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On Tuesday, 17 constitutional amendments were on the statewide ballot. Additionally, special elections were held in certain parts of the state for House and Senate seats, and some districts selected new school board members. Overall, few surprises developed, with the most prominent elections falling predictably along party lines.
As of Wednesday morning, it appears that all 17 propositions were set to pass, with only a couple of amendments showing a gap of less than 20%. Proposition 3, which will require judges to deny bail for certain violent felony charges, easily passed with 61% voting “for” the prop, for example.
Proposition 15, which enshrines the “parental rights” efforts of recent legislative sessions, especially as they pertain to LGBTQ youth, will pass, with “for” nabbing nearly 70% of votes. Also easily approved by voters on Tuesday, Proposition 16 now clarifies that a voter in Texas must be a United States citizen.
You can check out our Instagram account for a full rundown of the propositions on yesterday’s ballot. The proposed amendments were passed by the 89th Texas Legislature, which was marked by debates over congressional redistricting, the failed attempt to ban THC products and the successful effort to introduce school vouchers to the Lone Star State.
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One result from Tuesday night in North Texas that might come as a surprise to some is that a Democrat received the majority of votes in the District 9 Senate special election to replace former Sen. Kelly Hancock, now serving as state comptroller. Southlake has long been a Republican stronghold, but the lingering GOP civil war in Texas saw conservative voters split between Dan Patrick-backed Patriot Mobile leader Leigh Wambsganss and Miriam Adelson-backed former Southlake Mayor John Huffman.
Although Wambsganss easily outpaced Huffman, she fell short of besting Democrat Taylor Rehmet, who missed avoiding a runoff with 47% of the vote. Wambsganss has also been endorsed by President Donald Trump, who carried Tarrant County in 2024, and will likely gain votes with Huffman off the ballot come runoff time.
Trump’s influence may be waning nationally, however. Across the country, Democrats scored impressive victories that defied many of President Trump’s direct endorsements. In New York City, socialist Democrat Zohran Mamdani easily defeated Trump’s pick, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. In California, Proposition 50, which aims to redraw the state’s congressional maps, is set to overwhelmingly pass. The prop was drafted, at least partially, to respond to Texas’ newly redrawn map that experts say will net the GOP additional seats. Reports indicate the new California map could net Democrats as many as five additional congressional seats.
On Tuesday night as polls closed around the nation, Trump didn’t seem too pleased with the results, judging by a Truth Social post just after 9 p.m..
“TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT,” he wrote. “AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,” according to Pollsters.”
