Straight ticket voting impacted the results but the overall voter turnout does not appear like it will exceed 2010 turnout. With 99% of the precincts reported to the Secretary of State, turnout is 33%.
The Congressional delegation will be 25 Republicans and 11 Democrats in the House and 2 Republicans and 0 Democrats in the Senate (CD 23 flipped).
All Texas statewide races were won by the GOP and will continue to occupy 26 of the 27 elected statewide offices.
Shortly after the polls closed yesterday, several large Texas statewide races were already being called with the media reporting a GOP sweep. Now with 99% of the precincts reporting the results of some of those races:
- U.S. Senator: John Cornyn (Inc. –R) 62%, David Alameel (D) 34%
- Governor: Greg Abbott (R) 59%, Wendy Davis (D) 39%
- Lt. Governor: Dan Patrick (R) 58%, Leticia Van de Putte (D) 39%
- Attorney General: Ken Paxton (R) 59%, Sam Houston (D) 38%
- Comptroller: Glenn Hegar (R) 58%, Mike Collier (D) 38%
- Land Commissioner: George P. Bush (R) 61%, John Cook (D) 35%
- Agriculture Commissioner: Sid Miller (R) 59%, Jim Hogan (D) 37%
- Railroad Commissioner Place 2: Ryan Sitton (R) 58%, Sam Brown (D) 36%
The State Board of Education will continue to have 10 Republicans and 5 Democrats.
The 84th Session begins Tuesday, January 13, 2015 and bills filing for that session begins in five days, on Monday, November 10.
The make-up of the 84th Legislature:
House and Senate Split
- Senate – 19 Republicans (SD 10 pick-up) and 11 Democrats (1 vacant seat after elections- SD 18)
- House – 98 Republicans (HD 23, HD 117 and HD 144 pick-up) and 52 Democrats
Special Elections
Sen. Glenn Hegar won his race for Comptroller so there will be a special election called to fill his Senate seat, members of the House could run necessitating additional special elections to fill the House seat if a member was successful in their bid.
There could also be special elections in-store for the House of Representatives. Rep. Mike Villarreal is running for Mayor of San Antonio. If he wins a special election will be necessary.
New Faces in the 84th
Senate (7 Freshmen and 5 Sophomores)*
- Republicans
- 7 Freshmen
- 4 Sophomores
- Democrats
- 1 Sophomore
*There will be one more freshman after the special election to fill Glenn Hegar's open seat
Members of the 83rd Legislature House of Representatives who will be serving in the Senate during the 84th Legislature:
- Rep. Brandon Creighton – SD 4 Tommy Williams retired
- Rep. Van Taylor – SD 8 Ken Paxton was elected Attorney General
- Rep. Charles Perry – SD 28 Robert Duncan retired
House (25 Freshman and 38 Sophomores)
- Republicans
- 22 Freshman
- 27 Sophomores
- Democrats
- 3 Freshman
- 11 Sophomores
House committees losing leadership:
- Appropriations: Pitts (chair)
- Criminal Jurisprudence: Carter (vice-chair)
- Defense & Veterans’ Affairs: Ralph Sheffield (vice-chair)
- Economic & Small Business Development: John Davis (chair)
- Government Efficiency & Reform: Harper-Brown (chair), Perry (vice-chair)
- Higher Education: Branch (chair), Patrick (vice-chair)
- Human Services: Naomi Gonzalez (vice-chair)
- Insurance: Eiland (vice-chair)
- Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence: Lewis (chair)
- Natural Resources: Ritter (chair)
- Pensions: Callegari (chair)
- Ways & Means: Hilderbran (chair)
- Business & Commerce: Carona (chair)
- Economic Development: Deuell (chair)
- Education: Patrick (chair)
- Finance: Williams (chair)
- Health & Human Services: Deuell (vice-chair)
- Nominations: Hegar (chair)
- Open Government: Davis (vice-chair)
- State Affairs: Duncan (chair), Deuell, (vice-chair)
- Transportation: Paxton (vice-chair)
*Many of the leadership positions have already been re-appointed by Lt. Gov. Dewhurst, however, once he assumes his role as Lt. Gov., Dan Patrick can make appointments as he wishes.
