals, which represents the El Paso area, was composed of four Democrats, including Justice Steve Hughes, who ran for re-election in 2016 and was defeated in the primary by Gina Palafox, another Democrat. No Republican candidates ran for this seat, guaranteeing that the eighth district remained in Democratic hands after the election. Other districts are more competitive.

General election candidates

Supreme Court

Place 3

■ Mike Westergren (D)
■ Debra Lehrmann (R) (Incumbent)
■ Kathie Glass (Lib.)
■ Rodolfo Rivera Munoz (Green)

Place 5

■ Dori Garza (D)
■ Paul Green (R) (Incumbent)
■ Tom Oxford (Lib.)
■ Charles E. Waterbury (Green)

Place 9

■ Savannah Robinson (D)
■ Eva Guzman (R) (Incumbent)
■ Don Fulton (Lib.)
■ Jim Chisholm (Green)

Court of Criminal Appeals

Place 2

■ Lawrence Meyers (D) (Incumbent)
■ Mary Lou Keel (R)
■ Mark Ash (Lib.)
■ Adam Reposa (Green)

Place 5

■ Betsy Johnson (D)
■ Scott Walker (R)
■ William Bryan Strange (Lib.)
■ Judith Sanders-Castro (Green)

Place 6

■ Robert D. Burns III (D)
■ Michael Keasler (R) (Incumbent)
■ Mark Bennett (Lib.)

District Courts of Appeals

First District

Chief justice

■ Jim Peacock (D)
■ Sherry Radack (R) (Incumbent)

Place 4

■ Barbara Gardner (D)
■ Evelyn Keyes (R) (Incumbent)

Second District

Place 3

• Judge Anne Gardner (R) did not run.

■ Elizabeth Kerr (R) (Unopposed)

Place 4

■ Bonnie Sudderth (R) (Incumbent/Unopposed)

Third District

Place 2

■ Cindy Olson Bourland (R) (Incumbent/Unopposed)

Place 4

■ Melissa Goodwin (R) (Incumbent/Unopposed)

Fourth District

Place 6

■ Irene Rios (D)
■ Jason Pulliam (R) (Incumbent)

Fifth District

Place 4

■ Gena Slaughter (D)
■ Lana Myers (R) (Incumbent)

Place 7

■ Dennise Garcia (D)
■ David Schenck (R) (Incumbent)

Sixth District

Place 1

■ Josh Morriss (R) (Incumbent/Unopposed)

Seventh District

Place 4

■ James T. Campbell (R) (Incumbent/Unopposed)

Eighth District

Place 3

■ Gina Palafox (D) (Unopposed)

Ninth District

Place 2

■ Charles Kreger (R) (Incumbent/Unopposed)

Tenth District

Place 3

■ Al Scoggins (R) (Incumbent/Unopposed)

Eleventh District

Place 3

■ John Bailey (R) (Incumbent/Unopposed)

Twelfth District

Place 2

■ Brian Hoyle (R) (Incumbent/Unopposed)

Place 3

■ Greg Neeley (R) (Incumbent/Unopposed)

Thirteenth District

Place 3

■ Greg Perkes (R) (Incumbent)
■ Leticia Hinojosa (D)

Fourteenth District

Place 2

• Judge Sharon McCally (R) was not seeking re-election.
  

■ Candance White (D)
■ Kevin Jewell (R)

Place 9

■ Peter M. Kelly (D)
■ Tracy E. Christopher (R) (Incumbent)

Election results

November 8 general election

Incumbent Debra Lehrmann defeated Mike Westergren, Kathie Glass and Rodolfo Rivera Munoz in the general election for the Texas Supreme Court, Place 3.

Texas Supreme Court, Place 3, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Debra Lehrmann Incumbent	54.84%	4,807,986
	Democratic	Mike Westergren	38.53%	3,378,163
	Libertarian	Kathie Glass	3.97%	348,376
	Green	Rodolfo Rivera Munoz	2.65%	232,646
Total Votes (100% reporting)				8,767,171
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Incumbent Paul Green defeated Dori Garza, Tom Oxford and Charles E. Waterbury in the general election for the Texas Supreme Court, Place 5.

Texas Supreme Court, Place 5, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Paul Green Incumbent	54.30%	4,758,334
	Democratic	Dori Garza	41.18%	3,608,634
	Libertarian	Tom Oxford	3.29%	288,504
	Green	Charles E. Waterbury	1.23%	107,731
Total Votes (100% reporting)				8,763,203
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Incumbent Eva Guzman defeated Savannah Robinson, Don Fulton and Jim Chisholm in the general election for the Texas Supreme Court, Place 9.

Texas Supreme Court, Place 9, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Eva Guzman Incumbent	55.80%	4,884,441
	Democratic	Savannah Robinson	39.36%	3,445,959
	Libertarian	Don Fulton	3.48%	304,587
	Green	Jim Chisholm	1.36%	119,022
Total Votes (100% reporting)				8,754,009
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Mary Lou Keel (R) defeated incumbent Lawrence Meyers (D), Mark Ash (L), and Adam Reposa (G) in the general election for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2.

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Mary Lou Keel	54.88%	4,790,800
	Democratic	Lawrence Meyers Incumbent	40.05%	3,496,205
	Libertarian	Mark Ash	3.68%	321,568
	Green	Adam Reposa	1.39%	121,467
Total Votes (100% reporting)				8,730,040
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Scott Walker (Texas) defeated Betsy Johnson (Texas), William Bryan Strange and Judith Sanders-Castro in the general election for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5.

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Scott Walker (Texas)	54.75%	4,782,144
	Democratic	Betsy Johnson (Texas)	40.20%	3,511,950
	Libertarian	William Bryan Strange	2.84%	248,109
	Green	Judith Sanders-Castro	2.21%	192,913
Total Votes (100% reporting)				8,735,116
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Incumbent Michael Keasler defeated Robert D. Burns III and Mark Bennett (Texas) in the general election for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 6.

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 6, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Michael Keasler Incumbent	54.97%	4,785,012
	Democratic	Robert D. Burns III	40.89%	3,558,844
	Libertarian	Mark Bennett (Texas)	4.14%	360,167
Total Votes (100% reporting)				8,704,023
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Incumbent Sherry Radack defeated Jim Peacock in the general election for the Texas First District Court of Appeals, Chief Justice.

Texas First District Court of Appeals, Chief Justice, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Sherry Radack Incumbent	52.09%	963,538
	Democratic	Jim Peacock	47.91%	886,049
Total Votes (100% reporting)				1,849,587
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Incumbent Evelyn Keyes defeated Barbara Gardner in the general election for the Texas First District Court of Appeals, Place 4.

Texas First District Court of Appeals, Place 4, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Evelyn Keyes Incumbent	51.05%	942,286
	Democratic	Barbara Gardner	48.95%	903,610
Total Votes (100% reporting)				1,845,896
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Elizabeth Kerr ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Second District Court of Appeals, Place 3.

Texas Second District Court of Appeals, Place 3, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Elizabeth Kerr  (unopposed)	100.00%	792,185
Total Votes (100% reporting)				792,185
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Incumbent Bonnie Sudderth ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Second District Court of Appeals, Place 4.

Texas Second District Court of Appeals, Place 4, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Bonnie Sudderth Incumbent (unopposed)	100.00%	783,742
Total Votes (100% reporting)				783,742
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Incumbent Cindy Olson Bourland ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Third District Court of Appeals, Place 2.

Texas Third District Court of Appeals, Place 2, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Cindy Olson Bourland Incumbent (unopposed)	100.00%	623,948
Total Votes (100% reporting)				623,948
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Incumbent Melissa Goodwin ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Third District Court of Appeals, Place 4.

Texas Third District Court of Appeals, Place 4, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Melissa Goodwin Incumbent (unopposed)	100.00%	625,200
Total Votes (100% reporting)				625,200
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Irene Alarcon Rios defeated incumbent Jason Pulliam in the general election for the Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals, Place 6.

Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals, Place 6, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Irene Alarcon Rios	51.73%	457,048
	Republican	Jason Pulliam Incumbent	48.27%	426,468
Total Votes (100% reporting)				883,516
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Incumbent Lana Myers defeated Gena Slaughter in the general election for the Texas Fifith District Court of Appeals, Place 4.

Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals, Place 4, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Lana Myers Incumbent	52.85%	650,829
	Democratic	Gena Slaughter	47.15%	580,559
Total Votes (100% reporting)				1,231,388
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Incumbent David Schenck defeated Dennise Garcia in the general election for the Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals, Place 7.

Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals, Place 7, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	David Schenck Incumbent	51.59%	635,952
	Democratic	Dennise Garcia	48.41%	596,728
Total Votes (100% reporting)				1,232,680
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Incumbent Josh Morriss ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Sixth District Court of Appeals, Place 1.

Texas Sixth District Court of Appeals, Place 1, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Josh Morriss Incumbent (unopposed)	100.00%	226,702
Total Votes (100% reporting)				226,702
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Incumbent James T. Campbell ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Seventh District Court of Appeals, Place 4.

Texas Seventh District Court of Appeals, Place 4, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	James T. Campbell Incumbent (unopposed)	100.00%	228,381
Total Votes (100% reporting)				228,381
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Gina Palafox ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Eighth District Court of Appeals, Place 3.

Texas Eighth District Court of Appeals, Place 3, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Gina Palafox  (unopposed)	100.00%	176,147
Total Votes (100% reporting)				176,147
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Incumbent Charles Kreger ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Ninth District Court of Appeals, Place 2.

Texas Ninth District Court of Appeals, Place 2, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Charles Kreger Incumbent (unopposed)	100.00%	321,978
Total Votes (100% reporting)				321,978
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Incumbent Al Scoggins ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Tenth District Court of Appeals, Place 3.

Texas Tenth District Court of Appeals, Place 3, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Al Scoggins Incumbent (unopposed)	100.00%	303,579
Total Votes (100% reporting)				303,579
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Incumbent John Bailey ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals, Place 3.

Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals, Place 3, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	John Bailey Incumbent (unopposed)	100.00%	199,482
Total Votes (100% reporting)				199,482
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Incumbent Brian Hoyle ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Twelfth District Court of Appeals, Place 2.

Texas Twelfth District Court of Appeals, Place 2, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Brian Hoyle Incumbent (unopposed)	100.00%	275,315
Total Votes (100% reporting)				275,315
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Incumbent Greg Neeley ran unopposed in the general election for the Texas Twelfth District Court of Appeals, Place 3.

Texas Twelfth District Court of Appeals, Place 3, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Greg Neeley Incumbent (unopposed)	100.00%	274,297
Total Votes (100% reporting)				274,297
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Leticia Hinojosa defeated incumbent Greg Perkes in the general election for the Texas Thirteenth District Court of Appeals, Place 3.

Texas Thirteenth District Court of Appeals, Place 3, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Leticia Hinojosa	56.43%	287,959
	Republican	Greg Perkes Incumbent	43.57%	222,368
Total Votes (100% reporting)				510,327
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Kevin Jewell defeated Candance White in the general election for the Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals, Place 2.

Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals, Place 2, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Kevin Jewell	51.26%	945,662
	Democratic	Candance White	48.74%	899,159
Total Votes (100% reporting)				1,844,821
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Incumbent Tracy E. Christopher defeated Peter M. Kelly in the general election for the Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals, Place 9.

Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals, Place 9, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Tracy E. Christopher Incumbent	52.43%	966,844
	Democratic	Peter M. Kelly	47.57%	877,132
Total Votes (100% reporting)				1,843,976
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

May 24 primary runoff

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Republican Runoff, Place 2, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Mary Lou Keel	50.87%	184,405
	Republican	Ray Wheless	49.13%	178,114
Total Votes (100% Reporting)				362,519
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Republican Runoff, Place 5, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Scott Walker (Texas)	58.02%	206,922
	Republican	Brent Webster	41.98%	149,714
Total Votes (100% Reporting)				356,636
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Texas Eighth District Court of Appeals Democratic Runoff, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Gina Palafox	53.05%	10,482
	Democratic	Maria Ramirez	46.95%	9,277
Total Votes (100% Reporting)				19,759
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Texas Second District Court of Appeals Republican Runoff, Seat 3, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Elizabeth Kerr	54.83%	25,628
	Republican	Dabney Bassel	45.17%	21,116
Total Votes (100% Reporting)				46,744
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

March 1 primary election

Texas Supreme Court, Place 3, Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Debra Lehrmann Incumbent	52.22%	1,131,998
	Republican	Michael Massengale	47.78%	1,035,840
Total Votes (100% Reporting)				2,167,838
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Texas Supreme Court, Place 5, Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Paul Green Incumbent	52.06%	1,078,689
	Republican	Rick Green	47.94%	993,441
Total Votes (100% Reporting)				2,072,130
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Texas Supreme Court, Place 9, Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Eva Guzman Incumbent	59.17%	1,268,415
	Republican	Joe Pool, Jr.	40.83%	875,224
Total Votes (100% Reporting)				2,143,639
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2, Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Mary Lou Keel	39.42%	785,448
	Republican	Ray Wheless	35.43%	705,909
	Republican	Chris Oldner	25.15%	501,063
Total Votes (100% Reporting)				1,992,420
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5, Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Scott Walker	41.48%	833,757
	Republican	Brent Webster	20.45%	411,119
	Republican	Steve Smith	19.60%	393,992
	Republican	Sid Harle	18.47%	371,303
Total Votes (100% Reporting)				2,010,171
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 6, Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Michael Keasler Incumbent	56.87%	1,102,194
	Republican	Richard Dean Davis	43.13%	835,758
Total Votes (100% Reporting)				1,937,952
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Texas Second District Court of Appeals, Seat 3, Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Elizabeth Kerr	33.15%	89,272
	Republican	Dabney Bassel	18.83%	50,706
	Republican	Andy Porter	18.81%	50,656
	Republican	Bill Ray	17.28%	46,532
	Republican	Mary Johndroe	11.94%	32,158
Total Votes (100% Reporting)				269,324
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals, Seat 7, Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	David Schenck Incumbent	61.53%	131,790
	Republican	David Hanschen	38.47%	82,387
Total Votes (100% Reporting)				214,177
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Texas Eighth District Court of Appeals, Democratic Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Gina Palafox	29.40%	16,106
	Democratic	Maria Ramirez	26.38%	14,452
	Democratic	Steve Hughes Incumbent	16.81%	9,207
	Democratic	Robert Perez	15.52%	8,502
	Democratic	Arturo Vazquez	11.90%	6,518
Total Votes (100% Reporting)				54,785
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Texas Thirteenth District Court of Appeals, Democratic Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Leticia Hinojosa	72.09%	81,193
	Democratic	Carlos Valdez	27.91%	31,433
Total Votes (100% Reporting)				112,626
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals, Seat 2, Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Kevin Jewell	56.30%	190,409
	Republican	Bud Wiesedeppe	43.70%	147,798
Total Votes (100% Reporting)				338,207
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals, Seat 2, Democratic Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Candance White	69.96%	154,111
	Democratic	Jim Sharp	30.04%	66,158
Total Votes (100% Reporting)				220,269
Source: Texas Secretary of State Official Results

Selection

See also: Judicial selection in Texas

Primary election

Partisan primaries are held if even one candidate has filed for a position. To advance to the general election, a candidate must win a majority (over 50 percent) of the vote. If no candidate in a race wins the majority—as in cases where more than two candidates are competing for a seat—a runoff election is held between the top two candidates.

Though Texas officially has closed primaries (requiring that voters declare party affiliation in advance in order to participate), the state's primaries are functionally open; any registered voter may vote in any single party's primary if they have not voted in the primary of another party. The elections are closed, however, in that voters may not participate in the proceedings (a runoff primary or a convention) of another party thereafter.

General election

The winning candidates from each major party's primary, as well as any additional minor party candidates, compete in a general election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. If a candidate was unopposed in the general election, his or her name will still appear on the general election ballot.

State profile

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.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Texas

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

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, one is located in Texas, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total pivot counties.

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Texas had one Retained Pivot County, 0.55 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.

More Texas coverage on Ballotpedia

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• More...

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Texas supreme court' OR 'Texas court election' OR 'Texas elections 2016'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Texas judicial elections, 2016 - Google News

External links

Suggest a link

• Texas Judicial Branch

Footnotes

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Texas courts

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Federal courts:

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State courts:

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State resources:

Courts in Texas • Texas judicial elections • Judicial selection in Texas