Skip to main content

The Texan’s War Room provides a comprehensive look into the most pivotal campaigns of the 2024 elections in the Lone Star State.

Have a tip for our team? Email tips@thetexan.news!

The federal entries below are based on the most recent filing with the Federal Ethics Commission for the pre-general. The state entries are based on the most recent filing with the Texas Ethics Commission for the 8-day pre-general.

TPI: R-56%

Background

The headliner is back on the ballot this year as the two major parties grapple over the next four years at the White House. President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed his Vice President Kamala Harris, who appears to have secured enough support from delegates to be nominated as the party’s candidate at the Democratic National Convention. It remains to be seen if anyone will challenge her or who her vice presidential pick would be.

On the other side, former President Donald Trump is hoping to retake the White House. He and his running mate, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), have been nominated as the Republican presidential and vice presidential candidates for the 2024 ticket.

TPI: R-56%

Background

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) returns to the campaign trail for the first time since narrowly defeating Democrat Beto O’Rourke in 2018. He faced a handful of low-level candidates in the GOP primary.

Thirteen Democrats threw their hat into the ring to face Cruz, the most notable of which were Congressman Colin Allred (D-TX-32), who held a massive fundraising lead, and state Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio). Allred took the nomination outright in the Democratic primary with nearly 60 percent of the vote to Gutierrez's 17 percent.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
Ted Cruz (R)* $9,565,335 $13,994,260 $9,903,290 $0
Colin Allred (D) $2,501,529 $11,967,929 $10,674,079 $0
Ted Brown (L) $4,068 $716 $290 $0
Tracy Andrus (D, write-in) N/A N/A N/A N/A

TPI: R-56%

Background

Railroad Commission Chair Christi Craddick is back on the ballot for her position in the agency tasked with regulating Texas’ oil and gas industry. On the table is another six-year term for Craddick, whose name frequently comes up in discussions about officials eyeing higher office. Five candidates filed a GOP challenge to Craddick: Jim Matlock, Petra Reyes, Christie Clark, Chris Corner, and Corey Howell. The latter four all filed back to back at the last minute on the filing deadline. Sarah Stogner, who pushed Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian to a runoff in 2022, originally filed for the race as a Republican and then with the Forward Party, but has since dropped that to run for a district attorney office.

Katherine Culbert won the Democratic nomination against Bill Burch, an engineer hired by Stogner and West Texas rancher Ashley Watt, who financed Stogner’s 2022 run, in their fight with the Railroad Commission over uncapped oil wells.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
Christi Craddick (R)* $1,577,036 $128,869 $504,284 $0
Katherine Culbert (D) $3,023 $10,830 $8,527 $5,000
Eddie Espinoza (G) N/A N/A N/A N/A
Lynn Dunlap (L) $0 $0 $0 $0

Supreme Court of Texas Place 2

TPI: R-56%

Background

One of many justices who first came to the state’s highest civil court through gubernatorial appointment, Republican Justice Jimmy Blacklock was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott in early 2018 and won election to his first six-year term to the court later that fall. He is now seeking re-election to a hopeful second full term.

Judge DaSean Jones of Harris County, presently a state district judge for the 180th criminal court, defeated Randall Sarosdy in the March Democratic primary and will face off against Blacklock. Jones, a self-proclaimed socialist, narrowly won reelection in 2022, but his Republican opponent filed an election contest that is still pending in an appellate court.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
Jimmy Blacklock (R)* $140,789 $639,144 $53,932 $0
DaSean Jones (D) $64,228 $41,989 $57,543 $0

Supreme Court of Texas Place 4

TPI: R-56%

Background

Justice John Devine was first elected to the Texas Supreme Court in 2012 and is now seeking re-election to serve a third term. Devine, a Republican, previously served as a state district judge in Harris County and has worked his way up the judicial ladder, having first served as an appointed special judge for the justice of the peace courts. Devine defeated GOP primary challenger Justice Brian Walker, who presently serves on the Second Court of Appeals.

One candidate has filed seeking the Democratic nomination, Judge Christine Weems, who presently serves in the 281st state district court in Harris County. Weems won the primary outright in March with no other contenders.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
John Devine (R)* $30,734 $33,293 $43,211 $0
Christine Weems (D) $97,219 $184,787 $113,203 $75,882
Matthew Sercely (L) N/A N/A N/A N/A

Supreme Court of Texas Place 6

TPI: R-56%

Background

Justice Jane Bland looks to secure a second term on the Texas Supreme Court after being appointed to the vacancy in 2019 by Gov. Greg Abbott. Bland won the 2020 general election to finish out the current term and is up for re-election for a full term this year. She’ll face Democrat Bonnie Goldstein and Libertarian David Roberson.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
Jane Bland (R)* $129,061 $464,233 $44,031 $0
Bonnie Lee Goldstein (D) $41,703 $21,860 $26,717 $0
David Roberson (L) $0 $0 $0 $0

Court of Criminal Appeals Place 7

TPI: R-56%

Background

Republican Judge Barbera Hervey was first elected to the Court of Criminal Appeals in 2000, having previously worked as a state prosecutor. Hervey faced a challenger in the Republican primary in Gina Parker, a Baylor Law School-educated criminal defense attorney with a private practice in Waco, who defeated the incumbent outright in the primary. This is Parker’s second time running for a position on the court, having previously challenged Judge Bert Richardson in the 2020 GOP primary. She faces Democrat Nancy Mulder and Libertarian Mark Ash in the November general.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
Gina Parker (R) $54,609 $11,975 $26,599 $0
Nancy Mulder (D) $2,238 $3,941 $6,569 $0
Mark Ash (L) $0 $0 $0 $0

Court of Criminal Appeals Place 8

TPI: R-56%

Background

Judge Michelle Slaughter was first elected to the court in 2018 and made headlines after receiving more than 4.7 million votes, more than any other contested statewide race in the midterm elections. She was defeated by challenger Lee Finley in the GOP primary, who has worked in a private practice for over 20 years. In 2022, he had an unsuccessful bid for Collin County judge but was defeated by incumbent Judge Chris Hill. Finley faces Democrat Chika Anyiam and Libertarian Stephen Kinsella in November.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
Lee Finley (R) $12,952 $6,493 $13,452 $90,000
Chika Anyiam (D) $6,093 $1,346 $3,970 $65,586
Stephan Kinsella (L) $0 $0 $0 $0

Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge

TPI: R-56%

Background

The state’s highest court for criminal matters, the Court of Criminal Appeals, will see its presiding judge position on the ballot. Presiding Judge Sharon Keller, the longest-serving presiding judge in the court’s history, drew one opponent in the GOP primary in former Justice David Schenck, who defeated her. Schenck served one term on the state’s Fifth Court of Appeals, and unsuccessfully ran for the state Supreme Court in 2022. He faces Democrat Holly Taylor in the general election.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
David Schenck (R) $53,258 $29,054 $38,881 $23,820
Holly Taylor (D) $29,603 $15,012 $26,935 $20,250

Texas Congressional Map, post-redistricting

Texas Congressional Map, pre-redistricting

15th Congressional District

TPI: R-52%

Background

Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (R-TX-15) occupies the closest congressional seat on a partisan basis. The 15th Congressional District, which spans from the Rio Grande Valley up to Seguin, is rated R-52%. De La Cruz won the seat in 2022 by 8.5 points, defeating Democrat Michelle Vallejo. This year, Vallejo is back for a rematch in a race that Democrats have their eyes on flipping.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
Monica De La Cruz (R)* $1,151,096 $793,054 $253,427 $0
Michelle Vallejo (D) $78,158 $239,195 $132,720 $100,000
Arthur DiBianca (L) N/A N/A N/A N/A

23rd Congressional District

TPI: R-55%

Background

Congressman Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23) survived a turbulent primary, being pushed to a runoff by Republican challenger Brandon Herrera and narrowly overcoming that challenge in May. Now, Gonzales faces Democrat Santos Limon. The district’s Republican leaning has only heightened over the last couple of cycles, giving Gonzales a 10-point advantage according to the R-55% partisan rating. Gonzales’ toughest campaigns are likely behind him but the district is still decently competitive.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
Tony Gonzales (R)* $1,293,608 $72,887 $37,927 $126,870
Santos Limon (D) N/A N/A N/A N/A

28th Congressional District

TPI: D-54%

Background

Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) went from being assumed as the safest of the three incumbents in the Rio Grande Valley to perhaps the most vulnerable after being indicted on bribery and money laundering charges. Cuellar has denied the accusations and is still seeking re-election. He’s fought off difficult primary challenges during the last two cycles but did not face such a fight this year.

Instead, he’ll face Republican Jay Furman, who defeated Lazaro Garza in the GOP primary. Both Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball moved Cuellar’s district from “likely” to “lean” Democratic following the indictments.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
Henry Cuellar (D)* $267,656 $65,927 $12,066 $0
Jay Furman (R) $40,895 $259,298 $75,214 $334,158
Bailey Cole (L) N/A N/A N/A N/A

34th Congressional District

TPI: D-58%

Background

Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-34) and former Congresswoman Mayra Flores (R-TX-34) will square off in a rematch in the South Texas district. Flores briefly represented the district after she won a special election in 2022 to replace retiring Congressman Filemon Vela (D-TX-34). Gonzalez previously represented the 15th Congressional District but relocated to the 34th to run on more favorable ground for Democrats. Gonzalez defeated Flores last cycle, though she outperformed the district’s partisan rating of D-58%, losing by 8 points.

The race is again in the crosshairs of national Republicans who are backing Flores to retake the seat.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
Vicente Gonzalez Jr. (D)* $1,199,610 $414,197 $120,682 $0
Mayra Flores (R) $566,716 $1,035,875 $278,764 $0
Brent Lewis (L) N/A N/A N/A N/A

State Board of Education Map

Texas Senate Map

Senate District 27

TPI: D-52%

Background

The only competitive seat in the Texas Senate sits in South Texas. Sen. Morgan LaMantia’s (D-South Padre Island) district runs from Corpus Christi down to the Rio Grande Valley. The freshman senator kept a low profile in her first session last year but now faces another difficult general election as Republicans eye it as the only real potential flip in that chamber.

Republican Adam Hinojosa is back for a rematch against LaMantia. 659 votes separated the two last cycle, and the matchup has the makings of an expensive clash as Republicans rally behind Hinojosa and Democrats rush to defend LaMantia.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
Morgan LaMantia (D)* $82,495 $2,409,168 $249,358 $10,415,000
Adam Hinojosa (R) $66,715 $1,593,585 $1,371,235 $89,025
Robin Vargas (G) $847 $152 $461 $0

Texas House Map

House District 34

TPI: D-54%

Background

Rep. Abel Herrero (D-Robstown) is a more moderate Democrat who is not seeking another term in a district that favors his own party. With a rating of D-54% on The Texan’s Texas Partisan Index, Democrats have an advantage but cannot take the seat for granted as South Texas now often trends toward Republicans. Democrat Solomon Ortiz, Jr. hopes to retain the seat for the minority party, while Republican Denise Villalobos and outside GOP groups aim to flip it.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
Solomon Ortiz Jr. (D) $17,889 $175,834 $195,793 $35,000
Denise Villalobos (R) $142,421 $459,547 $640,006 $0

House District 37

TPI: D-51%

Background

Rep. Janie Lopez (R-San Benito) has a challenging road ahead in a Democratic-leaning district where she narrowly defeated Luis Villarreal Jr. in 2022. Lopez was one of the many Republicans who voted in favor of the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton and also voted against an amendment to strip a school voucher proposal from an education bill in the fourth special session. While voting for Paxton’s impeachment could have proven a vulnerability for her in a primary, no Republican challenged her.

She’ll face Democrat Jonathan Gracia, a former justice of the peace in Cameron County, in November. Rated D-51%, the district is truly up for grabs.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
Janie Lopez (R)* $88,577 $250,644 $1,566,082 $0
Jonathan Gracia (D) $20,972 $125,507 $180,525 $243,600

House District 52

TPI: R-55%

Background

State Rep. Caroline Harris Davila’s (R-Round Rock) first term in the Texas House was a turbulent one, between the feuding of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont), Paxton’s impeachment, and the school choice fight. A lot is up in the air for the Texas House and its leadership, but before that happens Harris Davila must secure a second term.

Having won in 2022 by 12 points, she’ll face Democrat Jennie Birkholz in November.

Fundraising
Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
Caroline Harris Davila (R)* $352,576 $649,627 $1,003,938 $0
Jennie Birkholz (D) $27,009 $72,337 $57,826 $0

House District 70

TPI: D-52%

Background

After finishing her freshman year as a Texas legislator, state Rep. Mihaela Plesa (D-Dallas) will face Republican Steven Kinard, a director of Bitcoin mining analytics at the Texas Blockchain Council. Plesa narrowly won the seat against Jamee Jolly by less than 1,000 votes during the general election in 2022, meaning the district could be a potential flip for Republicans in 2024. This district has a Texas Partisan Index rating of D-52%, but unlike districts in South Texas increasingly favoring Republicans, it’s been trending toward Democrats.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
Mihaela Plesa (D)* $124,057 $258,881 $346,618 $25,000
Steve Kinard (R) $18,539 $58,988 $35,605 $0

House District 74

TPI: D-53%

Background

State Rep. Eddie Morales (D-Eagle Pass) is among the most moderate members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus and his district is rated D-53%. Morales won fairly comfortably last cycle and now faces Republican Robert Garza in November. The district is the largest in the state geographically, stretching from past Del Rio across the Mexican border to the outskirts of El Paso.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
Eddie Morales, Jr. (D)* $141,098 $152,772 $121,890 $215,000
Robert Garza (R) $34,860 $47,860 $481,450 $1,000

House District 80

TPI: R-51%

Background

Uvalde businessman and Democratic Rep. Tracy King (D-Batesville) announced he would not be seeking re-election after two decades in the Texas House. The purple district quickly filled with challengers, with six candidates already announced.

Democrat Cecilia Castellano will face Republican Don McLaughlin after two crowded primaries. McLaughlin retired from his position as mayor of Uvalde to run for the district; he was first elected mayor in 2014 and made headlines calling Beto O’Rourke a “sick son of a b—” during a press conference after the shooting at Robb Elementary School that killed 19 students and two teachers. Among those Castellano defeated in the Democratic primary was Rosie Cuellar, Congressman Cuellar’s sister.

This district has a Texas Partisan Index rating of R-51%.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
Don McLaughlin (R) $41,632 $370,917 $546,417 $65,000
Cecila Castellano (D) $21,458 $90,325 $45,441 $170,000

House District 112

TPI: R-53%

Background

State Rep. Angie Chen Button (R-Richardson) has faced multiple difficult general elections over the last few cycles. Her Dallas district is rated R-53% and was one of the few GOP-held districts that tightened following redistricting. This year she faces Democrat Averie Bishop, a pageant queen with a large social media following. The race will be one of the top to watch on November 5.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
Angie Chen Button (R)* $577,334 $656,075 $1,612,739 $0
Averie Bishop (D) $25,915 $483,626 $417,402 $0

House District 118

TPI: EVEN

Background

The most tenuous seat for Republicans this cycle is state Rep. John Lujan’s (R-San Antonio) in Bexar County. Lujan won it in a special election in 2021 after former state Rep. Leo Pacheco (D-San Antonio) retired, flipping it to Republicans. Lujan won by 285 votes in 2022 and faces Democrat Kristian Carranza this year. It’ll be tough for Republicans to keep the seat, as it’s a true purple seat rated dead even.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
John Lujan (R)* $246,714 $919,801 $1,476,822 $0
Kristian Carranza (D) $190,928 $1,541,741 $1,619,637 $0

House District 121

TPI: R-54%

Background

Republican Marc LaHood unseated incumbent state Rep. Steve Allison (R-San Antonio) in the contentious GOP primary. Gov. Greg Abbott and other outside groups backed LaHood and followed it up with lots of money in ads and mailers. Now, LaHood faces a difficult general election in the district rated R-54%, challenged by Democrat Laurel Swift in November.

Fundraising

Candidate Cash-on-Hand Expenditures Contributions Outstanding Loans
Marc LaHood (R) $75,998 $468,854 $1,186,642 $35,500
Laurel Jordan Swift (R) $24,407 $282,285 $277,768 $60,000

U.S. House of Representatives

  • TX-12: Rep. Kay Granger (R) announced her retirement.
  • TX-26: Rep. Michael Burgess (R) announced his retirement.
  • TX-32: Rep. Colin Allred (D) is running for U.S. Senate.

Texas Senate

  • SD 15: Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston) was elected as Houston Mayor.
  • SD 30: Sen. Drew Springer (R-Muenster) announced his retirement.

Texas House

  • HD 6: Rep. Matt Schaefer (R-Tyler) announced his retirement.
  • HD 12: Rep. Kyle Kacal (R-College Station) announced his retirement.
  • HD 14: Rep. John Raney (R-Bryan) announced his retirement.
  • HD 29: Rep. Ed Thompson (R-Pearland) announced his retirement.
  • HD 30: Rep. Geanie Morrison (R-Victoria) announced her retirement.
  • HD 34: Rep. Abel Herrero (D-Corpus Christi) announced his retirement.
  • HD 53: Rep. Andrew Murr (R-Junction) announced his retirement.
  • HD 56: Rep. Doc Anderson (R-Waco) announced his retirement.
  • HD 77: Rep. Lina Ortega (D-El Paso) announced her retirement.
  • HD 80: Rep. Tracy King (D-Uvalde) announced his retirement.
  • HD 87: Rep. Four Price (R-Amarillo) announced his retirement.
  • HD 97: Rep. Craig Goldman (R-Fort Worth) is running for TX-12.
  • HD 107: Rep. Victoria Neave Criado (D-Dallas) is running for Senate District 16.
  • HD 109: Rep. Carl Sherman (D-DeSoto) is running for U.S. Senate.
  • HD 115: Rep. Julie Johnson (D-Carrollton) is running for TX-32.
  • HD 139: Rep. Jarvis Johnson (D-Houston) is running for SD 15.