General Election Results: Mixed Bag for Family Freedoms

The 2018 election results bring both good news and some disappointments for advocates of family freedom and homeschooling in Texas.

This year’s general election in Texas was quite different from past years. Historically in Texas, the battle during the primary election receives the most attention and the general election is an afterthought. Although pro-family champion Sen. Ted Cruz successfully fended off a $70 million onslaught from progressive Congressman Beto O’Rourke, many pro-family candidates suffered heavily.

Bottom line?

Those familiar with the Texas political landscape expected a mixed bag of results statewide. With a voter turnout that looked more like a presidential election than a midterm election, exactly what those results would be was anyone’s guess. Last night’s election contained several pro-family victories but also key disappointing losses for Texas families.

Candidates Endorsed by THSC Sweep Statewide Elections

One of the primary factors driving voter turnout was the push to unseat pro-family Cruz from his seat in the U.S. Senate. Despite facing off against a well-funded opponent, Texans turned out to vote for Cruz, and he won the election by more than 200,000 votes.

Additionally, all other THSC-endorsed statewide candidates won their bids for re-election including: Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Attorney General Ken Paxton, Comptroller Glenn Hegar, Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller, and Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick, all of whom won with healthy margins.

THSC-endorsed statewide judicial races also fared well in the 2018 election. Texas Supreme Court Justices Jimmy Blacklock and John Devine both prevailed. Additionally, Michelle Slaughter was elected to the Court of Criminal Appeals by a nearly 50 percent margin.

Here’s the deal:

Families can rest assured that the highest courts in the state still have strong, textualist judges that will uphold the constitutional rights of Texas families.

Some Extremely Close Texas House Races in 2018 Elections

Several THSC-endorsed candidates in the Texas House of Representatives were able to defend their seats in districts that would not normally have been close races, but which came down to the wire under extremely high voter turnout. State Reps. Matt Shaheen and Dwayne Bohac both successfully defended their seats, but by very slight margins.

Collin County Candidates Endorsed by THSC Sweep 2018 Election

THSC-endorsed candidates in Collin County won every race that they ran in the general election. District Judge Jennifer Edgeworth, Justice of the Peace Jerry Shaffer, County Judge Chris Hill, County Commissioner Cheryl Williams and County Commissioner Darrell Hale all won decisive victories. Collin County families have spoken and an overwhelmingly conservative voice was heard.

Some Disappointing Losses in 2018 Texas Elections

In addition to these victories, there were some strong, disappointing losses. The main hit that the conservative movement took in Texas was in the judicial branch, where both local and appellate court judges took heavy losses. Most notably, Appellate Justices Michael Massengale and Brett Busby will not be returning to their benches in January.

Additionally, the Texas Senate sustained some losses when THSC-endorsed Sens. Konni Burton and homeschool dad Don Huffines were unseated. In the Texas House of Representatives, Mike Schofield, Matt Rinaldi, Ron Simmons, Paul Workman and Tony Dale were unable to garner enough votes to retain their seats.

The pro-family candidates seeking open seats in the Texas House also lost—THSC-endorsed candidates Lisa Luby Ryan, homeschool graduate Jonathan Boos, and Deanna Metzger all lost their races.

But there’s a catch:

THSC Won’t Back Down

Even though conservatives suffered collateral damage due to the higher-than-average voter turnout, THSC will not back down.

While these losses are unfortunate while heading into an important legislative session, THSC and the homeschool community will continue to fight for legislation that matters most to Texas families, as we have for more than 30 years.

THSC will battle for freedom during this next legislative session and in future election cycles to promote pro-family candidates and policies that protect and increase the freedom of families to raise their children.
That’s not all…

We strive to endorse pro-family candidates who are not afraid to challenge the status quo or stand up for families even when it costs them something. THSC will always support candidates who are committed to protecting family rights and fighting for homeschooling freedom.

We believe in empowering parents to raise and educate the next generation of leaders. Make a donation today to ensure that we can continue the fight and continue to advocate for candidates who are Keeping Texas Families Free.