Elections were held in Texas on November 6, 2018. All of Texas's executive officers were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, and all of Texas's 36 seats in the United States House of Representatives. The Republican and Democratic Parties nominated their candidates by primaries held on March 6, 2018. Convention parties nominated their candidates at a series of conventions. County conventions were held on March 17, 2018; district conventions were held on March 24, 2018; and a state convention was held on April 14, 2018. There is currently only one convention party in Texas, the Libertarian Party. Other parties may seek to achieve ballot access.
Turnout in the November general election reached historic levels, rivaling turnout in a presidential election. While the Republican Party won every statewide position, the margin of victory was narrower than in previous elections.
Federal United States Senate
Democratic U.S. Representative Beto O'Rourke and Libertarian candidate Neal Dikeman challenged U.S. Senator Ted Cruz for re-election. Cruz narrowly defeated O'Rourke by 2.6%.
United States House of Representatives
All of Texas's 36 seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2018.Executive Branch retrieved 23-October-2008 No open seats changed hands, but two Republican incumbents lost to Democrats.
Executive Governor
Incumbent governor Greg Abbott ran for a second term. He was first elected in 2014 after serving twelve years as Texas Attorney General, and he succeeded Rick Perry as governor.
Abbott won the March 20, 2018, Republican primary, while Lupe Valdez won the Democratic runoff against Andrew White, becoming the first Latina nominated by a major party for statewide office in Texas.
Libertarian Mark Tippetts also ran against Abbott. Tippetts defeated Kathie Glass, Patrick "Not Governor" Smith, and Kory Watkins at the party convention to earn his nomination.
Lieutenant governor
Incumbent Lieutenant governor Dan Patrick ran for a second term, having first been elected in 2014.
In the Republican primary, Patrick easily dispatched his primary challengers for the Republican nomination.
In the Democratic primary, Mike Collier narrowly defeated Michael Cooper for the Democratic nomination.
Patrick would go on to win a second term in the general election, but by a significantly reduced margin from his first run. His margin was likely pulled down due to the national environment favoring Democrats while President Trump was in office and a strong candidacy by Democrat Beto O'Rourke at the top of the ticket against Senator Ted Cruz.
Attorney general
Comptroller of Public Accounts
Incumbent Republican comptroller Glenn Hegar ran for re-election to a second term.
Commissioner of the General Land Office
Republican primary Candidates George P. Bush, incumbent Commissioner of the General Land Office Davey Edwards, professional land surveyor Jerry E. Patterson, former Commissioner of the General Land Office (2003–2015) Rick Range, retired teacher and firefighter
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Tex Morgan, software engineer, former member of VIA Metropolitan Transit board Miguel Suazo, energy and natural resources attorney
Results
Libertarian state convention Candidates Matt Piña
General election Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error George P.Bush (R) MiguelSuazo (D) MattPina (L) Other UndecidedDixie StrategiesDixie Strategies September 6–7, 2018 519± 4.3% 46% 30% 3% – 22%
Results
Commissioner of Agriculture
Incumbent Republican Commissioner Sid Miller ran for re-election to a second term.
Republican primary Candidates Trey Blocker, lobbyist Jim Hogan, Democratic nominee for Agriculture Commissioner in 2014 Sid Miller, incumbent Commissioner of Agriculture
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Kim Olson, retired U.S. Air Force colonel, former member of the Weatherford Independent School District Board of Trustees
Results
Libertarian state convention Candidates Richard Carpenter
General election Results
Railroad Commissioner
Incumbent Republican Commissioner Christi Craddick ran for re-election to a second six-year term.
Republican primary Candidates Christi Craddick, incumbent railroad commissioner Weston Martinez, former Texas Real Estate Commissioner
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Roman McAllen, historic preservation officer Chris Spellmon, businessman
Results
Libertarian state convention Candidates Mike Wright
General election Results
Judicial Supreme Court Place 2
Incumbent Justice Jimmy Blacklock ran for a full term after being appointed by Governor Greg Abbott on January 2, 2018. Justice Blacklock filled the vacant seat left by Don Willett due to his appointment by President Donald Trump to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Republican primary Candidates Jimmy Blacklock, incumbent associate justice
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Steven Kirkland, judge of the Harris County District Court (334th District)
Results
General election Results
Place 4
Incumbent Justice John Devine ran for re-election to a second six-year term.
Republican primary Candidates John Devine, incumbent associate justice
Results
Democratic primary Candidates R.K. Sandill, judge of the Harris County District Court (127th District)
Results
General election Results
Place 6
Incumbent Justice Jeff Brown ran for a full eight-year term after being elected to finish Chief Justice Nathan Hecht's term in 2014.
Republican primary Candidates Jeff Brown, incumbent associate justice
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Kathy Cheng, business litigator Results
General election Results
Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge
Incumbent presiding judge Sharon Keller ran for re-election to a 5th six-year term.
Republican primary Candidates David Bridges, incumbent associate justice of the Fifth Court of Appeals of Texas Sharon Keller, incumbent presiding judge
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Maria T. Jackson, judge of the Harris County District Court (339th District)
Results
General election Results
Place 7
Incumbent Judge Barbara Hervey ran for re-election to a 4th six-year term.
Republican primary Candidates Barbara Parker Hervey, incumbent judge
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Ramona Franklin, judge of the Harris County District Court (338th District)
Results
General election Results
Place 8
Incumbent Judge Elsa Alcala did not seek re-election to a second term.
Republican primary Candidates Jay Brandon, Bexar County assistant district attorney Michelle Slaughter, judge of the Galveston County District Court (405th District) Dib Waldrip, judge of the Comal County District Court (433rd District)
Results
General election Results
State Board of Education Member, District 2 Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
Member, District 3 Democratic primary
General election
Member, District 4 Democratic primary
General election
Member, District 7 Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
Member, District 11 Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
Member, District 12 Republican primary
Democratic primary First round
Malone-Miller withdrew after the first round, eliminating the need for a runoff.
General election
Member, District 13 Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
Texas Legislature Every seat in the Texas House of Representatives and about half of the seats in the Texas Senate were up for election.
Texas Senate
Texas House of Representatives
References
External links Candidates at Vote Smart Candidates at Ballotpedia Campaign finance at OpenSecrets
Official Lieutenant Governor campaign websites Mike Collier (D) for Lt. Governor Kerry McKinnon (L) for Lt. Governor Dan Patrick (R) for Lt. Governor
Official Attorney General campaign websites Michael Ray Harris (L) for Attorney General Justin Nelson (D) for Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) for Attorney General
Official Comptroller of Public Accounts campaign websites Joi Chevalier (D) for Comptroller Glenn Hegar (R) for Comptroller
Official Commissioner of the General Land Office campaign websites George P. Bush (R) for Land Commissioner Matt Piña (L) for Land Commissioner Miguel Suazo (D) for Land Commissioner
Official Commissioner of Agriculture campaign websites Sid Miller (R) for Agriculture Commissioner Kim Olson (D) for Agriculture Commissioner
Official Railroad Commissioner campaign websites Christi Craddick (R) for Railroad Commissioner Roman McAllen (D) for Railroad Commissioner Mike Wright (L) for Railroad Commissioner
Official Supreme Court of Texas, Place 2 campaign websites Jimmy Blacklock (R) for Supreme Court Steven Kirkland (D) for Supreme Court
Official Supreme Court of Texas, Place 4 campaign websites John Devine (R) for Supreme Court R.K. Sandill (D) for Supreme Court
Official Supreme Court of Texas, Place 6 campaign websites Jeff Brown (R) for Supreme Court Kathy Cheng (D) for Supreme Court