Texas, November 2024 — Voters in Texas have spoken, delivering decisive victories for key Republican candidates in the latest round of elections. With nearly all votes counted, former President Donald Trump secured 57% of the vote in the presidential race, outpacing Vice President Kamala Harris, who received 43%.
In the race for U.S. Senate, incumbent Senator Ted Cruz (R) earned 54.4% of the vote, defeating Democrat Colin Allred, who garnered 45.6%. Both races are expected to have significant national implications as political analysts forecast another Republican-heavy showing in the state.
Local Races and Propositions
The election also saw a number of local races and ballot propositions with strong voter participation in several counties and school districts.
In Anderson County’s Slocum ISD, Adriann Sbrusch won Place 6 with 51.4% of the vote, while Josh Lindsey secured a resounding victory for Place 7 with 66.9%.
In Angelina County, voters passed a local option for the legal sale of malt beverages and wine for off-premise consumption by a margin of 63.6% to 36.4%, while in Gregg County, Proposition 1, authorizing the legal sale of all alcoholic beverages, also passed with 62.1% in favor.
However, in Harrison County, voters rejected the creation of the Harrison County Assistance District No. 1 and a proposed 2% sales tax, with 53.8% voting against the measure.
In the local elections across East Texas, several school districts also saw competitive races. In Cherokee County, Dawn Martin led the race for Carlisle ISD Trustee, with 41.9% of the vote. In nearby Franklin County, the Sulphur Bluff ISD Trustees race was highly contested, with Chris Bassham and David Joslin securing the top spots.
In Smith County, voters re-elected J. Scott Herod as County Commissioner for Precinct 3 with 78.4% of the vote. Additionally, in Wood County, Mike Simmons triumphed in the County Commissioner race, securing 84.3% of the vote.
Tight Races in Local Government
The mayoral race in the City of Trinidad in Henderson County remains close, with Bill Gifford leading with 33.8% of the vote, just ahead of Kathy Airheart Kelley and Leah Melton. Meanwhile, in the City of Center, Shelby County, the race for At-Large City Council positions is tight, with Terry Scull and Leigh Porterfield in the lead for the two available seats.
Propositions Across the State
Voters in several counties weighed in on local propositions. Notably, in Rusk County, Proposition A, which called for $23 million in funding for school facilities, was rejected by a significant margin, with 64.5% of voters opposing the measure.
Other propositions, such as those related to tax rates and school facilities funding in multiple counties, also garnered significant attention, with mixed results. For instance, the Kirbyville CISD in Jasper County faced a decisive rejection of its proposed tax rate increase, with 79.4% voting against it.
U.S. House Races Show Republican Dominance
In congressional races, Republican incumbents triumphed across several districts. U.S. Representative Lance Gooden (R-TX-5) defeated Democratic challenger Ruth Torres, earning 64.2% of the vote. Meanwhile, in District 6, Jake Ellzey (R) won with 65.7%, and Pete Sessions (R) easily beat Democrat Mark Lorenzen in District 17, securing 66.4%.
State Legislative Races
State House races also saw overwhelming victories for Republicans, with Brent Money (R) winning 80.6% of the vote in District 2, Keith Bell (R) taking 69.7% in District 4, and Daniel Alders (R) claiming 71.9% in District 6. In the State Senate, Angela Paxton (R) emerged victorious in District 8, earning 59.5% of the vote over Rachel Mello (D).
State Board of Education
In the race for the State Board of Education District 10, Republican Tom Maynard claimed 67.6% of the vote, defeating Democrat Raquel Saenz Ortiz, who garnered 32.4%.
Looking Ahead
With the election results almost fully counted, it’s clear that Texas remains a solid red state for Republicans, even as local and school district races showcase a more mixed political landscape. The final results from key races and propositions will shape local governance, but overall, the GOP continues to dominate the state’s political scene.