Texas elections, 2014

The 2014 general election was held in the U.S. state of Texas on November 4, 2014. All of Texas' executive officers were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, and all of Texas' thirty-six seats in the United States House of Representatives. Primary elections were held on March 4, 2014. Primary runoffs, required if no candidate wins a majority of the vote, were held on May 27, 2014. Elections were also held for the Texas legislature and proposition 1, seeking funds for Texas highways (which passed).

A combination of retirements, incumbents seeking other offices and a primary defeat means that after the election, for the first time since 1874, all of Texas' executive offices were held by new officeholders.

The Tea Party made large gains in the 2014 elections, with Tea Party-backed candidates being elected into offices such as Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General, among other offices.[1][2][3]

Governor

Incumbent Republican Governor Rick Perry, who has served in the office since December 21, 2000, when George W. Bush resigned ahead of being sworn-in as President of the United States, has announced that he will not run for a fourth full term as Governor. This will be the first open election for Governor since 1990, when Ann Richards was elected.

Greg Abbott won the Republican primary, Wendy Davis won the Democratic primary. Kathie Glass won the Libertarian Party of Texas nomination in convention. They and a Green candidate will contest the general election.

Abbott won the general election, defeating Davis by twenty points.

Lieutenant Governor

Incumbent Republican Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst ran for re-election to an unprecedented fourth term in office.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
Declined

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
David
Dewhurst
Dan
Branch
Susan
Combs
Ed
Emmett
Dan
Patrick
Jerry
Patterson
Todd
Staples
Other Undecided
UoT/Texas Tribune February 7–17, 2014 461 ± 4.56% 37% 31% 17% 15%
Public Policy Polling November 1–4, 2013 388 ± 5% 37% 18% 10% 4% 31%
UoT/Texas Tribune October 18–27, 2013 519 ± 5.02% 26% 13% 10% 5% 46%
Public Policy Polling June 28–July 1, 2013 318 ± ? 37% 17% 7% 5% 34%
UoT/Texas Tribune May 31–June 9, 2013 492 ± 5.27% 19% 10% 6% 5% 61%
Public Policy Polling January 24–27, 2013 400 ± ? 37% 18% 12% 2% 4% 26%
University of Texas-Austin May 7–13, 2012 343 ± 5.29% 3% 29% 23% 9% 10% 22% 4%
DWBS April 27–30, 2012 400 ± 4.5% 2% 28% 5% 15% 5% 7% 39%
University of Texas-Austin February 8–15, 2012 361 ± 5.16% 3% 27% 20% 8% 8% 34%
University of Texas-Austin October 19–26, 2011 397 ± 4.92% 1% 14% 9% 5% 2% 5% 64%

Results

Republican primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Patrick 552,692 41.43
Republican David Dewhurst 377,856 28.32
Republican Todd Staples 236,949 17.76
Republican Jerry Patterson 166,399 12.47
Total votes 1,333,896 100

Runoff

Polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
David
Dewhurst
Dan
Patrick
Other Undecided
Baselice & Associates March 5–6, 2014 501 ± 4.4% 34% 55% 11%
Results
Republican primary runoff results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Patrick 487,829 65.05
Republican David Dewhurst 262,086 34.95
Total votes 749,915 100

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared
Withdrew

Libertarian nomination

Candidates

Declared
Withdrew

Green nomination

Candidates

Declared

General election

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Dan
Patrick (R)
Leticia
Van de Putte (D)
Other Undecided
UoT/Texas Tribune October 10–19, 2014 866 ± 3.6% 52% 35% 13%[15]
Survey Research Center September 22–October 16, 2014 781 ± 3.5% 36% 24% 6%[16] 34%
Crosswind Communications October 9–12, 2014 500 ± 4.33% 42.8% 23% 1.2% 33%
Texas Lyceum September 11–25, 2014 666 ± 3.8% 47% 33% 5%[17] 14%
UoT/Texas Tribune May 30–June 8, 2014 1,200 ± 2.83% 41% 26% 9%[18] 23%
Public Policy Polling April 10–13, 2014 559 ± 4.1% 51% 35% 14%
UoT/Texas Tribune February 7–17, 2014 1,200 ± 2.83% 41% 32% 28%

Results

Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2014[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Patrick 2,718,406 58.13
Democratic Leticia Van de Putte 1,810,720 38.72
Libertarian Robert Butler 119,581 2.55
Green Chandra Courtney 27,651 0.59
Majority 907,686 19.41%
Total votes 4,676,358 100
Voter turnout 33.34%
Republican hold

Attorney General

Incumbent Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott did not run for re-election to a fourth term. He was instead the Republican nominee for Governor.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
Declined

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Dan
Branch
Ken
Paxton
Barry
Smitherman
Other Undecided
UoT/Texas Tribune February 7–17, 2014 461 ± 4.56% 42% 38% 20%
UoT/Texas Tribune October 18–27, 2013 519 ± 5.02% 5% 10% 11% 74%

Results

Republican primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ken Paxton 569,034 44.45
Republican Dan Branch 428,325 33.46
Republican Barry Smitherman 282,701 22.08
Total votes 1,280,060 100

Runoff

Results
Republican primary runoff results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ken Paxton 466,224 63.63
Republican Dan Branch 266,539 36.37
Total votes 732,763 100

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Libertarian nomination

Candidates

Declared

Balagia won the Libertarian nomination

Green nomination

Candidates

Declared

General election

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Ken
Paxton (R)
Sam
Houston (D)
Other Undecided
UoT/Texas Tribune October 10–19, 2014 866 ± 3.6% 54% 34% 12%[25]
UoT/Texas Tribune May 30–June 8, 2014 1,200 ± 2.83% 40% 27% 6%[26] 27%

Results

Texas Attorney General election, 2014[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ken Paxton 2,737,289 58.8
Democratic Sam Houston 1,769,943 38.02
Libertarian Jamie Balagia 118,183 2.53
Green Jamar Osborne 29,513 0.63
Majority 967,346 20.78%
Total votes 4,654,928 100
Voter turnout 33.18%
Republican hold

Comptroller of Public Accounts

Incumbent Republican Comptroller Susan Combs retired and did not seek a third term in office.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
Declined

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Glenn
Hegar
Harvey
Hilderbran
Debra
Medina
Raul
Torres
Other Undecided
UoT/Texas Tribune February 7–17, 2014 461 ±4.56% 24% 26% 39% 11%
UoT/Texas Tribune October 18–27, 2013 519 ±5.02% 4% 2% 14% 5% 75%

Results

Republican primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Glenn Hegar 612,269 49.99
Republican Harvey Hilderbran 318,899 26.04
Republican Debra Medina 236,531 19.31
Republican Raul Torres 56,937 4.64
Total votes 1,224,636 100

A runoff was to be held, but with Hegar only narrowly below the 50% threshold and with several thousand provisional and overseas ballots to be counted, Hildebran withdrew on March 7, 2014, and endorsed Hegar.[31] When the final results were released, Hegar had come only 50 votes short of winning the primary outright.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Libertarian nomination

Candidates

Declared

Green nomination

Candidates

Declared

General election

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Glenn
Hegar (R)
Mike
Collier (D)
Other Undecided
UoT/Texas Tribune October 10–19, 2014 866 ± 3.6% 49% 34% 17%[33]
UoT/Texas Tribune May 30–June 8, 2014 1,200 ± 2.83% 32% 25% 7%[34] 37%

Results

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts election, 2014[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Glenn Hegar 2,692,803 58.36
Democratic Mike Collier 1,739,308 37.69
Libertarian Ben Sanders 136,969 2.96
Green Deb Shafto 44,924 0.97
Majority 953,495 20.67%
Total votes 4,614,004 100
Voter turnout 32.89%
Republican hold

Commissioner of the General Land Office

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Jerry E. Patterson did not run for re-election to a fourth term. He instead ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
Declined

Results

Republican primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George P. Bush 937,987 72.99
Republican David Watts 346,949 27.00
Total votes 1,284,936 100

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Libertarian nomination

Candidates

Declared
Withdrew

Knight won the Libertarian nomination

Green nomination

Candidates

Declared

General election

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
George P.
Bush (R)
John
Cook (D)
Other Undecided
UoT/Texas Tribune October 10–19, 2014 866 ± 3.6% 50% 32% 17%[38]
UoT/Texas Tribune May 30–June 8, 2014 1,200 ± 2.83% 36% 25% 9%[39] 30%
Public Policy Polling April 10–13, 2014 559 ± 4.1% 50% 32% 18%

Results

Texas Commissioner of the General Land Office election, 2014[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George P. Bush 2,821,359 60.68
Democratic John Cook 1,641,858 35.31
Libertarian Justin Knight 126,203 2.71
Green Valerie Alessi 59,992 1.29
Majority 1,179,501 25.37%
Total votes 4,649,412 100
Voter turnout 33.14%
Republican hold

Commissioner of Agriculture

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Todd Staples did not run for re-election to a third term. He instead ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor. On September 18, he announced that he would resign within the next two months, to become President of the Texas Oil and Gas Association.[40]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
Withdrew
Declined

Results

Republican primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sid Miller 411,560 34.56
Republican Tommy Merritt 249,440 20.94
Republican Eric Opiela 207,222 17.40
Republican Joe Cotten 174,348 14.64
Republican J. Allen Carnes 148,222 12.44
Total votes 1,190,792 100

Runoff

Results
Republican primary runoff results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sid Miller 362,573 53.08
Republican Tommy Merritt 320,434 46.92
Total votes 683,007 100

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

Democratic primary results[49]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Hogan 190,090 38.74
Democratic Kinky Friedman 185,180 37.74
Democratic Hugh Fitzsimons 115,395 23.51
Total votes 490,665 100

Runoff

Results
Democratic primary runoff results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Hogan 105,763 53.71
Democratic Kinky Friedman 91,154 46.29
Total votes 196,917 100

Libertarian nomination

Candidates

Declared

Palmquist won the Libertarian nomination.

Green nomination

Candidates

Declared

General election

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Sid
Miller (R)
Jim
Hogan (D)
Other Undecided
UoT/Texas Tribune October 10–19, 2014 866 ± 3.6% 47% 35% 18%[50]
UoT/Texas Tribune May 30–June 8, 2014 1,200 ± 2.83% 32% 24% 9%[51] 34%

Results

Texas Commissioner of Agriculture election, 2014[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sid Miller 2,693,466 58.58
Democratic Jim Hogan 1,694,059 36.84
Libertarian David "Rocky" Palmquist 132,299 2.87
Green Kenneth Kendrick 77,416 1.68
Majority 999,407 21.74%
Total votes 4,597,240 100
Voter turnout 32.77%
Republican hold

Railroad Commissioner

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Barry Smitherman did not run for re-election to a full term. He instead ran unsuccessfully for Attorney General.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
Withdrew
Declined

Results

Republican primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Wayne Christian 503,634 42.68
Republican Ryan Sitton 360,125 30.52
Republican Becky Berger 198,672 16.83
Republican Malachi Boyuls 117,511 9.95
Total votes 1,179,942 100

Runoff

Results
Republican primary runoff results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ryan Sitton 398,652 57.25
Republican Wayne Christian 297,654 42.75
Total votes 696,306 100

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

Democratic primary results[49]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Steve Brown 299,009 64.02
Democratic Dale Henry 168,036 35.97
Total votes 467,045 100

Libertarian nomination

Candidates

Declared

Miller won the Libertarian nomination.

Green nomination

Candidates

Declared

General election

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Ryan
Sitton (R)
Steve
Brown (D)
Other Undecided
UoT/Texas Tribune October 10–19, 2014 866 ± 3.6% 48% 34% 19%[59]
UoT/Texas Tribune May 30–June 8, 2014 1,200 ± 2.83% 32% 24% 10%[60] 33%

Results

Texas Railroad Commissioner election, 2014[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ryan Sitton 2,679,537 58.27
Democratic Steve Brown 1,679,658 36.52
Libertarian Mark Miller 145,127 3.15
Green Kenneth Kendrick 93,988 2.04
Majority 999,879 21.74%
Total votes 4,598,310 100
Voter turnout 32.78%
Republican hold

United States Senate

Incumbent Republican Senator and Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn is running for re-election to a third term.[61] He won the Republican primary with 59% of the vote, easily turning back a primary challenge from U.S. Representative Steve Stockman and six others. The Democratic primary went to a runoff after businessman David Alameel took 47% of the vote and Worldwide LaRouche Youth Movement activist Kesha Rogers took 22% of the vote. Alameel easily defeated Rogers.

In the general election, Cornyn defeated Alameel in a landslide.

United States House of Representatives

All of Texas' thirty-six seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2014.

References

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  2. Koppel, Nathan (January 21, 2015) - "Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Moves Quickly to Advance Conservative Agenda". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  3. Grissom, Brandi. Tea Party Conservatives Win Top GOP Runoff Contests, Texas Tribune, May 28, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
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  15. Robert Butler (L) 9%, Chandra Courtney (G) 4%
  16. Robert Butler (L) 1.8%, Chandra Courtney (G) 0.9%, Other 3.3%
  17. Robert Butler (L) 3%, Chandra Courtney (G) 2%
  18. Robert Butler (L) 4%, Chandra Courtney (G) 1%, Other 4%
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  25. Jamie Balagia (L) 8%, Jamar Osborne (G) 4%
  26. Jamie Balagia (L) 3%, Jamar Osborne (G) 3%
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  33. Ben Sanders (L) 11%, Deb Shafto (G) 6%
  34. Ben Sanders (L) 5%, Deb Shafto (G) 2%
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  38. Justin Knight (L) 10%, Valerie Alessi (G) 7%
  39. Justin Knight (L) 6%, Valerie Alessi (G) 3%
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  49. 1 2 http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe 2014 Democratic Party Primary Election
  50. Kenneth Kendrick (G) 9%, Rocky Palmquist (L) 9%
  51. Kenneth Kendrick (G) 5%, Rocky Palmquist (L) 4%
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  59. Mark Miller (L) 10%, Martina Salinas (G) 9%
  60. Mark Miller (L) 6%, Martina Salinas (G) 4%
  61. "John Cornyn Airs First Re-Election Campaign Spot". Roll Call. October 7, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.

External links

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