The deadline to file for a place on the 2018 ballot ended yesterday, on December 11th. It is anticipated that it could take a week or longer before candidate lists are finalized; therefore, the details below are estimated on best available information at the time of publication.
There are 37 federal offices (192 candidates have filed so far for those offices) & 13 statewide offices, 15 Senate seats, 150 House seats and 7 Board of Education seats on the ballot in 2018 (with an overall 430 candidates filed so far for those offices).
As of yesterday afternoon, Democrats were contesting more federal and state seats than Republicans for the first time since 1994, according to Jeff Blaylock of Texas Election Source. Blaylock further notes the following filings by party:
Democratic Party
- At least one has filed or announced for every federal seat
- At least one has filed or announced for all but one statewide office
- At least one has filed or announced for all but one Senate seat
- At least one has filed or announced for at least 128 House seats
- At least one has filed or announced for every State Board of Education (SBOE) seat
Republican Party
- At least one has filed or announced for all but three federal seats
- At least one has filed or announced for every statewide office
- At least one has filed or announced all but one Senate seat
- At least one has filed or announced for at least 109 House seats
- At least one has filed or announced for 5 out of the 7 SBOE seats
Blaylock also points out those incumbents with filed primary challengers.
- Senate Republicans – Donna Campbell, Craig Estes, Bob Hall, Joan Huffman, Charles Schwertner and Kel Seliger
- Senate Democrats – John Whitmire
- House Republicans – Rodney Anderson, Ernest Bailes, Kyle Biedermann, Dennis Bonnen, Giovanni Capriglione, Travis Clardy, Scott Cosper, Sarah Davis, Wayne Faircloth, Dan Flynn, Charlie Geren, Dan Huberty, Ken King, Linda Koop, Mike Lang, Lyle Larson, Chris Paddie, John Raney, Matt Schaefer, Four Price, J.D. Sheffield, Hugh Shine, Ron Simmons, Valoree Swanson, Jason Villalba and Paul Workman
- House Democrats – Roberto Alonzo, Diana Arévalo, Garnet Coleman, Philip Cortez, Dawnna Dukes, Harold Dutton, Mary González, Bobby Guerra, Ryan Guillen, Eric Johnson, Jarvis Johnson, Sergio Muñoz Jr., Rene Oliveira, Ron Reynolds, Shawn Thierry, Tomas Uresti and Armando Walle
As noted above additional primary opponents may emerge as lists are prepared and certified.
There are also several Texas House and Senate members that have announced their retirement or potential challenges for other seats.
- HD 4 – Rep. Lance Gooden is running for CD 5.
- HD 8 – Rep. Byron Cook, Chair of House State Affairs, is not seeking re-election.
- HD 13 – Rep. Leighton Schubert is not seeking re-election.
- HD 15 – Rep. Mark Keough, Vice Chair of House International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs, is seeking county office.
- HD 45 – Rep. Jason Isaac is running for CD 21.
- HD 52 – Rep. Larry Gonzales is not seeking re-election.
- HD 62 – Rep. Larry Phillips, Chair of House Insurance, is not seeking re-election.
- HD 89 – Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, Chair of House Elections, not seeking re-election.
- HD 106 – Rep. Pat Fallon is running for SD 30, currently held by Sen. Craig Estes.
- HD 109 – Rep. Helen Giddings, Vice Chair of House State Affairs, is not seeking re-election.
- HD 113 – Rep. Cindy Burkett is running for SD 2, currently held by Sen. Bob Hall.
- HD 121 – Current Speaker Joe Straus is not seeking re-election.
- HD 126 – Rep. Kevin Roberts is not seeking re-election.
- SD 6 – Sen. Sylvia Garcia is intending to run for CD 29.
- SD 8 – Sen. Van Taylor is intending to run for CD 3.