Texas has 465 major party candidates running for state legislative office, the most of any election cycle since 2010. Of the 465 total candidates, 238 are Democrats, up 20% from 199 in 2024. There are 227 Republican candidates, up 7% from 212 in 2024.
Texas also has 103 contested state legislative primaries this year, an 11% increase from the previous cycle and the most since 2010. Forty-six of the 103 contested primaries are for Democrats. That is a 39% increase from 33 in 2024 and a record high for the party. Republicans have 57 contested primaries, down 5% from 60 in 2024.
Forty-four incumbents face primary challenges, representing 31% of all incumbents running for re-election. The average share of incumbents in contested primaries each cycle from 2010 to 2024 was 29%.
Sixteen of the 31 total Senate seats and all 150 House seats are up for election. Twenty-six seats are open, meaning no incumbents filed. This means newcomers will make up at least 14% of the legislature next year. The average number of open seats each cycle from 2010 to 2024 was 18.
Texas has had a Republican trifecta since the party assumed control of the House in 2003. Republicans currently have an 88-62 majority in the House and an 18-11 majority in the Senate, with two vacancies.
Texas’ state legislative primaries are scheduled for March 3.