Don McLaughlin Wins Texas House District 80 General Election

The general election for Texas House District 80 concluded on Tuesday night, with former Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin securing a victory over Democratic nominee Cecilia Castellano in the race for the open seat vacated by retiring Rep. Tracy King.

At the time this article was published, McLaughlin had received 11,971 votes ( 58.0%) against Castellano, who received 8,685 votes (42.0%).

House District 80, a rural and predominantly Latino district, has seen a political shift in recent years, trending more toward the Republican Party. Former President Donald Trump carried the district by four points in 2020, making this race one of the few competitive Texas House races. McLaughlin, with high name recognition stemming from his leadership during the aftermath of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, garnered key endorsements from Governor Greg Abbott and conservative organizations like Texans for Lawsuit Reform.

McLaughlin’s campaign focused on border security, rural economic development, and support for law enforcement. 

McLaughlin’s victory reflects the continued rightward shift in this district and signals further Republican consolidation in South Texas.