Straight-party Ruling Stayed and Other News for SD30 Eve

As expected, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an administrative stay to prevent a lower court ruling from restoring the single-punch, straight-party voting option to the general election ballot. The state will seek an emergency stay – an administrative...

Flores Retiring and Other Election News for September 4

U.S. Rep. Bill Flores (R-Bryan) announced he would not seek re-election, becoming the fifth Republican in the Texas delegation to voluntarily leave Congress. “When I originally announced that I was running for Congress in 2009, I was firm in my commitment that I would...

Expedited Special Elections Struggle to Find Voters

Three seats in the House of Representatives were vacant when the Legislature convened two weeks ago: HD79, an El Paso Co. seat vacated by former Rep. Joe Pickett (D-El Paso), who resigned in December, citing health reasons. HD125, a Bexar Co. seat vacated by former...

Election Day for SD6 and Other News for December 10

Election Day: Tomorrow (Tuesday) is Election Day in SD6 and several local jurisdictions holding special and runoff elections. We’ll have live coverage beginning at 7 p.m. CST at https://txelects.wpengine.com/live/. Races we’ll be following include: SD6 special...

Just 10K Early Voters in SD6 and Other News for December 7

SD6 special: Early voting has ended for the special election to fill the unexpired term of former Sen. and current U.S. Rep.-elect Sylvia Garcia (D-Houston). Just over 10K people voted in person or by mail during the 12-day early voting period. Mail ballots represent...

Brief Election News for December 3

SD6 special: Just 269 people voted in person today (Monday), the eighth day of early voting, the lowest weekday total so far. At this point, just over 7K people have voted so far, more than two-thirds of whom have done so by mail. Turnout is currently about 2.2%....

SD6 Turnout Lurches Toward 2% and Other News for December 2

SD6 special: Not quite 6K people – 1.8% of registered voters – have cast ballots early in person (2K) and by mail (just under 4K) in the special election to fill the unexpired term of former Sen. and now U.S. Rep.-elect Sylvia Garcia (D-Houston). About 6K mail ballots...

By the Numbers: Special Election Turnout

6.8% Average turnout for special legislative and congressional elections and runoffs not coinciding with an even-year general election since 2013. In the last five years, special elections have been ordered to fill vacancies for 15 legislative and one congressional...

SD6 Early Voting Continues and Other News for November 29

SD6 special: Over 1K people voted today in person and mostly by mail, bringing the four-day total to just over 4K, corresponding to about 1.3% turnout. Eight days of early voting remain before the December 11 election. Despite the very low participation rate so far,...