Elections were held in Texas on November 6, 2012. Primary elections took place on May 29, 2012. Runoff elections took place on July 31, 2012.[ 1]
Federal offices
United States House of Representatives
There were 36 U.S. Representative seats up for election in Texas; four more seats than in the 2010 election . The Republican Party won 24 seats, while the Democrats won 12.[ 5]
Executive
Railroad commissioner
2012 Texas Railroad Commissioner election
Congressional district resultsCraddick: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%Henry: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
Incumbent Buddy Garcia , who was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to fill the vacancy left by Elizabeth Ames Jones , did not seek re-election.[ 6] Republican Christi Craddick won the election for a six-year term.[ 7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Dale Henry, petroleum engineer[ 12]
Primary results
Democratic primary results[ 13]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Dale Henry
446,160
100.00%
Total votes
446,160
100.00%
Railroad commissioner (unexpired term)
2012 Texas Railroad Commissioner (unexpired term) election
County resultsSmitherman: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%Perez: 50–60%
Incumbent Barry T. Smitherman was elected to the remaining two years of a six-year term following his appointment to fill the vacancy left by Michael L. Williams , who resigned to contest for the United States House of Representatives .[ 15]
Judicial
Supreme Court
Place 2
2012 Texas Supreme Court Place 2 election
Incumbent Justice Don Willett was re-elected to a second six-year term.
Place 4
2012 Texas Supreme Court Place 4 election
Incumbent Justice David M. Medina lost renomination in the Republican primary to John P. Devine , who would go on to win the election and a six-year-term.[ 17]
Place 6
2012 Texas Supreme Court Place 6 election
Incumbent Justice Nathan Hecht was re-elected to a fifth six-year term.
Republican primary
Primary results
Republican primary results[ 10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Nathan Hecht (incumbent)
994,715
100.00%
Total votes
994,715
100.00%
Democratic primary
Candidates
Michele Petty, attorney[ 19]
Primary results
Democratic primary results[ 13]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Michele Petty
439,302
100.00%
Total votes
439,302
100.00%
Court of Criminal Appeals
Presiding judge
2012 Texas Court of Criminal Appeals presiding judge election
Incumbent Presiding Judge Sharon Keller was re-elected to a fourth six-year-term.
Republican primary
Primary results
Republican primary results[ 10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Sharon Keller (incumbent)
1,002,418
100.00%
Total votes
1,002,418
100.00%
Democratic primary
Candidates
Keith Hampton, defense lawyer[ 20]
Primary results
Democratic primary results[ 13]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Keith Hampton
432,111
100.00%
Total votes
432,111
100.00%
Place 7
2012 Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 7 election
Incumbent Judge Barbara Parker Hervey was re-elected for a third six-year-term.
Place 8
2012 Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 8 election
Incumbent Judge Elsa Alcala was appointed to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in 2011, following the stepping-down of Charles Holcomb . Alcala was elected to a six-year-term.[ 21]
Republican primary
Primary results
Republican primary results[ 10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Elsa Alcala (incumbent)
962,469
100.00%
Total votes
962,469
100.00%
General election
Results
2012 Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 8 election[ 14]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Elsa Alcala (incumbent)
4,692,420
78.06%
Libertarian
William Bryan Strange III
1,318,734
21.94%
Total votes
6,011,154
100.00%
Republican hold
State Board of Education
All 15 districts of the Texas Board of Education were up for election.[ 22]
District 1
Republican primary
Republican primary results[ 10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Carlos Garza (incumbent)
32,461
100.00%
Total votes
32,461
100.00%
Democratic primary
Democratic primary results[ 13]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Martha M. Dominguez
49,386
56.11%
Democratic
Sergio Mora
26,434
30.03%
Democratic
Andres Muro
12,201
13.86%
Total votes
88,021
100.00%
General election
2012 Texas Board of Education District 1 election[ 14]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Martha M. Dominguez
205,906
57.63%
Republican
Carlos Garza (incumbent)
151,362
42.37%
Total votes
357,268
100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican
District 2
Republican primary
Republican primary results[ 10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Laurie J. Turner
32,970
76.93%
Republican
Veronica Anzaldua
9,886
23.07%
Total votes
42,856
100.00%
Democratic primary
Democratic primary results[ 13]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Celeste Zepeda Sanchez
30,955
44.56%
Democratic
Ruben Cortez Jr.
24,420
35.15%
Democratic
Larry E. Garza
14,099
20.29%
Total votes
69,474
100.00%
Democratic primary runoff results[ 23]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Ruben Cortez Jr.
20,253
50.57%
Democratic
Celeste Zepeda Sanchez
19,794
49.43%
Total votes
40,047
100.00%
General election
2012 Texas Board of Education District 2 election[ 14]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Ruben Cortez Jr.
204,208
53.76%
Republican
Laurie J. Turner
164,497
43.30%
Libertarian
Lenard Nelson
11,159
2.94%
Total votes
379,864
100.00%
Democratic hold
District 3
Republican primary
Republican primary results[ 10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
David M. Williams
23,016
100.00%
Total votes
23,016
100.00%
Democratic primary
Democratic primary results[ 13]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Marisa B. Perez
36,728
65.95%
Democratic
Michael Soto (incumbent)
18,959
34.05%
Total votes
55,687
100.00%
General election
2012 Texas Board of Education District 3 election[ 14]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Marisa B. Perez
252,570
65.63%
Republican
David M. Williams
132,294
34.37%
Total votes
384,864
100.00%
Democratic hold
District 4
Republican primary
Republican primary results[ 10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Dorothy Olmos
13,208
100.00%
Total votes
13,208
100.00%
Democratic primary
Democratic primary results[ 13]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Lawrence Allen Jr. (incumbent)
38,622
100.00%
Total votes
38,622
100.00%
General election
2012 Texas Board of Education District 4 election[ 14]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Lawrence Allen Jr. (incumbent)
303,071
78.29%
Republican
Dorothy Olmos
84,029
21.71%
Total votes
387,100
100.00%
Democratic hold
District 5
Republican primary
Republican primary results[ 10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Ken Mercer (incumbent)
67,594
70.78%
Republican
Steve Salyer
27,901
29.22%
Total votes
95,495
100.00%
Democratic primary
Democratic primary results[ 13]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Rebecca Bell-Metereau
38,419
100.00%
Total votes
38,419
100.00%
General election
2012 Texas Board of Education District 5 election[ 14]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Ken Mercer (incumbent)
338,705
51.30%
Democratic
Rebecca Bell-Metereau
281,445
42.63%
Libertarian
Mark Loewe
28,407
4.30%
Green
Irene Meyer Scharf
11,717
1.77%
Total votes
660,274
100.00%
Republican hold
District 6
Republican primary
Republican primary results[ 10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Donna Bahorich
66,899
100.00%
Total votes
66,899
100.00%
Democratic primary
Democratic primary results[ 13]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Traci Jensen
8,657
51.47%
Democratic
Patty Quintana-Nilsson
4,995
29.70%
Democratic
David Scott
3,169
18.84%
Total votes
16,821
100.00%
General election
2012 Texas Board of Education District 6 election[ 14]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Donna Bahorich
304,702
57.12%
Democratic
Traci Jensen
208,198
39.03%
Libertarian
Gene Clark
15,189
2.85%
Green
G C Molison
5,328
1.00%
Total votes
533,417
100.00%
Republican hold
District 7
Republican primary
Republican primary results[ 10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
David Bradley (incumbent)
59,761
57.88%
Republican
Rita Ashley
43,482
42.12%
Total votes
103,243
100.00%
General election
2012 Texas Board of Education District 7 election[ 14]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
David Bradley (incumbent)
389,106
82.21%
Libertarian
Matthew Petre
84,212
17.79%
Total votes
473,318
100.00%
Republican hold
District 8
Republican primary
Republican primary results[ 10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Barbara Cargill (incumbent)
69,339
68.01%
Republican
Linda Ellis
32,614
31.99%
Total votes
101,953
100.00%
Democratic primary
Democratic primary results[ 13]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Dexter Smith
8,335
58.31%
Democratic
Rick Soliz
5,960
41.69%
Total votes
14,295
100.00%
General election
2012 Texas Board of Education District 8 election[ 14]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Barbara Cargill (incumbent)
387,927
70.96%
Democratic
Dexter Smith
158,777
29.04%
Total votes
546,704
100.00%
Republican hold
District 9
Republican primary
Republican primary results[ 10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Thomas Ratliff (incumbent)
73,889
52.31%
Republican
Randy Stevenson
67,351
47.69%
Total votes
141,240
100.00%
General election
2012 Texas Board of Education District 9 election[ 14]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Thomas Ratliff (incumbent)
427,675
85.66%
Libertarian
Sherri L. Little
71,602
14.34%
Total votes
499,277
100.00%
Republican hold
District 10
Republican primary
Republican primary results[ 10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Tom Maynard
38,750
42.95%
Republican
Rebecca Osborne
37,729
41.82%
Republican
Jeff Fleece
13,743
15.23%
Total votes
90,222
100.00%
Republican primary runoff results[ 11]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Tom Maynard
36,134
50.69%
Republican
Rebecca Osborne
35,146
49.31%
Total votes
71,280
100.00%
Democratic primary
Democratic primary results[ 13]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Judy Jennings
26,927
100.00%
Total votes
26,927
100.00%
General election
2012 Texas Board of Education District 10 election[ 14]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Tom Maynard
313,025
56.60%
Democratic
Judy Jennings
239,985
43.40%
Total votes
553,010
100.00%
Republican hold
District 11
Republican primary
Republican primary results[ 10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Patricia Hardy (incumbent)
71,039
100.00%
Total votes
71,039
100.00%
General election
2012 Texas Board of Education District 11 election[ 14]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Patricia Hardy (incumbent)
403,740
82.78%
Libertarian
Jason Darr
84,014
17.22%
Total votes
487,754
100.00%
Republican hold
District 12
Republican primary
Republican primary results[ 10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Geraldine Miller
24,070
34.53%
Republican
Gail Spurlock
24,070
24.24%
Republican
George M. Clayton (incumbent)
16,297
23.38%
Republican
Pam Little
12,452
17.86%
Total votes
69,715
100.00%
Republican primary runoff results[ 11]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Geraldine Miller
44,109
60.34%
Republican
Gail Spurlock
28,990
39.66%
Total votes
73,099
100.00%
Democratic primary
Democratic primary results[ 13]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Lois Parrott
14,495
100.00%
Total votes
14,495
100.00%
General election
2012 Texas Board of Education District 12 election[ 14]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Geraldine Miller
358,678
60.73%
Democratic
Lois Parrott
231,925
39.27%
Total votes
590,603
100.00%
Republican hold
District 13
Republican primary
Republican primary results[ 10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
S.T. Russell
16,726
100.00%
Total votes
16,726
100.00%
Democratic primary
Democratic primary results[ 13]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Mavis Best Knight (incumbent)
39,743
100.00%
Total votes
39,743
100.00%
General election
2012 Texas Board of Education District 13 election[ 14]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Mavis Best Knight (incumbent)
308,486
74.33%
Republican
S.T. Russell
106,517
25.67%
Total votes
415,003
100.00%
Democratic hold
District 14
Republican primary
Republican primary results[ 10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Sue Melton
55,469
53.17%
Republican
Gail Lowe (incumbent)
48,852
46.83%
Total votes
104,321
100.00%
General election
2012 Texas Board of Education District 14 election[ 14]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Sue Melton
409,557
83.99%
Libertarian
Stephen Hawkins
78,068
16.01%
Total votes
487,625
100.00%
Republican hold
District 15
Republican primary
Republican primary results[ 10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Marty Rowley
59,435
50.50%
Republican
Anette Carlisle
58,262
49.50%
Total votes
117,697
100.00%
Democratic primary
Democratic primary results[ 13]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Steven D. Schafersman
12,092
100.00%
Total votes
12,092
100.00%
General election
2012 Texas Board of Education District 15 election[ 14]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Marty Rowley
390,115
76.37%
Democratic
Steven D. Schafersman
120,737
23.63%
Total votes
510,852
100.00%
Republican hold
State legislature
All 31 seats in the Texas State Senate and all 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives were up for election. Elected senators and representatives served in the 83rd Texas Legislature .
Texas Senate
All 31 seats of the Texas Senate were up for election. No seats changed hands, with the Republican Party retained a 19-seat majority over the Democrat's 12 seats.[ 24]
Texas Senate election results Republican hold Democratic hold
Texas House of Representatives
All 150 seats of the Texas House of Representatives were up for election. The Democratic Party won seven seats, giving them 55 seats to the Republican's majority of 95.[ 25]
Texas House of Representative election results Republican hold Democratic hold Democratic gain
References
↑ "2012 election dates" . Ballotpedia . Retrieved March 24, 2025 .
↑ "2012 Electoral College Results" . National Archives . October 29, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2025 .
↑ Hamilton, Reeve (January 13, 2011). "TribBlog: KBH Won't Seek Re-Election" . The Texas Tribune . Archived from the original on February 13, 2025.
↑ Root, Jay (November 6, 2012). "Cruz Easily Tops Sadler to Win U.S. Senate Race" . The Texas Tribune . Archived from the original on November 2, 2024.
↑ "2012 Texas House Results" . Politico . November 19, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2025 .
↑ Ramshaw, Emily (April 12, 2012). "Perry Appoints Buddy Garcia to Railroad Commission" . The Texas Tribune . Archived from the original on December 12, 2024.
↑ "Craddick wins seat on TX Railroad Commission" . KABC-TV . November 7, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2025 .
1 2 3 4 Rangel, Enrique (May 12, 2012). "4 actively campaign for Railroad Commission" . Amarillo Globe-News . Retrieved March 24, 2025 .
1 2 3 4 5 6 Vertuno, Jim (May 22, 2012). "Texas Railroad Commission candidates fire at feds" . Lubbock Avalanche-Journal . Retrieved March 24, 2025 .
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 "Race Summary Report - 2012 Republican Primary" . Texas Secretary of State .
1 2 3 4 5 "Race Summary Report - 2012 Republican Primary Runoff" . Texas Secretary of State .
↑ "Dale Henry" . KCBD . October 17, 2006. Retrieved March 24, 2025 .
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Race Summary Report - 2012 Democratic Primary" . Texas Secretary of State .
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 "Race Summary Report - 2012 General Election" . Texas Secretary of State .
↑ "Poll: Craddick, Parker lead Railroad Commission races" . Amarillo Globe-News . May 28, 2012.
1 2 Smith, Morgan (September 8, 2011). "Smith Eyes a Return" . The Texas Tribune . Archived from the original on November 14, 2024.
1 2 3 "Devine beats incumbent Medina in GOP race for Supreme Court" . Amarillo Globe-News . July 31, 2012.
↑ Lindell, Chuck (October 7, 2017). "3-time Texas GOP court candidate sues Trump over foreign aid" . Austin American-Statesman . Archived from the original on March 5, 2024.
1 2 Rice, Harvey (June 19, 2012). "Open beaches an issue in Texas Supreme Court race" . Chron . Archived from the original on June 29, 2022.
1 2 "Sharon Keller re-elected to Texas criminal appeals court; Geraldine Miller leads in education board race" . The Dallas Morning News . November 6, 2012.
1 2 Lindell, Chuck (December 28, 2016). "Judge Elsa Alcala, known for fiery dissents, will not run again" . Austin American-Statesman . Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2025 . {{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
↑ Robelen, Erik W. (November 7, 2012). "Election Brings Changes to Polarized Texas School Board" . Education Week . Archived from the original on January 26, 2025.
↑ "Race Summary Report - 2012 Democratic Primary Runoff" . Texas Secretary of State .
↑ "Texas State Senate elections, 2012" . Ballotpedia . Retrieved March 27, 2025 .
↑ "Texas House of Representatives elections, 2012" . Ballotpedia . Retrieved March 27, 2025 .
↑ Kanin, Michael (May 14, 2012). "Reflections from Austin City Council Election Night" . Austin Monitor . Archived from the original on February 25, 2024.
↑ Savage, Jessica (November 7, 2012). "Corpus Christi picks Nelda Martinez as its next mayor" . Corpus Christi Caller Times . Archived from the original on November 25, 2014.
↑ Magelssen, Tommy (May 13, 2012). "Mayor-elect wants to cut half a percent in every department" . Lubbock Avalanche-Journal . Retrieved March 27, 2025 .
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