Texas has 31 State Senators, one fewer than its 32 US Representatives, so that
the senatorial districts are slightly larger than the congressional districts.
After reapportionment, all 31 senators are elected from the new districts. Then, when
the legislature meets, senators draw lots to determine which will serve 2-year terms,
and which will serve 4-year terms. They then alternate over the rest of the decade
until the next reapportionment so that one set of districts has terms of 2, 4, and 4
years; and the other set of districts has terms of 4, 4, and 2 years.
In addition, there were two special elections held in 2004 to replace two senators
who had resigned. Special elections in Texas are held on an all-comers basis with
no party primaries. If no candidate receives a majority, the top 2 candidates face
off in a runoff election.
In District 1, in the northeast corner of the state, the runoff was between a
Republican and Democrat, with a 51.9% to 48.1% result. This special election
was for a term ending in 2007 (2006 election).
In District 31, in the northwest corner of the state, the only Democrat finished in
5th place with 8.3% of the vote, and the runoff was between two Republicans.
This election was for a term ending in 2005, so this seat was also contested in
the 2004 election cycle. The candidates from the special election also ran in
their respective primary elections, and the general election was between the
winner of the special election and the 5th place Democrat. It is the result of the
November 2004 general election which is shown.
Thus the results shown are for:
15 districts contested in 2002, with the next election in 2006.
1 district contested in 2002, a 2004 special election (shown), next election in 2006.
15 districts contested in 2002 and 2004 (shown), with the next election in 2008.
In 2002, only 12 seats were contested by candidates from both parties. In 2004,
only 4 seats were. If a candidate received between 80% and 90%, it was because
the Libertarian candidate received over 10% of the vote.
District 1 (Northeast Corner, Tyler, Longview, Marshall, Texarkana, Paris)
2002: GOP 68-32%
2004 Special runoff: GOP 52-48%
2006:
District 2 (Eastern Dallas County plus areas to the east including Greenville).
2002: GOP 54-45%
2006:
District 4 (Southeast, Orange, Beaumont(part), NE Harris County, SE Montgomery)
2002: GOP 64-36%
2004: unopposed
District 10 (Tarrant County, Arlington, Southern Fort Worth)
2002: GOP 59-40%
2004: GOP 59-41%
District 14 (Travis County, Austin, except SE part of county)
2002: Dem 53-43%
2006:
District 15 (North Houston)
2002: Dem 60-40%
2006:
District 16 (North Dallas, Richardson)
2002: GOP 64-34%
2004: unopposed
District 17 (SW Houston, Fort Bend, Brazosport, Galveston, Port Arthur, Beaumont)
2002 special (old boundaries): GOP 67-33%
2002: GOP 61-39%
2006:
District 18 (Mid Gulf, Victoria)
2002: Dem 53-45%
2006:
District 22 (Central Texas, Waco, Corsicana, southern DFW suburbs)
2002: GOP 67-33%
2006:
District 25 (North San Antonio, New Braunfels, Seguin, San Marcos, SE Travis County)
2002: GOP 67-30%
2006:
District 29 (North Central, Wichita Falls, Sherman, Cross Timbers, outer DFW suburbs)
2002: GOP 68-30%
2004: GOP 69-31%
District 31 (Northwest, Amarillo, Odessa, Midland)
2002: GOP unopposed
2004 special: GOP (5 candidates) 92-Dem 8%
2004: GOP 78-22%
