The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the 36 U.S. representatives from the state of Texasâan increase of four seats in reapportionment following the 2010 United States census. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election and an election for the U.S. Senate. The primary election had been scheduled to be held on March 6, 2012, with a runoff election on May 22; because of problems arising from redistricting, the primary was postponed to May 29, and the run-off to July 31.
With 58% of voting age people turning out, all existing seats were held by their respective parties with one exception, the Democrats picking up the 23rd District. Of the four new seats, two were won by the Republican Party for a total of 24 seats, and two were won by the Democratic Party for a total of 12 seats.
Redistricting
In March 2011, The Texas Tribune conducted a poll of Texas "insiders" which found 54 per cent to believe three of the state's four new congressional districts would be drawn to favor the Republican Party, with one district drawn to favor the Democratic Party; while 37 per cent of those polled felt two districts would favor Republicans while two would favor Democrats. In April, Republican U.S. Representative Lamar Smith argued that the seats should be evenly split between the parties in order to reflect Texas's growing Hispanic population and abide by the Voting Rights Act. Joe Barton, also a Republican U.S. Representative, disagreed, arguing that three or four of the districts should favor Republicans.
Also in April, the Mexican American Legislative Caucus filed a lawsuit against Governor Rick Perry and the state of Texas, seeking to halt redistricting based on census data which allegedly failed to count up to 250,000 Hispanic residents of colonias. Later in April, Democratic U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett released a map which he alleged had been submitted by Republican members of Congress to leaders of the Texas Legislature. The map would divide Travis County between four districts, three of which would favor Republicans and one of which would favor Democrats.
In May, state representative Burt Solomons, a Republican, expressed concern that the legislature would not produce a congressional redistricting map by May 30, when it was scheduled to adjourn, and that a special session would be necessary. State senator Kel Seliger, the chair of the Senate's Select Committee on Redistricting, also downplayed the likelihood that redistricting legislation would be passed but emphasized the importance of creating a "credible instrument for the court to consider." Joe Barton later filed a lawsuit in response to perceived "inaction" by the legislature on redistricting. On May 25, Seliger confirmed that the legislature would not pass redistricting legislation, and that a congressional map would be drawn either by a federal court or in a special session. The same day, Rick Perry reiterated his position that the Legislature rather than the courts should draw the map, and three days later said he would call a special session on the condition that legislators decide on a map in advance.
On May 30, Perry called a special session. On May 31, the first day of the special session, redistricting was added to the list of matters to be addressed and Seliger and Solomons released a proposed congressional map. In Seliger and Solomons' map, African Americans and Hispanic Americans form majorities in two of the new districts, while the other two new districts gave Perry more than 56 per cent of their vote in the 2010 gubernatorial election. The districts represented by Doggett and Republicans Quico Canseco and Blake Farenthold would be made more favorable to Republicans. Democratic state representative Marc Veasey and Nina Perales of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund criticized the plan, which they said failed to increase the number of minority opportunity districts. Democratic U.S. Representative Gene Green filed a lawsuit against the map, alleging that it would neglect Hispanic population growth primarily in Harris County. On June 2, Solomons acknowledged that the map was likely to undergo significant changes.
A new map was proposed by Seliger on June 2, under which Republican U.S. Representative Ron Paul's district would be significantly modified and a district which linked urban Houston to rural East Texas counties would be redrawn. The map was passed by the State Senate's redistricting committee, and by the full Senate on party lines on June 6. A slightly different map from that passed by the Senate was passed by the House of Representatives' Redistricting Committee. The House map would lower the Hispanic population of Canseco's district by concentrating Hispanics in Democrat Charlie Gonzalez's district. The map was passed by the full House of Representatives on June 14. On June 20, the Senate voted to accept the House's amendments. The map was signed into law by Perry on July 18.
On September 13, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice said that, based on a preliminary investigation, the map appeared to have been "adopted, at least in part, for the purpose of diminishing the ability of citizens of the United States, on account of race, color, or membership in a language minority group, to elect their preferred candidates of choice to Congress" and would have a discriminatory effect.
On November 8, a federal court refused to approve the Legislature's proposed map, thereby necessitating lengthy legal proceedings and the implementation of an interim map for the 2012 elections, to be drawn by a panel of federal judges. On November 23, a panel of three federal judges drew a map in which three of the four new districts would favor Democrats. However, three days later, Greg Abbott, the Texas Attorney General, announced that the state would file for an emergency stay from the U.S. Supreme Court. On December 9, the Supreme Court blocked the use of the map drawn by federal judges. This was expected to necessitate delaying the state's filing deadline and primary elections.
On January 20, 2012, the Supreme Court rejected the map drawn by the federal court, holding that the court had not paid enough attention to the maps drawn by the legislature, and sent the case back to the lower court.
Overview
District 1
Republican Louie Gohmert, who had represented Texas's 1st congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Louie Gohmert, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Shirley McKellar, Army veteran and non-profit businesswoman
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Clark Patterson, photographer
General election
Predictions
Results
District 2
Republican Ted Poe, who had represented Texas's 2nd congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Ted Poe, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Jim Dougherty, attorney and CPA
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Kenneth Duncan
Green primary
Candidates
Nominee
Mark Roberts, teacher
General election
Predictions
Results
District 3
Republican Sam Johnson, who had represented Texas's 3rd congressional district since 1991, ran for re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Sam Johnson, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
Josh Caesar, software engineer
Harry Pierce, Air Force veteran
Results
General election
Predictions
Results
District 4
Republican Ralph Hall, who had represented Texas's 4th congressional district since 1981 (as a Democrat from 1981 to 2004), sought re-election.
Republican primary
There was speculation that Hall might retire due to his age - he was 89 years old - and a closer than usual primary in 2010 (though he still won with 57% of the vote). Hall faced two opponents in his party's May primary: businessman and 2010 primary candidate Steve Clark, and businessman Lou Gigliotti.
Candidates
Nominee
Ralph Hall, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
Steve Clark, businessman and candidate for this seat in 2010
Lou Gigliotti, businessman
Withdrawn
John Cooper
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
VaLinda Hathcox, attorney and nominee for this seat in 2010
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Thomas Griffing
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 5
Republican Jeb Hensarling, who had represented Texas's 5th congressional district since 2003, ran for re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Jeb Hensarling, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Linda Mrosko, legal assistant
Eliminated in primary
Tom Berry, U.S. Navy veteran, retired train conductor, nominee for Illinois 6th in 1994 & 2002 and nominee for this seat in 2010
Pat Wallace
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Ken Ashby, teacher, engineer and nominee for this seat in 2010
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 6
Republican Joe Barton, who had represented Texas's 6th congressional district since 1985, ran for re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Joe Barton, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
Joe Chow, former mayor of Addison
Itamar Gelbman, Israeli-American security consultant
Frank Kuchar, accountant
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Kenneth Sanders, manufacturing consultant
Eliminated in primary
Brianna Hinojosa-Flores, attorney
Don Jaquess, businessman
Withdrawn
David Alameel, dentist and horse racing advocate (running in the 33rd)
Declined
Chet Edwards, former U.S. Representative
Chris Turner, former state representative
Allen Vaught, former state representative
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Hugh Chavin, construction manager and former U.S. Air Force staff sergeant
Green primary
Candidates
Nominee
Brandon Parmer
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 7
Republican John Culberson, who had represented Texas's 7th congressional district since 2003, ran for re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
John Culberson, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
Bill Tofte
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
James Cargas, energy lawyer for the City of Houston
Eliminated in primary
Phillip Andrews, accountant and nominee for the State House in 2010
Lissa Squiers, activist
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Drew Parks
Green primary
Candidates
Nominee
Lance Findley
General election
Predictions
Results
District 8
Republican Kevin Brady, who had represented Texas's 8th congressional district since 1997, ran for re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Kevin Brady, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
Larry Youngblood, computer consultant
Withdrawn
Chris Irish, health care consultant for Pfizer and founder of the North Houston Tea Party Patriots
Declined
Scott Baker, businessman
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Neil Burns, former executive at the Shell Oil Company
Declined
James Wright, retiree from New Caney and nominee for this seat in 2004 and 2006
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Roy Hall
General election
Predictions
Results
District 9
Democrat Al Green, who had represented Texas's 9th congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Al Green, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Steve Mueller, business analyst, activist and nominee for this seat in 2010
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
John Wieder, clergy member
Green primary
Candidates
Nominee
Vanessa Foster
General election
Predictions
Results
District 10
Republican Michael McCaul, who had represented Texas's 10th congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election. He did not seek the open U.S. Senate seat.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Michael McCaul, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
Eddie Traylor, pilot
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Tawana Walter-Cadien, consultant, registered nurse, MMA surgery supervisor and quality assurance director
Eliminated in primary
William Miller Jr.
Withdrawn
Dan Grant, foreign policy expert and candidate for this seat in 2008
Declined
Larry Joe Doherty, attorney, TV show host and nominee for this seat in 2008
Michael Peter Skelly, entrepreneur and nominee for the 7th district in 2008
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Richard Priest
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 11
Republican Mike Conaway, who had represented Texas's 11th congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Mike Conaway, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
Wade Brown, real estate investor
Chris Younts, insurance agent and co-founder of the San Angelo Tea Party
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Jim Riley, businessman
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Scott Ballard
General election
Predictions
Results
District 12
Republican Kay Granger, who had represented Texas's 12th congressional district since 1997, ran for re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Kay Granger, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
Bill Lawrence, former mayor of Highland Village
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Dave Robinson, retired schoolteacher and veteran
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Matthew Solodow, senior project manager
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 13
Republican Mac Thornberry, who had represented Texas's 13th congressional district since 1995, sought re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Mac Thornberry, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
Pam Barlow, veterinarian
Results
Democratic primary
No Democrats filed.
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
John Deek
Green primary
Candidates
Nominee
Keith Houston
General election
Predictions
Results
District 14
Republican Ron Paul, who had represented Texas's 14th congressional district since 1997 and ran for the Republican 2012 presidential nomination, did not seek re-election to the House of Representatives.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Randy Weber, state representative
Eliminated in primary
Tim Day, retired businessman and filmmaker
John Gay, former Spring Independent School District administrator
Robert Gonzalez, chair of the Clear Lake Tea Party
George Harper, Tea Party activist and civil designer in the petro-chemical industry
Felicia Harris, Pearland City Councilmember
Mark Mansius, engineer
Jay Old, attorney
Michael J. Truncale, attorney and regent of the Texas State University System
Withdrawn
John Faulk
Paul Hawes
Declined
Dennis Bonnen, state representative
John Manlove, former mayor of Pasadena
Debra Medina, political activist and candidate for Governor in 2010
Steve Stockman, former U.S. Representative (running in the 36th)
Larry Taylor, state representative
Endorsements
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Nick Lampson, former U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
Linda Dailey, veteran
Declined
Joe Jaworski, Mayor of Galveston
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Zach Grady
Eliminated in primary
Eugene Flynn, lawyer
Amy Jacobellis, real estate agent
Bob Smither, engineering consultant
Green primary
Candidates
Nominee
Rhett Rosenquest Smith
General election
Endorsements
Polling
Predictions
Results
District 15
Democrat Rubén Hinojosa, who had represented Texas's 15th congressional district since 1997, ran for re-election.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Rubén Hinojosa, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
David Cantu, farmer and rancher
Jane Cross, businesswoman
Johnny Partain
Ruben Ramirez, attorney and educator
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Dale Brueggemann, businessman
Eliminated in primary
Rebecca Cervera
Jim Kuiken, Marine Corps veteran
Eddie Zamora, sales consultant
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Ron Finch
General election
Forum
Predictions
Results
District 16
Democrat Silvestre Reyes, who had represented Texas's 16th congressional district since 1997, ran for re-election.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Beto O'Rourke, former El Paso city council member
Eliminated in primary
Paul Johnson Jr.
Ben Mendoza
Silvestre Reyes, incumbent U.S. Representative
Jerome Tilghman
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Barbara Carrasco, small business owner
Eliminated in primary
Corey Dean Roen, Army lieutenant colonel and business owner
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Junart Sodoy
General election
Predictions
Results
District 17
Republican Bill Flores, who was elected to represent Texas's 17th congressional district in 2010, ran for reelection.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Bill Flores, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
George Hindman, business owner
Results
Democratic primary
No Democrats filed.
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Ben Easton, former teacher and freelance author
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 18
Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee, who had represented Texas's 18th congressional district since 1995, ran for reelection.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Sheila Jackson Lee, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Sean Seibert, Afghanistan veteran
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Christopher Barber
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 19
Republican Randy Neugebauer, who had represented Texas's 19th congressional district since 2003, ran for reelection.
Republican primary
Neugebauer, considered perhaps the most conservative of all House members, faced opposition in his primary from Chris Winn, the former Lubbock County GOP chairman.
Candidates
Nominee
Randy Neugebauer, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
Chris Winn, former chair of Lubbock County Republican Party
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Richard Peterson, professor emeritus at Texas Tech University
General election
Predictions
Results
District 20
Democrat Charlie Gonzalez, who had represented Texas's 20th congressional district since 1999, retired rather than run for re-election.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
JoaquĂn Castro, state representative
Withdrawn
Ezra Johnson, attorney
Declined
Charlie Gonzalez, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
David Rosa, independent insurance agent
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
A. E. Potts
Green primary
Candidates
Nominee
Antonio Diaz, small business owner
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 21
Republican Lamar Smith, who had represented Texas's 21st congressional district since 1987, ran for re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Lamar Smith, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
Richard Mack, former sheriff of Graham County, Arizona
Richard Morgan, software developer
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Candace DuvĂĄl, business owner
Eliminated in primary
Daniel Boone, small business owner
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
John-Henry Liberty
Green primary
Candidates
Withdrawn
Fidel Castillo
Bill Stout
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 22
Republican incumbent Pete Olson, who had represented Texas's 22nd congressional district since 2009, ran for re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Pete Olson, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
Barbara Carlson, conservative newspaper columnist
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Kesha Rogers, LaRouche movement activist and nominee for this seat in 2010
Eliminated in primary
KP George, financial planner
Withdrawn
Doug Blatt, candidate for this seat in 2010
Results
Libertarian primary
Steven Susman
Green primary
Don Cook
General election
Campaign
Rogers was disavowed by some local Democrats for her controversial platform, which included impeaching President Obama and colonizing outer space. She was frequently seen on the campaign trail singing, "Twenty-fifth Amendment now--he is nuts! Obama is nuts!" referring to LaRouche's call to have Obama removed from office on the grounds of insanity.
Predictions
Results
District 23
Republican Quico Canseco, who had represented Texas's 23rd congressional district since 2011, ran for re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Quico Canseco, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary
Former U.S. Representative Ciro Rodriguez, who represented the 23rd district from 2007 until 2011, had initially planned to seek the Democratic nomination in the 23rd district; however, in November 2011, he announced he would instead run in the new 35th district, and later said he would run in whichever district contained his home (which transpired to be the 22nd).
Candidates
Nominee
Pete Gallego, state representative
Eliminated in primary
John Bustamante, lawyer and the son of former U.S. Representative Albert Bustamante
Ciro Rodriguez, former U.S. Representative
Declined
Manny Pelaez, employment law attorney and trustee of VIA Metropolitan Transit
Results
Gallego won the primary run-off against Rodriguez.
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Jeffrey Blunt, engineer
Green primary
Candidates
Nominee
Ed Scharf, retired federal employee
General election
Endorsements
Polling
Predictions
Results
District 24
Republican Kenny Marchant, who had represented Texas's 24th congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Kenny Marchant, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
Grant Stinchfield, former television reporter for KXAS-TV
Results
Democratic primary
On March 5, 2012, Patrick McGehearty, a computer scientist, dropped out of the Democratic primary to support his wife through a medical problem. McGehearty endorsed Tim Rusk, an attorney from Euless.
Candidates
Nominee
Tim Rusk, attorney
Withdrawn
Patrick McGehearty, computer scientist
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
John Stathas
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 25
Democrat Lloyd Doggett, who had represented Texas's 25th congressional district since 2005, had intended to seek re-election in the new 35th district; however, the November 2011 interim map would allow him to instead run in the 25th district. In the event, he ran in the 35th district, as the final version of the 25th was almost entirely a new, and much more Republican leaning seat.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Roger Williams, former Secretary of State of Texas
Eliminated in primary
Ernie Beltz Jr., former federal agency program manager, former business owner, and ex-marine
Bill Burch, thead of the Grass Roots Institute of Texas
Dianne Costa, former mayor of Highland Village
James Dillon
Dave Garrison, former Halliburton and USAA executive
Justin Hewlett, Mayor of Cleburne
Charles Holcomb, U.S. Air Force reservist
Brian Matthews, businessman and former actor
Wes Riddle, businessman
Chad Wilbanks, former executive director of the Texas Republican Party;
Michael Williams, former Railroad Commissioner
Withdrawn
Ralph Pruyn, businessman
Declined
Donna Campbell, ophthalmologist and nominee for this seat in 2010
Jason Isaac, state representative
Sid Miller, state representative
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Elaine Henderson, retired airport operations supervisor
Declined
Lloyd Doggett, incumbent U.S. Representative (running in the 35th)
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Betsy Dewey
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 26
Republican Michael Burgess, who had represented Texas's 26th congressional district since 2003, ran for re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Michael Burgess, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
David Sanchez, former Diversity Chair of the Denton County Democratic Party
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Mark Boler, computer scientist
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 27
Republican Blake Farenthold, who had represented Texas's 27th congressional district since 2011, ran for re-election in the redrawn 27th district, having considered running in the new 34th district.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Blake Farenthold, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
John Grunwald, accountant
Don Al Middlebrook, business owner
Trey Roberts, attorney
Declined
Todd Hunter, state representatives
Raul Torres, state representatives
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Rose Meza Harrison, former chair of the Nueces County Democratic Party
Eliminated in primary
Murphy Alade Junaid
Ronnie McDonald, former judge for the Bastrop County Court
Jerry Trevino, attorney and business owner
Declined
Solomon Ortiz, former U.S. Representative
Filemon Vela Jr., attorney (running in the 34th)
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Corrie Byrd, assistant manager at Walmart
Independents
Businessman Bret Baldwin, a conservative Republican from Victoria, ran as an independent.
General election
Predictions
Results
District 28
Democrat Henry Cuellar, who had represented Texas's 28th congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election.
Guadalupe County, a Republican stronghold, was removed from the reconfigured District 28. Cuellar lost four counties and was held to 56 percent of the general election vote in 2010, when he defeated the Republican Bryan Keith Underwood.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Henry Cuellar, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
William Hayward, ostrich rancher
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Patrick Hisel, physician, nominee for the 12th District in 2010
Green primary
Candidates
Nominee
Michael D. Cary
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 29
Democrat Gene Green, who had represented Texas's 29th congressional district since 1993, ran for re-election.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Gene Green, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Republican primary
No Republicans filed.
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
James Stanczak
Green primary
Candidates
Nominee
Maria Selva
General election
Predictions
Results
District 30
Democrat Eddie Bernice Johnson, who had represented Texas's 30th congressional district since 1993, ran for re-election.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eddie Bernice Johnson, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
Barbara Mallory Caraway, state representative
Taj Clayton, lawyer
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Travis Washington Jr., U.S. Air Force veteran
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Ed Rankin, leadership development consultant
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 31
Republican John Carter, who had represented Texas's 31st congressional district since 2003, ran for re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
John Carter, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
Eric Klingemann, small business owner
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Stephen Wyman, technician
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Ethan Garofolo
General election
Predictions
Results
District 32
Republican Pete Sessions had represented Texas's 32nd congressional district since 2002, and had represented District 5 from 1996 to 2002. He ran for re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Pete Sessions, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Katherine Savers McGovern, former Assistant United States Attorney, Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division
Eliminated in primary
Walter Hofheinz, attorney
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Seth Hollist, political columnist
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 33
The new Texas's 33rd Congressional District includes parts of Dallas County and Tarrant County. In Dallas County, the district covers parts of Dallas, Irving, and Grand Prairie, and all of Cockrell Hill. In Tarrant County, the district includes parts of Arlington, Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Haltom City, Saginaw and Sansom Park, and all of Everman. It was expected to be a safe seat for the Democrats.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Marc Veasey, state representative
Eliminated in primary
David Alameel, dentist and businessman
Chrysta Castañeda, attorney
Domingo GarcĂa, former state representative
Kathleen Hicks, Fort Worth City Council member
J.R. Molina, attorney
Carlos Quintanilla, business owner and activist
Jason Roberts, founder of the National Better Block
Steve Salazar, former Dallas City Council member
Kyev Tatum, community activist and head of the Tarrant County chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Manuel Valdez, justice of the peace
Withdrawn
David De La Paz, businessman
Declined
Art Brender, attorney and former chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party
Results
Republican primary
Though his hometown of Arlington is contained entirely within the 33rd district, Republican Joe Barton, who had represented the 6th district since 1985, ran again in the 6th district. During redistricting, Republicans Bill Lawrence, former mayor of Highland Village, former Secretary of State Roger Williams and former Railroad Commissioner Michael L. Williams had all at one point considered running in a district numbered the 33rd. After the district map was finalized, Lawrence ran for the 12th district, and Roger Williams and Michael Williams both switched to the 25th.
Candidates
Nominee
Chuck Bradley, retired businessman
Eliminated in primary
Charles King, SMU graduate and car wash manager
Withdrawn
Al Lee, retired systems consultant
Monte Mitchell
Results
Green primary
Candidates
Nominee
Ed Lindsay
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 34
The 34th is a newly numbered district. Half of the voters came from the 27th district once held by both Solomon Ortiz and Blake Farenthold, and most of the remainder came from the 15th. It contains all of Cameron, Willacy, Kleberg, Kenedy, Jim Wells, Bee, Goliad and DeWitt counties, and parts of Gonzales, San Patricio and Hidalgo counties. It is 73.1% Hispanic by citizen voting population, and voted for President Obama 60â39 in 2008.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Filemon Vela Jr., attorney
Eliminated in primary
Elmo Aycock, U.S. Marine
Denise Saenz Blanchard, former Chief of Staff to Solomon Ortiz
Ramiro Garza Jr., former Edinburg City Manager
Juan Angel Guerra, attorney
Salomon Torres, former district director for Rubén Hinojosa
Anthony Troiani, Brownsville City Commissioner
Armando Villalobos, Cameron County District Attorney
Results
Vela and Blanchard advanced to the July 31 runoff, with Vela easily winning.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Jessica Bradshaw, political news commentator
Eliminated in primary
Adela Garza, small business owner
Paul Harding, attorney
Withdrawn
Marc Young
Results
Garza and Bradshaw advanced to the July 31 runoff.
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Steven Shanklin
General election
Forum
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 35
Texas's 35th Congressional District includes parts of the San Antonio metropolitan area, including portions of Bexar County, thin strips of Comal and Hays, and all of Caldwell and Atascosa counties, as well as portions of southern and eastern Austin in Travis County largely from the 25th.
Democratic U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett, who had represented Texas's 25th congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election in the 35th district.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Lloyd Doggett, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
Maria Luisa Alvarado, retired United States Air Force master sergeant and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2006
Sylvia Romo, Bexar County tax collector
Withdrawn
Patrick Shearer
Declined
JoaquĂn Castro, state representative (running in the 20th district)
Richard Perez, former San Antonio City Council member
Ciro Rodriguez, former U.S. Representative
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Susan Narvaiz, former mayor of San Marcos
Eliminated in primary
Rob Roark, conservative activist
John Yoggerst
Results
In the Republican primary, conducted May 29, 2012, Narvaiz won and avoided a runoff by obtaining 51.78% of the votes cast.
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Ross Leone
Green primary
Candidates
Nominee
Meghan Owen, activist, musician, engineer, former military contractor and HVAC technician
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 36
Texas's 36th congressional district is one of four new districts, including all or part of Chambers County, Hardin County, Harris County, Jasper County, Liberty County, Newton County, Orange County, Polk County and Tyler County.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Steve Stockman, former U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
Keith Casey
Jerry Doyle
Jim Engstrand, U.S. Army Reserve colonel and small business owner
Ky Griffin, funeral director and small business owner
Mike Jackson, state senator
Charles Meyer, attorney
Kim Morrell, former Seabrook City Council member and small business owner
Lois Dickson Myers, real estate broker
Stephen Takach, financial advisor
Daniel Whitton
Tim Wintill
Declined
Brian Babin, dentist and nominee for the 2nd district in 1996 and 1998
Travis Bryan, precinct chair and former Texas State Guard soldier
John Manlove, Mayor of Pasadena
James White, state representative
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Max Martin, businessman and pilot
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Michael Cole, educator
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
Notes
References
External links
Elections Division at the Texas Secretary of State
Official candidate list
United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2012 at Ballotpedia
Texas U.S. House from OurCampaigns.com
Campaign contributions for U.S. Congressional races in Texas from OpenSecrets
Outside spending at the Sunlight Foundation
