Republicans poised to narrowly increase majorities in Texas Legislature

Join The Temporary, our day by day e-newsletter that retains readers in control on essentially the most important Texas information.

Republicans had been poised to narrowly increase their legislative majorities in each the Home and Senate early Wednesday morning, although they fell wanting taking some seats they focused on this yr’s midterm election.

The Republicans’ leads had been being felt prominently in South Texas, the place the GOP gained key races after focusing on the traditionally Democratic area of Texas after Democratic President Joe Biden underperformed there in 2020.

A number of of the races had not been referred to as by Resolution Desk HQ early Wednesday morning.

In Home District 37, anchored in Brownsville, Republican Janie Lopez was on monitor to seize an open seat as she led Democrat Luis Villareal Jr. The seat is presently held by Democratic state Rep. Alex Dominguez, who unsuccessfully ran for state Senate relatively than search reelection.

Lopez could be the primary Latina Republican to characterize the Rio Grande Valley within the Home.

In one other main South Texas victory, Rep. Ryan Guillen of Rio Grande Metropolis, who defected from the Democratic Celebration and ran this cycle as a Republican, appeared destined to win reelection handily.

In one other essential battle in southern Bexar County, which has historically been dominated by Democrats, Republican incumbent John Lujan regarded as if he would prevail over Democrat Frank Ramirez, a former San Antonio Metropolis Council member.

Republicans appeared to bolster their probabilities to hold on to that Home District 118 seat by reconfiguring it throughout final yr’s legislative session to have a a lot narrower benefit for Democrats. Biden gained the district by 14 factors two years in the past, however would have solely gained by 3 factors underneath the brand new boundaries.

Republicans additionally poured huge cash into the race, with Lujan outraising Ramirez practically 5 to 1 within the newest marketing campaign finance stories.

However Democrat Morgan LaMantia was in a decent race with Republican Adam Hinojosa in Senate District 27, an open seat vacated by Eddie Lucio Jr., a conservative Democrat who typically bucked his occasion within the Legislature on main points like abortion and LGBTQ rights. LaMantia was forward early Wednesday morning with all precincts reporting, however the Democrat’s lead was lower than 600 votes, placing it squarely in recount territory.

Whereas LaMantia is a well known Democrat within the Rio Grande Valley, Republicans added extra conservative voters from Bee and San Patricio counties throughout final yr’s redistricting course of, making the district extra aggressive for his or her occasion. Democratic President Joe Biden gained the district by 15.7 factors in 2020, however would have gained it by solely 4.7 factors underneath the brand new boundaries.

Texas Democratic Celebration Chair Gilberto Hinojosa tried to pour chilly water on any Republican celebrations in South Texas. The GOP set its sights on flipping three congressional seats within the space, however Democrats held them off in two of them.

“Republicans in Austin and D.C. ought to perceive that if they might barely eke out this one win right here, they need to in all probability pack up their luggage and get the hell out of our area,” he mentioned on Twitter.

Democrats fared properly in different races the place Republicans had been bullish on pulling off upsets. Incumbent Democrat Eddie Morales was properly on his solution to keeping off a problem from Katherine Parker in Home District 74, which incorporates Eagle Move and far of the Texas-Mexico border.

And Democrats additionally seem to have gained some seats that had been drawn to be extra favorable to them throughout final yr’s redistricting cycle. Democrat Mihaela Plesa was on monitor to flip an open seat in Home District 70 in fast-growing Collin County, which has lengthy been managed by Republicans.

And in Home District 34, Democratic incumbent Abel Herrero was well-positioned to beat again a problem from Republican Carolyn Vaughn to earn a sixth time period representing the Nueces County district.

In Home District 52, Republican Caroline Harris, a former legislative staffer, defeated Democrat Luis Echegaray, in a district previously held by Democrat James Talarico. The district was redrawn final yr to present Republicans a bonus and Talarico moved to close by Home District 50, anchored in Austin, the place he gained the seat over Republican Victor Johnson. That seat was open after Democrat Celia Israel determined to run for Austin mayor.

In Harris County, Republican Mano DeAyala appeared to cruise over Democrat Mohamad Maarouf in Home District 133. The seat had been vacated by longtime Republican Rep. Jim Murphy.

With districts that had been drawn to be extra favorable to the GOP, the Republican incumbents in Dallas County appeared to have gained rather more snug reelections than they did two years in the past. Morgan Meyer was on monitor to defeat Democrat Elizabeth Ginsberg in Home District 108, anchored in Highland Park and College Park, whereas Angie Chen Button regarded as if she had prevailed over Democrat Elva Curl in Home District 112 in northeast Dallas County.

Within the Senate, Republicans prolonged their majority by at the least one after state Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, gained election to Senate District 10, previously held by Democrat Beverly Powell. The district was previously anchored totally in Tarrant County, however was dispersed to the west and south in final yr’s redistricting course of and made extra advantageous for Republicans.

Powell, who had filed for reelection finally stop the race claiming it was unwinnable after the GOP redrawing.

King’s victory implies that Republicans now maintain at the least 19 of the Senate’s 31 seats.

The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit statewide information group devoted to holding Texans knowledgeable on politics and coverage points that affect their communities. This election season, Texans across the state will flip to The Texas Tribune for the data they want on voting, election outcomes, evaluation of key races and extra. Get the newest.