U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...
of
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
on November 6, 2018. All of Texas's executive officers were up for election as well as a
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
seat, and all of Texas's thirty-six seats in the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...
. The Republican and Democratic Parties nominated their candidates by primaries held March 6, 2018. Convention Parties nominated their candidates at a series of conventions. County Conventions held March 17, 2018, District Conventions held March 24, 2018, and a State Convention held April 14, 2018. At the present time there is only one Convention Party in Texas, that is the Libertarian Party. Other parties may seek to achieve ballot access.
Turnout in the November general election reached historic levels, rivaling turnout in a presidential election. While the Republican Party won every statewide position, the margin of victory was narrower than previous elections.
United States Senate
Democratic U.S. Representative
Beto O'Rourke
Robert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke ( , ; ; born September 26, 1972) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 2013 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, O'Rourke was the party's nominee for the U.S. Senat ...
and Libertarian candidate Neal Dikeman challenged U.S. Senator
Ted Cruz
Rafael Edward "Ted" Cruz (; born December 22, 1970) is an American politician and attorney serving as the junior United States Senator from Texas since 2013. A member of the Republican Party, Cruz served as Solicitor General of Texas from ...
for re-election. Cruz narrowly defeated O'Rourke by 2.6%.
United States House of Representatives
All of Texas's thirty-six seats in the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...
were up for election in 2018.Executive Branch retrieved 23-October-2008 No open seats changed hands, but two Republican incumbents lost to Democrats.
Governor
Incumbent governor
Greg Abbott
Gregory Wayne Abbott (born November 13, 1957) is an American politician, attorney, and former jurist serving as the 48th governor of Texas since 2015. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 50th Tex ...
ran for a second term. He was first elected in 2014 after serving twelve years as
Texas Attorney General
The Texas attorney general is the chief legal officer of the , and he succeeded
Rick Perry
James Richard Perry (born March 4, 1950) is an American politician who served as the 14th United States secretary of energy from 2017 to 2019 and as the 47th governor of Texas from 2000 to 2015. Perry also ran unsuccessfully for the Republica ...
as governor.
Abbott won the March 20, 2018, Republican primary, while
Lupe Valdez
Guadalupe Valdez (born October 11, 1947) is an American law enforcement official who served as Sheriff of Dallas County, Texas, from 2005 to 2017, and was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Texas in the 2018 gubernatorial election. She lost ...
won the Democratic runoff against Andrew White, becoming the first Latina nominated by a major party for statewide office in Texas.
Libertarian Mark Tippetts also ran against Abbott. Tippetts defeated Kathie Glass, Patrick "Not Governor" Smith, and Kory Watkins at the party convention to earn his nomination.
Lieutenant Governor
On January 9, 2017, the day before the 85th Texas Legislature began its session, incumbent Republican
Lieutenant Governor
A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...
Dan Patrick Dan Patrick may refer to:
* Dan Patrick (ice hockey) (born 1938), Canadian ice hockey player
* Dan Patrick (politician) (born 1950), Lieutenant Governor of Texas and political and sports radio journalist
* Dan Patrick (sportscaster) (born 1956), Ame ...
announced he would run for re-election in 2018. He stated his early announcement was in order to dispel rumors of a primary challenge to Governor
Greg Abbott
Gregory Wayne Abbott (born November 13, 1957) is an American politician, attorney, and former jurist serving as the 48th governor of Texas since 2015. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 50th Tex ...
or U.S. Senator
Ted Cruz
Rafael Edward "Ted" Cruz (; born December 22, 1970) is an American politician and attorney serving as the junior United States Senator from Texas since 2013. A member of the Republican Party, Cruz served as Solicitor General of Texas from ...
.
Republican primary
Candidates
*
Dan Patrick Dan Patrick may refer to:
* Dan Patrick (ice hockey) (born 1938), Canadian ice hockey player
* Dan Patrick (politician) (born 1950), Lieutenant Governor of Texas and political and sports radio journalist
* Dan Patrick (sportscaster) (born 1956), Ame ...
, incumbent lieutenant governor
* Scott Milder, former Rockwall city councilman
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
* Mike Collier, businessman, finance Chair of the
Texas Democratic Party
The Texas Democratic Party is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of Texas and one of the two major political parties in the state. The party's headquarters are in Austin, Texas.
President Lyndon B. Johnson was a Texas Democ ...
, and nominee for Comptroller in 2014
* Michael Cooper, businessman, community leader, and pastor
Results
Libertarian state convention
Candidates
* Kerry Douglas McKennon
General election
Polling
Results
Attorney General
Incumbent Republican
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general.
In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...
Ken Paxton
Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr. (born December 23, 1962) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the Attorney General of Texas since January 2015. Paxton has described himself as a Tea Party conservative.
Paxton was re-elected to a th ...
ran for re-election to a second term.
Republican primary
Candidates
*
Ken Paxton
Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr. (born December 23, 1962) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the Attorney General of Texas since January 2015. Paxton has described himself as a Tea Party conservative.
Paxton was re-elected to a th ...
Comptroller
A comptroller (pronounced either the same as ''controller'' or as ) is a management-level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization. A financial comptroller is a senior-level executi ...
Glenn Hegar
Glenn Allen Hegar Jr. (born 25 November 1970)State Sen. Glenn H ...
ran for re-election to a second term.
Republican primary
Candidates
*
Glenn Hegar
Glenn Allen Hegar Jr. (born 25 November 1970)State Sen. Glenn H ...
, incumbent comptroller
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
* Joi Chevalier, business owner
* Tim Mahoney
Results
Libertarian state convention
Candidates
*Ben Sanders
General election
Results
Commissioner of the General Land Office
Republican primary
Candidates
*
George P. Bush
George Prescott Bush (born April 24, 1976) is an American politician and attorney who served as the commissioner of the Texas General Land Office from 2015 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Bush unsuccessfully campaigned for the party's ...
, incumbent Commissioner of the General Land Office
*Davey Edwards, professional land surveyor
*
Jerry E. Patterson
Jerry Emmett Patterson (born November 15, 1946) is an American politician who served as the commissioner of the Texas General Land Office from 2003 to 2015. A former state senator, he was the second Republican since Reconstruction to serve as la ...
, former Commissioner of the General Land Office (2003–2015)
*Rick Range, retired teacher and firefighter
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
* Tex Morgan
* Miguel Suazo
Results
Libertarian state convention
Candidates
* Matt Piña
General election
Endorsements
Polling
Results
Commissioner of Agriculture
Incumbent Republican
Commissioner
A commissioner (commonly abbreviated as Comm'r) is, in principle, a member of a commission or an individual who has been given a commission (official charge or authority to do something).
In practice, the title of commissioner has evolved to in ...
* Trey Blocker, lobbyist
* Jim Hogan
* Sid Miller, incumbent Commissioner of Agriculture
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
* Kim Olson, retired Air Force Colonel and former member of the
Weatherford Independent School District
Weatherford Independent School District is a public school district based in Weatherford, Texas (USA).
In addition to Weatherford, the district serves most of Hudson Oaks as well as portions of Willow Park and Annetta North.
In 2009, the s ...
Board of Trustees
Results
Libertarian state convention
Candidates
* Richard Carpenter
General election
Results
Texas Railroad Commissioner
Incumbent Republican
Commissioner
A commissioner (commonly abbreviated as Comm'r) is, in principle, a member of a commission or an individual who has been given a commission (official charge or authority to do something).
In practice, the title of commissioner has evolved to in ...
Christi Craddick
Christi Leigh Craddick (born July 1, 1970) is an American politician. She is one of three members of the Railroad Commission of Texas, the elected regulatory body over oil, natural gas, utilities, and surface mining first established in 1891. Sh ...
ran for re-election to a second six-year term.
Republican primary
Candidates
*
Christi Craddick
Christi Leigh Craddick (born July 1, 1970) is an American politician. She is one of three members of the Railroad Commission of Texas, the elected regulatory body over oil, natural gas, utilities, and surface mining first established in 1891. Sh ...
* Roman McAllen, historic preservation officer
* Chris Spellmon
Results
Libertarian state convention
Candidates
* Mike Wright
General election
Results
Supreme Court of Texas
Justice, Place 2 election
Republican primary
=Candidates
=
*
Jimmy Blacklock
James Davis "Jimmy" Blacklock (born August 28, 1980) is an American attorney and judge currently serving as an associate justice of the Texas Supreme Court.
Background
Blacklock was born in Missouri City, Texas, where he attended public schoo ...
, general counsel to Governor
Greg Abbott
Gregory Wayne Abbott (born November 13, 1957) is an American politician, attorney, and former jurist serving as the 48th governor of Texas since 2015. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 50th Tex ...
=
* Jeff Brown, incumbent Associate Justice of the Texas Supreme Court
=Results
=
Democratic primary
=Candidates
=
*Kathy Cheng, attorney
=Results
=
General election
=Results
=
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Presiding Judge election
Republican primary
=Candidates
=
*David Bridges, incumbent Associate Justice of the
Fifth Court of Appeals of Texas
The Fifth Court of Appeals of Texas is one of the 14 Texas Courts of Appeals. It currently sits in Dallas, Texas. It has simultaneously both the smallest Court of Appeals' jurisdictional geographic size (only six counties, one of which is shared ...
*
Sharon Keller
Sharon Faye Keller (born August 1, 1953) is the Presiding Judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. She is a Republican.
Education and early career
Born in Texas, Keller graduated from Rice University in Houston in 1975 with a major in philo ...
, incumbent Presiding Judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Bexar County
Bexar County ( or ; es, Béxar ) is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. It is in South Texas and its county seat is San Antonio.
As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,009,324. Bexar County is included in the San Antonio–New Bra ...
Galveston County
Galveston County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Texas, located along the Gulf Coast adjacent to Galveston Bay. As of the 2020 census, the population was 350,682. The county was founded in 1838. The county seat is the City of Galveston, ...
district judge
*Dib Waldrip,
Comal County
Comal County ( ) is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 161,501. Comal County is known for its rich German-Texan and European history. Its county seat is New Braunfels.
...
district judge
=Results
=
General election
=Results
=
Texas State Board of Education
Member, District 2
Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
Member, District 3
Democratic primary
General election
Member, District 4
Democratic primary
General election
Member, District 7
Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
Member, District 11
Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
Member, District 12
Republican primary
Democratic primary
=First round
=
Malone-Miller withdrew after the first round, eliminating the need for a runoff.
General election
Member, District 13
Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
Texas Legislature
Every seat in the
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Texas Legislature. It consists of 150 members who are elected from single-member districts for two-year terms. As of the 2010 United States census, each member represents abou ...
and about half of the seats in the
Texas Senate
The Texas Senate ( es, Senado de Texas) is the upper house of the Texas State Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing single-member districts across the U.S. state of Texas, with populations of approximately 806,000 per cons ...
Vote Smart
Vote Smart, formerly called Project Vote Smart, is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States. It covers candidates and elected officials in si ...
Ballotpedia
Ballotpedia is a nonprofit and nonpartisan online political encyclopedia that covers federal, state, and local politics, elections, and public policy in the United States. The website was founded in 2007. Ballotpedia is sponsored by the Lucy Bur ...
OpenSecrets
OpenSecrets is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., that tracks data on campaign finance and lobbying. It was created from a merger of the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) and the National Institute on Money in Politics (NIMP). ...
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...