The 2014 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor of Texas. Incumbent Republican governor Rick Perry, who had served since the resignation of then-Governor George W. Bush on December 21, 2000, declined to run for an unprecedented fourth full term, making this the first open election for governor of the state since 1990.
The election took place between nominees who were selected on March 4, 2014: Republican State Attorney General Greg Abbott and Democratic State Senator Wendy Davis. Also on the ballot were Libertarian Party candidate Kathie Glass and Green Party candidate Brandon Parmer. Abbott was projected to carry the election, and ultimately won handily with a 20.4 percentage point advantage. As of 2022, this is the most recent gubernatorial election in which Bexar, Harris and Hays counties voted Republican and in which Frio, Jim Wells, and Val Verde counties voted Democratic. Exit polls showed Abbott winning Whites (72% to 25%), while Davis received majorities among African Americans (92% to 7%) and Hispanics (55% to 44%). Abbott won roughly half of Hispanic men, 54% of all women, and 62% of married women.
Abbott took office on January 20, 2015, as the 48th governor of Texas.
Republican primary Candidates Declared Greg Abbott, attorney general of Texas Lisa Fritsch, author and radio show host Larry Kilgore, perennial candidate Miriam Martinez, former Univision personality
Withdrew Tom Pauken, former Texas Workforce Commissioner and former chairman of the Republican Party of Texas
Declined David Dewhurst, lieutenant governor of Texas (ran for re-election and lost the party primary runoff) Debra Medina, activist and candidate for governor of Texas in 2010 (running for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts) Rick Perry, incumbent governor of Texas
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror GregAbbott LisaFritsch LarryKilgore MiriamMartinez TomPauken Other UndecidedUoT/Texas Tribune February 7–17, 2014 461 ± 4.56% 90% 4% 1% 5% — — —UoT/Texas Tribune October 18–27, 2013 519 ± 5.02% 50% 3% 1% 2% 2% — 42%Texas LyceumTexas Lyceum September 6–20, 2013 279 ± 5.87% 22% — 2% 1% 0% — 74%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror RickPerry GregAbbott Someone else UndecidedPublic Policy Polling June 28–July 1, 2013 318 ± ?% 46% 34% — 20% 44% — 39% 17%UoT/Texas Tribune May 31–June 9, 2013 492 ± 5.27% 45% 19% 11% 25%UoT/Texas Tribune February 15–24, 2013 549 ± 4.18% 49% 17% — 31%Public Policy Polling January 24–27, 2013 400 ± 4.9% 47% — 41% 13% 41% 38% — 20%Burnt Orange Report May 15–16, 2012 462 ± 4.6% 42% 35% 7% 16%
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Declared Wendy Davis, state senator Ray Madrigal, perennial candidate
Declined Julian Castro, United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and former mayor of San Antonio Kinky Friedman, singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist and independent candidate for governor in 2006 (candidate in May 27 runoff for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture) Annise Parker, mayor of Houston Mike Villarreal, state representative Kirk Watson, state senator and former mayor of Austin Bill White, former mayor of Houston and nominee for governor in 2010
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror WendyDavis RayMadrigal Other UndecidedUoT/Texas Tribune February 7–17, 2014 263 ± 6.04% 87% 13% — —
Results
Libertarian nomination Candidates Declared Robert Bell, pharmaceutical executive and chemist Robert Garrett, veteran, helicopter mechanic and prison officer Kathie Glass, attorney Robert "Star" Locke, rancher, building contractor, veteran and perennial candidate
Withdrew Gene Chapman, candidate for president of the United States in 2008"Chapman Withdraws from Texas Gubernatorial Race" – Very Good Citizenship Today, personal blog of Gene Chapman. Published 8 January 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2014. R. Lee Wrights, vice chair of the Libertarian National Committee and candidate for president of the United States in 2012
Results Kathie Glass was nominated at the 2014 party convention.
Green nomination Candidates Declared Brandon Parmer, candidate for Texas's 6th congressional district in 2012
Independents Candidates Declared Sarah M. Pavitt, Army veteran and cousin of former SOCOM commander William H. McRaven; ran as a write-in candidate
Declined Debra Medina, activist and Republican candidate for governor in 2010 (ran unsuccessfully for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts)
General election Debates The first of two confirmed gubernatorial debates between Wendy Davis and Greg Abbott took place at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance at 18:00 on Friday, September 19, co-hosted by KGBT-TV, The Monitor and KTLM-TV.Abbott, Davis to debate in the Rio Grande Valley, staff, Action 4 News, September 19, 2014 KGBT-TV posted the complete video online and can be viewed here.Texas Governor Debate, KGBT-TV, September 19, 2014 The debate took place in Edinburg, Texas, and it gave both candidates an opportunity to appeal to the Hispanic community, a grouping seen by Reuters as an "increasingly important voting bloc in Texas." The second debate took place on September 30 and was also posted online.
Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 3, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 3, 2014 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2014 Real Clear Politics November 3, 2014
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror GregAbbott (R) WendyDavis (D) Other UndecidedCBS News/NYT/YouGov October 16–23, 2014 3,987 ± 3% 57% 37% 0% 6%UoT/Texas Tribune October 10–19, 2014 866 ± 3.6% 54% 38% 8%Kathie Glass (L) 6%, Brandon Parmer (G) 2% —Survey Research Center September 22–October 16, 2014 781 ± 3.5% 47% 32% 2%Kathie Glass (L) 1%, Brandon Parmer (G) 1% 17%Crosswind Communications October 9–12, 2014 500 ± 4.33% 52% 31% 0% 16%Rasmussen Reports October 1–2, 2014 840 ± 3.5% 51% 40% 3% 7%CBS News/NYT/YouGov September 20–October 1, 2014 4,177 ± 2% 54% 40% 0% 5% September 11–25, 2014 666 ± 3.8% 49% 40% 4%Kathie Glass (L) 2%, Brandon Parmer (G) 2% 8%Benenson*Benenson* September 2–4, 2014 800 ± 3.5% 46% 38% — 16%WPA Opinion Research^WPA Opinion Research^ September 3, 2014 ? ± ? 53% 35% — 12%CBS News/NYT/YouGov August 18–September 2, 2014 4,189 ± 2% 56% 38% 2% 5%Rasmussen Reports August 4–5, 2014 850 ± 3.5% 48% 40% 3% 9%CBS News/NYT/YouGov July 5–24, 2014 4,320 ± 3.7% 54% 37% 1% 9%UoT/Texas Tribune May 30–June 8, 2014 1,200 ± 2.83% 44% 32% 7%Kathie Glass (L) 3%, Brandon Parmer (G) 1%, Other 3% 17%Texas Tech University April 14–17, 2014 454 ± 4.6% 54% 25% 6% 15%Public Policy Polling April 10–13, 2014 559 ± 4.1% 51% 37% — 13%Emerson CollegeEmerson College March 7–12, 2014 494 ± ? 49% 42% — 9%Rasmussen Reports March 3–4, 2014 500 ± 4.5% 53% 41% 1% 4%UoT/Texas Tribune February 7–17, 2014 1,200 ± 2.83% 47% 36% — 17%Public Policy Polling November 1–4, 2013 500 ± 4.4% 50% 35% — 15% 47% 37% 9% 8%UoT/Texas Tribune October 18–27, 2013 1,200 ± 3.3% 40% 34% — 25% 40% 35% 5%Kathie Glass (L) 20%Texas Lyceum September 6–20, 2013 798 ± 3.47% 29% 21% — 50%Public Policy Polling June 28–July 1, 2013 500 ± 4.4% 48% 40% — 12%Public Policy Polling January 24–27, 2013 400 ± 4.9% 46% 34% — 20%
With Castro Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror GregAbbott (R) JulianCastro (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling June 28–July 1, 2013 500 ± 4.4% 48% 34% — 18%Public Policy Polling January 24–27, 2013 400 ± 4.9% 46% 36% — 18%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror RickPerry (R) JulianCastro (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling June 28–July 1, 2013 500 ± 4.4% 50% 43% — 8%Public Policy Polling January 24–27, 2013 400 ± 4.9% 47% 42% — 11%
With Davis Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror TomPauken (R) WendyDavis (D) Other UndecidedUoT/Texas Tribune October 18–27, 2013 1,200 ± 3.3% 34% 38% — 28% 33% 36% 6% 25%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror RickPerry (R) WendyDavis (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling June 28–July 1, 2013 500 ± 4.4% 53% 39% — 8%Public Policy Polling January 24–27, 2013 400 ± 4.9% 47% 41% — 13%
With Parker Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror GregAbbott (R) AnniseParker (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling June 28–July 1, 2013 500 ± 4.4% 50% 31% — 20%Public Policy Polling January 24–27, 2013 400 ± 4.9% 47% 35% — 18%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror RickPerry (R) AnniseParker (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling June 28–July 1, 2013 500 ± 4.4% 52% 35% — 13%Public Policy Polling January 24–27, 2013 400 ± 4.9% 47% 40% — 13%
With White Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror GregAbbott (R) BillWhite (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling June 28–July 1, 2013 500 ± 4.4% 48% 36% — 16%Public Policy Polling January 24–27, 2013 400 ± 4.9% 46% 39% — 15%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror RickPerry (R) BillWhite (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling June 28–July 1, 2013 500 ± 4.4% 50% 40% — 10%Public Policy Polling January 24–27, 2013 400 ± 4.9% 44% 47% — 9%
* Poll for the Wendy Davis campaign ^ Poll for the Greg Abbott campaign
Results
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Bexar (largest city: San Antonio) Culberson (largest municipality: Van Horn) Falls (largest city: Marlin) Foard (largest city: Crowell) Harris (largest community: Houston) Kleberg (largest municipality: Kingsville) La Salle (largest municipality: Cotulla) Reeves (largest municipality: Pecos) Trinity (largest city: Trinity)
By congressional district Abbott won 25 of 36 congressional districts. District Abbott Davis Representative 77% 23%Louie Gohmert 64% 36%Ted Poe 66% 34%Sam Johnson77%23%Ralph Hall (113th Congress)John Ratcliffe (114th Congress) 67% 33%Jeb Hensarling 59% 41%Joe Barton 61% 39%John Culberson 79% 21%Kevin Brady 24% 76%Al Green 60% 40%Michael McCaul 85% 15%Mike Conaway 66% 34%Kay Granger 84% 16%Mac Thornberry 61% 39%Randy Weber 47% 53%Rubén Hinojosa 40% 60%Beto O'Rourke 64% 36%Bill Flores 24% 76%Sheila Jackson Lee 82% 18%Randy Neugebauer 43% 57%Joaquín Castro 60% 40%Lamar Smith 65% 35%Pete Olson57%43%Pete Gallego (113th Congress)Will Hurd (114th Congress) 63% 37%Kenny Marchant 60% 40%Roger Williams 69% 31%Michael Burgess 65% 35%Blake Farenthold 46% 54%Henry Cuellar 37% 63%Gene Green 21% 79%Eddie Bernice Johnson 63% 37%John Carter 58% 42%Pete Sessions 30% 70%Marc Veasey 47% 53%Filemon Vela Jr. 36% 64%Lloyd Doggett76%24%Steve Stockman (113th Congress)Brian Babin (114th Congress)
See also 2014 United States gubernatorial elections 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas 2014 United States Senate election in Texas 2014 Texas elections
Notes
References
External links Texas gubernatorial election, 2014 at Ballotpedia Greg Abbott for Governor Wendy Davis for Governor Kathie Glass for Governor Lisa Fritsch for Governor Larry Kilgore for Governor Miriam Martinez for Governor R. Lee Wrights for Governor Gene Chapman for Governor