Voters officially kicked off the midterms in Texas Tuesday night, heading to the polls to select party nominees for Congress, governor, and other statewide offices. The results were largely as expected, though a few races will head to runoffs on May 24 because no candidate secured a majority of the vote.
As my colleague Bradley Wascher has written, Texas Republicans used last year’s redistricting process to eliminate nearly all of the Lone Star State’s competitive congressional districts: at this point just one district looks like it will be highly competitive in November. That means the primary races are especially important, because the favored nominees will have clear paths to Congress.
Under the new map, Texas will likely send 24 Republicans and 13 Democrats to Congress, with that one highly competitive district rounding out the state’s delegation.
Texas Governor
Incumbent Greg Abbott easily dispatched former Florida Rep. Allen West and former state Sen. Don Huffines in the GOP primary, winning 67 percent of the vote. He will face former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, who coasted to the Democratic nomination, in November. While that matchup will draw plenty of media attention and millions of donor dollars, there’s little to suggest Abbott is in much danger at the moment. Rating: Solid Republican.
1st District
GOP Rep. Louie Gohmert gave up his safe East Texas district just to place last in the statewide primary for attorney general. Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran had much better luck in his bid to replace Gohmert, winning 63 percent of the vote in the GOP primary and avoiding a runoff. President Donald Trump would have won this district 72-26 percent, and Moran is headed to Congress. Solid Republican.
2nd District
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