The 2018 general election was held in the U.S. state of Texas on November 6, 2018. All of Texas's executive officers were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, and all of Texas's thirty-six seats in the United States House of Representatives. The Republican and Democratic Parties nominated their candidates by primaries held March 6, 2018. Convention Parties nominated their candidates at a series of conventions. County Conventions held March 17, 2018, District Conventions held March 24, 2018, and a State Convention held April 14, 2018.^[1] At the present time there is only one Convention Party in Texas, that is the Libertarian Party. Other parties may seek to achieve ballot access.^[2]

Quick Facts

2018 Texas elections

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Turnout in the November general election reached historic levels, rivaling turnout in a presidential election.^[3] While the Republican Party won every statewide position, the margin of victory was narrower than previous elections.^[4][5][6]

Democratic U.S. Representative Beto O'Rourke and Libertarian candidate Neal Dikeman challenged U.S. Senator Ted Cruz for re-election. Cruz narrowly defeated O'Rourke by 2.6%.

All of Texas's thirty-six seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2018.^[7] No open seats changed hands, but two Republican incumbents lost to Democrats.

Incumbent governor Greg Abbott ran for a second term. He was first elected in 2014 after serving twelve years as Texas Attorney General, and he succeeded Rick Perry as governor.

Abbott won the March 20, 2018, Republican primary, while Lupe Valdez won the Democratic runoff against Andrew White, becoming the first Latina nominated by a major party for statewide office in Texas.

Libertarian Mark Tippetts also ran against Abbott. Tippetts defeated Kathie Glass, Patrick "Not Governor" Smith, and Kory Watkins at the party convention to earn his nomination.^[8]

On January 9, 2017, the day before the 85th Texas Legislature began its session, incumbent Republican lieutenant governor Dan Patrick announced he would run for re-election in 2018.^[9] He stated his early announcement was in order to dispel rumors of a primary challenge to Governor Greg Abbott or U.S. Senator Ted Cruz.^[9]

General election

Polling

Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Dan Patrick (R)	Mike Collier (D)	Kerry McKennon (L)	Other	Undecided
Dixie Strategies	September 6–7, 2018	519	± 4.3%	45%	39%	2%	–	14%
Texas Lyceum	July 9–26, 2018	441	± 4.7%	39%	29%	4%	–	28%
Gravis Marketing	July 3–7, 2018	602	± 4.0%	46%	44%	–	–	10%
UoT/Texas Tribune	June 8–17, 2018	1,200	± 2.83%	37%	31%	4%	5%	23%

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Results

More information Party, Candidate ...

2018 Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Dan Patrick (incumbent)	4,260,990	51.30%	-6.84%
	Democratic	Mike Collier	3,860,865	46.49%	+7.78%
	Libertarian	Kerry Douglas McKennon	183,516	2.21%	-0.35%
Total votes			8,305,371	100.0%
	Republican hold

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Incumbent Republican attorney general Ken Paxton ran for re-election to a second term.^[7]

Incumbent Republican comptroller Glenn Hegar ran for re-election to a second term.^[7]

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Sid Miller ran for re-election to a second term.^[7]

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Christi Craddick ran for re-election to a second six-year term.^[7]

Every seat in the Texas House of Representatives and about half of the seats in the Texas Senate were up for election.