Following statewide primaries held on March 5, 2024, the 2024 Texas House of Representatives election will be held on November 5, 2024.[1] The winners of this election will serve in the 89th Texas Legislature. It will be held alongside numerous other federal, state, and local elections, including the 2024 U.S. presidential election and the 2024 Texas Senate election.
Background
Republicans expanded their majority by one seat to an 86–64 margin in the 2022 elections, winning multiple competitive, heavily Hispanic, districts in South Texas, while Democrats performed better than expected in suburban areas.[2]
During the regular session, the legislature expanded school armed security measures, banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices at public universities, and allowed school districts to hire or volunteer chaplains for mental health support for students.[3][4][5] Near the end of the session, the House voted unanimously to expel Republican Bryan Slaton for having an improper relationship with an aide.[6] Republican infighting led to the collapse of a school voucher bill during the regular session, but governor Greg Abbott vowed to call special sessions until it passed.[7] On May 27, 2023, the House voted 121–23 to impeach attorney generalKen Paxton after a House committee found that he had used taxpayer funds to settle a legal dispute.[8][9][10]
The impeachment effort against Paxton failed when the Texas Senate voted to acquit him of all charges in September 2023.[11] Abbott called four special sessions to push for the voucher bill, but these efforts failed, bringing the effort to a final defeat in November 2023 when 21 Republicans voted with Democrats on an amendment to strip the voucher provisions from the House's education bill.[12][13]
Nine incumbent representatives, all Republicans, were defeated in the March 5 primary election.[31] Eight incumbents (Seven Republicans, One Democrat) will face runoff elections.
The special election to fill the seat of expelled representative
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, and attorney generalKen Paxton. Many saw the race as a preview for the intraparty battle over vouchers and Paxton's impeachment that was soon to take place in the March primary. Dutton narrowly won the runoff on January 30, 2024.[35][36][37]
Texas House of Representatives 2nd district special election
Dozens of Republican lawmakers are facing primary challenges over votes on the impeachment of Ken Paxton and on school vouchers. Paxton and Abbott combined have endorsed primary challengers for over half of all Republicans running for re-election.[38] Former presidentDonald Trump has additionally endorsed seven challengers to House incumbents, with the three men endorsing opposing candidates in several races, including multiple in Collin County.[39][40] The primary has garnered national attention due to its attempts to push the House in a more conservative direction and the high number of primary challengers, especially the challenge against incumbent speakerDade Phelan.[41][42]
Conservative challengers ousted a number of incumbent Republicans in the primary, including half of those targeted by Greg Abbott. Eight others were forced into May runoff elections, including speakerDade Phelan. Paxton's challengers were less successful at defeating incumbents, especially when his endorsements conflicted with Abbott's. The results marked a significant increase in support for school vouchers among Republican legislators.[43][44]
On the Democratic side, multiple incumbents have announced their intention to run for higher office, setting up open primaries for their House seats.[38] A small number of Democrats have been targeted for primary challenges due to their votes with Republicans on LGBT rights and other issues.[45][46]
General election
Commentators expect there to be few competitive seats in the general election. Each party only holds one seat won by the opposing party's gubernatorial nominee in the 2022 election.[47]
Predictions
The following races are considered competitive:[48]
Incumbent Republican Gary VanDeaver is running for re-election. He has been targeted in the Republican primary for his votes to impeach attorney generalKen Paxton and against school voucher legislation. VanDeaver himself won election to the House in a 2014 Republican primary against then-incumbent George Lavender, who was considered much more conservative than VanDeaver.[50]
Incumbent Republican Jill Dutton is running for re-election. She was elected in a January 2024 special election, and she faces a rematch with Brent Money. Money, the more conservative of the two candidates, seeks victory in the primary after blaming his defeat in the special election on Democrats allegedly voting for Dutton. Texas has an open primary system for its elections.[51]
Incumbent Republican Jay Dean is running for re-election. He has been targeted for a primary challenge due to his opposition to school voucher legislation.[53]
Incumbent Republican Cody Harris is running for re-election. He has been targeted for a primary challenge due to his support of the impeachment of attorney generalKen Paxton.[54]
Incumbent Republican Travis Clardy is running for re-election. He has been targeted for a primary challenge due to his opposition to school voucher legislation.[56][57]
Incumbent Republican Stan Gerdes is running for re-election. He has been targeted for a primary challenge due to his support of the impeachment of attorney generalKen Paxton.[60]
Incumbent Republican Ernest Bailes ran for re-election but lost renomination. He had been targeted for a primary challenge due to his opposition to school voucher legislation.[61]
Incumbent Republican Ellen Troxclair is running for re-election. She has been targeted for a primary challenge by former state representative Kyle Biedermann due to her support of the impeachment of attorney generalKen Paxton.[62]
Results by county Phelan: 50–60% Covey: 40–50% 50–60%
Incumbent Republican Speaker of the Texas HouseDade Phelan is running for re-election. Phelan has been targeted by conservatives over his support of the impeachment of attorney generalKen Paxton, the House's failure to pass school voucher legislation in the 2023 session, and his continuation of the practice of appointing Democrats as chairs of House committees.[63] Despite heralding the passage of conservative legislation on abortion, guns, and border security, Phelan has been targeted as "insufficiently conservative" by many in the state party, which voted to censure him in February 2024.[64][65] The race has been seen as the primary hotspot in the party's internal battle in the primary over the Paxton impeachment and school vouchers.[66][67] Much of the campaign has focused on Paxton's impeachment, but it has also included the alleged harassment of Phelan's wife and terroristic threats against Phelan himself.[68][69] This is Phelan's first primary challenge since he initially won the Beaumont-area district in 2014.[65]
Incumbent Democrat Christian Manuel is running for re-election. He defeated lawyer Al Price Jr., the son of former state representative Al Price Sr, in the Democratic primary[75]
Incumbent Republican Jacey Jetton is running for re-election. He has been targeted for a primary challenge due to his support of the impeachment of attorney generalKen Paxton.[76]
Incumbent Republican Gary Gates is running for re-election. Gates voted for the impeachment of attorney generalKen Paxton, but he later expressed regret for the vote, publicly defending Paxton and earning his endorsement in his primary election.[77]
Incumbent Democrat Abel Herrero is retiring.[23] Former state representative Solomon Ortiz Jr. defeated Corpus Christi city council member Roland Barrera in the Democratic Primary. He will face Republican Denise Villalobos in the general, in what is a top pickup target for Texas Republicans.
Incumbent Republican Janie Lopez is running for re-election. Lopez narrowly won the South Texas district in 2022.[81] Among Lopez's Democratic challengers is former representative Alex Dominguez, who represented the seat prior to the 2022 election before retiring to run for the Texas Senate.[82]
Incumbent Republican J. M. Lozano is running for re-election. Lozano voted for the impeachment of attorney generalKen Paxton, but he later expressed regret for the vote and did not draw any primary challengers over it.[77]
Incumbent Republican John Kuempel is running for re-election. He has been targeted for a primary challenge due to his opposition to school voucher legislation.[83] Among Kuempel's challengers is former representative Alan Schoolcraft.[84]
Incumbent Republican Caroline Harris Davila is running for re-election. She will face Democrat Jennie Birkholz in the general election, in what is a top pickup target for Texas Democrats.
Incumbent Republican Andrew Murr is retiring. Murr had been targeted by conservatives over his role leading the impeachment of attorney generalKen Paxton, as well as his opposition to school voucher legislation.[19]
Incumbent Republican Hugh Shine is running for re-election. He has been targeted for a primary challenge due to his opposition to school voucher legislation.[85][86]
Incumbent Republican DeWayne Burns is running for re-election. He has been targeted for a primary challenge due to his opposition to school voucher legislation.[87][88]
Incumbent Republican Glenn Rogers is running for re-election. He has been targeted for a primary challenge due to his opposition to school voucher legislation.[89]
Incumbent Republican Frederick Frazier is running for re-election. He has been targeted for a primary challenge due to his support of the impeachment of attorney generalKen Paxton. Paxton has endorsed challenger Chuck Branch.[90]
Incumbent Republican Reggie Smith is running for re-election. He has been targeted for a primary challenge due to his opposition to school voucher legislation.[91]
Incumbent Republican Ben Bumgarner is running for re-election. He faces multiple Republican primary challengers as well as a challenge from former Democratic state representative Michelle Beckley.[92]
The incumbent is Republican Kronda Thimesch, who is running for re-election. She has been targeted for a primary challenge due to her support of the impeachment of attorney generalKen Paxton.[94]
Incumbent Republican Matt Shaheen is running for re-election. He has been targeted for a primary challenge due to his support of the impeachment of attorney generalKen Paxton.[90]
Incumbent Republican Jeff Leach is running for re-election. He has been targeted for a primary challenge due to his support of the impeachment of attorney generalKen Paxton.[90]
Incumbent Republican David Spiller is running for re-election. He has been targeted for a primary challenge due to his support of the impeachment of attorney generalKen Paxton.[95]
Incumbent Republican Drew Darby is running for re-election. He has been targeted for a primary challenge due to his opposition to school voucher legislation.[98]
Incumbent Democrat Suleman Lalani is running for re-election. He defeated social worker. and school choice activist Vanesia Johnson in the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Democrat Evelina Ortega is retiring.[24] The Democratic primary was crowded, including former state representative Norma Chávez, El Paso council member Alexsandra Annello, County Commissioner Vincent Perez, and Homer Reza. Chávez and Perez advanced to the Democratic primary runoff.
Incumbent Democrat Tracy King is retiring. King ran unopposed in 2022 and represents the only district Greg Abbott won in his 2022 re-election that simultaneously elected a Democrat to the House. As such, the district is seen as Republican's best opportunity to win a seat from the Democrats.[25][99]
Incumbent Republican Candy Noble is running for re-election. She has been targeted for a primary challenge due to her support of the impeachment of attorney generalKen Paxton.[90]
Incumbent Republican Speaker Pro Tempore Charlie Geren is running for re-election. He has been targeted for a primary challenge due to his role in the impeachment of attorney generalKen Paxton.[103]
Incumbent Democrat Victoria Neave is retiring to run for State Senate.[26] Linda Garcia was unopposed in the Democratic primary and faces no opposition in the general election.[104]
District 108
Incumbent Republican Morgan Meyer is running for re-election. He was targeted for a primary challenge due to his support of the impeachment of attorney generalKen Paxton. His challenger was also endorsed by former presidentDonald Trump and lieutenant governorDan Patrick. Meyer has been endorsed by governorGreg Abbott due to his support for school voucher legislation.[39] Meyer narrowly defeated his challenger in the primary, and now faces re-election in what is likely to be one of the most competitive seats of the cycle.[105]
Incumbent Republican John Lujan is running for re-election. Lujan narrowly won the southern Bexar County district in 2022 after flipping it in a special election the previous year.[108]
Incumbent Republican Steve Allison ran for re-election, but was defeated in the Republican primary by Marc LaHood. He was the target of a primary challenge due to his opposition to school voucher legislation.[109]
Incumbent Republican Mano DeAyala is running for re-election. He has been targeted for a primary challenge due to his support of the impeachment of attorney generalKen Paxton.[110]
Incumbent Democrat Ana Hernandez is running for re-election unopposed.
District 144
Incumbent Democrat Mary Ann Perez is running for re-election unopposed.
District 145
Incumbent Democrat Christina Morales is running for re-election unopposed.
District 146
Incumbent Democrat Shawn Thierry is running for re-election. She has been targeted for a primary challenge due to her votes with Republicans on LGBT issues.[46]
^Despart, Zach; Downey, Renzo (March 6, 2024). "Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton declare victory in attack on House GOP defectors". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 12, 2024. Among those candidates who appeared to have lost outright: Steve Allison of San Antonio, Ernest Bailes of Shepherd, Travis Clardy of Nacogdoches, Jill Dutton of Ben Wheeler, Jacey Jetton of Richmond, Glenn Rogers of Graford, Hugh Shine of Temple, Reggie Smith of Sherman and Kronda Thimesch of Lewisville.
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Government
