For the first time since the 1990s, Texas Democrats will hold the state’s most powerful offices after a stunning election that saw Democrats make significant gains nationwide. In Hill County, however, the majority of voters continued to favor Republicans.
About 47 percent of Hill County’s 28,441 registered voters cast ballots in the midterm election.
The only contested county-level race was for the Precinct 3 commissioner’s seat, recently vacated by Scotty Hawkins. Republican Martin Dudik, who was appointed to serve until the election, won the race against Democrat Sarah Martin with 72% of the precinct’s vote.
In addition to flipping statewide offices, Democrats will be in control of the Texas House for the first time in more than two decades. Republicans managed to hold on to the Texas Senate.
Locally, Republican Angelia Orr of Hill County won the State House District 13 race over Bosque County Democrat Albert Hunter. Orr received 76% of the Hill County vote, and she received about 69% of the district’s vote.
Republican David Cook won the State Senate, District 22 race with about 56% of the district-wide vote and 77% of the Hill County vote.
Republican Pete Sessions defeated Democrat Casey Shepard to win the US House District 17 race. Sessions received about 54% of the district’s vote and 77% of the Hill County vote.
Democrat James Talarico won the US Senate race over Republican Ken Paxton with approximately 55% of the statewide vote. In Hill County, about 72% of voters chose Paxton in the race.
Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Greg Abbott in the governor’s race with about 53% of the statewide vote. Hill County voters favored Abbott, who received 74% of the local vote.
Democrat Vikki Goodwin won about 52% of the statewide vote to take the lead in her race against incumbent Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. In Hill County, 75% of voters chose Patrick.
Democrat Nathan Johnson will become the state’s next attorney general after winning about 52% of the statewide vote over Republican Mayes Middleton. The local results showed that 76% of Hill County voters favored Middleton.
Democrats also won other statewide races, including Sarah Eckhardt for comptroller, Benjamin Flores for commissioner of the General Land Office, Clayton Tucker for commissioner of agriculture and Jon Rosenthal for railroad commissioner. About 75% of Hill County voters selected Republicans in those races.
