By the Numbers: Comebacks

Feb 17, 2016 | By the Numbers

13

Number of state representatives who have returned to the House after missing at least one term since 2000. All but two of those representatives returned in the election cycle immediately following the one they left. At least one former representative has returned to the House in every election cycle since 2000:

2014
HD105: Rodney Anderson defeated Rep. Linda Harper-Brown, 53%-47%, in the Republican primary after not seeking re-election in 2012.

2012
HD34: Abel Herrero defeated Rep. Connie Scott, 57%-43%, in the general election after losing the 2010 general election to Scott, 54%-46%.
HD78: Joe Moody defeated Rep. Dee Margo, 54%-46%, in the general election after losing the 2010 general election to Margo, 52%-48%.
HD101: Chris Turner defeated a minor party candidate in the general election after losing the 2010 general election for HD96 to Bill Zedler, 52%-48%.

2010
HD96: Bill Zedler defeated Rep. Chris Turner, 52%-48%, in the general election after losing the 2008 general election to Turner, 51%-47%.

HD133: Jim Murphy defeated Rep. Kristi Thibaut, 56%-42%, in the general election after losing the 2008 general election to Thibaut, 51%-49%.
HD146: Borris Miles defeated Rep. Al Edwards by 8 votes in the Democratic primary after losing the 2008 Democratic Primary to Edwards, 61%-39%.

2008
HD32: Rep. Todd Hunter defeated Rep. Juan F. Garcia, 50%-47%, in the general election after not seeking re-election in 1996.
HD146: Al Edwards defeated Rep. Borris Miles, 61%-39%, in the Democratic primary after losing the 2006 Democratic runoff to Miles, 54%-46%.

2006
HD9: Wayne Christian defeated Rep. Roy Blake Jr., 56%-44%, in the Republican primary after an unsuccessful run for Congress in 2004.

2004
HD80: Tracy King defeated Rep. Timo Garza, 61%-39%, in the Democratic primary after losing the 2002 Democratic runoff to Garza, 52%-48%.

2002
HD104: Roberto Alonzo defeated Rep. Domingo Garcia by 41 votes in the Democratic primary after losing the 1996 Democratic runoff to Garcia, 54%-46%.

2000
HD42: Richard Raymond won a 2001 special election for an unexpired term after an unsuccessful run for Land Commissioner in 1998.

Four additional representatives who served during this time period, including one current House member and one current senator, returned after service interruptions:

  • Chuy Hinojosa returned to the House in 1996 after a three-term absence
  • Rene Oliveira returned to the House in 1990 after a two-term absence
  • Delwin Jones returned to the House in 1988 after an eight-term absence, and
  • Paul Moreno returned to the House in 1974 after a one-term absence.

At least 13 former representatives were not as successful in their comeback attempts since 2000:

  • Norma Chavez lost the 2014 Democratic runoff to Cesar Blanco, 68%-32%, after losing the 2010 Democratic runoff to Naomi Gonzalez, 53%-47%.
  • Dora Olivo lost the 2012 general election to Phil Stephenson, 58%-42%, after losing the 2010 Democratic primary to Ron Reynolds, 58%-42%.
  • After winning the first round, Al Edwards lost his final comeback bid in the 2012 Democratic primary to Borris Miles, 58%-42%.
  • Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles lost the 2012 general election to J.M. Lozano, 52%-48%, after losing the 2010 general election to Jose Aliseda, 53%-47%.
  • Delwin Jones lost the 2012 Republican primary to Charles Perry, 71%-29%, after losing the 2010 Republican runoff to Perry, 58%-42%. Jones went on to lose a 2014 special election to Perry for an open senate seat.
  • Paula Hightower Pierson lost the 2012 Democratic primary to Chris Turner, 53%-34%, after losing the 2010 general election to Barbara Nash, 49%-48%.
  • Gary Walker failed to make a runoff in the 2012 Republican primary for HD88 after losing the 2002 Republican primary for HD83 to Delwin Jones, 52%-48%.
  • Bill Keffer lost the 2008 general election to Allen Vaught, 50%-47%, after losing the 2006 general election to Vaught, 50%-47%. Keffer went on to lose a 2010 Republican runoff to Jason Villalba, 54%-46%.
  • Bob Leonard lost the 2008 Republican primary to Mark Shelton, 59%-32%, after resigning in 1987.
  • Billy Clemons lost the 2004 general election to Jim McReynolds, 51%-49%, after losing the 1996 general election to McReynolds, 51%-49%.
  • Bob Glaze lost the 2004 general election to Bryan Hughes, 62%-38%, after losing the 2002 general election to Hughes, 52%-48%.
  • David Lengefeld lost the 2002 general election to Sid Miller, 57%-43%, after losing the 2002 general election to Miller, 54%-46%.
  • Nancy Moffat lost the 2000 Republican primary to Vicki Truitt, 66%-34%, after losing the 1998 Republican primary to Truitt, 61%-39%.

Eight former representatives are running to reclaim their former seats, or win new ones, in 2016. Three (Lance Gooden, George Lavender and Bennett Ratliff) lost their 2014 re-election bids in the Republican primary, and two more (Philip Cortez and Mary Ann Perez) lost in the 2014 general election. The other three (Jim Landtroop, Chente Quintanilla and Hugh Shine) have spent more than one term out of the House.