Texas Remains Red: Tuesday Night’s Election Results – Big Win for the Republicans

The only thing turning purple in Texas after last night’s election are the bruised egos of defeated Democrats. 

First at the national level. The Republicans now control the US Senate winning seven seats (Arkansas, Colorado, Montana, West Virginia, South Dakota, North Carolina, and Iowa) with Alaska and Louisiana still to be determined, but both looking to also go to the red team.  They also expanded their lead in the US House, it appears by at least 9 seats, giving them the largest majority since Harry Truman was in office.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, will become majority leader in January after he won re-election against Lundergan Grimes.  Texas’ Sen. John Cornyn, R-TX, appears to be second in leadership of the US Senate after his easy 27 point victory on Tuesday night.

Quite simply, the Republicans dominated the Lone Star State.  All of the state-wide races not only went to the Republican candidates, but went handedly.  Surpassing the poll predictions that forecasted large victories, the results where even more lopsided than predicted. The Republicans won by an average of 21.4 points in the major statewide spots (Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, Land Commissioner, and Agricultural Commissioner).  It is tough to find the appropriate word to describe this margin of victory, but shellacking most certainly comes to mind.

Of the 15 Texas state Senate races, only one race drew particular contested attention.  The race for Wendy Davis’ senate seat in District 10 is now in Republican hands after Republican Connie Burton defeated Democrat Libby Willis (52.8% to 44.7%).  Republicans now hold a 20 to 11 majority in the Texas Senate that will be presided over by the new Lt. Governor, Dan Patrick, come January.

It was also a good night for Republican Speaker of the House, Joe Straus, who easily won reelection (82.1% of votes) and also saw the Republican majority grow in the Texas House by three seats.  Republicans now hold a 98 to 52 majority (only two seats from a super-majority) in the Texas House.

The organizers of the much talked about Battle Ground Texas movement have always said that their efforts will take time and many election cycles.  This management of expectations appears to be right on the money for at least this year’s election as it clearly demonstrated Texas is turning more red than blue.  Despite all the buildup about increased voter turnout, voting was down by approximately 300,000 votes from the last statewide election with only 4.6 million voting this year as opposed to 4.9 Million in 2010.