The 2012 Texas elections  were held on November 6, 2012. Primary elections took place on May 29, 2012. Runoff elections took place on July 31, 2012.[ 1] 
Federal offices 
President of the United States 
Texas had 38 electoral votes in the Electoral College , which went to Republican  presidential candidate Mitt Romney .[ 2] 
United States Class I Senate Seat 
Incumbent Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison  retired and did not seek re-election for a fourth full term.[ 3] Ted Cruz  won the seat, defeating Democrat  Paul Sadler .[ 4] 
United States House of Representatives 
There were 36 U.S. Representative seats up for election in Texas; four more seats than in the 2010 election . The Republican Party won 24 seats, while the Democrats won 12.[ 5] 
Executive 
Railroad commissioner 
2012 Texas Railroad Commissioner election 
 Congressional district resultsCraddick:        40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%Henry:        50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Incumbent Buddy Garcia , who was appointed by Governor  Rick Perry  to fill the vacancy left by Elizabeth Ames Jones , did not seek re-election.[ 6] Christi Craddick  won the election for a six-year term.[ 7] 
Republican primary 
Candidates 
Primary results 
Runoff results 
Democratic primary 
Candidates 
Dale Henry, petroleum engineer[ 12]  
Primary results 
General election 
Results 
2012 Texas Railroad Commissioner (unexpired term) election 
 County resultsSmitherman:        40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%Perez:        50–60%
Incumbent Barry T. Smitherman  was elected to the remaining two years of a six-year term following his appointment to fill the vacancy left by Michael L. Williams , who resigned to contest for the United States House of Representatives .[ 15] 
Republican primary 
Candidates 
Primary results 
Runoff results 
General election 
Results 
Judicial 
Supreme Court 
Place 2 
2012 Texas Supreme Court Place 2 election 
 
Incumbent Justice Don Willett  was re-elected to a second six-year term.
Republican primary 
Candidates 
Primary results 
General election 
Results 
Place 4 
2012 Texas Supreme Court Place 4 election 
 
Incumbent Justice David M. Medina  lost renomination in the Republican primary to John P. Devine , who would go on to win the election and a six-year-term.[ 17] 
Republican primary 
Candidates 
Primary results 
Runoff results 
General election 
Results 
Place 6 
2012 Texas Supreme Court Place 6 election 
 
Incumbent Justice Nathan Hecht  was re-elected to a fifth six-year term.
Republican primary 
Candidates 
Primary results 
Democratic primary 
Candidates 
Michele Petty, attorney[ 19]  
Primary results 
General election 
Results 
Court of Criminal Appeals 
Presiding judge 
2012 Texas Court of Criminal Appeals presiding judge election 
 
Incumbent Presiding Judge Sharon Keller  was re-elected to a fourth six-year-term.
Republican primary 
Candidates 
Primary results 
Democratic primary 
Candidates 
Keith Hampton, defense lawyer[ 20]  
Primary results 
General election 
Results 
Place 7 
2012 Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 7 election 
 
Incumbent Judge Barbara Parker Hervey  was re-elected for a third six-year-term.
Republican primary 
Candidates 
Primary results 
General election 
Results 
Place 8 
2012 Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 8 election 
 
Incumbent Judge Elsa Alcala  was appointed to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals  in 2011, following the stepping-down of Charles Holcomb . Alcala was elected to a six-year-term.[ 21] 
Republican primary 
Candidates 
Primary results 
General election 
Results 
State Board of Education 
All 15 districts of the Texas Board of Education  were up for election.[ 22] 
District 1 
Republican primary 
Democratic primary 
General election 
District 2 
Republican primary 
Democratic primary 
General election 
District 3 
Republican primary 
Democratic primary 
General election 
District 4 
Republican primary 
Democratic primary 
General election 
District 5 
Republican primary 
Democratic primary 
General election 
District 6 
Republican primary 
Democratic primary 
General election 
District 7 
Republican primary 
General election 
District 8 
Republican primary 
Democratic primary 
General election 
District 9 
Republican primary 
General election 
District 10 
Republican primary 
Democratic primary 
General election 
District 11 
Republican primary 
General election 
District 12 
Republican primary 
Democratic primary 
General election 
District 13 
Republican primary 
Democratic primary 
General election 
District 14 
Republican primary 
General election 
District 15 
Republican primary 
Democratic primary 
General election 
State legislature 
All 31 seats in the Texas State Senate  and all 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives  were up for election. Elected senators and representatives served in the 83rd Texas Legislature .
Texas Senate 
All 31 seats of the Texas Senate  were up for election. No seats changed hands, with the Republican Party retained a 19-seat majority over the Democrat's 12 seats.[ 24] 
Texas Senate election results      Republican hold      Democratic hold 
Texas House of Representatives 
All 150 seats of the Texas House of Representatives  were up for election. The Democratic Party won seven seats, giving them 55 seats to the Republican's majority of 95.[ 25] 
Texas House of Representative election results      Republican hold      Democratic hold      Democratic gain 
Local elections 
See also 
References 
^ "2012 election dates" . Ballotpedia . Retrieved March 24,  2025 .^ "2012 Electoral College Results" . National Archives . October 29, 2024. Retrieved March 24,  2025 .^ Hamilton, Reeve (January 13, 2011). "TribBlog: KBH Won't Seek Re-Election" . The Texas Tribune . Archived from the original  on February 13, 2025. ^ Root, Jay (November 6, 2012). "Cruz Easily Tops Sadler to Win U.S. Senate Race" . The Texas Tribune . Archived from the original  on November 2, 2024. ^ "2012 Texas House Results" . Politico . November 19, 2012. Retrieved March 24,  2025 .^ Ramshaw, Emily (April 12, 2012). "Perry Appoints Buddy Garcia to Railroad Commission" . The Texas Tribune . Archived from the original  on December 12, 2024. ^ "Craddick wins seat on TX Railroad Commission" . KABC-TV . November 7, 2012. Retrieved March 24,  2025 .^ a b c d   Rangel, Enrique (May 12, 2012). "4 actively campaign for Railroad Commission" . Amarillo Globe-News . Retrieved March 24,  2025 . ^ a b c d e f   Vertuno, Jim (May 22, 2012). "Texas Railroad Commission candidates fire at feds" . Lubbock Avalanche-Journal . Retrieved March 24,  2025 . ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w   "Race Summary Report - 2012 Republican Primary" . Texas Secretary of State ^ a b c d e   "Race Summary Report - 2012 Republican Primary Runoff" . Texas Secretary of State ^ "Dale Henry" . KCBD . October 17, 2006. Retrieved March 24,  2025 .^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n   "Race Summary Report - 2012 Democratic Primary" . Texas Secretary of State ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w   "Race Summary Report - 2012 General Election" . Texas Secretary of State ^ "Poll: Craddick, Parker lead Railroad Commission races" . Amarillo Globe-News . May 28, 2012.^ a b   Smith, Morgan (September 8, 2011). "Smith Eyes a Return" . The Texas Tribune . Archived from the original  on November 14, 2024. ^ a b c   "Devine beats incumbent Medina in GOP race for Supreme Court" . Amarillo Globe-News . July 31, 2012.^ Lindell, Chuck (October 7, 2017). "3-time Texas GOP court candidate sues Trump over foreign aid" . Austin American-Statesman . Archived from the original  on March 5, 2024. ^ a b   Rice, Harvey (June 19, 2012). "Open beaches an issue in Texas Supreme Court race" . Chron . Archived from the original  on June 29, 2022. ^ a b   "Sharon Keller re-elected to Texas criminal appeals court; Geraldine Miller leads in education board race" . The Dallas Morning News . November 6, 2012.^ a b   Lindell, Chuck (December 28, 2016). "Judge Elsa Alcala, known for fiery dissents, will not run again" . Austin American-Statesman . Archived from the original  on January 24, 2025. ^ Robelen, Erik W. (November 7, 2012). "Election Brings Changes to Polarized Texas School Board" . Education Week . Archived from the original  on January 26, 2025. ^ "Race Summary Report - 2012 Democratic Primary Runoff" . Texas Secretary of State ^ "Texas State Senate elections, 2012" . Ballotpedia . Retrieved March 27,  2025 .^ "Texas House of Representatives elections, 2012" . Ballotpedia . Retrieved March 27,  2025 .^ Kanin, Michael (May 14, 2012). "Reflections from Austin City Council Election Night" . Austin Monitor . Archived from the original  on February 25, 2024. ^ Savage, Jessica (November 7, 2012). "Corpus Christi picks Nelda Martinez as its next mayor" . Corpus Christi Caller Times . Archived from the original  on November 25, 2014. ^ Magelssen, Tommy (May 13, 2012). "Mayor-elect wants to cut half a percent in every department" . Lubbock Avalanche-Journal . Retrieved March 27,  2025 .   
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