HAR was successful in 86% of races in the 2020 General Election with four local races heading to runoff elections in December. While votes at the top of the ticket are still being counted in numerous different battleground states across the country, President Donald Trump came out on top in Texas once again. Former Vice President Joe Biden, however, did win both Harris and Fort Bend County. Incumbent Senator John Cornyn defeated Democratic Challenger, MJ Hegar, by receiving almost 54% of the vote. In the Houston area, all incumbent congressional candidates were victorious and will spend at least two more years in Washington.
Republicans across the state largely outperformed polls and the Texas State House remains firmly in Republican control. In Texas’s 2nd Congressional District, incumbent and HAR Recommended Candidate Dan Crenshaw defeated Sima Ladjevardian by nearly 14 points, outperforming polls and predictions. HAR Recommended Candidate, Lizzie Fletcher, held of a strong challenge from Republican Wesley Hunt to keep her seat in Texas’s 7th Congressional District. Republicans Kevin Brady, Randy Weber and Brian Babin were all able to maintain their strong performances in their districts, easily winning re-election. Similarly, Al Green, Sheila Jackson Lee and Sylvia Garcia held strong in their heavily Democratic districts. HAR Recommended Candidate Michael McCaul outperformed pre-election polls to defeat Democratic challenger Mike Siegel by more than 7%. In Congressional District 22, where HAR did not have a recommendation, former Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls defeated Democrat Sri Preston Kulkarni by 6%.
In the State Senate, all 5 HAR Recommended Candidates were successful in their re-election bids. In the State House Republicans Cecil Bell, Steve Toth, Will Metcalf, Ernest Bailes, Greg Bonnen, Ed Thompson, Phil Stephenson, Dan Huberty, Briscoe Cain, Dennis Paul, Tom Oliverson and Valoree Swanson all won re-election easily. Sam Harless, in District 126, survived a strong challenge from Natali Hurtado by winning 53% of the vote. Republican Gary Gates defeated Democratic Challenger Eliz Markowitz for the second time this year after a special election was held for the seat in January. Republican Jacey Jetton defeated HAR Recommended Candidate Sarah DeMerchant in a close race in Fort Bend County. In District 138, HAR Recommended Candidate Akilah Bacy was defeated by 3% by Lacey Hull. On the Democratic side of the State House of Representatives, Jarvis Johnson, Harold V. Dutton Jr., Christina Morales, Mary Ann Perez, Shawn Thierry and Hubert Vo were all re-elected with no real worries. In the open seat for District 148, HAR Recommended Candidate Penny Morales Shaw beat Republican Luis LaRotta handily. The race between HAR Recommended Candidate Jon Rosenthal and Justin Ray in District 135 came down to less than 400 votes but Rosenthal was able to keep his seat. Unfortunately, HAR Recommended Candidate Sarah Davis was defeated by challenger Ann Johnson in District 134.
In Harris County, HAR recommended Candidate Tom Ramsey defeated Michael Moore in the race for County Commissioner in Precinct 3. Incumbents Vincent Morales Jr. and Andy Meyers, who were both recommended by HAR, were successful in the Fort Bend County Commissioner elections. In Montgomery County, HAR Recommended Candidate Robert Walker won with nearly 80% of the vote.
In Sugar Land, Mayor Joe Zimmerman and Council Member Jennifer Lane of Sugar Land were both unopposed and therefore re-elected. In the open City Council seat, William Ferguson defeated HAR Recommended Candidate Taylor Landin. In the race for Mayor of Pearland, Kevin Cole came out on top against HAR Recommended Candidate Quentin Wiltz while both City Council races will head to runoffs. In Missouri City, HAR Recommended Candidate, Yolanda Ford, was only able to gain 49.88% of the vote and will head to a runoff against second place finisher Robin Elackatt barring any mail-in ballots coming in late. Incumbent Vashaundra Edwards was re-elected to Missouri City Council At-Large Position 1 and HAR Recommended Candidate Lynn Clouser will face incumbent Chris Preston in a runoff election for At-Large Position 2. Lastly, in League City, Larry Millican was unopposed and therefore re-elected to City Council Position 3. In Position 4, Rachel McAdam and John Bowen head to a runoff with HAR Recommended Candidate Ange Mertens finishing in third place with 15%.
