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Texas Attorney General |
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Democratic primary Democratic primary runoff Republican primary Republican primary runoff General election |
Election details |
Filing deadline: December 13, 2021 |
Primary: March 1, 2022 Primary runoff: May 24, 2022 General: November 8, 2022 Pre-election incumbent(s): Ken Paxton (Republican) |
How to vote |
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Texas |
Ballotpedia analysis |
Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2022 Impact of term limits in 2022 State government trifectas and triplexes Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2022 |
Texas executive elections |
Governor Lieutenant Governor |
Rochelle Garza and Joe Jaworski were the top two finishers in the March 1 Democratic primary for Texas attorney general. Garza received 43.0% of the vote and Jaworski received 19.7%. Lee Merritt conceded his spot in the runoff on March 10 and endorsed Garza on that date.[1] He finished in third place with 19.4%, Mike Fields was fourth with 12.3% and S. T-Bone Raynor finished fifth with 5.5%.
Because no candidate won more than 50% of the votes cast, Garza and Jaworski met in a May 24 primary runoff election.
Garza is a former attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. She originally announced she would run for Texas’ 34th Congressional District after Rep. Filemon Vela (D) announced he would not run for re-election in March 2021. After Texas enacted new congressional district maps in October 2021, Garza decided to run for attorney general instead. In an interview with The Texas Tribune, Garza said, “Given my background, my work, I believe that this race is the right place to be. I also believe that if we’re gonna change anything in Texas, it’s gonna have to come at the state level because we’ve seen the damage that the governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general have done to this state and the harm they’ve done to the people.”[2]
Jaworski is an attorney and the former mayor of Galveston. His campaign website listed several top priorities, including supporting the Affordable Care Act, expanding Medicaid, leading a statewide effort to legalize recreational marijuana, and supporting the decision-making authority of local governments.[3] “Local decision-making authority is under attack in state government these days and I can personally say that local government is the best government. So I think as attorney general, Texans can rest assured whether they live in Republican jurisdiction, Democratic jurisdiction or any independent-type jurisdiction, that local government will be a focus of my attorney general opinion.”[4]
Merritt is a civil rights attorney who said his top priority was expanding voting access to all residents. In a January 2022 interview with Houston television station ABC13, Merritt said, “Texas is changing, and we've seen a unique backlash in response to that change. The essential components of our democracy are at stake, starting with the right to vote.” [5]
The attorney general is an executive office that serves as the chief legal advisor and chief law enforcement officer for the state government and is empowered to prosecute violations of state law, represent the state in legal disputes and issue legal advice to state agencies and the legislature. In most states, the attorney general has a substantial influence on a state's approach to law enforcement.
If any candidate had received more than 50% of the vote in the primary, he or she would have automatically advanced to the Nov. 8 general election.
Mike Fields (D), Rochelle Garza (D), and Joe Jaworski (D) completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Click on a candidate's name to view that candidate's responses.
This section included a timeline leading up to the election, including polling, debates, and other noteworthy events.
Rochelle Garza and Joe Jaworski advanced to a runoff. They defeated Lee Merritt, Mike Fields, and S. T-Bone Raynor in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 1, 2022.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
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✔ |
|
Rochelle Garza |
43.0
|
433,821 |
✔ |
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Joe Jaworski |
19.7
|
199,135 |
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Lee Merritt |
19.4
|
196,089 | |
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Mike Fields |
12.3
|
123,980 | |
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S. T-Bone Raynor |
5.5
|
55,571 |
Total votes: 1,008,596 (95.00% precincts reporting) |
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= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff compiled a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[8]
This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff compiled a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I am an Army veteran, former elected Judge, Assistant Attorney General, Assistant District Attorney. And private practitioner. I graduated from St. Mary’s Law School and passed the Texas Bar in 1991. As a former Republican and political moderate, I believe our economy is the most important issue in this race and the stance Texas takes on social issues will impact our economy moving forward. To attract businesses and the best and brightest people, we need an AG who will fight for voting rights, LGBTQ+ equality, Women’s reproductive choice and consumer protections. As Attorney General, I will fight those fights."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Attorney General of Texas in 2022
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "Rochelle Garza is a civil rights attorney and 5th generation Texan from the Rio Grande Valley. She believes that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you live, everyone deserves a fair shot to get ahead. She has spent her legal career fighting for the civil rights of children, immigrants, and families. Rochelle even took on Donald Trump, Ken Paxton, and Brett Kavanaugh when they tried to prevent an immigrant teen, Jane Doe, from exercising her right to choose - and won. Rochelle has legal expertise in immigration, family, criminal and constitutional law. Her work has had broad impacts, like the “Garza Notice,” a notification requirement that teens in immigration detention have a constitutional right to access abortion care, and also meaningful individual impacts, like helping Trans clients acquire name and gender marker changes on their documentation to not only affirm who they are but to live a life of safety. As Attorney General, Rochelle will fight for Texas families. Rochelle graduated from the University of Houston Law Center and from Brown University with honors. She lives in Brownsville with her husband, Adam, and their dog, Ramses. They’re expecting their first child, a daughter, this year."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Attorney General of Texas in 2022
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "Texans love fighters and that is exactly who Joe Jaworski is. Joe Jaworski is a third-generation Texas trial attorney and former mayor of Galveston, Texas. Joe’s term as mayor was defined by his unwavering support for and success in rebuilding Galveston’s storm-devastated public housing; a political choice that made a positive difference for thousands of Island residents but cost him a second term. His family legacy is one of integrity and ethics. Joe’s grandfather Watergate Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworski had the guts to take on President Nixon and Nixon’s corrupt Administration by fighting for justice in our nation’s highest court. Leon Jaworski’s legacy after Watergate - a family value which Joe honors daily - is “no one is above the law.” This is why Joe is running for Texas Attorney General. In Texas, too many of our public officials think they are above the law. The tearing down of our institutions has led us to lose faith in our democracy. We need someone who can restore integrity to public service in Texas. Someone who chooses right over wrong. Someone who will use our legal system to fight for fairness and justice. That’s what Joe has done his entire career, as a lawyer and as a mayor. We need an Attorney General with the courage of Joe’s grandfather — the courage to stand up to the politically powerful. Joe is prepared to live up to that legacy."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Attorney General of Texas in 2022
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Biography: Merritt received a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College in 2005 and a J.D. from the Temple University School of Law in 2012. He started his own law firm in 2012, and his professional experience includes working as an attorney for Wapner, Newman, Wigrizer, Brecher & Miller and Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C.
Show sources
Sources: Lee Merritt for Texas Attorney General, "Issues," accessed February 3, 2022Texas Observer, "Democrats Spar To Challenge ‘Trump’s Counselor’ Ken Paxton," January 21, 2022; Lee Merritt for Texas Attorney General, "About Lee," accessed February 3, 2022Linkedin, "S. Lee Merritt," accessed February 3, 2022
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Attorney General of Texas in 2022
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We provide results for polls that are included in polling aggregation from FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics, when available. No polls were available for this election. To notify us of polls published in this election, please email us.
The tables below contain data from financial reports submitted to state agencies. The data is gathered and made available by Transparency USA. Transparency USA tracks loans separately from total contributions. View each candidates’ loan totals, if any, by clicking “View More” in the table below and learn more about this data here.
Demographic data for Texas | ||
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Texas | U.S. | |
Total population: | 27,429,639 | 316,515,021 |
Land area (sq mi): | 261,232 | 3,531,905 |
Race and ethnicity** | ||
White: | 74.9% | 73.6% |
Black/African American: | 11.9% | 12.6% |
Asian: | 4.2% | 5.1% |
Native American: | 0.5% | 0.8% |
Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
Two or more: | 2.5% | 3% |
Hispanic/Latino: | 38.4% | 17.1% |
Education | ||
High school graduation rate: | 81.9% | 86.7% |
College graduation rate: | 27.6% | 29.8% |
Income | ||
Median household income: | $53,207 | $53,889 |
Persons below poverty level: | 19.9% | 11.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Texas. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. |
Texas voted Republican in all six presidential elections between 2000 and 2020.
Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, one is located in Texas, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total pivot counties.[9]
In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Texas had one Retained Pivot County, 0.55 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.
More Texas coverage on Ballotpedia
Click the tabs below to view information about demographics, past elections, and partisan control of the state.
2020 presidential results in congressional districts based on 2022 district lines, Texas[10] | ||||
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District | Joe Biden | Donald Trump | ||
Texas' 1st | 26.5% | 72.4% | ||
Texas' 2nd | 37.9% | 60.7% | ||
Texas' 3rd | 42.0% | 56.4% | ||
Texas' 4th | 36.4% | 62.4% | ||
Texas' 5th | 38.2% | 60.6% | ||
Texas' 6th | 37.4% | 61.3% | ||
Texas' 7th | 64.2% | 34.5% | ||
Texas' 8th | 35.8% | 63.0% | ||
Texas' 9th | 76.2% | 22.8% | ||
Texas' 10th | 39.8% | 58.6% | ||
Texas' 11th | 29.1% | 69.5% | ||
Texas' 12th | 40.1% | 58.3% | ||
Texas' 13th | 26.5% | 72.0% | ||
Texas' 14th | 35.0% | 63.6% | ||
Texas' 15th | 48.1% | 51.0% | ||
Texas' 16th | 67.0% | 31.5% | ||
Texas' 17th | 38.0% | 60.5% | ||
Texas' 18th | 73.6% | 25.1% | ||
Texas' 19th | 26.2% | 72.4% | ||
Texas' 20th | 65.8% | 32.7% | ||
Texas' 21st | 39.4% | 59.1% | ||
Texas' 22nd | 41.3% | 57.4% | ||
Texas' 23rd | 45.8% | 52.9% | ||
Texas' 24th | 43.0% | 55.4% | ||
Texas' 25th | 33.8% | 64.9% | ||
Texas' 26th | 40.0% | 58.6% | ||
Texas' 27th | 38.1% | 60.6% | ||
Texas' 28th | 52.9% | 45.9% | ||
Texas' 29th | 67.8% | 31.0% | ||
Texas' 30th | 77.8% | 21.0% | ||
Texas' 31st | 39.0% | 59.2% | ||
Texas' 32nd | 65.7% | 32.7% | ||
Texas' 33rd | 74.2% | 24.4% | ||
Texas' 34th | 57.3% | 41.8% | ||
Texas' 35th | 71.7% | 26.5% | ||
Texas' 36th | 33.6% | 65.2% | ||
Texas' 37th | 75.5% | 22.7% | ||
Texas' 38th | 40.2% | 58.4% |
How a state's counties vote in a presidential election and the size of those counties can provide additional insights into election outcomes at other levels of government including statewide and congressional races. Below, four categories are used to describe each county's voting pattern over the 2012, 2016, and 2020 presidential elections: Solid, Trending, Battleground, and New. Click [show] on the table below for examples:
County-level voting pattern categories | |||||||
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Democratic | |||||||
Status | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | ||||
Solid Democratic | D | D | D | ||||
Trending Democratic | R | D | D | ||||
Battleground Democratic | D | R | D | ||||
New Democratic | R | R | D | ||||
Republican | |||||||
Status | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | ||||
Solid Republican | R | R | R | ||||
Trending Republican | D | R | R | ||||
Battleground Republican | R | D | R | ||||
New Republican | D | D | R |
Following the 2020 presidential election, 45.5% of Texans lived in one of the state's 18 Solid Democratic counties, which voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election from 2012 to 2020, and 40.1% lived in one of 223 Solid Republican counties. Overall, Texas was Solid Republican, having voted for Mitt Romney (R) in 2012, Donald Trump (R) in 2016, and Donald Trump (R) in 2020. Use the table below to view the total number of each type of county in Texas following the 2020 election as well as the overall percentage of the state population located in each county type.
Texas county-level statistics, 2020 | |||||||
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Solid Democratic | 18 | 45.5% | |||||
Solid Republican | 223 | 40.1% | |||||
New Democratic | 3 | 10.2% | |||||
Trending Democratic | 1 | 2.8% | |||||
Trending Republican | 1 | 0.9% | |||||
New Republican | 7 | 0.6% | |||||
Battleground Republican | 1 | <0.1% | |||||
Total voted Democratic | 22 | 58.5% | |||||
Total voted Republican | 232 | 41.5% |
Texas presidential election results (1900-2020)
Year | 1900 | 1904 | 1908 | 1912 | 1916 | 1920 | 1924 | 1928 | 1932 | 1936 | 1940 | 1944 | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 |
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Winning Party | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | D | R | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
This section details the results of the five most recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections held in the state.
The table below details the vote in the five most recent U.S. Senate races in Texas.
U.S. Senate election results in Texas | ||
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Race | Winner | Runner up |
2020 | 53.5% | 43.9% |
2018 | 50.9% | 48.3% |
2014 | 61.6% | 34.4% |
2012 | 56.5% | 40.7% |
2008 | 54.8% | 42.8% |
Average | 55.5 | 42.0 |
The table below details the vote in the five most recent gubernatorial elections in Texas.
Gubernatorial election results in Texas | ||
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Race | Winner | Runner up |
2018 | 55.8% | 42.5% |
2014 | 59.3% | 38.9% |
2010 | 55.0% | 42.3% |
2006 | 39.0% | 29.8% |
2002 | 57.8% | 40.0% |
Average | 53.4 | 38.7 |
The table below displays the partisan composition of Texas' congressional delegation as of September 2022.
Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Texas, September 2022 | |||
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Party | U.S. Senate | U.S. House | Total |
Democratic | 0 | 12 | 12 |
Republican | 2 | 24 | 26 |
Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Vacancies | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 2 | 36 | 38 |
The table below displays the officeholders in Texas' top four state executive offices as of August 2022.
State executive officials in Texas, August 2022 | |
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Office | Officeholder |
Governor | Greg Abbott |
Lieutenant Governor | Dan Patrick |
Secretary of State | John Scott |
Attorney General | Ken Paxton |
The tables below highlight the partisan composition of the Texas State Legislature as of August 2022.
Party | As of July 2022 | |
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Democratic Party | 13 | |
Republican Party | 18 | |
Vacancies | 0 | |
Total | 31 |
Party | As of August 2022 | |
---|---|---|
Democratic Party | 65 | |
Republican Party | 84 | |
Vacancies | 1 | |
Total | 150 |
As of August 2022, Texas was a Republican trifecta, with majorities in both chambers of the state legislature and control of the governorship. The table below displays the historical trifecta status of the state.
Texas Party Control: 1992-2022
Three years of Democratic trifectas • Twenty years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
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Governor | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Senate | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
House | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
The table below details demographic data in Texas and compares it to the broader United States as of 2019.
Demographic Data for Texas (2019) | ||
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Texas | United States | |
Population | 28,260,856 | 324,697,795 |
Land area (sq mi) | 261,266 | 3,531,905 |
Race and ethnicity** | ||
White | 74% | 72.5% |
Black/African American | 12.1% | 12.7% |
Asian | 4.8% | 5.5% |
Native American | 0.5% | 0.8% |
Pacific Islander | 0.1% | 0.2% |
Two or more | 2.7% | 3.3% |
Hispanic/Latino | 39.3% | 18% |
Education | ||
High school graduation rate | 83.7% | 88% |
College graduation rate | 29.9% | 32.1% |
Income | ||
Median household income | $61,874 | $62,843 |
Persons below poverty level | 14.7% | 13.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2014-2019) | ||
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. |
This election is a battleground race. Other 2022 battleground elections include:
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