Overview and Live Results: State House Special Elections in California, Texas

There are two state house special elections Tuesday.

California

State Assembly District 18

There are 80 seats in the California State Assembly. The body is dominated by Democrats, who control 60 seats. This includes the vacancy that will be filled in Tuesday's special election.

The open District 18 seat is in the Oakland area, entirely within Alameda County. The vacancy was created in April when Democrat Rob Bonta resigned after being confirmed as California Attorney General.

Advancing from the June 29 all-party primary were Democrats Mia Bonta and Janani Ramachandran. Bonta, wife of the former incumbent, received 38% of the vote; Ramachandran saw 24% support.

Polls close at 11:00 PM Eastern Time.

Texas

State House District 10

There are 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives. Republicans hold an 82 to 66 margin over Democrats. There are two vacancies, including the resignation of Democrat Leo Pacheco (TX-118) on August 19.

Tuesday's special election is to fill the vacancy in District 10, located between Dallas and Waco. The former incumbent, Republican Jake Ellzey, resigned after winning a July 27 special election runoff in the Texas 6th congressional district. 

This has been a solidly GOP district over the past decade, with no Democrats challenging for the seat until 2018. Ellzey won in 2020 with about 76% of the vote.

Under Texas special election law, there were no primaries. All eight candidates, including five Republicans, are competing on a single ballot.

Consistent with the lean of the district, two of those Republicans appear to be the frontrunners.  John Wray served three terms as this district's representative before Ellzey; he did not run in 2020. Brian Harrison ran in the 6th congressional district special election; he did not make the runoff.

If no candidate gets a majority of the vote, a runoff will be held on a date to be announced.

Polls close at 8:00 PM Eastern Time.

Upcoming

• September 7:
  • Alabama State House District 78 Special Election
  • New Hampshire State House Hillsborough District 7 Special Election
  • New Hampshire State House Cheshire District 9 Special Primary
• September 14:
  • California Gubernatorial Recall Election
  • Mayoral Primaries in Ohio: Cleveland and Toledo
  • Iowa State House District 37 Special Election
  • Tennessee State House District 29 Special Election
• September 21:
  • Boston Mayoral Primary