United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2006

The 2006 midterm elections were held on November 7, 2006. All 32 House seats in the United States Congress from Texas were up for election.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2006*[1]
Party Votes* Percentage Seats Before Seats After +/–
Republican 2,184,261 52.26% 21 19 -2
Democratic 1,852,613 44.32% 11 13 +2
Libertarian 117,313 2.81% 0 0 0
Independent 16,131 .39% 0 0 0
Constitution 9,383 .23% 0 0 0
Valid votes - -%
Invalid or blank votes - -%
Totals 4,179,701 100.00% 32 32 —
Voter turnout %

(*elections in the 15th, 21st, 23rd, 25th, and 28th were conducted under the Nonpartisan blanket primary format)

District 1

Freshman Congressman Louis Gohmert (R-Tyler), elected in 2004 after redistricting in East Texas, faced Roger Owen (D) of Hallsville in the general election, along with Libertarian nominee Donald Perkinson. Gohmert was one of four Republicans who succeeded in defeating incumbent Democrats with help from a controversial redistricting effort orchestrated by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 1
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Louis Gohmert 104,080 68.01 +6.54
Democratic Roger Owen 46,290 30.25 -7.43
Libertarian Donald Perkinson 2,667 1.74 +0.9
Majority 57,790 37.76
Turnout 153,037
Republican hold Swing +13.97

District 2

In 2004, Ted Poe (R-Humble) unseated Democrat Nick Lampson after heavy redistricting changed the political landscape, allowing him to win with 55% of the vote. His opponent in November was Democrat Gary Binderim, along with the Libertarian Justo J. Perez.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 2
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ted Poe 90,332 65.62 +10.1
Democratic Gary Binderim 45,027 32.71 -10.2
Libertarian Justo Perez 2,294 1.67 +0.12
Majority 45,305 32.91
Turnout 137,653
Republican hold Swing +20.3

District 3

Incumbent Sam Johnson (R-Plano) faced Dan Dodd, Democrat from McKinney and Libertarian Christopher J. Claytor in the general election. This district is dominated by the Republican stronghold of Collin County, as well as Garland, another large Dallas suburb.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 3
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Johnson 88,634 62.52 -23.09
Democratic Dan Dodd 49,488 34.91 +34.91
Libertarian Christopher Claytor 3,656 2.58 -3.73
Majority 39,146 27.61
Turnout 141,778
Republican hold Swing -49.44

District 4

25 year incumbent Ralph Hall (R-Rockwall), who switched from the Democratic Party shortly before the 2004 election faced Democrat Glenn Melancon of Sherman and Libertarian Kurt G. Helm. Though it is best known as the district of the well known former Speaker Sam Rayburn, and thus a long Democratic stronghold, the southern end of the district consists of Republican-dominated Dallas suburbs.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 4
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ralph Hall 106,268 64.55 -3.69
Democratic Glenn Melancon 54,892 33.34 +2.90
Libertarian Kurt G. Helm 3,481 2.11 +1.81
Majority 51,376 31.21
Turnout 164,641
Republican hold Swing -6.59

District 5

Incumbent Jeb Hensarling (R-Dallas) faced Democrat Charlie Thompson of Athens in the general election, along with Libertarian Mike Nelson.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 5
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jeb Hensarling 85,081 61.68 -2.78
Democratic Charlie Thompson 49,253 35.70 +2.82
Libertarian Mike Nelson 3,616 2.62 -0.03
Majority 35,828 25.98
Turnout 137,950
Republican hold Swing -5.6

District 6

Joe Barton (R-Ennis), who has represented the Sixth District since 1985, faced Democrat David T. Harris of Arlington in November, along with Libertarian Carl Nulsen.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 6
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Joe Barton 91,888 60.46 -5.56
Democratic David T. Harris 56,342 37.07 +4.19
Libertarian Carl Nulsen 3,739 2.46 +1.19
Turnout 151,969
Majority 35,546 23.39
Republican hold Swing -9.93

District 7

Incumbent John Culberson (R-Houston) faced Democratic teacher Jim Henley of Houston and Libertarian Drew Parks in the general election in November. The seventh district is one of the most heavily Republican districts in Texas yet it is mostly urban, as it is also one of the wealthiest districts in the country and includes several affluent areas of Houston, including the Upper Kirby, Uptown, Spring Branch-Memorial, and River Oaks neighborhoods, as well as the cities of West University Place, Bellaire, and Jersey Village.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 7
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John Culberson 98,761 59.19 -4.92
Democratic Jim Henley 64,170 38.46 +5.16
Libertarian Drew Parks 3,921 2.35 +1.12
Majority 34,591 20.73
Turnout 166,852
Republican hold Swing -10.08

District 8

Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands), incumbent Congressman since 1996, faced Democrat James Wright of New Caney in November.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 8
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Brady 106,943 67.17 -1.74
Democratic James Wright 52,275 32.83 +3.17
Majority 54,668 34.34
Turnout 159,218
Republican hold Swing -4.91

District 9

Freshman Democratic Congressman Al Green of Houston faced no opposition in November. That should be no surprise as the Ninth District is heavily Democratic, as it contains large numbers of African-American and Hispanic voters.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 9
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Al Green 60,253 100 +27.82
Majority 60,253 100
Turnout 60,253
Democratic hold Swing +54.39

District 10

Incumbent freshman Michael McCaul (R-Austin) faced some minor celebrity in that of 2004 Libertarian presidential nominee Michael Badnarik. Vietnam veteran Ted Ankrum of Houston ran as the Democratic nominee. McCaul was elected with no Democratic opposition in 2004, as the Libertarian candidate captured 15% of the vote (it should be noted, however, that no Libertarian candidate in the entire state garnered more than 4% when running against both major parties). The 10th district spans a large swath of southeast and central Texas from eastern Austin to Harris County west of Houston.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 10
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Michael McCaul 97,618 55.32 -23.29
Democratic Ted Ankrum 71,232 40.37 +40.37
Libertarian Michael Badnarik 7,603 4.31 -11.04
Majority 26,686 14.95
Turnout 176,453
Republican hold Swing -48.31

District 11

Congressman Mike Conaway (R-Midland) ran unopposed in the general election.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 11
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Conaway 107,268 100 +23.2
Majority 107,268 100
Turnout 107,268
Republican hold Swing +45

District 12

Incumbent Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-Fort Worth) faced John R. Morris (D), also of Fort Worth, in the general election. Gardner Osborne received the Libertarian nomination.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 12
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kay Granger 98,371 66.94 -5.37
Democratic John Morris 45,676 31.08 +3.40
Libertarian Gardner Osborne 2,888 1.96 +1.96
Majority 52,695 44.63
Turnout 146,935
Republican hold Swing -8.77

District 13

Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Amarillo) faced Roger Waun, Democrat from Wichita Falls in this panhandle race. Jim Thompson represented the Libertarian Party in the election.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 13
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mac Thornberry 108,107 74.35 -17.95
Democratic Roger Waun 33,460 23.01 +23.01
Libertarian Jim Thompson 3,829 2.63 -5.06
Majority 74,674 51.34
Turnout 145,396
Republican hold Swing -33.27

District 14

Congressman Ron Paul, the Republican from Surfside, faced Shane Sklar, Democratic nominee from Edna to represent this coastal district, which stretches from Victoria and stretches in a northward and eastward direction to Fort Bend and Brazoria counties.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 14
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ron Paul 94,380 60.18 -39.81
Democratic Shane Sklar 62,429 39.81 +39.81
Majority 31,951 20.37
Turnout 156,809
Republican hold Swing -79.63

District 15

Four term incumbent Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (D-McAllen) ran against Republicans Paul Haring and Eddie Zamora in a special election caused by court mandated redistricting in South Texas and the redrawing of the district's lines.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 15
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Rubén Hinojosa 43,236 61.77 +4.01
Republican Paul Haring
Eddie Zamora		 16,601
10,150		 23.72
14.50		 -2.60
Majority 26,635 38.05
Turnout 69,987
Democratic hold Swing +21.11

District 16

Democratic Congressman Silvestre Reyes of El Paso faced third-party opposition in the fall, in the form of Libertarian Gordon Strickland. The 16th District is heavily Democratic and comprises mainly El Paso, which is heavily Hispanic.

District 17

Incumbent Chet Edwards (D-Waco) won reelection by a 51% to 48% margin in 2004 after the 2003 Texas redistricting changed his exurban Central Texas district substantially and made it more Republican, he also pulled off the victory despite the fact Bush won the district by a margin of 40%. His district includes Waco and Crawford, the location of George W. Bush's ranch. With his district stretched to include his alma mater of Texas A&M University, he was able to pull off a narrow victory in 2004. He was also helped by the fact that his opponent, then-State Representative Arlene Wohlgemuth, was nominated only after a nasty, expensive primary. This year, he was challenged by Republican Van Taylor, an attorney and Iraq War veteran from a prominent family in Waco. Guillermo Acosta also ran as the Libertarian nominee.

District 18

Incumbent Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston) faced Republican Ahmad Hassan to represent this largely Democratic and urban Congressional seat in the heart of Houston. Patrick Warren was the Libertarian nominee.

District 19

Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R-Lubbock), victorious in 2004 over fellow incumbent Congressman Charlie Stenholm (D-Abilene), faced Democrat Robert Ricketts, also of Lubbock, in November. Fred Jones was on the ballot as the Libertarian nominee.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 19
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Randy Neugebauer 92,811 68 +9.6
Democratic Robert Ricketts 40,853 30 -10.0
Libertarian Fred Jones 3,300 2 +.5
Majority 48,558 38.0
Turnout 136,964
Republican hold Swing

District 20

Charlie Gonzalez (D-San Antonio) defended his Congressional seat against minimal opposition, including Libertarian Michael Idrogo and write-in candidate Robert Sanchez. His district covers much of inner city San Antonio, which is mostly Hispanic.

District 21

Lamar S. Smith (R-San Antonio) was running against San Antonio Democrat John Courage in the general election, along with James Arthur Strohm, the Libertarian nominee. The district was changed somewhat in the federal court remapping mandated by the Supreme Court and attracted several new candidates for the special election tensued as a result of the boundary change after the party primaries took place. Candidates included Democratic perennial candidate Gene Kelly, along with Independent candidates Tommy Calvert, James Lyle Peterson, and Mark Rossano. Smith won a majority of votes and avoided a December runoff.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 21[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Lamar Smith 122,486 60.11 -1.40
Democratic John Courage 49,957 24.51
Democratic Gene Kelly 18,355 9.01
Independent Tommy Calvert 5,280 2.59
Libertarian James Arthur Strohm 4,076 2.00 -1.00
Independent James Lyle Peterson 2,189 1.07
Independent Mark Rossano 1,439 0.71
Majority 72,529 35.60
Turnout 203,782
Republican hold Swing -1.4

District 22

Retiring Incumbent Tom DeLay (R-Sugar Land) had been facing mounting ethical challenges and corruption charges in recent months, and won reelection by a surprisingly small 55% to 41% margin in 2004, even though George W. Bush carried the suburban Houston district with 64%. On September 28, 2005, DeLay was indicted by a grand jury in Travis County, Texas. As a result, he felt forced to step down from his post as House Majority Leader. In announcing his plans not to seek reelection, Delay noted his poor poll showing and the constant criticisms he was expecting. DeLay declared himself ineligible for the race on Tuesday, April 4 by attempting to officially change his residence to Virginia. "Those polls showed him beating Democrat Nick Lampson in the general election but in a race that would be too close for comfort, DeLay said." .

DeLay's district faced a strong challenge from former Rep. Nick Lampson, a Democrat whose district he dismantled during the 2003 mid-decade redistricting. Lampson's former district contained much of the eastern area of DeLay's present district. Lampson currently has some $1.7 million in cash on hand.

Libertarian Bob Smither also ran for the 22nd district of Texas.

The Republican nomination to replace DeLay was prevented by a court ruling that mandated that DeLay could not be replaced on the ballot. As a result, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, who previously sent out telephone calls encouraging Republicans to vote for DeLay in the primary, called for DeLay's name to be removed from the ballot and replaced with another GOP candidate. The court order was upheld by a panel of the Fifth Circuit Court and appeal to the Supreme Court refused by Justice Antonin Scalia. DeLay then filed to withdraw his name from the ballot to allow the GOP to rally behind another candidate.

The Texas GOP then decided to attempt to rally behind a write-in candidate, choosing Houston City Councilwoman Shelley Sekula-Gibbs during a meeting of precinct chairs in the 22nd district on August 17. The presumed favorite before the denial of the appeal, Sugar Land mayor David Wallace, filed as a write-in candidate with the Texas Secretary of State before the meeting, vowing to run even without the support of the GOP.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 22[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Nick Lampson 71,122 50.80%
Republican Shelley Sekula-Gibbs (write-in) 59,914 42.79%
Libertarian Bob Smither 8,482 6.06%
Republican Don Richardson (write-in) 408 0.29%
Independent Joe Reasbeck (write-in) 86 0.06%
Majority 11,208 8.01%
Turnout 140,012
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

District 23

The 23rd district was among five districts holding a special election Nov. 7, the same day as the general election. The race pitted all certified candidates against one another in each district, regardless of party. If no one got more than 50 percent of the vote, as did happen in 23, the top two vote-getters in each district would have a runoff in December.

The reason for this arrangement stems from the controversial 2003 Texas redistricting plan which was ruled unconstitutional with respect to the 23rd district by the Supreme Court in League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry. The Court ruled that the plan was a racial gerrymander; specifically that it lowered the Hispanic population percentage in the district to the extent that it unconstitutionally diminished the constituency's political influence. The 23rd had to be redrawn, and, in all, five districts were effected, and all primary results from those districts were vacated. The new lines effected mostly the 23rd and 28th districts.

The incumbent in the 23rd was Congressman Henry Bonilla (R-San Antonio). His opponent originally was Rick Bolanos, 57, Democrat from El Paso, who was to be Bonilla's challenger before the district was redrawn and forced the new elections. As redrawn, however, Bonilla's district included the home of Democratic ex-Congressman Ciro Rodriguez, who jumped into the race, after losing his primary challenge against Henry Cuellar in the 28th district. In addition to Rodriguez and Bolanos, candidates included Democrats Augie Beltran, Adrian DeLeon, Lukin Gilliland, and Albert Uresti. Independent Craig Stephens also joined the field.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 23
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Henry Bonilla (incumbent) 60,147 48.46
Democratic Ciro Rodriguez 24,953 20.10
Democratic Albert Uresti 14,529 11.70
Democratic Lukin Gilliland 13,725 11.05
Independent Craig Stephens 3,344 2.69
Democratic Augie Beltran 2,650 2.13
Democratic Rick Bolanos 2,563 2.06
Democratic Adrian DeLeon 2,198 1.77
Turnout 124,198
US House election, 2006 runoff: Texas District 23
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ciro Rodriguez 38,247 54.32% +25.1
Republican Henry Bonilla (incumbent) 32,165 45.68% -23.9
Majority 6,082 8.64%
Turnout 68,294
Democratic gain from Republican Swing 24.5

District 24

Incumbent Kenny Marchant (R-Coppell), ran to keep his seat in Congress against Democrat Gary Page of Irving and the Libertarian nominee Mark Frohman.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 24
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kenny Marchant 83,620 60.0
Democratic Gary Page 51,833 37.0
Libertarian Mark Frohman 4,211 3.0

District 25

Incumbent Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) originally was slated to have no major party opposition in the fall. The 25th district formerly stretched from Austin to the Mexican border, but has been redrawn for the 110th Congress to be more compact and completely in the central part of the state.

As this district was redrawn after the party primaries took place, a special election ensued in November, meaning that instead of a plurality required for victory, a majority was required. If no candidate received a majority, the top two contenders would meet in a runoff election in December. He was opposed by Republican Grant Rostig, Libertarian Barbara Cunningham, and Independent Brian Parrett.

District 26

Congressman Michael C. Burgess (R-Lewisville) was challenged by Democrat Tim Barnwell of Denton, along with Libertarian Rich Haas. The Denton County-centered district is strongly Republican.

District 27

Incumbent Solomon P. Ortiz (D-Corpus Christi) ran for reelection against Republican William Vaden, also of Corpus Christi. They were joined on the ballot by Libertarian Robert Powell.

District 28

Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) had no opposition from Republicans in November. However, a recent Supreme Court ruling struck down Texas' 23rd District, which is located next to this district, as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander resulting from the controversial 2003 Texas redistricting efforts coordinated by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and the Republican-controlled legislature.

Cuellar's power base in Laredo was consolidated in the resulting remap and thus will not face Congressman Bonilla, as had been speculated as a scenario. This election was a special election, as the district was drawn after the party primaries, and Cuellar was faced by fellow Democrat Frank Enriquez and Constitution Party candidate Ron Avery. The Libertarian nominee did not re-file to run in the special election.

District 29

Congressman Gene Green (D-Houston) ran against Republican Eric Story, also of Houston, in the November general election. Clifford Lee Messina, a Libertarian, rounded out the ballot. This district contains several heavily Hispanic neighborhoods in inner-city Houston, as well as several blue-collar eastern suburbs of Houston, including Pasadena, Channelview and Baytown, which are home to a strong majority of the Houston area's petrochemical refineries.

District 30

Incumbent Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Dallas) faced Republican Wilson Aurbach in the general election, along with Ken Ashby, the Libertarian nominee. The 30th District contains the southern and downtown portions of Dallas, as well as several of its inner southern suburbs. It is heavily Democratic.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 30
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Eddie Bernice Johnson 81,212 80.2 -12.8
Republican Wilson Aurbach 17,820 17.6 N/A
Libertarian Ken Ashby 2,245 2.2 -4.8
Majority 63,392 62.6
Turnout 101,277
Democratic hold Swing

District 31

Congressman John Carter (R-Round Rock) defended his Central Texas Congressional seat in November against Democrat Mary Beth Harrell of Gatesville and Libertarian Matt McAdoo. The largely Republican district consists of many northern Austin suburbs as well as the gigantic Fort Hood military base.

District 32

Incumbent Pete Sessions (R-Dallas), who defeated longtime Democratic Congressman and fellow incumbent Martin Frost in a contentious reelection in the 2004 redistricting aftermath, faced Democrat Will Pryor for the right to represent this suburban Dallas district. Joining the two was Libertarian John Hawley.

US House election, 2006: Texas District 32
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Pete Sessions 71,461 56.4 +2.1
Democratic Will Pryor 52,269 41.3 -2.7
Libertarian John B. Hawley 2,922 2.3 +0.6
Majority 19,192 15.1 +4.8
Turnout 126,562 -75584
Republican hold Swing +2.4

References

  1. ↑ http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe
  2. ↑ Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006
  3. ↑ Texas Secretary of State, 2006 General November Elections, Unofficial Election Results As Of : November 08, 2006 11:05 AM
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