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2018 Texas Attorney General election

{{Short description|none}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{citation style|date=June 2021}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2018 Texas Attorney General election

| country = Texas

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 2014 Texas Attorney General election

| previous_year = 2014

| next_election = 2022 Texas Attorney General election

| next_year = 2022

| election_date = November 6, 2018

| turnout = 41.6%{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/historical/70-92.shtml|title=Turnout and Voter Registration Figures (1970-current)|website=www.sos.state.tx.us|access-date=September 6, 2024}} ({{increase}} 17.0%)

| image1 = File:Ken Paxton by Gage Skidmore.jpg

| image_size = 150x150px

| nominee1 = Ken Paxton

| party1 = Republican Party of Texas

| popular_vote1 = 4,193,207

| percentage1 = 50.57%

| image2 = File:3x4.svg

| nominee2 = Justin Nelson

| party2 = Texas Democratic Party

| popular_vote2 = 3,898,098

| percentage2 = 47.01%

| map_image = {{switcher |310px |County results |310px |Congressional district results |310px |Precinct results |default=1}}

| map_size = x310px

| map_caption = Paxton: {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#c21b18|80–90%}} {{legend0|#a80000|>90%}}

Nelson: {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933E5|80–90%}} {{legend0|#0D0596|>90%}}
Tie: {{legend0|#D2B1D9|40–50%}} {{legend0|#AE8BB1|50%}} {{legend0|#808080|No data}}

| title = Attorney General

| before_election = Ken Paxton

| before_party = Republican Party of Texas

| after_election = Ken Paxton

| after_party = Republican Party of Texas

}}

{{ElectionsTX}}

The 2018 Texas Attorney General election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the Attorney General of Texas. Incumbent Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton ran for re-election.{{Cite news|last=Patrick|first=Svitek|date=July 25, 2018|title=In re-election bid, Attorney General Ken Paxton emphasizes record as Democrat seizes on indictment|work=The Texas Tribune|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/07/25/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-justin-nelson/|access-date=June 4, 2021}} The Democratic Party nominated attorney Justin Nelson.{{Cite news|last=McElroy|first=Ashley|date=November 8, 2017|title=Justin Nelson vies for TX attorney general nomination|work=Spectrum News|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/san-antonio/news/2017/11/08/justin-nelson-vies-for-tx-attorney-general-nomination|access-date=June 4, 2021}}{{Cite web|last=Riedel|first=Sean|date=October 9, 2018|title=Democratic Texas attorney general nominee Justin Nelson makes appearance in Denton|url=https://www.ntdaily.com/democratic-texas-attorney-general-nominee-justin-nelson-makes-appearance-in-denton/|url-status=live|access-date=June 4, 2021|website=North Texas Daily|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010130614/https://www.ntdaily.com/democratic-texas-attorney-general-nominee-justin-nelson-makes-appearance-in-denton/ |archive-date=2018-10-10 }}

Paxton was narrowly re-elected to a second term by a 3.56% margin of victory.{{Cite news|last=Zdun|first=Matt|last2=Collier|first2=Kiah|date=November 6, 2018|title=Gov. Greg Abbott clinches second term as GOP wins closest statewide races in 20 years|work=The Texas Tribune|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/11/06/greg-abbott-lupe-valdez-dan-patrick-justin-nelson-texas-midterm-2018/|access-date=June 4, 2021}}

Republican primary

=Candidates=

=Results=

{{Election box begin

|title=Republican primary results{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar06_325_state.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310232609/https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar06_325_state.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 March 2018|title=2018 Republican Party Primary Election - RESULTS|date=10 March 2018}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|candidate=Ken Paxton (incumbent)

|party=Republican Party (United States)

|votes=1,312,172

|percentage=100%

|change=+55.55%

}}

{{Election box total

|votes=1,312,172

|percentage=100%

|change=+32,112}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes=

|percentage=8.6%*

|change=-0.81%*

}}

{{Election box end}}

*Percentage of turnout to registered voters

Democratic primary

=Candidates=

= Results =

{{Election box begin|title=Democratic primary results{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar06_324_state.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310232754/https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar06_324_state.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 March 2018|title=2018 Democratic Party Primary Election - RESULTS|date=10 March 2018}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|candidate=Justin Nelson

|party=Democratic Party (United States)

|votes=884,376|percentage=100%

|change=}}

{{Election box total

|votes=884,376

|percentage=100%

|change=+446,858}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes=

|percentage=5.79%*

|change=+2.57%*

}}

{{Election box end}}

*Percentage of turnout to registered voters

Libertarian convention

= Nominated =

  • Michael Ray Harris, attorney{{Cite web|title=2018 Candidates|url=http://www.lptexas.org/2018_candidates|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909214323/http://www.lptexas.org/2018_candidates|archive-date=September 9, 2018|access-date=September 9, 2018|website=lptexas.org}}

General election

=Endorsements=

{{Endorsements box|title=Ken Paxton|list=

U.S. executive branch officials

  • Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States{{cite web|url=https://www.republicanags.com/2018/05/07/president-trump-endorsed-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton/|title=President Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton|work=RAGA|date=May 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907221858/https://www.republicanags.com/2018/05/07/president-trump-endorsed-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton/|archive-date=September 7, 2018|url-status=dead}}

Organizations

  • National Rifle Association of America{{cite web|url=https://www.nraila.org/articles/20180907/nra-endorses-ken-paxton-for-attorney-general|title=NRA Endorses Ken Paxton for Attorney General|work=NRA-ILA|date=September 7, 2018}}
  • Open Carry Texas{{cite web|url=https://www.ammoland.com/2018/09/open-carry-texas-endorses-attorney-general-ken-paxton/#axzz5QRP81nFd|title=Open Carry Texas Endorses Attorney General Ken Paxton|work=AmmoLand.com|date=September 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905174815/https://www.ammoland.com/2018/09/open-carry-texas-endorses-attorney-general-ken-paxton/|archive-date=September 5, 2018|url-status=live}}

}}

= Polling =

{{Graph:Chart

| width=700

| height=400

| xAxisTitle=

| yAxisTitle=%support

| xAxisAngle = -40

| legend=Candidate

| interpolate = bundle

| size = 77

| xType = date

| y1Title=Ken Paxton

| y2Title=Justin Nelson

| y3Title=Michael Ray Harris

| y4Title=Other/Undecided

| type=line

|xGrid=

| x= 2018/05/28, 2018/06/17, 2018/07/07, 2018/07/26, 2018/09/07

| y1= 45, 32, 45, 35, 45

| y2= 33, 31, 41, 25, 39

| y3= , 6, , 4, 2

| y4= , 30, 14, 37, 15

| colors = #E81B23, #3333FF, gold, #DCDCDC

| showSymbols = 1

| yGrid = true

| linewidth = 2.0

}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;"

!Poll source

!Date(s)
administered

!Sample
size

!Margin
of error

! Ken
Paxton (R)

! Justin
Nelson (D)

! Michael Ray
Harris (L)

!Other

!Undecided

Dixie Strategies[https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/cruz-clings-to-small-lead-in-texas/ Dixie Strategies]

| align="center" |September 6–7, 2018

| align="center" |519

| align="center" |± 4.3%

| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" |45%

| align="center" |39%

| align="center" |2%

| align="center" |–

| align="center" |15%

Texas Lyceum[https://web.archive.org/web/20180801190600/https://www.texaslyceum.org/resources/Poll%202018/Day%202/Day%202%202018%20Texas%20Lyceum%20Toplines%20(2).pdf Texas Lyceum]

| align="center" |July 9–26, 2018

| align="center" |441

| align="center" |± 4.7%

| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" |35%

| align="center" |25%

| align="center" |4%

| align="center" |–

| {{party shading/Undecided}} align="center" |37%

Gravis Marketing[https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-much-trouble-is-ted-cruz-really-in/ Gravis Marketing]

| align="center" |July 3–7, 2018

| align="center" |602

| align="center" |± 4.0%

| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" |45%

| align="center" |41%

| align="center" |–

| align="center" |–

| align="center" |14%

UoT/Texas Tribune[https://www.texastribune.org/2018/06/25/ted-cruz-beto-orourke-poll-5-points-texas-senate-race-uttt/ UoT/Texas Tribune]

| align="center" |June 8–17, 2018

| align="center" |1,200

| align="center" |± 2.83%

| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" |32%

| align="center" |31%

| align="center" |6%

| align="center" |4%

| align="center" |26%

Baselice & Associates (R-TLRPAC)[https://web.archive.org/web/20180703220238/https://www.tlrpac.com/press-release/poll-shows-texas-voters-continue-support-reform-minded-candidates Baselice & Associates (R-TLRPAC)]

| align="center" |May 21–28, 2018

| align="center" |–

| align="center" |–

| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" |45%

| align="center" |33%

| align="center" |–

| align="center" |–

| align="center" |–

= Results =

{{Election box begin|title=General election results}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|candidate=Ken Paxton (incumbent)

|party=Republican Party (United States)

|votes=4,193,207

|percentage=50.57%

|change=-8.23%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party=Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate=Justin Nelson|votes=3,898,098

|percentage=47.01%

|change=+8.99%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party=Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate=Michael Ray Harris|votes=201,310

|percentage=2.43%

|change=-0.10%}}

{{Election box total

|votes=8,292,615

|percentage=100%}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

==By congressional district==

Paxton won 21 of 36 congressional districts, with the remaining 15 going to Nelson, including two that elected Republicans.{{Cite web|url=https://davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap::19b1b774-7706-485b-a21a-896bbcbddbba|title=DRA 2020|website=Daves Redistricting|accessdate=August 18, 2024}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! District

! Paxton

! Nelson

! Representative

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|1|1st}}

| 71%

| 28%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Louie Gohmert

align=center

! rowspan=2 {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|2|2nd}}

| rowspan=2|50%

| rowspan=2|48%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Ted Poe

align=center

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Dan Crenshaw

align=center

! rowspan=2 {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|3|3rd}}

| rowspan=2|51%

| rowspan=2|46%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Sam Johnson

align=center

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Van Taylor

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|4|4th}}

| 73%

| 25%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|John Ratcliffe

align=center

! rowspan=2 {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|5|5th}}

| rowspan=2|59%

| rowspan=2|39%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Jeb Hensarling

align=center

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Lance Gooden

align=center

! rowspan=2 {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|6|6th}}

| rowspan=2|51%

| rowspan=2|47%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Joe Barton

align=center

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Ron Wright

align=center

! rowspan=2 {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Texas|7|7th}}

| rowspan=2| 46%

| rowspan=2|52%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|John Culberson

align=center

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Lizzie Fletcher

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|8|8th}}

| 71%

| 27%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Kevin Brady

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Texas|9|9th}}

| 19%

| 80%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Al Green

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|10|10th}}

| 49%

| 48%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Michael McCaul

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|11|11th}}

| 76%

| 21%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Mike Conaway

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|12|12th}}

| 60%

| 38%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Kay Granger

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|13|13th}}

| 78%

| 20%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Mac Thornberry

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|14|14th}}

| 57%

| 41%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Randy Weber

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Texas|15|15th}}

| 41%

| 57%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Vicente Gonzalez

align=center

! rowspan=2 {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Texas|16|16th}}

| rowspan=2| 28%

| rowspan=2| 68%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Beto O'Rourke

align=center

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Veronica Escobar

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|17|17th}}

| 54%

| 43%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Bill Flores

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Texas|18|18th}}

| 20%

| 78%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Sheila Jackson Lee

align=center

!{{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|19|19th}}

| 70%

| 27%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Jodey Arrington

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Texas|20|20th}}

| 33%

| 64%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Joaquín Castro

align=center

! rowspan=2 {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|21|21st}}

| rowspan=2| 49%

| rowspan=2| 48%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Lamar Smith

align=center

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Chip Roy

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|22|22nd}}

| 50%

| 48%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Pete Olson

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Texas|23|23rd}}

| 47%

| 50%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Will Hurd

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Texas|24|24th}}

| 48%

| 49%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Kenny Marchant

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|25|25th}}

| 52%

| 46%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Roger Williams

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|26|26th}}

| 57%

| 40%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Michael Burgess

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|27|27th}}

| 59%

| 38%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Michael Cloud

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Texas|28|28th}}

| 39%

| 59%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Henry Cuellar

align=center

! rowspan=2 {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Texas|29|29th}}

| rowspan=2| 26%

| rowspan=2|73%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Gene Green

align=center

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Sylvia Garcia

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Texas|30|30th}}

| 18%

| 80%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Eddie Bernice Johnson

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|31|31st}}

| 50%

| 46%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|John Carter

align=center

! rowspan=2 {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Texas|32|32nd}}

| rowspan=2| 45%

| rowspan=2|53%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Pete Sessions

align=center

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Colin Allred

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Texas|33|33rd}}

| 22%

| 75%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Marc Veasey

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Texas|34|34th}}

| 40%

| 57%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Filemon Vela Jr.

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Texas|35|35th}}

| 28%

| 69%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Lloyd Doggett

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Texas|36|36th}}

| 70%

| 28%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Brian Babin

align=center

{{align|right|{{Switcher

|300px|Shift by county

{{collapsible list | title = Legend

|{{legend|#d40000|Republican — >15%}}

|{{legend|#ff0000|Republican — +12.5−15%}}

|{{legend|#ff2a2a|Republican — +10−12.5%}}

|{{legend|#ff5555|Republican — +7.5−10%}}

|{{legend|#ff8080|Republican — +5−7.5%}}

|{{legend|#ffaaaa|Republican — +2.5−5%}}

|{{legend|#ffd5d5|Republican — +0−2.5%}}

|{{legend|#d5f6ff|Democratic — +0−2.5%}}

|{{legend|#aaeeff|Democratic — +2.5−5%}}

|{{legend|#77e3ff|Democratic — +5−7.5%}}

|{{legend|#4bdbff|Democratic — +7.5-10%}}

|{{legend|#09ceff|Democratic — +10−12.5%}}

|{{legend|#00bdec|Democratic — +12.5−15%}}

|{{legend|#00a1c8|Democratic — >15%}}}}}}}}

See also

References

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Texas elections}}

{{2018 United States elections}}

Attorney General

Texas

Category:Texas Attorney General elections