Of 3,285 regular elections in Texas—2,345 (71%) are uncontested. An uncontested election is one where the number of candidates on the ballot is less than or equal to the number of seats up for election.
Of the 26 states where Ballotpedia is covering every election on Nov. 5, Texas has the eighth highest rate of uncontested elections.
There are at least 20 office types up for election in Texas this year.
Board of regents and treasurer have the highest rate of uncontested elections at 100%. Elections for the office of attorney have the next highest uncontested rate at 98%, followed by constable at 94%.
State supreme court justice, chief state supreme court justice, and railroad commissioner have the highest rate of contested elections at 100%. The next highest contested office type in Texas is board of education at 75%, followed by city council at 72%.
Texas has a Republican trifecta, meaning Republicans control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature. Among states with Republican trifectas, 64% of elections are uncontested and 36% are contested. Those rates for Democratic trifectas are 55% and 45%, respectively. In states with a divided government, 56% of elections are uncontested and 44% are contested.
Through October 2024, Ballotpedia has covered 36,068 elections in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four territories in 2024 alone. Of that total, 27,164 (75%) were uncontested and 8,904 (25%) were contested. To learn more about this analysis, click here!