The election for Texas House District 52 concluded on Tuesday night, with Republican incumbent Caroline Harris-Davila securing re-election against Democratic challenger Jennie Birkholz in a closely watched race.
At the time this article was published, Harris-Davila had received 62,676 votes (56.3%) against Birkholz, who received 48,737 votes (43.7%).
Harris-Davila, the wife of Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s chief of staff, faced significant scrutiny for her far-right voting record, including her support for school vouchers, her opposition to mandated water breaks for outdoor workers, and her vote to ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives on college campuses. Despite this, her alignment with conservative policies and support from Republican leadership helped her maintain her seat.
The district, drawn to have a higher white population, leans Republican, though it has shown signs of becoming more competitive due to changing demographics. While Jennie Birkholz’s platform of strengthening public education and opposing school vouchers gained traction, Harris-Davila’s strong GOP backing and the district’s conservative tilt secured her re-election.
