Texas House special election advances to runoff after top vote-getter receives 38 percent


A special election for District 125 of the Texas House of Representatives was held on February 12. Fred Rangel (R) and Ray Lopez (D) defeated Steve Huerta (D), Coda Rayo-Garza (D), and Arthur Reyna (D). Rangel and Lopez earned 38 percent and 19 percent of the vote, respectively. The date of the runoff election has not been announced yet by Gov. Greg Abbott (R).

The seat became vacant after Justin Rodriguez (D) was appointed in January to serve as the Precinct 2 representative on the Bexar County Commissioners Court.

Entering the special election, the Texas House of Representatives had 65 Democrats, 83 Republicans, and two vacancies. Special elections were previously held in the state on January 29 in District 79 and District 145. The District 145 race is also headed to a runoff. Texas has a Republican trifecta. A state government trifecta exists when one political party simultaneously holds the governor’s office and both state legislative chambers.