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Elections were held inTexas on Tuesday, November 2, 2010.Primary elections were held on March 2, 2010.
TheRepublican Party continued its dominance over Texas politics, maintaining control of all statewide offices and increasing its majorities in both chambers of theTexas Legislature. The GOP also picked up control of three additional seats in theUnited States House of Representatives.
All 32 Texas seats in theUnited States House of Representatives were up for election in 2010.
Incumbent Republican GovernorRick Perry ran for re-election against Democratic challenger and former mayor of HoustonBill White and several third-party candidates, and won.
Incumbent Republican Lieutenant GovernorDavid Dewhurst ran for re-election and won.
Incumbent RepublicanGreg Abbott ran for re-election asTexas Attorney General against DemocratBarbara Ann Radnofsky and Libertarian candidate Jon Roland, and won.
Incumbent Republican CommissionerTodd Staples successfully ran for re-election to a second term.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Todd Staples (incumbent) | 1,110,353 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,110,353 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Hank Gilbert | 311,087 | 52.31% | |
| Democratic | Kinky Friedman | 283,614 | 47.69% | |
| Total votes | 594,701 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Todd Staples (incumbent) | 2,953,775 | 60.82% | ||
| Democratic | Hank Gilbert | 1,738,456 | 35.80% | ||
| Libertarian | Rick Donaldson | 164,035 | 3.38% | ||
| Total votes | 4,856,266 | 100.0% | |||
| Republicanhold | |||||
Elections were held for the positions of Comptroller of Public Accounts, Commissioner of General Land Office, and Railroad Commissioner in 2010.
All 150 seats in theTexas House of Representatives were up for election in 2010. The GOP captured 99 seats (a record), including 22 that were held by Democrats after the2008 Texas House of Representatives election. This left the Democrats with 51 seats. Edmund Kuempel, the incumbent GOP candidate for District 44 seat, subsequently died; the seat was filled by special election on December 14 and won by his son, John, also a Republican. Also on December 14, two Democrats (Allan Ritter andAaron Peña) announced they were switching parties and joining the Republicans, thus giving the GOP 101 seats, and a 2/3 majority in the House, giving them considerable leverage.[6][7] Under Texas law, any bill which passes with 2/3 of both legislative chambers can become effective immediately upon the governor's signature (otherwise a bill does not become effective until September 1, the start of Texas' fiscal year). This also meant that the Democrats could not quorum bust, or deprive the House of the 2/3 of members required for operation.[8]
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Democratic | Vacant | ||
| Beginning of the81st legislature | 76 | 74 | 150 | 0 |
| Before 2010 elections | 77 | 72 | 149 | 1 |
| Voting share | 51% | 48% | ||
| After 2010 elections | 99 | 51 | 150 | 0 |
| Beginning of the82nd legislature | 101 | 49 | 150 | 0 |
| Voting share | 67% | 33% | ||
Approximately half of the 31 seats of theTexas Senate were up for election in 2010.
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Democratic | Vacant | ||
| Before 2010 elections | 19 | 12 | 31 | 0 |
| Voting share | 61% | 39% | ||
| After 2010 elections | 19 | 12 | 31 | 0 |
| Voting share | 61% | 39% | ||
Multiple judicial positions were up for election in 2010, including three justices on theTexas Supreme Court.
Candidates for Dallas County Court Criminal Court No. 8 were:
There are no statewide ballot measures in Texas in 2010.
Many elections for county and city offices were also held on November 2, 2010.
