The 2012 Texas elections were held on November 6, 2012. Primary elections took place on May 29, 2012. Runoff elections took place on July 31, 2012.
Federal offices
President of the United States
Texas had 38 electoral votes in the Electoral College, which went to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
United States Class I Senate Seat
Incumbent Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison retired and did not seek re-election for a fourth full term. Republican Ted Cruz won the seat, defeating Democrat Paul Sadler.
United States House of Representatives
There were 36 U.S. Representative seats up for election in Texas; four more seats than the 2010 election. The Republican Party won 24 seats, while the Democrats won 12.
Executive
Railroad Commissioner
Incumbent Buddy Garcia, who was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to fill the vacancy left by Elizabeth Ames Jones, did not seek re-election. Republican Christi Craddick won the election for a six-year term.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Becky Berger, geologist
- Beryl Burgess, retired industrial lab technician
- Warren Chisum, state representative from the 88th District
- Joe Cotten, financial adviser
- Christi Craddick, oil and gas attorney
- Roland Sledge, oil and gas attorney
Primary results
Runoff results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Dale Henry, petroleum engineer
Primary results
General election
Results
Railroad Commissioner (Unexpired Term)
Incumbent Barry T. Smitherman was elected to the remaining two years of a six-year term following his appointment to fill the vacancy left by Michael L. Williams, who resigned to contest for the United States House of Representatives.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Al Lee, retired systems consultant
- Elizabeth Murray-Kolb, attorney
- Greg Parker, Comal County Commissioner
- Barry T. Smitherman, incumbent Railroad Commissioner
Primary results
Runoff results
General election
Results
Judicial
Supreme Court
Place 2
Incumbent Justice Don Willett was re-elected to a second six-year term.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Steven Wayne Smith, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas
- Don Willett, incumbent Associate Justice
Primary results
General election
Results
Place 4
Incumbent Justice David M. Medina lost renomination in the Republican primary to John P. Devine, who would go on to win the election and a six-year-term.
Republican primary
Candidates
- John P. Devine, former Texas District Court Judge
- David M. Medina, incumbent Associate Justice
- Joe Pool Jr., lawyer
Primary results
Runoff results
General election
Results
Place 6
Incumbent Justice Nathan Hecht was re-elected to a fifth six-year term.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Nathan Hecht, incumbent Associate Justice
Primary results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Michele Petty, attorney
Primary results
General election
Results
Court of Criminal Appeals
Presiding Judge
Incumbent Presiding Judge Sharon Keller was re-elected to a fourth six-year-term.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Sharon Keller, incumbent Presiding Judge
Primary results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Keith Hampton, defense lawyer
Primary results
General election
Results
Place 7
Incumbent Judge Barbara Parker Hervey was re-elected for a third six-year-term.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Barbara Parker Hervey, incumbent Judge
Primary results
General election
Results
Place 8
Incumbent Judge Elsa Alcala was appointed to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in 2011, following the stepping-down of Charles Holcomb. Alcala was elected to a six-year-term.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Elsa Alcala, incumbent Judge
Primary results
General election
Results
State Board of Education
All 15 districts of the Texas Board of Education were up for election.
District 1
Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
District 2
Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
District 3
Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
District 4
Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
District 5
Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
District 6
Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
District 7
Republican primary
General election
District 8
Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
District 9
Republican primary
General election
District 10
Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
District 11
Republican primary
General election
District 12
Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
District 13
Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
District 14
Republican primary
General election
District 15
Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
State legislature
All 31 seats in the Texas State Senate and all 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives were up for election. Elected senators and representatives served in the 83rd Texas Legislature.
Texas Senate
All 31 seats of the Texas Senate were up for election. No seats changed hands, with the Republican Party retained a 19-seat majority over the Democrat's 12 seats.
Texas House of Representatives
All 150 seats of the Texas House of Representatives were up for election. The Democratic Party won 7 seats, giving them 55 seats to the Republican's majority of 95.
Local elections
- Austin: Incumbent mayor Lee Leffingwell was re-elected to a second term.
- Corpus Christi: Nelda Martinez was elected to her first term as mayor.
- Lubbock: Glen Robertson was elected to his first term as mayor, defeating two-term incumbent Tom Martin.
See also
- 2012 United States elections
References
