2008 Texas House of Representatives election explained

Election Name:	2008 Texas House of Representatives election
Country:	Texas
Type:	legislative
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2006 Texas House of Representatives election
Previous Year:	2006
Next Election:	2010 Texas House of Representatives election
Next Year:	2010
Seats For Election:	All 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives
Majority Seats:	76
Election Date:	November 4, 2008
Image1:	Rep
Leader1:	Tom Craddick (removed as leader)
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Leader Since1:	January 9, 1973
Leaders Seat1:	82nd
Last Election1:	81
Seats Before1:	79
Seats1:	76
Seat Change1:	3
Popular Vote1:	3,828,577
Percentage1:	53.99%
Swing1:	0.48%
Leader2:	Jim Dunnam
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Leader Since2:	January 14, 2003
Leaders Seat2:	57th
Last Election2:	69
Seats Before2:	71
Seats Needed2:	5
Seats2:	74
Seat Change2:	3
Popular Vote2:	2,965,717
Percentage2:	41.82%
Swing2:	1.31%
Speaker
Before Election:	Tom Craddick
Before Party:	Republican
After Election:	Joe Straus
After Party:	Republican

The 2008 Texas House of Representatives elections took place as part of the biennial United States elections. Texas voters elected state representatives in all 150 State House of Representatives districts. The winners of this election served in the 81st Texas Legislature. State representatives serve for two-year terms. Republicans maintained control of the House, losing three seats to the Democrats.

Background

Following the 2002 elections, the Republicans gained control of the House, giving them a governmental trifecta for the first time since Reconstruction.^{[1] [2]} Democrats made significant gains in the 2006 elections, and they gained two more seats following them, one due to a special election, and another due to the defection of Republican Kirk England to the Democratic Party. Democrats needed to gain five seats from the Republicans to win control of the chamber.

Results

Democrats gained a net of three seats from the Republicans, failing to take control of the chamber, but leaving Republicans with a very narrow majority.^[4] Control of the chamber remained unclear for multiple days after the election due to a recount in District 105. Incumbent Republican Linda Harper-Brown led her Democratic challenger Bob Romano by 20 votes after election day counting concluded. The recount only reduced Harper-Brown's lead by one vote, confirming her victory in the seat and Republicans' control of the chamber. Had Romano won, the chamber would have been tied.^{[5] [6]}

Statewide

colspan="14" align="center"

Party		Candi- dates	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Republican Party	97	3,828,577	53.99%	76	3
	Democratic Party	111	2,965,717	41.82%	74	3
	Libertarian Party	84	319,020	4.50%	0	–
Total			7,090,830	100.00%	150	–

Notable races

District 85

District 85, located in West Texas near Lubbock, had been held by Democrat Pete Laney for decades, but his retirement in 2006 left the seat highly vulnerable for a Republican pickup as the area had swung rapidly towards the Republicans since the 1990s. In fact, no Democrat had won any of the counties contained within the district in a presidential election since 1996. Despite this swing, Democrat Joe Heflin managed to win the open seat with 49.01% of the vote in 2006.^[7] The seat was again vulnerable in 2008, but Heflin managed to win re-election with 53.38%, severely outperforming Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who only won 27.33% of the district's vote in the concurrent presidential election.^{[8] [9]} Heflin performed best in Crosby County, his home county.^{[10] [11]}

District 97

A special election was held on November 6, 2007, to fill the unexpired term of Rep. Anna Mowery. Dan Barret, who had lost the seat to Mowery in 2006, ran against 6 Republicans in the jungle primary, securing a plurality of 31.53% of the vote.^[12] A runoff was held on December 18, 2007, between Barret and second-place finisher, Mark M. Shelton in which Barret won an upset victory with 52.19% of the vote.^[13] As the legislative session had already ended, Barret did not spend any time legislating during his term. He was later defeated by Shelton in the 2008 general election, only securing 42.75% of the vote.

District 106

Representative Kirk England was re-elected in 2006 as a Republican with 49.16% of the vote.^[14] On September 20, 2007, he announced that he would switch parties and seek re-election as a Democrat.^[15] He would later go on to win re-election in 2008 with 55.49% of the vote before losing re-election by 204 votes in 2010 to Republican Rodney Anderson.^[16]

Results by district

District	Democratic		Republican		Libertarian		Total		Result
	data-sort-type="number" scope="col"	Votes	data-sort-type="number" scope="col"	%	data-sort-type="number" scope="col"	Votes	data-sort-type="number" scope="col"	%		data-sort-type="number" scope="col"	Votes	data-sort-type="number" scope="col"	%	data-sort-type="number" scope="col"	Votes	data-sort-type="number" scope="col"	%
District 1	29,598	53.59%	24,853	45.00%	781	1.41%	55,232	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 2	-	-	39,258	85.04%	6,906	14.96%	46,164	100.00%	Republican hold
District 3	26,763	51.84%	24,864	48.16%	-	-	51,627	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 4	22,049	35.18%	39,250	62.62%	1,383	2.21%	62,682	100.00%	Republican hold
District 5	-	-	47,309	100.00%	-	-	47,309	100.00%	Republican hold
District 6	-	-	44,476	87.77%	6,196	12.23%	50,672	100.00%	Republican hold
District 7	-	-	40,671	88.34%	5,368	11.66%	46,039	100.00%	Republican hold
District 8	-	-	34,524	100.00%	-	-	34,524	100.00%	Republican hold
District 9	18,448	35.40%	32,704	62.76%	961	1.84%	52,113	100.00%	Republican hold
District 10	-	-	49,401	85.52%	8,366	14.48%	57,767	100.00%	Republican hold
District 11	26,054	49.29%	25,934	49.06%	875	1.66%	52,863	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 12	28,760	57.06%	21,647	42.94%	-	-	50,407	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 13	-	-	41,376	100.00%	-	-	41,376	100.00%	Republican hold
District 14	-	-	37,236	82.20%	8,063	17.80%	45,299	100.00%	Republican hold
District 15	-	-	69,661	100.00%	-	-	69,661	100.00%	Republican hold
District 16	-	-	49,263	100.00%	-	-	49,263	100.00%	Republican hold
District 17	25,583	42.85%	32,238	53.99%	1,889	3.16%	59,710	100.00%	Republican gain
District 18	14,901	31.46%	32,465	68.54%	-	-	47,366	100.00%	Republican hold
District 19	17,306	33.99%	32,545	63.92%	1,064	2.09%	50,915	100.00%	Republican hold
District 20	26,907	30.53%	57,029	64.71%	4,199	4.76%	88,135	100.00%	Republican hold
District 21	32,208	100.00%	-	-	-	-	32,208	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 22	31,169	94.46%	-	-	1,827	5.54%	32,996	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 23	31,195	86.80%	-	-	4,743	13.20%	35,938	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 24	-	-	47,378	86.31%	7,515	13.69%	54,893	100.00%	Republican hold
District 25	-	-	33,404	85.96%	5,454	14.04%	38,858	100.00%	Republican hold
District 26	-	-	45,679	100.00%	-	-	45,679	100.00%	Republican hold
District 27	48,415	65.56%	25,434	34.44%	-	-	73,849	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 28	32,089	38.02%	50,824	60.22%	1,484	1.76%	84,397	100.00%	Republican hold
District 29	26,433	39.53%	40,439	60.47%	-	-	66,872	100.00%	Republican hold
District 30	-	-	38,869	100.00%	-	-	38,869	100.00%	Republican hold
District 31	24,170	100.00%	-	-	-	-	24,170	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 32	25,994	46.80%	27,844	50.13%	1,705	3.07%	55,543	100.00%	Republican gain
District 33	24,582	59.04%	14,792	35.53%	2,261	5.43%	41,635	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 34	21,188	53.14%	18,684	46.86%	-	-	39,872	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 35	29,458	100.00%	-	-	-	-	29,458	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 36	24,598	100.00%	-	-	-	-	24,598	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 37	19,695	100.00%	-	-	-	-	19,695	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 38	25,476	100.00%	-	-	-	-	25,476	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 39	23,879	100.00%	-	-	-	-	23,879	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 40	24,103	100.00%	-	-	-	-	24,103	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 41	23,438	64.86%	12,025	33.28%	671	1.86%	36,134	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 42	31,129	100.00%	-	-	-	-	31,129	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 43	25,771	87.20%	-	-	3,782	12.80%	29,553	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 44	-	-	46,686	82.42%	9,959	17.58%	56,645	100.00%	Republican hold
District 45	43,926	59.31%	27,729	37.44%	2,411	3.26%	74,066	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 46	34,353	86.52%	-	-	5,351	13.48%	39,704	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 47	45,314	51.20%	43,190	48.80%	-	-	88,504	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 48	39,748	53.75%	31,028	41.96%	3,174	4.29%	73,950	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 49	54,284	100.00%	-	-	-	-	54,284	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 50	45,456	62.97%	23,681	32.80%	3,055	4.23%	72,192	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 51	29,384	89.52%	-	-	3,440	10.48%	32,824	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 52	34,898	48.61%	34,047	47.42%	2,854	3.97%	71,799	100.00%	Democratic gain
District 53	-	-	47,847	88.89%	5,983	11.11%	53,830	100.00%	Republican hold
District 54	-	-	33,690	78.04%	9,478	21.96%	43,168	100.00%	Republican hold
District 55	24,290	43.38%	30,189	53.92%	1,509	2.70%	55,988	100.00%	Republican hold
District 56	-	-	44,067	86.38%	6,946	13.62%	51,013	100.00%	Republican hold
District 57	28,291	87.83%	-	-	3,920	12.17%	32,211	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 58	14,749	26.21%	39,697	70.55%	1,825	3.24%	56,271	100.00%	Republican hold
District 59	16,546	35.81%	28,482	61.64%	1,178	2.55%	46,206	100.00%	Republican hold
District 60	13,195	23.24%	43,588	76.76%	-	-	56,783	100.00%	Republican hold
District 61	16,308	24.20%	48,879	72.53%	2,205	3.27%	67,392	100.00%	Republican hold
District 62	17,365	31.60%	37,588	68.40%	-	-	54,953	100.00%	Republican hold
District 63	19,883	22.66%	64,048	72.98%	3,831	4.37%	87,762	100.00%	Republican hold
District 64	28,195	39.40%	40,758	56.95%	2,613	3.65%	71,566	100.00%	Republican hold
District 65	-	-	47,471	79.67%	12,114	20.33%	59,585	100.00%	Republican hold
District 66	-	-	45,421	85.00%	8,015	15.00%	53,436	100.00%	Republican hold
District 67	-	-	30,558	78.46%	8,390	21.54%	38,948	100.00%	Republican hold
District 68	-	-	41,543	100.00%	-	-	41,543	100.00%	Republican hold
District 69	31,925	86.19%	-	-	5,114	13.81%	37,039	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 70	-	-	73,450	86.21%	11,751	13.79%	85,201	100.00%	Republican hold
District 71	-	-	40,381	88.31%	5,346	11.69%	45,727	100.00%	Republican hold
District 72	-	-	37,010	86.94%	5,560	13.60%	42,570	100.00%	Republican hold
District 73	21,732	25.97%	58,118	69.44%	3,846	4.60%	83,696	100.00%	Republican hold
District 74	26,235	64.19%	14,633	35.81%	-	-	40,868	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 75	26,806	71.36%	10,758	28.64%	-	-	37,564	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 76	26,632	100.00%	-	-	-	-	26,632	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 77	21,444	100.00%	-	-	-	-	21,444	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 78	26,176	51.53%	22,918	45.11%	1,706	3.36%	50,800	100.00%	Democratic gain
District 79	27,604	100.00%	-	-	-	-	27,604	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 80	30,676	100.00%	-	-	-	-	30,676	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 81	-	-	32,973	90.15%	3,603	9.85%	36,576	100.00%	Republican hold
District 82	18,870	35.31%	33,202	62.12%	1,372	2.57%	53,444	100.00%	Republican hold
District 83	-	-	53,411	100.00%	-	-	53,411	100.00%	Republican hold
District 84	-	-	32,949	100.00%	-	-	32,949	100.00%	Republican hold
District 85	22,865	53.38%	19,970	46.62%	-	-	42,835	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 86	10,917	18.27%	47,031	78.69%	1,820	3.05%	59,768	100.00%	Republican hold
District 87	-	-	28,546	84.80%	5,115	15.20%	33,661	100.00%	Republican hold
District 88	-	-	41,053	100.00%	-	-	41,053	100.00%	Republican hold
District 89	-	-	69,628	100.00%	-	-	69,628	100.00%	Republican hold
District 90	16,984	70.29%	7,180	29.71%	-	-	24,164	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 91	19,567	35.91%	33,383	61.27%	1,535	2.82%	54,485	100.00%	Republican hold
District 92	21,038	36.28%	36,955	63.72%	-	-	57,993	100.00%	Republican hold
District 93	27,538	57.21%	19,582	40.68%	1,011	2.10%	48,131	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 94	-	-	39,915	84.81%	7,147	15.19%	47,602	100.00%	Republican hold
District 95	39,150	95.52%	-	-	1,838	4.48%	40,988	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 96	41,977	51.30%	38,108	46.57%	1,737	2.12%	81,822	100.00%	Democratic gain
District 97	29,206	42.75%	37,800	55.33%	1,306	1.91%	68,312	100.00%	Republican gain
District 98	25,855	26.64%	68,345	70.43%	2,845	2.93%	97,045	100.00%	Republican hold
District 99	23,135	32.41%	46,254	64.80%	1,993	2.79%	71,382	100.00%	Republican hold
District 100	27,903	93.44%	-	-	1,958	6.56%	29,861	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 101	23,713	50.56%	23,192	49.44%	-	-	46,905	100.00%	Democratic gain
District 102	21,675	53.01%	19,210	46.99%	-	-	40,885	100.00%	Democratic gain
District 103	14,825	88.31%	-	-	1,963	11.69%	16,788	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 104	16,655	100.00%	-	-	-	-	16,655	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 105	19,838	48.68%	19,857	48.72%	1,061	2.60%	40,756	100.00%	Republican hold
District 106	21,484	55.49%	16,362	42.26%	869	2.24%	38,715	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 107	25,374	50.45%	23,616	46.95%	1,309	2.60%	50,299	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 108	21,737	39.39%	33,442	60.61%	-	-	55,179	100.00%	Republican hold
District 109	59,472	94.15%	-	-	3,692	5.85%	63,164	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 110	30,869	100.00%	-	-	-	-	30,869	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 111	43,685	79.05%	10,685	19.32%	901	1.63%	55,260	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 112	21,919	39.64%	30,998	56.07%	2,372	4.29%	55,289	100.00%	Republican hold
District 113	21,232	41.49%	29,938	58.51%	-	-	51,170	100.00%	Republican hold
District 114	-	-	31,393	100.00%	-	-	31,393	100.00%	Republican hold
District 115	-	-	35,635	81.18%	8,262	18.82%	43,897	100.00%	Republican hold
District 116	27,540	85.53%	-	-	4,661	14.47%	32,201	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 117	28,675	57.03%	21,607	42.97%	-	-	50,282	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 118	24,169	59.93%	14,747	36.57%	1,414	3.51%	40,330	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 119	29,867	100.00%	-	-	-	-	29,867	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 120	32,601	100.00%	-	-	-	-	32,601	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 121	-	-	44,471	79.62%	11,380	20.38%	55,852	100.00%	Republican hold
District 122	30,953	29.90%	68,371	66.04%	4,212	4.07%	103,536	100.00%	Republican hold
District 123	27,040	100.00%	-	-	-	-	27,040	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 124	36,557	100.00%	-	-	-	-	36,557	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 125	36,003	100.00%	-	-	-	-	36,003	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 126	21,179	38.42%	32,748	59.40%	1,204	2.18%	55,131	100.00%	Republican hold
District 127	21,987	32.29%	44,698	65.65%	1,402	2.06%	68,087	100.00%	Republican hold
District 128	-	-	28,439	100.00%	-	-	28,439	100.00%	Republican hold
District 129	23,722	41.48%	33,462	58.52%	-	-	57,184	100.00%	Republican hold
District 130	-	-	63,945	87.62%	9,301	12.38%	72,976	100.00%	Republican hold
District 131	35,026	100.00%	-	-	-	-	35,026	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 132	-	-	43,817	82.44%	9,334	17.56%	53,151	100.00%	Republican hold
District 133	20,219	50.62%	19,722	49.38%	-	-	39,941	100.00%	Democratic gain
District 134	37,892	55.46%	28,843	42.22%	1,585	2.32%	68,320	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 135	18,733	39.95%	27,382	58.39%	778	1.66%	46,893	100.00%	Republican hold
District 136	-	-	41,117	87.10%	6,087	12.90%	47,204	100.00%	Republican hold
District 137	12,233	89.25%	-	-	1,473	10.75%	13,706	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 138	15,052	40.99%	21,666	59.01%	-	-	36,718	100.00%	Republican hold
District 139	35,220	100.00%	-	-	-	-	35,220	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 140	13,348	100.00%	-	-	-	-	13,348	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 141	32,747	87.72%	8,197	19.70%	656	1.58%	41,600	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 142	35,159	100.00%	-	-	-	-	35,159	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 143	11,881	70.69%	4,647	27.65%	278	1.65%	16,806	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 144	19,078	48.85%	19,980	51.15%	-	-	39,058	100.00%	Republican hold
District 145	16,946	70.35%	5,877	29.65%	-	-	19.823	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 146	41,669	100.00%	-	-	-	-	41,669	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 147	35,951	92.23%	-	-	3,030	7.77%	38,981	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 148	21,535	66.24%	10,975	33.76%	-	-	32,510	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 149	25,562	56.34%	19,806	43.66%	-	-	45,371	100.00%	Democratic hold
District 150	22,916	33.53%	43,916	64.35%	1,449	2.12%	68,337	100.00%	Republican hold
Total	2,965,717	41.82%	3,828,577	53.99%	319,020	4.50%	7,090,830	100.00%

Notes and References

1. News: Halbfinger . David M. . Yardley . Jim . 2002-11-07 . THE 2002 ELECTIONS: THE SOUTH; Vote Solidifies Shift of South To the G.O.P. . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-03-17 . 0362-4331.
2. Book: Barta . Carolyn . Texas Almanac, 2004-2005 . Alvarez . Elizabeth Cruce . . 2004 . Dallas, Texas . 395–396 . en . Republicans Take Total Control of State Government.
3. Web site: Jacobson . Louis . October 15, 2008 . Legislative races tilting Dems' way in '08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081106082124/http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=348037 . November 6, 2008 . August 1, 2024 . Stateline.
4. Web site: 2008-11-04 . Race Summary Report 2008 General Election . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210427222156/https://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist141_state.htm . 2021-04-27 . 2021-07-16 . elections.sos.state.tx.us.
5. Web site: Whittaker . Richard . December 8, 2008 . Harper Brown Holds On . 2024-08-12 . www.austinchronicle.com . en-US.
6. Web site: Ramsey . Ross . 2020-10-26 . Analysis: Democrats or Republicans could win the Texas House this year. But what if they tie? . 2024-08-12 . The Texas Tribune . en.
7. Web site: 2007-11-07 . Race Summary Report 2006 General Election . 2022-01-15 . elections.sos.state.tx.us . 2021-01-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210105070934/https://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist127_state.htm . live .
8. Web site: Texas: Presidential County Results - Election Results 2008 - The New York Times . 2022-01-12 . www.nytimes.com . 2021-04-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210411222126/https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2008/results/states/president/texas.html . live .
9. Web site: Hamilton . Reeve . 2010-10-08 . The Hunted . 2023-06-29 . The Texas Tribune . en.
10. Web site: 2008-11-04 . State Representative District 85 . 2022-01-12 . elections.sos.state.tx.us . 2022-01-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220112175726/https://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist141_race230.htm . live .
11. Web site: Lewis. Kevin . 2010-10-06 . Landtroop, Heflin report campaign donations . 2022-01-12 . Plainview Herald . en-US . 2022-01-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220112175733/https://www.myplainview.com/news/article/Landtroop-Heflin-report-campaign-donations-8454447.php . live .
12. Web site: 2007-11-06 . Special Election State Representative District 97 . 2021-07-16 . elections.sos.state.tx.us . 2021-07-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210716184714/https://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist134_state.htm . live .
13. Web site: 2007-12-18 . Special Runoff Election State Representative District 97 . 2021-07-16 . elections.sos.state.tx.us . 2021-07-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210716184714/https://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist137_state.htm . live .
14. Web site: Office of the Secretary of State Race Summary Report 2010 General Election . 2021-12-30 . elections.sos.state.tx.us . 2021-12-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211230032330/https://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist154_state.htm . live .
15. Web site: Nichols . Lee . September 19, 2007 . Rep. England to Turn Democrat . 2021-07-16 . www.austinchronicle.com . en-US . 2021-07-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210716195345/https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2007-09-19/540605/ . live .
16. Web site: 2010-11-02 . 2010 General Election . 2021-07-16 . elections.sos.state.tx.us . 2021-06-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210605014513/https://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist154_state.htm . live .