Wikipedia

2002 Texas Senate election

The 2002 Texas Senate elections took place as part of the biennial United States elections. Texas voters elected state senators in all 31 Senate districts. All of the seats up for this election, with half of the seats elected for two-year terms and the other half elected for four-year terms. The winners of this election served in the 78th Texas Legislature.

2002 Texas Senate election
← 2000 November 5, 2002 2004 →
All of the 31 seats in the Texas State Senate
16 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Rep
Dem
Party Republican Democratic
Seats before 16 15
Seats won 19 12
Seat change Increase 3 Decrease 3
Popular vote 2,360,682 1,567,895
Percentage 57.77% 38.37%
Senate results by district
     Republican hold      Democratic hold
     Republican gain
     No election
President Pro Tempore before election


Republican

Elected President Pro Tempore


Republican

Following the 2000 elections, the Republicans maintained effective control of the Senate with sixteen members to the Democrats' fifteen.

To claim control of the chamber from Republicans, the Democrats needed to gain one seat. Instead, Republicans gained three seats.

Background

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The Republican Party had held the State Senate since the 1996 elections.[1] Due to the state's divided government after Democrats maintained control of the Texas House of Representatives in the 2000 elections, neither party held control over the redistricting process.[2][3] During the 2001 regular session, the divided legislature failed to pass any redistricting plans.[4] The task then fell to the Legislative Redistricting Board after Republican governor Rick Perry did not call a special session. Republicans controlled four of the five seats on the board, so Democrats tried to convince the Republican members of the board to adopt a plan that would keep the partisan balance of the legislature intact. While Republican lieutenant governor Bill Ratliff was open to such a plan, the majority of the board pushed for a plan that heavily favored Republicans.[5][6]

Results

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Republicans major gains in the Texas Senate in 2002, flipping three seats from the Democrats. In addition to their victory in the concurrent elections for the Texas House, Republicans won a government trifecta for the first time since Reconstruction.[7][8]

Statewide

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Summary of the November 6, 2012 Texas Senate election results
 
Party Candidates Votes Seats
No. % Before Up Won After +/–
Republican 22 2,360,682 57.77% 16 16 19 19  3
Democratic 22 1,567,895 38.37% 15 15 12 12  3
Libertarian 16 157,565 3.86% 0 0 0 0  
Total 4,086,142 100.00% 31 31 31 31  
Source:[9]
Popular vote
Republican
 
 57.77%
Democratic
 
 38.37%
Libertarian
 
 3.86%
Senate seats won
Republican
 
 61.29%
Democratic
 
 38.71%

Close races

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District Winner Margin
District 18 Democratic 8.18%
District 2 Republican (flip) 9.38%
District 14 Democratic 9.58%

Results by district

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District Democratic Republican Libertarian Total Result
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
District 1 53,201 31.83% 133,939 68.17% - - 167,140 100.00% Republican hold
District 2 66,151 44.56% 80,075 53.94% 2,217 1.49% 148,443 100.00% Republican gain
District 3 - - 119,993 88.23% 16,001 11.77% 135,994 100.00% Republican hold
District 4 55,808 36.47% 97,237 63.53% - - 153,045 100.00% Republican gain
District 5 - - 122,119 86.86% 18,482 13.14% 140,601 100.00% Republican hold
District 6 54,130 100.00% - - - - 54,130 100.00% Democratic hold
District 7 - - 139,827 91.31% 13,305 8.69% 153,132 100.00% Republican hold
District 8 - - 135,927 89.75% 15,525 10.25% 151,452 100.00% Republican hold
District 9 89,255 38.21% 136,288 58.35% - - 225,543 100.00% Republican hold
District 10 69,038 39.93% 101,511 58.71% 2,367 1.37% 172,916 100.00% Republican hold
District 11 - - 103,204 86.30% 16,387 13.70% 119,591 100.00% Republican hold
District 12 - - 121,991 89.83% 13,818 10.17% 135,809 100.00% Republican gain
District 13 107,897 100.00% - - - - 107,897 100.00% Democratic hold
District 14 95,182 52.70% 77,885 43.12% 7,537 4.17% 180,604 100.00% Democratic hold
District 15 62,458 60.37% 41,003 39.63% - - 103,461 100.00% Democratic hold
District 16 50,895 34.02% 95,853 64.07% 2,857 1.91% 149,605 100.00% Republican hold
District 17 55,502 38.57% 88,393 61.43% - - 143,895 100.00% Republican hold
District 18 85,401 53.31% 72,296 45.13% 2,508 1.57% 160,205 100.00% Democratic hold
District 19 76,590 100.00% - - - - 76,590 100.00% Democratic hold
District 20 78,685 100.00% - - - - 78,685 100.00% Democratic hold
District 21 95,644 89.11% - - 11,688 10.89% 107,332 100.00% Democratic hold
District 22 51,506 32.62% 106,371 67.38% - - 157,877 100.00% Republican hold
District 23 101,793 100.00% - - - - 101,793 100.00% Democratic hold
District 24 - - 122,355 90.47% 12,887 9.53% 135,242 100.00% Republican hold
District 25 61,899 30.20% 136,802 66.73% 6,293 3.07% 204,994 100.00% Republican hold
District 26 74,163 100.00% - - - - 74,163 100.00% Democratic hold
District 27 61,382 100.00% - - - - 61,382 100.00% Democratic hold
District 28 - - 119,508 91.31% 11,372 8.69% 130,880 100.00% Republican hold
District 29 73,205 100.00% - - - - 73,205 100.00% Democratic hold
District 30 48,110 29.77% 109,167 67.55% 4,321 2.67% 161,598 100.00% Republican hold
District 31 - - 118,938 100.00% - - 118,938 100.00% Republican hold
Total 1,567,895 38.37% 2,360,682 57.77% 157,565 3.86% 4,086,142 100.00% Source:[9]

Notable races

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District 2

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2nd senate district election
 
← 2000
2006 →
 
Nominee Bob Deuell David Cain
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 80,075 66,151
Percentage 53.94% 44.56%
 
County results
Deuell:      40–50%      50–60%      70–80%
Cain:      50–60%      70–80%
Texas Senator before election

David Cain
Democratic Party

Elected Texas Senator

Bob Deuell
Republican Party

Incumbent Democratic senator David Cain sought re-election, but he lost to Republican Bob Deuell in a rematch of the 2000 election, which Cain had narrowly won.

District 2 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Deuell 80,075 53.94%
Democratic David Cain (incumbent) 66,151 44.56%
Libertarian Robert Parker 2,217 1.49%
Total votes 148,443 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 18

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18th senate district election
 
← 1998
2006 →
 
Nominee Ken Armbrister Lester Phillips
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 85,401 72,296
Percentage 53.31% 45.13%
 
County results
Armbrister:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Phillips:      50–60%      60–70%
Texas Senator before election

Ken Armbrister
Democratic Party

Elected Texas Senator

Ken Armbrister
Democratic Party

Incumbent Democratic senator Ken Armbrister ran for re-election. District 18, centered around Victoria, voted strongly for President George W. Bush during his gubernatorial elections and in the 2000 presidential election. Armbrister was considered the most conservative Democrat in the Senate and had endorsed and openly campaigned for Bush during his presidential run, although he did not consider switching parties.[10] He won re-election.

District 18 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ken Armbrister (incumbent) 85,401 53.31%
Republican Lester Phillips 72,296 45.13%
Libertarian Horace Henley 2,508 1.57%
Total votes 160,205 100.00%
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ "Rep. Stockman loses in Texas Congress runoff GOP claims majority in one house of state legislature, 1st since 1872". Baltimore Sun. December 12, 1996. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  2. ^ "National Parties Spend For Texas Redistricting Advantage". Congress Daily AM. The Atlantic Monthly Group LLC. September 28, 2000. Retrieved March 16, 2023 – via Gale Academic OneFile.
  3. ^ Ramsey, Ross (November 13, 2000). "A Truly Fantastic Week for Political Junkies". The Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  4. ^ "Texas Legislature Deadlocked Over Redistricting Plan". Congress Daily AM. The Atlantic Monthly Group LLC. May 22, 2001. Retrieved March 16, 2023 – via Gale Academic OneFile.
  5. ^ Attlesey, Sam (2001). "New maps could give GOP large majority in both houses Texas board OKs redistricting plans despite criticism". The Dallas Morning News. p. 1.
  6. ^ Bickerstaff, Steve (2020). Heath, C. Robert (ed.). Gerrymandering Texas. Lubbock, Texas: Texas Tech University Press. pp. 132–134. ISBN 978-1-68283-073-4.
  7. ^ Halbfinger, David M.; Yardley, Jim (November 7, 2002). "THE 2002 ELECTIONS: THE SOUTH; Vote Solidifies Shift of South To the G.O.P." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  8. ^ Barta, Carolyn; Alvarez, Elizabeth Cruce (2004). "Republicans Take Total Control of State Government". Texas Almanac, 2004-2005. Dallas, Texas: The Dallas Morning News. pp. 395–396. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Race Summary Report - 2002 General Election". Texas Secretary of State.
  10. ^ Ramsey, Ross (May 1, 2000). "Four Dems in Ohio". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
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