Election Night brings major changes to the Texas State Legislature

Two incumbent state senators lost their seats after Tuesday’s election, and Democrats won 12 seats in the Texas House of Representatives, increasing their share from 55 seats to 66 seats in the 150 member body.
State Senate incumbents Don Huffines (SD-16 – Dallas County) and Konni Burton (SD-10 – Tarrant County) lost to their Democrat challengers, Nathan Johnson and Beverley Powell, respectively.
After Tuesday, Huffines had 134,412 votes (46 percent) while Johnson had 158,216 votes (54 percent). Huffines was voted to the Texas senate in 2014. Johnson is a political newcomer who hasn’t previously held office.
Huffines raised $2.3 million and spent $3.3 million during the 2018 election while Johnson raised $1.2 million and spent $1.1 million.  
Huffines congratulated Johnson on his victory in a tweet Tuesday night, saying “I pledge my full cooperation to ensure a smooth transition.”
In SD 10, Burton got 138,695 total votes (48 percent) while Powell got 148,544 votes (52 percent). Burton was elected to the Texas senate in 2014. Powell is a former elected member of the Burleson ISD.
During the 2018 election, Burton raised $2.2 million and spent $1.4 million compared to Powell who raised $1.5 million and spent $11 million during her campaign.
“It has been my greatest honor representing each and every one of you these last four years!” Burton wrote on Facebook after the election. “Thank you so much to all for being so awesome!
Of the 15 senate seats up for election, SD 10 and SD 16 were the only two to flip. Incumbent Joan Huffman (SD-17 – Brazoria, Fort Bend and Harris counties) led challenger Rita Lucido 147,240 to 131,673 with 84.7 percent of precincts reporting, and Angela Paxton (SD-08 – Collin and Dallas counties) led Democrat Mark Phariss 167,389 to 158,903 with 100 percent of precincts reporting.
In the Texas House, Democrats won 12 seats, including defeating incumbents Paul Workman HD-47 (Travis County), Ron Simmons HD-65 (Denton County), Linda Koop HD-102 (Dallas County), Rodney Anderson HD-105 (Dallas County), Matt Rinaldi HD-115 (Dallas County), Gary Elkins HD-135 (Harris County), Tony Dale HD-136 (Williamson County), and Mike Schofield HD-132 (Harris County). 
Democrats also won four open seats – with Erin Zweiner defeating Wimberley ISD member Ken Strange in HD-45 (Hays and Blanco Counties); James Talarico leading Cynthia Flores in HD-52 (Williamson County), where State Representative Larry Gonzales retired; Rhetta Andrews Bowers (Dallas County) defeated Jonathan Boos in HD-113 (Dallas County), where Cindy Burkett had vacated to run for the State Senate; and John Turner defeated Lisa Luby Ryan in HD-114 (Dallas County), who had defeated incumbent Jason Villalba for the Republican nomination. 
Four other Republican incumbents held single-point leads on Election Night. Morgan Meyer HD-108 (Dallas County) led Joanna Cattanach by 540 votes (0.70 percent); Matt Shaheen HD-66 (Collin County) led Vicki Goodwin by 378 votes (0.56 percent); Duane Bohac HD-138 (Harris County) led Adam Milasincic by 80 votes (0.17 percent).These gains are the most won in a single cycle for House Democrats since they lost the majority in the 2002 election.
 
Note: This article has been updated to reflect Gina Calanni won HD-132.