On November 3, the country will hold its 2020 general election. In Texas, early voting runs through October 30. As you no doubt have heard, the presidential election headlines the ballot. There are plenty of other consequential statewide and local elections to consider.
The list below is a general summary of the state’s races and their potential impacts. If you’d like to know more about where and how to vote this year, please read our election FAQ.
Railroad Commissioner
The Railroad Commission oversees the oil and gas industry — and hasn’t actually regulated railroads since 2005. The three-person commission will gain a new member this election cycle, as James Wright ousted incumbent Republican Ryan Sitton in the primary election.
Republican: James “Jim” Wright
Democrat: Chrysta Castañeda
Libertarian: Matt Sterett
Green Party: Katija “Kat” Gruene
State Board of Education
The 15-member board sets policies and standards for Texas public schools, and is responsible for setting curriculum standards, reviewing and adopting instructional materials, establishing graduation requirements, overseeing the Texas Permanent School Fund, and more.
State Board of Education District 1
R: Jennifer Ivey
D: Georgina C. Pérez (Incumbent)
State Board of Education District 5
R: Lani Popp
D: Rebecca Bell-Metereau
L: Stephanie Berlin
Background: Lani Popp survived an interesting primary battle against Robert Morrow, whose history of sexist, racist rhetoric matched the jester hat he wore to campaign events. This seat was vacated by Republican Ken Mercer, who decided not to seek re-election after a 14-year run. The district picks up communities along the Interstate 35 corridor between San Antonio and Austin and stretches out into the Hill Country. The Dems have targeted this seat as one they think is vulnerable.
State Board of Education District 6
R: Will Hickman
D: Michelle Palmer
L: Whitney Bilyeu
State Board of Education District 8
R: Audrey Young
L: Audra Rose Berry
State Board of Education District 9
R: Keven Ellis (Incumbent)
D: Brenda Davis
State Board of Education District 10
R: Tom Maynard (Incumbent)
D: Marsha Burnett-Webster
L: Trip Seibold
State Board of Education District 14
R: Sue Melton-Malone (Incumbent)
D: Greg Alvord
State Board of Education District 15
R: Jay Johnson
D: John Betancourt
Supreme Court of Texas
The high court in Texas has the final say in civil appeals. Unlike the SCOTUS, all of the judges on this nine-member court are elected to six-year terms, with no limits on how many times they can run for re-election. All of the seats for the Supreme Court of Texas appear on ballots statewide.
Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice
R: Nathan L. Hecht (Incumbent)
D: Amy Clark Meachum
L: Mark Ash
Texas Supreme Court Place 6
R: Jane Bland (Incumbent)
D: Kathy Cheng
Texas Supreme Court Place 7
R: Jeffrey S. Boyd (Incumbent)
D: Staci Williams
L: William Bryan Strange III
Background: If she wins, Dallas Country District Court Judge Staci Williams would be the first Black woman to be elected to the state’s high court. She’s running against an incumbent who won his first statewide election after being appointed to the post by Gov. Rick Perry.
Texas Supreme Court Place 8
R: Brett Busby (Incumbent)
D: Gisela D. Triana
L: Tom Oxford
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the court of last resort for criminal cases. Like the Supreme Court of Texas, the TCCA has nine members — though the TCCA is lead by a presiding judge, as opposed to a chief justice.
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 3
R: Bert Richardson (Incumbent)
D: Elizabeth Davis Frizell
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 4
R: Kevin Yeary (Incumbent)
D: Tina Clinton
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 9
R: David Newell (Incumbent)
D: Brandon Birmingham
The upper chamber of the Texas Legislature is 31 members strong. Each serves a four-year term. Elections are held in even-numbered years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. In elections in years ending in 2, all seats are up for election.
Texas Senate District 1
R: Bryan Hughes (Incumbent)
D: Audrey Spanko
Texas Senate District 4
R: Brandon Creighton (Incumbent)
D: Jay Stittleburg
L: Cameron Brock
Texas Senate District 6
D: Carol Alvarado (Incumbent)
L: Timothy Duffield
Texas Senate District 11
R: Larry Taylor (Incumbent)
D: Susan Criss
L: Jared Wissel
Texas Senate District 12
R: Jane Nelson (Incumbent)
D: Shadi Zitoon
Texas Senate District 13
R: Milinda Morris
D: Borris L. Miles (Incumbent)
Texas Senate District 18
R: Lois Kolkhorst (Incumbent)
D: Michael Antalan
Texas Senate District 19
R: Pete Flores (Incumbent)
D: Roland Gutierrez
L: Jo-Anne Valdivia
Background: Pete Flores shocked most observers when he won District 19 in a low-turnout election, becoming the fist Republican to win this seat since the 1870s. The seat was vacated after disgraced state Sen. Carlos Uresti was sent to prison for bribery.
Texas Senate District 20
R: Judy Cutright
D: Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (Incumbent)
Texas Senate District 21
R: Frank Pomeroy
D: Judith Zaffirini (Incumbent)
Texas Senate District 22
R: Brian Birdwell (Incumbent)
D: Robert Vick
Texas Senate District 24
R: Dawn Buckingham (Incumbent)
D: Clayton Tucker
Texas Senate District 26
D: José Menéndez (Incumbent)
G: Julián Villarreal
Texas Senate District 27
R: Vanessa Tijerina
D: Eddie Lucio Jr. (Incumbent)
Texas Senate District 28
R: Charles Perry (Incumbent)
Texas Senate District 29
R: Bethany Hatch
D: César J. Blanco
The lower house of the state’s bicameral legislature has 150 members, who serve two-year terms. This election cycle, Democrats believe they have a change to flip the house back to their control for the first time in nearly two decades — they need to pick up nine seats. The Dems ousted Republican incumbents in the mid-term election, but the G.O.P. has more cash on hand.
Texas House District 1
R: Gary VanDeaver (Incumbent)
Texas House District 2
R: Bryan Slaton
D: Bill Brannon
Texas House District 3
R: Cecil Bell Jr. (Incumbent)
D: Martin Shupp
Texas House District 4
R: Keith Bell (Incumbent)
L: K. Nicole Sprabary
Texas House District 5
R: Cole Hefner (Incumbent)
D: LaWyanda Prince
Texas House District 6
R: Matt Schaefer (Incumbent)
D: Julie Gobble
Texas House District 7
R: Jay Dean (Incumbent)
Texas House District 8
R: Cody Harris (Incumbent)
L: R. Edwin Adams
Texas House District 9
R: Chris Paddie (incumbent)
Texas House District 10
R: J.K. “Jake” Ellzey
L: Matt Savino
Texas House District 11
R: Travis Clardy (Incumbent)
D: Alec Johnson
Texas House District 12
R: Kyle Kacal (Incumbent)
Texas House District 13
R: Ben Leman (Incumbent)
Texas House District 14
R: John Raney (Incumbent)
D: Janet Dudding
Background: Both candidates hail from Bryan, and Raney has represented District 14, which includes most of College Station and Bryan. State poll-watchers are calling this election a toss-up, with a fundraising edge going to the incumbent.
Texas House District 15
R: Steve Toth (Incumbent)
D: Lorena Perez McGill
Texas House District 16
R: Will Metcalf (Incumbent)
Texas House District 17
R: John P. Cyrier (Incumbent)
D: Madeline K. Eden
Texas House District 18
R: Ernest Bailes (Incumbent)
Texas House District 19
R: James White (Incumbent)
Texas House District 20
R: Terry M. Wilson (Incumbent)
D: Jessica Tiedt
Texas House District 21
R: Dade Phelan (Incumbent)
Texas House District 22
R: Jacorion Randle
D: Joe Deshotel (Incumbent)
Texas House District 23
R: Mayes Middleton (Incumbent)
D: Jeff Antonelli
Texas House District 24
R: Greg Bonnen (Incumbent)
D: Brian J. Rogers
L: Dick Illyes
Texas House District 25
R: Cody Thane Vasut
D: Patrick Henry
Texas House District 26
R: Jacey Jetton
D: L. Sarah DeMerchant
Texas House District 27
R: Tom Virippan
D: Ron Reynolds (Incumbent)
Texas House District 28
R: Gary Gates (Incumbent)
D: Elizabeth Markowitz
Background: After longtime Republican John Zerwas' unexpected resignation last year, Gary Gates won the seat in a special election. Democrat Markowitz, who works for the Princeton Review, lost by 16 points in a January runoff to Gates, a Republican real estate investor accused of abusing his adopted children.
Texas House District 29
R: Ed Thompson (Incumbent)
D: Travis Boldt
Texas House District 30
R: Geanie W. Morrison (Incumbent)
Texas House District 31
R: Marian Knowlton
D: Ryan Guillen (Incumbent)
Texas House District 32
R: Todd Hunter (Incumbent)
D: Eric Holguin
Texas House District 33
R: Justin Holland (Incumbent)
D: Andy Rose
Texas House District 34
R: James Hernandez
D: Abel Herrero (Incumbent)
Texas House District 35
D: Oscar Longoria (Incumbent)
Texas House District 36
D: Sergio Muñoz, Jr. (Incumbent)
Texas House District 37
D: Alex Dominguez (Incumbent)
Texas House District 38
D: Eddie Lucio III (Incumbent)
Texas House District 39
D: Armando “Mando” Martinez (Incumbent)
Texas House District 40
D: Terry Canales (Incumbent)
Texas House District 41
R: John “Doc” Robert Guerra
D: Bobby Guerra (Incumbent)
Texas House District 42
D: Richard Peña Raymond (Incumbent)
Texas House District 43
R: J.M. Lozano (Incumbent)
Texas House District 44
R: John Kuempel (Incumbent)
D: Robert Bohmfalk
L: Julian Mardock
Texas House District 45
R: Carrie Isaac
D: Erin Zwiener (Incumbent)
Background: Zwiener won this seat by the narrowest of margins. House District 45, which covered a swath of Central Texas, has readily evolved from a rural to suburban area. Isaac is the conservative wife of the Zwiener’s predecessor, Tea Party Republican Jason Isaac, who held the seat for eight years.
Texas House District 46
D: Sheryl Cole (Incumbent)
Texas House District 47
R: Justin Berry
D: Vikki Goodwin (Incumbent)
L: Michael Clark
Texas House District 48
R: Bill Strieber
D: Donna Howard (Incumbent)
Texas House District 49
R: Charles Allan Meyer
D: Gina Hinojosa (Incumbent)
L: Kenneth M. Moore
Texas House District 50
R: Larry Delarose
D: Celia Israel (Incumbent)
Texas House District 51
R: Robert Reynolds
D: Eddie Rodriguez (Incumbent)
Texas House District 52
R: Lucio Valdez
D: James Talarico (Incumbent)
Texas House District 53
R: Andrew S. Murr (Incumbent)
D: Joe P. Herrera
Texas House District 54
R: Brad Buckley (Incumbent)
D: Likeithia “Keke” Williams
Texas House District 55
R: Hugh D. Shine (Incumbent)
Texas House District 56
R: Charles “Doc” Anderson (Incumbent)
D: Katherine Turner-Pearson
Texas House District 57
R: Trent Ashby (Incumbent)
D: Jason Rogers
Texas House District 58
R: DeWayne Burns (Incumbent)
D: Cindy Rocha
Texas House District 59
R: Shelby Slawson
Texas House District 60
R: Glenn Rogers
Texas House District 61
R: Phil King (Incumbent)
D: Christopher Cox
L: J.K. Stephenson
Texas House District 62
R: Reggie Smith (Incumbent)
D: Gary D. Thomas
Texas House District 63
R: Tan Parker (Incumbent)
D: Leslie Peeler
Texas House District 64
R: Lynn Stucky (Incumbent)
D: Angela Brewer
Texas House District 65
R: Kronda Thimesch
D: Michelle Beckley (Incumbent)
Texas House District 66
R: Matt Shaheen (Incumbent)
D: Sharon Hirsch
L: Shawn Jones
Background: The Collin County district has been safe territory for Republicans for years. In five of the last nine elections, District 66 hasn’t been competitive. Thanks to changing demography and the average results in statewide races, the district could easily flip for the first time in two decades.
Texas House District 67
R: Jeff Leach (Incumbent)
D: Lorenzo Sanchez
Texas House District 68
R: Drew Springer (Incumbent)
D: Patsy Ledbetter
Texas House District 69
R: James Frank (Incumbent)
Texas House District 70
R: Scott Sanford (Incumbent)
D: Angie Bado
Texas House District 71
R: Stan Lambert (Incumbent)
D: Sam Hatton
Texas House District 72
R: Drew Darby (Incumbent)
Texas House District 73
R: Kyle Biedermann (Incumbent)
D: Stephanie Phillips
Texas House District 74
R: Ruben Falcon
D: Eddie Morales Jr.
Texas House District 75
D: Mary E. González (Incumbent)
Texas House District 76
D: Claudia Ordaz Perez
Texas House District 77
D: Evelina “Lina” Ortega (Incumbent)
Texas House District 78
R: Jeffrey Lane
D: Joe Moody (Incumbent)
Texas House District 79
D: Art Fierro (Incumbent)
Texas House District 80
D: Tracy King (Incumbent)
Texas House District 81
R: Brooks Landgraf (Incumbent)
Texas House District 82
R: Tom Craddick (Incumbent)
Texas House District 83
R: Dustin Burrows (Incumbent)
D: Addison Perry-Franks
Texas House District 84
R: John Frullo (Incumbent)
D: John Gibson
Texas House District 85
R: Phil Stephenson (Incumbent)
D: Joey Cardenas III
L: Michael L. Miller
Texas House District 86
R: John Smithee (Incumbent)
Texas House District 87
R: Four Price (Incumbent)
Texas House District 88
R: Ken King (Incumbent)
Texas House District 89
R: Candy Noble (Incumbent)
D: Sugar Ray Ash
L: Ed Kless
Texas House District 90
R: Elva Camacho
D: Ramon Romero Jr. (Incumbent)
Texas House District 91
R: Stephanie Klick (Incumbent)
D: Jeromey Sims
Texas House District 92
R: Jeff Cason
D: Jeff Whitfield
G: Brody Mulligan
Texas House District 93
R: Matt Krause (Incumbent)
D: Lydia Bean
Texas House District 94
R: Tony Tinderholt (Incumbent)
D: Alisa Simmons
L: Jessica Pallett
Background: Tinderholt is no stranger to controversy. The Texas Observer penned a piece contemplating whether or not he was the most conservative member of the House. In 2017, he authored a bill that would have made abortion a capital crime, subject to the death penalty — though he may be better known for divorcing his wife and settling down with a former Dallas Cowboy cheerleader. He has been airing ads touting his support for increased education spending—a sign that he’s tuned in to his district’s dramatic leftward shift.
Texas House District 95
D: Nicole Collier (Incumbent)
Texas House District 96
R: David Cook
D: Joe Drago
L: Nelson Range
Texas House District 97
R: Craig Goldman (Incumbent)
D: Elizabeth Beck
L: Rod Wingo
Texas House District 98
R: Giovanni Capriglione (Incumbent)
D: Debra Edmondson
Texas House District 99
R: Charlie Geren (Incumbent)
Texas House District 100
D: Jasmine Felicia Crockett
Texas House District 101
D: Chris Turner (Incumbent)
Texas House District 102
R: Linda Koop
D: Ana-Maria Ramos (Incumbent)
Texas House District 103
R: Jerry Fortenberry II
D: Rafael Anchia (Incumbent)
Texas House District 104
D: Jessica González (Incumbent)
Texas House District 105
R: Gerson Hernandez
D: Thresa “Terry” Meza (Incumbent)
L: Bret Bolton
Texas House District 106
R: Jared Patterson (Incumbent)
D: Jennifer Skidonenko
Texas House District 107
R: Samuel Smith
D: Victoria Neave (Incumbent)
Texas House District 108
R: Morgan Meyer (Incumbent)
D: Joanna Cattanach
L: Ed Rankin
Texas House District 109
R: Dr. Eugene Allen
D: Carl Sherman (Incumbent)
Texas House District 110
D: Toni Rose (Incumbent)
Texas House District 111
D: Yvonne Davis (Incumbent)
Texas House District 112
R: Angie Chen Button (Incumbent)
D: Brandy K. Chambers
L: Shane D. Newsom
Background: Speaker Dennis Bonnen invoked Rep. Button as an example of how Donald Trump was endangering the GOP. Her district has become increasingly blue since she was elected in 2008. Chambers narrowly lost to Button in 2018.
Texas House District 113
R: Will Douglas
D: Rhetta Andrews Bowers (Incumbent)
Texas House District 114
R: Luisa Del Rosal
D: John Turner (Incumbent)
Texas House District 115
R: Karyn Brownlee
D: Julie Johnson (Incumbent)
Texas House District 116
R: Robert Litoff
D: Trey Martinez Fischer (Incumbent)
Texas House District 117
R: Carlos Antonio Raymond
D: Philip Cortez (Incumbent)
L: Tony Quinones
Texas House District 118
R: Adam Salyer
D: Leo Pacheco (Incumbent)
L: Eric Jason Velasquez
Texas House District 119
R: George B. Garza
D: Elizabeth “Liz” Campos
L: Arthur M. Thomas IV
G: Antonio Padron
Texas House District 120
R: Ronald Payne
D: Barbara Gervin-Hawkins
L: Shawn Huckabay
Texas House District 121
R: Steve Allison (Incumbent)
D: Celina D. Montoya
Texas House District 122
R: Lyle Larson (Incumbent)
D: Claire Barnett
Texas House District 123
D: Diego Bernal (Incumbent)
Texas House District 124
D: Ina Minjarez (Incumbent)
Texas House District 125
D: Ray Lopez (Incumbent)
L: Tony Valdivia
Texas House District 126
R: E. Sam Harless (Incumbent)
D: Natali Hurtado
Texas House District 127
R: Dan Huberty (Incumbent)
L: Neko Antoniou
Texas House District 128
R: Briscoe Cain (Incumbent)
D: Mary E. Williams
Texas House District 129
R: Dennis Paul (Incumbent)
D: Kayla Alix
Texas House District 130
R: Tom Oliverson (Incumbent)
D: Bryan J. Henry
Texas House District 131
D: Alma A. Allen (Incumbent)
Texas House District 132
R: Mike Schofield
D: Gina Calanni (Incumbent)
Texas House District 133
R: Jim Murphy (Incumbent)
D: Sandra G. Moore
L: James Harren
Texas House District 134
R: Sarah Davis (Incumbent)
D: Ann Johnson
Texas House District 135
R: Justin Ray
D: Jon E. Rosenthal (Incumbent)
L: Paul Bilyeu
Background: As a political novice, Jon E. Rosenthal pulled off one of the biggest upsets of 2018 when he knocked off 12-term Republican Rep. Gary Elkins to win the state House District 135 seat in what turned out to be a big year for Democrats. GOP party bosses see 135 as their turf, and have identified it as a vulnerable district.
Texas House District 136
R: Mike Guevara
D: John H. Bucy III (Incumbent)
L: Brian Elliott
Texas House District 137
D: Gene Wu (Incumbent)
L: Lee Sharp
Texas House District 138
R: Lacey Hull
D: Akilah Bacy
Texas House District 139
D: Jarvis D. Johnson (Incumbent)
L: R. Grizzle Trojacek
Texas House District 140
D: Armando Lucio Walle (Incumbent)
Texas House District 141
D: Senfronia Thompson (Incumbent)
Texas House District 142
R: Jason Rowe
D: Harold V. Dutton Jr. (Incumbent)
Texas House District 143
D: Ana Hernandez (Incumbent)
Texas House District 144
R: Tony Salas
D: Mary Ann Perez (Incumbent)
Texas House District 145
R: Martha Elena Fierro
D: Christina Morales (Incumbent)
L: Richard Aaron Howell
Texas House District 146
D: Shawn Nicole Thierry (Incumbent)
L: J.J. Campbell
Texas House District 147
D: Garnet F. Coleman (Incumbent)
Texas House District 148
R: Luis LaRotta
D: Penny Morales Shaw
Texas House District 149
R: Lily Truong
D: Hubert Vo (Incumbent)
Texas House District 150
R: Valoree Swanson (Incumbent)
D: Michael Robert Walsh
L: Jesse Herrera