AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas State Board of Education is responsible for managing Texas’ public K-12 education. It is an elected executive agency of the Texas state government. 

Five of the seats were contested on Election Day, and four Republicans prevailed, ensuring the board keeps a Republican majority. The fifth race had not been determined as of Wednesday morning. 

Republican Tom Maynard defeated Democrat Raquel Sáenz Ortiz, Republican Brandon Hall topped Democrat Rayna Glasser and Green Party candidate Hunter Crow, Aaron Kinsey beat Democrat Morgan Kirkpatrick and Libertarian Jack Westbrook, and Pam Little defeated Democrat George King. 

Democrat Gustavo Reveles defeated Republican challenger Michael “Travis” Stevens in the race for District 1. The seat is currently held by El Paso Democrat Melissa Ortega, but she decided not to run for reelection.

The board has 15 members, and each represents one of the state's 15 education districts. The members are elected to serve staggered two-year and four-year terms.

San Antonio Democrat Marisa Perez-Diaz, Houston Democrat Staci Childs and Democrat Tiffany Clark ran unopposed.

According to the state of Texas State Board of Education's website, “The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) is the policy-making body of the Texas Education Agency (TEA), which coordinates all public educational activities and services except those of colleges and universities. The SBOE approves, on the recommendation of the commissioner of education, the plan of organization; adopts policies, rules, and regulations; approves budgets; executes contracts for the purchase of textbooks and instructional materials as recommended by the commissioner; directs the investment of the Permanent School Fund; passes on appeals made from the decisions of the commissioner; reviews the educational needs of the state; and evaluates programs under the direction of TEA.”