2023 Texas elections explained

Election Name:	2023 Texas elections
Country:	Texas
Ongoing:	yes
Previous Election:	2022 Texas elections
Previous Year:	2022
Election Date:	November 7, 2023
Next Election:	2024 Texas elections
Next Year:	2024

The 2023 Texas elections were held on November 7, 2023.^[1]

Texas voters statewide voted on 14 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution. A special election took place to fill the vacancy from Texas's 2nd House of Representatives district,^[2] which was followed by a runoff on January 30, 2024. In addition, Texas counties, cities, and school and other special districts had local elections and other ballot issues, such as bond proposals.

State

Ballot measures

See main article: 2023 Texas constitutional amendment election. 14 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution appeared on the November 7, 2023 general election ballot in Texas.^[3]

• Proposition 1 protected the "right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management".  Passed
• Proposition 2 provided an exemption from county and municipal property taxes for "all or part of the appraised value of real property used to operate a child-care facility".  Passed
• Proposition 3 prohibited any future imposition of a wealth tax.  Passed
• Proposition 4 made numerous changes to property tax calculation, notably an increase in the homestead exemption from school property taxes from $40,000 to $100,000, and would also add voter-elected members to larger county appraisal districts.  Passed
• Proposition 5 created the Texas University Fund, which would provide a dedicated funding mechanism for universities that aren't part of either the University of Texas System or the Texas A&M University System but which have achieved "national prominence as research universities".  Passed
• Proposition 6 created a new dedicated water fund to assist in various water projects.  Passed
• Proposition 7 created a new dedicated energy fund "to support the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities".  Passed
• Proposition 8 created a new dedicated broadband fund "to expand high-speed broadband access and assist in the financing of connectivity projects".  Passed
• Proposition 9 authorized a cost-of-living adjustment to certain annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.  Passed
• Proposition 10 provided an exemption from property taxes for "equipment or inventory held by a manufacturer of medical or biomedical products to protect the Texas healthcare network and strengthen our medical supply chain".  Passed
• Proposition 11 permitted conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities.  Passed
• Proposition 12 abolished the office of County Treasurer in Galveston County (the text of the amendment requires not only the approval of a majority of voters statewide, but also a majority of voters within Galveston County).  Passed
• Proposition 13 would have increased the mandatory retirement age for state justices and judges.  Defeated
• Proposition 14 created a new dedicated parks fund (the "centennial parks conservation fund") for the creation and improvement of state parks.  Passed

Special elections

2023 Texas's 2nd House of Representatives district special election

Election Name:	2023 Texas's 2nd House of Representatives district special election (runoff)
Country:	Texas
Type:	by-election
Ongoing:	yes
Previous Election:	2022 Texas House of Representatives election#District 2
Previous Year:	2022
Next Election:	2024 Texas House of Representatives election#District 2
Next Year:	2024
Seats For Election:	Texas's 2nd House of Representatives district
Election Date:	January 30, 2024
1Blank:	First round
2Blank:	Runoff
Image1:	3x4.svg
Candidate1:	Jill Dutton
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
1Data1:	7,132 25.3%
2Data1:	6,830 50.4%
Candidate2:	Brent Money
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
1Data2:	8,965 31.7%
2Data2:	6,719 49.6%
Representative
Before Election:	Bryan Slaton
Before Party:	Texas Republican Party
After Election:	Jill Dutton
After Party:	Texas Republican Party

A special election took place in Texas's 2nd House of Representatives district to fill the vacancy created by the expulsion of Bryan Slaton.^[4] Slaton resigned from the seat on May 8, 2023, amid a sexual misconduct controversy and was subsequently expelled from the House.^[5] As no candidate reached the necessary 50% votes for victory in the November 7 election, Greg Abbott set January 30, 2024 as the date for the runoff election between Brent Money and Jill Dutton.^[6] Jill Dutton defeated Brent Money in the runoff by 111 votes.^[7]

November 7, 2023

= Declared

=

• Kristen Washington (Democratic), former member of the Greenville City Council^[8]
• Jill Dutton (Republican), trustee for the Van Independent School District^[9]
• Heath Hyde (Republican), farmer^[10]
• Brent Money (Republican), member of the Greenville City Council.^[11]
• Doug Roszhart (Republican), member of the Greenville City Council
• Krista Schild (Republican), state convention delegate

= Withdrew

=

• Neal Barker (Republican), former board member and treasurer of the Northeast Texas Rural Rail Transportation District^[12]

Results

January 30, 2024 (Runoff)

Local

Ron Nirenberg, incumbent mayor of San Antonio, was re-elected.^[13] John Whitmire won the open mayoral seat in Houston.^[14]

See also

• 2023 United States state legislative elections

Notes and References

1. Web site: Important Election Dates 2023-2024 . Texas Secretary of State . Government of Texas . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121155827/https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/important-election-dates.shtml . 21 November 2023.
2. Web site: Governor Abbott Sets Special Election for Texas House District 2 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230823080612/https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-sets-special-election-for-texas-house-district-2 . 23 August 2023.
3. Web site: Texas 2023 ballot measures . . https://web.archive.org/web/20231108210848/https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_2023_ballot_measures . 8 November 2023.
4. Web site: Governor Abbott Sets Special Election for Texas House District 2 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230823080612/https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-sets-special-election-for-texas-house-district-2 . 23 August 2023.
5. Web site: Barragán . James . 2023-05-08 . State Rep. Bryan Slaton resigns ahead of expulsion vote over inappropriate relationship with aide . https://web.archive.org/web/20231118143443/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/08/bryon-slaton-pressure-resign-texas-house/ . 18 November 2023 . The Texas Tribune . en.
6. Web site: Gov. Greg Abbott sets January date for Texas House special election runoff . . https://web.archive.org/web/20231122181920/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/21/texas-house-district-2-runoff-january/ . 22 November 2023.
7. Web site: Jill Dutton wins race to fill seat vacated by expelled member . . 30 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240131044929/https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/lone-star-politics/jill-dutton-wins-race-to-fill-seat-vacated-by-expelled-member/3448714/ . 31 January 2024.
8. Web site: 2023-10-27 . Kristen Washington speaks on being lone Democrat in running for former Rep. Bryan Slaton’s seat . 2023-11-01 . KLTV . en.
9. Web site: Svitek . Patrick . 2023-10-27 . Defend Texas Liberty backs Brent Money in special election to replace Bryan Slaton . 2023-11-01 . The Texas Tribune . en.
10. Web site: Klein . Ethan . 2023-05-22 . Local Farmer, Rancher and Attorney Heath Hyde Launches Campaign for State House . 2023-11-01 . Ksst Radio . en-US.
11. Web site: 2023-08-29 . Republican candidates for House District 2 lay out plans during Monday night debate . 2023-11-01 . KETK.com FOX51.com . en-US.
12. Web site: Texas House of Representatives District 2 . 2023-11-01 . Ballotpedia . en.
13. News: Ron Nirenberg cruises to fourth and final term as San Antonio mayor . Raquel . Torres . Andrea . Drusch . San Antonio Report . May 6, 2023 . May 7, 2023 .
14. News: Democrat John Whitmire wins Houston mayoral runoff over Sheila Jackson Lee . . December 10, 2023 . December 10, 2023 .