2018 Texas elections


The 2018 general election was held in the U.S. state of Texas on November 6, 2018. All of Texas's executive officers were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, and all of Texas's thirty-six seats in the United States House of Representatives. 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 and Libertarian candidate Neal Dikeman challenged U.S. Senator Ted Cruz 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 were up for election in 2018. No open seats changed hands, but two Republican incumbents lost to Democrats.

Governor

Incumbent governor Greg Abbott was running for a second term. He was first elected in 2014 after serving twelve years as Texas Attorney General, and he succeeded Rick Perry as governor.
Abbott won the March 20, 2018, Republican primary, while Lupe Valdez 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 Dan Patrick 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 or U.S. Senator Ted Cruz.

Republican primary

Polling

Results

Attorney General

Incumbent Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton will be eligible to run for re-election to a second term.

Republican primary

Endorsements

Polling

Results

Comptroller of Public Accounts

Incumbent Republican Comptroller Glenn Hegar is eligible to run for re-election to a second term.

Republican primary

Results

Commissioner of the General Land Office

Republican primary

Endorsements

Polling

Results

Commissioner of Agriculture

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Sid Miller will be eligible to run for re-election to a second term.

Republican primary

Results

Texas Railroad Commissioner

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Christi Craddick is eligible to run for re-election to a second six-year term.

Republican primary

Results

Supreme Court of Texas

Justice, Place 2 election

Republican primary

Democratic primary

General election results

Justice, Place 4 election

Republican primary

Democratic primary

General election

Justice, Place 6 election

Republican primary

Democratic primary

General election

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Presiding Judge election

Republican primary

Democratic primary

General election

Judge, Place 7 election

Republican primary

Democratic primary

General election

Judge, Place 8

;Libertarian State Convention
Mark Ash

Republican primary

General election

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 and about half of the seats in the Texas Senate will be up for election.

Texas Senate

Texas House of Representatives

Texas Courts of Appeals

Local trial courts

School boards

Municipal

Controversies