While many areas across the country experienced major election upsets, voters agreed with 96% of the Houston Association of REALTORS® candidate recommendations in the November 2 General Election. Fifty-four of the fifty-six candidates recommended by HAR won their elections.

In two close races, Democratic incumbents lost their reelection to Republican newcomers. HAR recommended candidate Representative Ellen Cohen lost 49% to Republican Sarah Davis’ 51%. Harris County Precinct Two Commissioner Sylvia Garcia lost to Republican Jack Morman, 49% to 51%. Representative-Elect Davis and Commissioner-Elect Morman are attorneys. We look forward to developing positive relationships with these newly-elected public officials.

Below are the election results at the national, state, and local levels for HAR’s recommended candidates.

U. S. House of Representatives
Congressional District 2 – Congressman Ted Poe (R-Humble) easily defeated his Democratic challenger David W. Smith, 89% to 11%.

Congressional District 7 –Congressman John Culberson (R-Houston) garnered 81% of the vote and soundly defeated Libertarian Bob Townsend (18%) and Write-In candidate Lissa Squiers (.56%).

Congressional District 8 – Congressman Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) easily won Round Two with former Democratic challenger Kent Hargett of Montgomery, 80% to 18%. Libertarian Bruce West received 2% of the vote.

Congressional District 9 – Congressman Al Green (D-Houston) won handily over Republican Steve Mueller 76% to 23% with Libertarian Michael W. Hope receiving 1% of the vote.

Congressional District 10 – Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Austin) in a match up with his 2006 opponent Democrat Ted Ankrum defeated him 65% to 33%. Libertarian Jeremiah Perkins took 2% of the vote.

Congressional District 14 – Congressman Ron Paul (R-Surfside) defeated Democrat Robert Pruett, 76% to 24%. Kentuckians elected Congressman Paul’s son, Rand Paul, to serve in the U. S. Senate. Their elections represent the first bicameral father-son service in the U. S. Congress.

Congressional District 18 – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston) again defeated her 2008 opponent John Faulk, 70% to 27%. Libertarian Mike Taylor got 2.56% and Charles Meyer, a Write-In candidate, got 211 votes.

Congressional District 22 – Congressman Pete Olson (R-Sugar Land) won his reelection with 67% over Democrat Kesha Rogers with 30%. Libertarian Steven Susman got 2.65% and Write-In candidate Johnny Williams got 66 votes.

Congressional District 29 – Congressman Gene Green (D-Houston) defeated Republican Roy Morales with 65% of the vote to Morales’ 34%. Libertarian Brad Walters got 1% of the vote.

Governor – Incumbent Republican Governor Rick Perry was reelected to a four-year term with 55% of the vote. Former Houston Mayor Bill White won Harris County by a narrow margin, but was defeated statewide receiving 42% of the vote.

Texas Senate
Senate District 3 – Senator Robert Nichols (R- Jacksonville) easily defeated his Libertarian challenger David Scott, 89% to 11%.

Senate District 7 – Senator Dan Patrick (R- Houston) garnered 86% of the vote and soundly defeated Libertarian Lee Coughran (14%).

Senate District 13 – Senator Rodney Ellis (D- Houston) defeated Republican Michael Mauldin with 77% of the vote to Mauldin’s 23%.

Senate District 15 – Senator John Whitmire (D- Houston) won his reelection with 59% over Republican Bill Walker with 41%.

Senate District 17 – Senator Joan Huffman (R- Houston) won handily over Libertarian Phil Kurtz, 83% to 17%.

Senate District 18 – Senator Glenn Hegar (R- Katy) trounced his Democratic opponent Pat Olney, 70% to 30%.

Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives District 15 – Representative Rob Eissler (R- The Woodlands) dominated in his election against his Libertarian opponent Samuel Calkin with 90% of the vote to Calkin’s 9%.

Texas House of Representatives District 16 – Representative Brandon Creighton (R- Conroe) went unopposed in this election and will serve another term.

Texas House of Representatives District 18 – Representative John Otto (R- Dayton) sprinted to victory with 89% of the vote over Libertarian Rhys M. Blavier’s 10%.

Texas House of Representatives District 24 – Representative Larry Taylor (R- League City) surfed to victory against Libertarian Joel Grace with 89% of the vote over Grace’s 11%.

Texas House of Representatives District 26 – Representative Charlie Howard (R- Sugar Land) won his reelection with 65% over Democrat Phillip Andrews with 33%. Libertarian Joey Roland got 2%.

Texas House of Representatives District 27 – Representative Ron Reynolds (D- Sugar Land) easily defeated Libertarian Derek Grayson with 85% of the vote over Grayson’s 15% and will be the new State Representative for District 27. Representative Dora Olivo lost in the Democratic primary to Ron Reynolds.

Texas House of Representatives District 28 – Representative John Zerwas (R- Simonton) won his reelection with 71% against Democrat Wayne Raasch with 28%.

Texas House of Representatives District 29 – Representative Randy Weber (R- Pearland) sailed to victory over Libertarian opponent Jim Foreman with 85% of the vote over Foreman’s 15%.

Texas House of Representatives District 126 – Representative Patricia Harless (R- Spring) defeated Democrat Casey McKinney with 68% of the vote over McKinney’s 31%.

Texas House of Representatives District 127 – Republican Dan Huberty hammered his Democratic opponent, Joe A. Montemayor, and won 75% of the vote to Montemayor’s 24%. Representative Joe Crabb did not seek reelection.

Texas House of Representatives District 128 – Representative Wayne Smith (R- Baytown) went unopposed in this election and will serve another term.

Texas House of Representatives District 129 – Representative John Davis (R- Houston) went unopposed in this election and will serve another term.

Texas House of Representatives District 130 – Representative Allen Fletcher (R- Houston) flattened his Libertarian opponent, Joe Spencer, with 89% of the vote over Spencer’s 11%.

Texas House of Representatives District 131 – Representative Alma Allen (D- Houston) went unopposed in this election and will serve another term.

Texas House of Representatives District 132 – Representative Bill Callegari (R- Houston) commandeered his reelection and defeated Democrat Silvia Mintz with 66% of the vote to Mintz’ 31%. Libertarian Michael Ryan got 2% of the vote.

Texas House of Representatives District 133 – Unlike the 2008 election in which Democrat Kristi Thibaut defeated Rep. Jim Murphy, Murphy prevailed in this year’s rematch by 56% to Thibaut’s 43%. Murphy will return to the State Legislature.

Texas House of Representatives District 134 – Representative Ellen Cohen (D- Houston) was defeated by her Republican opponent Sarah Davis with 49.3% of the vote to Davis’ 50.7%.

Texas House of Representatives District 135 – Representative Gary Elkins (R- Jersey Village) went unopposed in this election and will serve another term.

Texas House of Representatives District 136 – Representative Beverly Woolley (R- Houston) walloped her Libertarian opponent Gerald LaFleur with 89% of the vote to LaFleur’s 11%.

Texas House of Representatives District 137 – Representative Scott Hochberg (D- Houston) held on to his seat with 59% of the vote and defeated Republican Sylvia Spivey with 41%.

Texas House of Representatives District 138 – Representative Dwayne Bohac (R- Houston) blocked his opponent and defeated Democrat Kendra Yarborough Camarena with 62.5% of the vote to Camarena’s 35.5%. Libertarian Wesley Hamner got 2% of the vote.

Texas House of Representatives District 139 – Representative Sylvester Turner (D- Houston) went unopposed in this election and will serve another term.

Texas House of Representatives District 140 – Representative Armando Walle (D- Houston) went unopposed in this election and will serve another term.

Texas House of Representatives District 141 – Representative Senfronia Thompson (D- Houston) won handily with 76% over Republican Michael Bunch with 24%.

Texas House of Representatives District 142 – Representative Harold Dutton (D- Houston) went unopposed in this election and will serve another term.

Texas House of Representatives District 143 – Representative Ana Hernandez (D- Houston) halted her Republican challenger Gilbert Pena and won 68% of the votes to Pena’s 32%.

Texas House of Representatives District 144 – Representative Ken Legler (R- Pasadena) won his reelection with 60% of the vote over Democrat Rick Molina (38%), Libertarian Clifford Messina (1%) and Libertarian Joel West (1%).

Texas House of Representatives District 145 – Representative Carol Alvarado (D- Houston) went unopposed in this election and will serve another term.

Texas House of Representatives District 146 – Representative Borris Miles (D- Houston) was unopposed in the General Election and will be the new State Representative for District 146. Representative Al Edwards of District 146 narrowly lost in the Democratic primary to Borris Miles.

Texas House of Representatives District 147 – Representative Garnet Coleman (D- Houston) was unopposed in this election and will serve another term.

Texas House of Representatives District 148 – Representative Jessica Farrar (D- Houston) fought off and defeated her Republican opponent, Fernando Herrera, with 59% of the vote to his 41%.

Texas House of Representatives District 149 – Representative Hubert Vo (D- Houston) resisted defeat from Republican Jack O’Connor with 52% of the vote to O’Connor’s 48%.

Texas House of Representatives District 150 – Representative Debbie Riddle (R- Houston) easily won her reelection with 71% of the vote over Democrat Brad Neal (28%) and Libertarian Eric Holdt (1%).

We Thank Our Elected Officials for Their Service
We thank Representatives Ellen Cohen, Joe Crabb, Al Edwards, Dora Olivo and Kristi Thibaut and Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia for their dedication and service to our community and wish them the best in their future endeavors.

We Thank Our Volunteers
As we close this year, we want to thank our Political Affairs Advisory Group (PAAG) and Chairman John Nichols for their service in conducting candidate interviews to determine who will best represent the REALTOR® Party at the local, state and federal levels. Their duties do not end after the interviews are conducted, as they also help to elect the HAR recommended candidates by inviting them to attend their sales meetings, hosting events, placing yard signs, making phone calls and voting for the HAR recommended candidates among other campaign-related activities.

Jim Cockrill chaired the Fort Bend Political Affairs Advisory Leadership, and we thank him and the volunteers serving on the Fort Bend PAAL for their program of work. Their work on local elections has included Sugar Land City Council, Fort Bend County Commissioners Court, and Missouri City Council At-Large Position 2 where one of HAR’s members, Danny Nguyen, was elected.

Mario Arriaga played two volunteer roles this year for HAR, that of Governmental Affairs Advisory Group Chair and Montgomery County Political Affairs Advisory Leadership Chair. We thank Mario for being a role model Realtor® Party team player.

Ozzie Ramirez led the Bay Area Political Affairs Advisory Leadership and we thank him for his service.

At the local level, Nancy Furst chaired the Local Issues Advisory Group. This group visited Houston City Council and Harris County Commissioners Court. The Historic Preservation Ordinance and Proposition 1, the charter amendment to establish a pay-as-you-go street repair and drainage fund, were topical issues that this group held meetings to discuss and recommend the appropriate action be taken by HAR.

We give a huge thank you to the HAR Executive Committee and Directors for their support for HAR’s political process. We have been so fortunate to have HAR Board Chair Margie Dorrance at the helm during this very exciting and politically active year. Her ability to listen and her ever-optimistic outlook were so valuable. We thank Margie for her dedicated service and leadership and look forward to the year ahead under Carlos Bujosa’s leadership!