2024 Texas Senate election should not be confused with 2024 United States Senate election in Texas.
See also: 2024 United States state legislative elections and 2024 Texas elections.
| Election Name: | 2024 Texas Senate election |
| Country: | Texas |
| Type: | legislative |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2022 Texas Senate election |
| Previous Year: | 2022 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 2024 |
| Next Election: | 2026 Texas Senate election |
| Next Year: | 2026 |
| Seats For Election: | 15 of the 31 seats in the Texas Senate |
| Majority Seats: | 16 |
| Image1: | File:Angela Paxton (53805316919) (cropped).jpg |
| Leader1: | Angela Paxton |
| Party1: | Republican Party of Texas |
| Leader Since1: | September 16, 2023 |
| Seats After1: | 20 |
| Seat Change1: | 1 |
| Popular Vote1: | 2,196,004 |
| Percentage1: | 45.00% |
| Swing1: | 9.06% |
| Leader2: | Carol Alvarado |
| Party2: | Texas Democratic Party |
| Leader Since2: | January 8, 2020 |
| Seats After2: | 11 |
| Seat Change2: | 1 |
| Popular Vote2: | 2,678,156 |
| Percentage2: | 54.88% |
| Swing2: | 12.94% |
| Majority Leader | |
| Before Election: | Angela Paxton |
| Before Party: | Republican |
| Last Election1: | 19 seats, 54.06% |
| Last Election2: | 12 seats, 41.94% |
Elections to the Texas Senate will be held on November 5, 2024, for 15 of the 31 Senate districts across the state of Texas. Numerous other federal, state, and local elections will also be held on this date. The winners of this election will serve full four-year terms covering the 89th Texas Legislature and the 90th Texas Legislature. Republicans have held a majority in the Texas Senate since January 14, 1997, as a result of the 1996 elections. Republicans won eight of the fifteen seats up for election, flipping one from the Democrats. Due to the high number of uncontested seats, however, Democratic candidates received more votes statewide than Republican candidates.
Primary elections were held on March 5, 2024, and any necessary runoffs were held on May 28.[1]
Republicans expanded their majority by one seat to a 19–12 margin in the 2022 elections, picking up a seat anchored in Tarrant County that had been redrawn to significantly favor them but failing to win a competitive seat in the Rio Grande Valley.[2]
During the regular session, the legislature expanded school armed security measures, banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices at universities, and allowed school districts to hire or volunteer chaplains for mental health support for students.[3] [4] [5] Republican infighting in the House led to the collapse of a school voucher bill during the regular session despite the Senate easily passing it. Governor Greg Abbott vowed to call special sessions until it passed.[6] Efforts to legalize online sports betting and casino gambling found a resurgence in the House late in the session, with a bill to legalize online sports betting passing the House.[7] Neither proposal received any hearings in the Senate due to opposition from lieutenant governor Dan Patrick.[8] [9]
On May 27, 2023, the House voted 121–23 to impeach attorney general Ken Paxton after a House committee found that he had used taxpayer funds to settle a legal dispute.[10] [11] [12] The Senate voted to acquit him of all charges in September 2023.[13]
One incumbent will not seek re-election.
Drew Springer is retiring.[14]
Morgan LaMantia lost to Adam Hinojosa.[15]
John Whitmire (D) was elected Mayor of Houston in 2023 and resigned from the Senate on December 31, 2023.[16] Molly Cook won the special election held on May 4, 2024.[17] [18]
Democrat Nathan Johnson was the only incumbent senator being challenged in the primary elections.[19] Republican Drew Springer's retirement and Democrat John Whitmire's resignation created open races for their seats. Democrat Morgan LaMantia was the only senator expected to face a competitive general election.[20]
Due to the size of the Republicans' majority and the low number of competitive seats, most analysts consider a change in control of the chamber to be unlikely.
| Source | Ranking | As of | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNalysis[21] | August 6, 2024 | ||
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[22] | June 18, 2024 |
† - Incumbent not seeking re-election
| State Senate District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6th | Carol Alvarado | Dem | Carol Alvarado | Dem | |||
| 7th | Paul Bettencourt | Rep | Paul Bettencourt | Rep | |||
| 8th | Angela Paxton | Rep | Angela Paxton | Rep | |||
| 10th | Phil King | Rep | Phil King | Rep | |||
| 12th | Tan Parker | Rep | Tan Parker | Rep | |||
| 14th | Sarah Eckhardt | Dem | Sarah Eckhardt | Dem | |||
| 15th | Molly Cook | Dem | Molly Cook | Dem | |||
| 16th | Nathan M. Johnson | Dem | Nathan M. Johnson | Dem | |||
| 17th | Joan Huffman | Rep | Joan Huffman | Rep | |||
| 20th | Juan Hinojosa | Dem | Juan Hinojosa | Dem | |||
| 23rd | Royce West | Dem | Royce West | Dem | |||
| 25th | Donna Campbell | Rep | Donna Campbell | Rep | |||
| 27th | Morgan LaMantia | Dem | Adam Hinojosa | Rep | |||
| 29th | Cesar Blanco | Dem | Cesar Blanco | Dem | |||
| 30th | Drew Springer† | Rep | Brent Hagenbuch | Rep | |||
| align=center | District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 10 • District 12 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 20 • District 23 • District 25 • District 27 • District 29 • District 30 |
Incumbent Democrat Carol Alvarado is running for re-election.
Incumbent Republican Paul Bettencourt is running for re-election.
Incumbent Republican Angela Paxton is running for re-election.
Incumbent Republican Phil King is running for re-election.
Incumbent Republican Tan Parker is running for re-election.
Incumbent Democrat Sarah Eckhardt is running for re-election unopposed.
Former Senator, Democrat John Whitmire was elected Mayor of Houston in 2023 and resigned from this seat, creating a vacancy. A special election to fill his unexpired term was held on May 4, 2024, with Molly Cook winning. Cook narrowly won the Democratic primary runoff for a full term on May 28.[25]
Incumbent Democrat Nathan M. Johnson is running for re-election. He defeated state representative Victoria Neave in the Democratic primary and is unopposed in the general election.
Incumbent Republican Joan Huffman is running for re-election.
Incumbent Democrat Juan Hinojosa is running for re-election unopposed.
Incumbent Democrat Royce West is running for re-election unopposed.
Incumbent Republican Donna Campbell is running for re-election.
Incumbent Democrat Morgan LaMantia is running for re-election. She faces a rematch against Republican Adam Hinojosa, whom she narrowly defeated in 2022.[26] [27] This race is the only one in the state expected to have a competitive general election. Hinojosa has been endorsed by former Democratic senator Eddie Lucio Jr., who held the seat before LaMantia, citing Hinojosa's pro-life position on abortion.[28]
Incumbent Democrat Cesar Blanco is running for re-election unopposed.
Incumbent Republican Drew Springer is retiring.