General Election Results (Final Report)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
M E M O R A N D U M TO: Texas Candidate Information Subscribers FROM: Dana Chiodo DATE: November 5, 2008 RE: General Election Results (Final Report) Following are the results of the November 4, 2008 Texas General Election. Turnout was extremely high. There were 8,053,036 voters (59.37% of registered voters), compared to 4,399,068 voters (33.64% of registered voters) in 2006; 7,410,749 voters (56.57% of registered voters) in 2004; 4,553,979 (36.24% of registered voters) in 2002, and 6,407,637 in 2000 (51.81% of registered voters). STATEWIDE President – In Texas, Senator John McCain got 55.47% of the vote over Senator Barak Obama, who received 43.72%. Libertarian Bob Barr took 0.7%. Write-In candidates received: Brian Moore – 49 votes; Alan Keyes – 586 votes; Ralph Nader –3,053 votes; Cynthia McKinney – 415 votes; Jonathan Allen – 57 votes; Chuck Baldwin – 3,418 votes; and Thaddaus Hill – 148 votes. U.S. Senate – Senator John Cornyn (R-Austin) defeated Representative Rick Noriega (D- Houston) 54.8% to 42.85%. Libertarian Yvonne Adamas Schnick took 2.33% of the vote. Railroad Commissioner- Incumbent Railroad Commissioner Michael L. Williams (R- Austin) won re-election with 52.08% of the vote. Democrat Mark Thompson received 44.39%, and Libertarian David Floyd got 3.51%. Texas Supreme Court: Chief Justice – Republican Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson got 53.07% of the vote over Democrat Jim Jordan (43.82%) and Libertarian Tom Oxford (3.1%). Place 7 – Republican Justice Dale Wainwright received 51.08% of the vote to defeat Democrat Sam Houston (45.89%) and Libertarian David G. Smith (3.02%). Place 8 – Republican Justice Phil Johnson won with 52.29% of the vote over Linda Reyna Yanez, who got 44.66% of the vote, and Libertarian Drew Shirley, who took (3.04%). Court of Criminal Appeals: Place 3 – Republican Justice Tom Price defeated Democrat Susan Strawn 51.62% to 45.55. Libertarian Matthew Eilers took 2.82%. Place 4 – Republican Justice Paul Womack fought off a challenge from Democrat J.R. Molina, an attorney from Fort Worth 52.94% to 43.77%. Libertarian Dave Howard received 3.27% of the vote. TEXAS CONGRESSIONAL RACES All 32 members of the Texas congressional delegation were up for re-election, and all 32 sought re-election (19 Republicans and 13 Democrats). Eight incumbent Members of Congress did not have major party opposition: Louie Gohmert (R-Marshall); Ted Poe (R- Humble); Jeb Hensarling (R-Dallas); Al Green (D-Houston); Mike Conaway (R-Midland); Ron Paul (R-Surfside); Silvestre Reyes (D-El Paso); and Lamar Smith (R-San Antonio). Of the 24 who had challengers, all were re-elected except Congressman Nick Lampson (D- Houston), who lost in District 22. Congressional District 3 – Congressman Sam Johnson (R-Plano) easily defeated his Democratic challenger attorney Tom Daley (D-McKinney) 59.8% to 37.97%. Libertarian, Christopher J. Claytor received 2.22%. Congressional District 4 – Congressman Ralph Hall (R-Rockwall) also easily won over his Democratic challenger, Glenn Melancon of Sherman. Hall received 68.81% of the vote to Melancon’s 29.26%. Libertarian Fred Annett got 1.91%. Congressional District 6 – Congressman Joe Barton (R-Ennis) got 62.04% of the vote to defeat Democrat Ludwig Otto, an English professor at Tarrant County Community College (35.58%). Ken Ashby, the Libertarian candidate, received 2.37%. Congressional District 7 – Congressman John Culberson (R-Houston) survived a high- dollar challenge from Energy Executive Michael Skelly (D-Houston). Culberson got 55.91% to Skelly’s 42.34%. Drew Parks (L-Houston) got 1.73%. Congressional District 8 – Congressman Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) easily beat his Democratic challenger, Kent Hargett of Spring 72.56% to 24.77%. Libertarian Brian Stevens received 2.65%. Congressional District 10 – Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Austin) defeated Democrat Larry Joe Doherty, an attorney from Burton 53.89% to 43.14%. Libertarian Matt Findel took 2.96%. Congressional District 12 – Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-Fort Worth) got 67.59% of the vote to beat Democrat Tracey Smith, a Fort Worth real estate broker, who received 30.6%. Shiloh Sidney Shambaugh, the Libertarian candidate received 1.8%. Congressional District 13 – Republican Congressman Mac Thornberry of Clarendon easily beat Democrat Roger Waun of Wichita Falls 77.58% to 22.9% in a rematch from their 2006 contest. Congressional District 15 – Congressman Ruben Hinojosa (D-Mercedes) won with 65.71% of the vote over Republican Eddie Zamora of McAllen (31.95%). Gricha Raether, the Libertarian, got 2.33%. Congressional District 17 – Congressman Chet Edwards (D-Waco) is a Democrat in this over 62% Republican district, but he is heading back to Congress. He got 52.98% of the vote to defeat Republican Rob Curnock of Waco (45.49%). Gardner C. Osborne, the Libertarian in the race, received 1.51% of the vote. Congressional District 18 – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston) got 77.31% of the vote to easily defeat Republican John Faulk, a retired CPA from Houston (20.34%). Libertarian Mike Taylor got 2.33%. Congressional District 19 – Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R-Lubbock) won re- election with 72.45% of the vote over public affairs consultant Dwight Fullingim (D- Lubbock), who got 24.93%. Richard “Chip” Peterson (L-Lubbock) received 2.6%. Congressional District 20 – Democratic Congressman Charlie Gonzalez (D-San Antonio) got 71.91% of the vote to defeat Republican Robert Litoff (25.16%) and Libertarian Michael Idrogo (2.91%). Congressional District 22 –In one of the hottest congressional races in the country, Congressman Nick Lampson (D-Houston) was defeated by attorney Pete Olson (R- Sugarland), who got 52.41% to Lampson’s 45.37%. Libertarian John Wiedner got 2.21%. Congressional District 23 – Congressman Ciro Rodriguez (D-San Antonio) was re-elected with 55.76% of the vote over Bexar County Commissioner Lyle Larson (R-San Antonio), who got 41.91%. Libertarian Lani Connolly took 2.31%. Congressional District 24 – Congressman Kenny Marchant (R-Carrollton) easily defeated Democrat Tom Love of Arlington 55.91% to 41.14% while Libertarian David Casey received 2.93% of the vote. Congressional District 25 – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) won re-election with 65.82% of the vote. Republican George Morovich of La Grange took 30.45%, and Libertarian Jim Stutsman received 3.72%. Congressional District 26 – Congressman Michael Burgess (R-Irving) received 60.18% of the vote to defeat Democrat Ken Leach (36.41%). Stephanie B. Weiss, the Libertarian, took 3.39% of the vote. Congressional District 27 – In a rematch with his 2006 opponent, Congressman Solomon Ortiz (D-Corpus Christi) got 57.9% of the vote to again defeat Republican Willie Vaden of Ingleside (38.38%). Libertarian Robert E. Powell got 3.66%. Congressional District 28 – Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) was re-elected with 68.72% of the vote. Republican Jim Fish of San Antonio received 29.2% and Libertarian Ross Lynn Leone of Seguin got 2.07%. Congressional District 29 – Congressman Gene Green (D-Houston) easily defeated his 2006 opponent, Eric Story, in a rematch with 74.65% of the vote to Story’s 23.88%. Joel Grace, the Libertarian candidate, got 1.46%. Congressional District 30 – Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Dallas) won re- election with 82.58% of the vote over Republican Fred Wood of Scurry (15.77%). Jarrett Woods (L-Dallas) got 1.63%. Congressional District 31 – Congressman John Carter (R-Round Rock) got 60.3% of the vote to defeat Democrat Brian P. Ruiz of Hutto, who took 36.54%. Barry N. Cooper, the Libertarian, received 3.14%. Congressional District 32 – Congressman Pete Sessions (R-Dallas) was re-elected with 57.23% of the vote over attorney Eric Roberson (D-Dallas) who got 40.58%. Libertarian Alex Bischoff received 2.17%. TEXAS SENATE 15 of the 31 members of the Texas Senate were up for election this year. All 15 of the incumbent Senators sought re-election. The Senate currently has 19 Republicans and 11 Democrats (there is an open seat in District 17). Nine incumbent Senators did not have major party opposition and are headed back to the Senate including: Tommy Williams (R- The Woodlands); Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-McAllen); Royce West (D-Dallas); Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay); Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Anonio); Eddie Lucio (D- Brownsville); Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock); Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls); and Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo). Of the six Senators in General Election contests, all were re-elected except Senator Kim Brimer (R-Fort Worth) in District 10. He was defeated by former Fort Worth City Council member Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth). Note: Senator Kyle Janek (R- Houston) resigned effective June 2, 2008. A special election was held on November 4, 2008. There will be a run-off between Democrat Chris Bell and Republican Joan Huffman (see District 17 below). Senate District 6 – Senator Mario Gallegos (D-Houston) was easily re-elected with 70.01% of the vote over Republican Gilbert Pena, who got 26.62% and Libertarian Susan Delgado, who took 3.35% of the vote. Senate District 9 – Senator Chris Harris (R-Arlington) also won. He got 54.09% of the vote over Democrat Melvin Willlms of Grand Prairie (43.31%) and Libertarian Carl Nulsen (2.58%). Senate District 10 – Senator Kim Brimer (R-Fort Worth) was defeated by former Fort Worth City Council member Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth). Brimer got 47.54% to Davis’ 49.89%. Libertarian Richard A. Cross took 2.56%. Senate District 11– Senator Mike Jackson (R-La Porte) won re-election with 56.5% of the vote over his Democratic rival, Galveston attorney Joe Jaworski, who received 41.17% of the vote.