Tag: texas
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Republicans flip TX HD 118 in special election on Nov. 2
Republicans picked up a seat in the Texas House of Representatives on Nov. 2. In a special general runoff election in District 118, John Lujan (R) defeated Frank Ramirez (D) 51.2 percent to 48.8 percent. Once Lujan is sworn in, Republicans will hold an 84-66 majority in the chamber. District 118 is located in San…
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Campaigns supporting and opposing Austin Proposition A report an additional $2 million in contributions
On Nov. 2, voters in Austin, Texas will decide on Proposition A, an initiative designed to enact changes to police staffing, training, and demographic representation. The initiative would establish minimum police staffing and require there to be at least two police officers for every 1,000 residents of Austin; add an additional 40 hours of police…
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Texas enacts new state legislative district maps
Texas enacted new state legislative districts on October 25, 2021, when Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed proposals approved by the Texas House and Senate into law. These maps will take effect for Texas’ 2022 state legislative elections. The Senate Redistricting Committee released a draft of a Senate legislative map on September 18, 2021. A Senate…
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Texas enacts new congressional districts
Texas enacted new congressional districts on October 25, 2021, when Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed a proposal approved by the Texas House and Senate into law. This map will take effect for Texas’ 2022 congressional elections. Sen. Joan Huffman (R) proposed a congressional map on September 27, 2021, and the Senate approved an amended version…
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All candidates for Houston Independent School District school board District I seat complete Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey
All three candidates running for the District I seat on the Houston Independent School District board of education have completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. The survey asks candidates questions aimed to help voters learn why candidates are running and what they hope to achieve in office. Three candidates—incumbent Elizabeth Santos, Matias Kopinsky, and Janette Garza…
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Gov. Greg Abbott (R) appoints John Scott (R) as secretary of state
On Oct. 21, 2021, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott appointed John Scott as secretary of state. Scott replaces Ruth Ruggero Hughs, who resigned in May of 2021 after the Senate Nominating Commission refused to take up her nomination. Texas is one of nine states where secretaries of state are appointed by the governor. Scott’s appointment will…
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Texas voters to decide on an increase to the homestead exemption from school district property taxes in May 2022
On Oct. 18, the Texas State Legislature voted to refer to the ballot a constitutional amendment that would increase the homestead exemption for school district property taxes from $25,000 to $40,000. Voters will decide the measure on the May 2022 ballot. It would take effect for the 2022 tax year. The Legislative Budget Board estimated…
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Texas state representative sworn in after special election
Republican Brian E. Harrison was sworn in to the Texas House of Representatives on Oct. 12. He was elected to the chamber after winning a special runoff election on Sept. 28. His term will last until January 2023. To keep hold of his seat, Harrison will have to run for re-election in 2022 for a…
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An update on Austin Proposition A support and opposition campaigns three weeks ahead of the election
Austin voters will decide Proposition A on Nov. 2. The citizen initiative would establish minimum police staffing requirement that there to be at least two police officers for every 1,000 residents of Austin; add an additional 40 hours of police training each year; and provide police with additional compensation for being proficient in non-English languages,…
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Special elections held in Texas House districts
Special elections were held on Sept. 28 for District 10 and District 118 of the Texas House of Representatives. The winners of these special elections will serve until January 2023. In District 10, Brian Harrison defeated fellow Republican John Wray in a general election runoff. Harrison and Wray earned 55.4% and 44.6% of the vote,…