Early voting the for 2018 Midterm Election ends today, Friday, November 2 – traditionally the highest day for early voter turnout. As of Wednesday evening, 33.7% of Texas voters had turned out to the polls in Texas’ largest 30 counties. Although turnout has been trending downward in the last few days, this year’s turnout still resembles a presidential election cycle. For more details on early voting, visit the Texas Secretary of State’s Early Voting page.
The 2018 ballot features 14 races for statewide positions (U.S. Senate seat, Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, Land Commissioner, Agriculture Commissioner, Railroad Commissioner, and 6 spots for Texas Supreme Court and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals) , 7 State Board of Education seats, 15 Texas Senate seats, all 150 Texas House seats and all 36 U.S. House seats.
SBOE
The Texas State Board of Education has 15 members who serve four-year terms of which seven seats are on this year’s ballot. Three are open seats, three Democratic incumbents are seeking re-election to the board and one Republican incumbent is seeking re-election to the board.
U.S. Senate & House
Texas has 36 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, with 28 incumbents seeking re-election and eight open seat races. 24 of the incumbents have major-party challengers. Three state legislative members are running for open seats in the U.S. House.
One U.S. Senate seat is on the ballot this election. Republican incumbent Ted Cruz faces Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke.
Texas Senate
15 of the state Senate’s 31 seats are on this year’s ballot, including two open seat races. Of the remaining 13 incumbents seeking re-election, 11 have major-party challengers.
After the special election for SD 19 earlier this year, the current make up of the Texas Senate is 21 Republicans and 10 Democrats.
Texas House
All 150 seats in the Texas House are on this year’s ballot. House membership will include at least 24 freshmen; Eight incumbents were defeated in primaries, 13 incumbents are not seeking re-election, and 3 open seat candidates are running unopposed. House membership will also include at least 6* second-term members and 6* third-term members, based on incumbents without major-party challengers. The number of freshmen could increase based on the outcomes of the 80 races in which incumbents are facing major-party challengers.
The current makeup of the House is 95 Republicans and 55 Democrats.
*Members who returned to the House after not serving for a session or more are not included in these numbers.
A complete list of candidates in the 2018 statewide races can be found on the Texas Tribune site.
