November 30, 2020

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November 30, 2020 November 30, 2020 ELECTION: General Election Results – The following is a summary of the November 3rd Texas General Election results: VOTER TURNOUT – 66.73% of registered voters (11,315,056) cast ballots. That compares to: Historical General Election Turnout: • 2018 turnout – 52.72% (8,326,216 voters) • 2016 turnout – 59.16% (8,934,718 voters) • 2014 turnout – 33.57% (4,708,556 voters) • 2012 turnout – 58.37% (7,993,851 voters) • 2010 turnout – 37.47% (4,972,895 voters) • 2008 turnout – 59.37% (8,053,036 voters) • 2006 turnout – 33.64% (4,399,068 voters) • 2004 turnout – 56.56% (7,410,749 voters) • 2002 turnout – 36.24% (4,553,979 voters) • 2000 turnout – 51.81% (6,407,637 voters) STATEWIDE - Republicans again won all statewide offices on the ballot. Democrats have not won a statewide office in Texas since 1994. President Donald J. Trump carried Texas by six points. Republicans won the Railroad Commission race, four Texas Supreme Court races, and three Court of Criminal Appeals races. TEXAS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS - There are 36 members of the Texas congressional delegation. All 36 members of the delegation were up for re-election this year. Partisan Makeup: Currently, there are 23 Republicans and 13 Democrats in the Texas Congressional Delegation. That number will remain the same. All incumbents won their re-election contests, and the open seats will be staying in the same party. TEXAS SENATE - The Texas Senate has 31 members. Since Senate members serve staggered four-year terms, 16 of the 31 Senate members were up for re-election in 2020. Partisan Makeup: The Texas Senate currently has 19 Republicans and 12 Democrats. In 2021, the Texas Senate will have 18 Republicans and 13 Democrats. 1 Incumbent Member of the Texas Senate Did Not Seek Re-election: S-29 Jose Rodriguez (D-El Paso) 2 Incumbent Senate Members Resigned: S-14 Senator Kirk Watson (D-Austin) S-30 Senator Pat Fallon (R-Prosper) 1 Incumbent Senate Member was Defeated in the General Election: S-19 Pete Flores (R-Pleasanton) New Members of the Texas Senate in 2021: Senate District 14 – Sarah Eckhardt (D-Austin) already sworn in Senate District 19 – Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) Senate District 29 – Cesar Blanco (D-El Paso) Senate District 30 – Special Election Run-Off December 19, 2020. Note: The seat will remain Republican because both Run-Off contenders are Republican. TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - There are 150 House members. All 150 members of the House were up for re-election in 2020. Partisan Makeup: The Texas House currently has 83 Republicans and 67 Democrats. In 2021, the House will again have 83 Republicans and 67 Democrats. The Republicans picked up one seat in Houston, and the Democrats picked up one seat in Houston. 13 Incumbent Members of the Texas House Did Not Seek Re-election: H-10 John Wray (R-Waxahachie) H-25 Dennis Bonnen (R-Angleton) H-26 Rick Miller (R-Sugar Land) H-28 John Zerwas (R-Fulshear) – Replaced in a Special Election by Gary Gates H-60 Mike Lang (R-Granbury) H-74 Poncho Nevarez (D-Eagle Pass) H-76 Cesar Blanco (D-El Paso) H-92 Jonathan Stickland (R-Bedford) H-96 Bill Zedler (R-Arlington) H-100 Eric Johnson (D-Dallas) – Replaced in a Special Election by Lorraine Birabil H-119 Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) H-138 Dwayne Bohac (R-Houston) H-148 Jessica Farrar (D-Houston) – Replaced in a Special Election by Anna Eastman 4 Incumbent House Members Were Defeated in Primary Run-Off Elections: H-2 Dan Flynn (R-Van) H-59 J.D. Sheffield (R-Gatesville) H-100 Lorraine Birabil (D-Dallas) H-148 Anna Eastman (D-Houston) 2 Incumbent House Members Were Defeated in the General Election: H-132 Gina Calanni (D-Houston) H-134 Sarah Davis (R-Houston) 17 New Members of the Texas House in 2021: H-2 Bryan Slaton (R-Royce City) H-10 Jake Ellzey (R-Midlothian) H-25 Cody Thane Vasut (R-Angleton) H-26 Jacey Jetton (R-Richmond) H-28 Gary Gates (R-Rosenberg) H-59 Shelby Slawson (R-Stephenville) H-60 Glenn Rogers (R-Graford) H-74 Eddie Morales (D-Eagle Pass) H-76 Claudia Ordaz Perez (D-El Paso) H-92 Jeff Cason (R-Bedford) H-96 David Cook (R-Mansfield) H-100 Jasmine Felicia Crockett (D-Dallas) H-119 Elizabeth “Liz” Campos (D-San Antonio) H-138 Lacey Hull (R-Houston) H-132 Mike Schofield (R-Katy) H-134 Ann Johnson (D-Houston) H-148 Penny Morales Shaw – (D-Houston) House Elections Committee – The House Elections Committee posted responses to its request for information on the following interim charges: Interim Charge #1 - Monitoring - Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 86th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following: • HB 933, which requires election information to be posted on the Secretary of State's (SOS) and each county's internet website. Monitor the costs associated with implementing the legislation. Work with the SOS to determine which office elections should be included in the website postings based on costs and popularity of the office. • HB 1421, which strengthens the cybersecurity of the state's election infrastructure. Review the program required under the bill to train county election officers in the best practices for identifying and reducing cybersecurity threats. • HB 2504, which modifies ballot access requirements for non-major party nominees. Review the provision requiring the SOS to establish rules implementing the fees and petitions. • HB 4130, which requires the SOS to develop procedures for adequately certifying electronic poll books. Review the provision requiring the secretary of state to adopt rules mandating real-time updates for electronic poll book use during the early voting period or under the countywide polling place program. Monitor and report on countywide polling. Examine the number and location of polling places, polling booths, and wait times for voting. Responses were received from Harris County Republican Party, League of Women Voters, Texas Civil Rights Project and two individuals. Interim Charge #2 - Elections During a Declared Disaster - Make recommendations for establishing best practices for conducting an election during a declared disaster. Examine model legislation and statutes from other states pertaining to voting during a declared disaster when polls are inaccessible. Responses were received from American Civil Liberties Union, Children’s Defense Fund, Harris County, Harris County Republican Party, League of Women Voters, Texas Civil Rights Project, Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute, and Texas Democrats with Disabilities. Interim Charge #3 - Voter Integrity and Fair Elections - Evaluate election laws with the purpose of strengthening voter integrity and fair elections. Perform an in-depth study of the voter registration processes and explore whether centralizing voter registration would be more effective than today's processes. Consider ways to improve voter list maintenance and study the volunteer deputy registrar process and voter registration procedures in other states. Include in the evaluation a review of the state's curbside voting protocols and identify processes to improve the efficiency, privacy, and security of curbside voting. Responses were received from Children’s Defense Fund, City of Austin, City of Houston, Engage Action, Harris County Republican Party, League of Women Voters, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Secure Democracy, Texas Civil Rights Project, Texas Democrats with Disabilities, Texas IMPACT, and Texas Public Policy Foundation. Here is a link to the responses. GOVERNOR: DPS to Provide Direct Support to Dallas Police Department – On November 18th, at the request of the Dallas Police Department (DPD), Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to provide direct support to DPD in their efforts to reduce violent crime and protect the communities in the City of Dallas. DPS will be deploying multiple resources to support this operation, including DPS Special Agents, State Troopers to support DPS gang and drug investigative operations, and a team of DPS Intelligence Analysts. DPS will also provide two helicopters and two patrol planes to provide direct air support and a team of Texas Rangers to support DPD homicide investigations. Additional resources will be made available should they be requested by DPD. Governor Abbott said, "The rise in violent crime in the City of Dallas is unacceptable, and the Texas Department of Public Safety will assist the Dallas Police Department in their efforts to protect the community and reduce this surge in crime. Every Texan deserves to feel safe in their own community, and the State of Texas will continue to provide the city of Dallas with the resources they need to crack down on this heinous activity and protect Dallas residents." Texas Forensic Science Commission – On November 19th, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Michael Coble, Ph.D. to the Texas Forensic Science Commission for a term set to expire on September 1, 2021. The commission provides oversight over Texas crime laboratories and other entities conducting forensic analyses for use in criminal proceedings and provides an accreditation mandate responsible for establishing procedures, policies, and practices to improve the quality of forensic analyses conducted in Texas. Michael Coble, Ph.D. of Fort Worth is Associate Director and Associate Professor at the University of North Texas Health Science Center, Center for Human Identification. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the Washington Academy of Sciences and a member of International Society of Forensic Genetics and the Mid-Atlantic Association of Forensic Scientists. Coble received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Appalachian State University and a Master of Forensic Science in Forensic Biology and a Doctor of Philosophy in Genetics from George Washington University.
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