Due to redistricting, a large number of freshmen defending their seats, the number of members not returning, and incumbents facing challenges, some spectators have said Texas could see one of the least experienced Texas House of Representatives in decades.
Additionally, a crowded field may also mean some races will not be decided until the primary runoff – 26 House races and 2 Senate races feature three candidates or more. Primary runoff elections will be held July 31 in districts where no candidate wins 50 percent or more of the vote in round one.
Decisions that will be made in the primary – we count there will be 77 House primaries and 10 Senate primaries with a total of 66 races (including the uncontested districts) that will be decided no matter what during the primary. Of the 66, 30 seats in the Texas House and 2 seats in the Texas Senate will be decided. There are 34** uncontested districts. No U.S. Congressional seat will be decided in the primary.
The break out follows:
|
2012 Texas Elections |
|||
|
Districts |
Primary* |
Uncontested* |
Uncontested** |
|
SBOE |
12 |
1 |
0 |
|
Senate |
10 |
9 |
5 |
|
House |
77 |
50 |
29 |
* list includes those ONLY in the Democratic and Republican Parties
**list includes of all parties filed including Green ,Independent and Libertarian.
In the primaries, 44 House incumbents, 6 Senate incumbents, and 20 Congressional incumbents face primary challenges.
Incumbents not returning
|
Incumbents Not Returning by Party |
||
|
|
Republicans |
Democrats |
|
Senate |
4 |
0 |
|
House |
25 |
7 |
Of the Texas Senators not returning, 4 currently hold chair positions (Senate Finance, Education, Jurisprudence, and Economic Development). Of the Texas Representatives not returning, 9 currently hold chair positions (House Elections, Technology, Border and Intergovernmental Affairs, Redistricting, Corrections, Agriculture and Livestock, Criminal Jurisprudence, Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence, and Subcommittee on Appropriations/Article III).
Election Dates:
May 14-25, 2012 – In-person early voting for Texas primary.
May 29, 2012 – Texas primary day.
June 1, 2012 – First day a voter may submit an application for a vote-by-mail ballot for the runoff.
July 23-27, 2012 – In-person early voting for the primary runoff.
July 31, 2012 – Primary runoff.
October 22-November 2, 2012 – In-person early voting for general election.
November 6, 2012 – General election.
HillCo clients, with a user account, can access candidate charts by visiting: http://login.hillcopartners.com/node/1745.
Other candidate charts include the Texas Tribune election brackets.