2013 Texas elections

Various elections took place in Texas in 2013. This included nine legislatively-referred ballot measures to amend the Constitution of Texas, along with special elections for the 50th district of the State House and the 6th district of the State Senate.

State

Ballot measures

Nine proposed amendments to the Constitution of Texas appeared on the November 5, 2013 general election ballot. All nine amendments were successfully passed.

Proposition 1

Proposition 1 provided for an exemption from ad valorem taxation on all or part of the market value of the residence of a surviving spouse of a United States Armed Forces member killed in action.

The measure passed.

Proposition 2

Proposition 2 repealed a constitutional provision that required the formation of a State Medical Education Board and a State Medical Education Fund.

The measure passed.

Proposition 3

Proposition 3 increased the number of days that aircraft parts held in the state could be exempt from ad valorem taxation.

The measure passed.

Proposition 4

Proposition 4 provided for an exemption from ad valorem taxation on part of the market value of a residence if it was the home of a partially disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a partially disabled veteran, and had been donated to the disabled veteran by a charitable organization.

The measure passed.

Proposition 5

Proposition 5 authorized the making of a reverse mortgage loan for the purchase of homestead property, and amended other regulations surrounding reverse mortgage loans.

The measure passed.

Proposition 6

Proposition 6 provided for the creation of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas (SWIRFT) to assist in the financing of projects in the state water plan.

The measure passed.

Proposition 7

Proposition 7 authorized a home-rule municipality to detail in its charter the procedure on filling a vacancy on its governing body in which the unexpired term is 12 months or less.

The measure passed.

Proposition 8

Proposition 8 repealed the constitutional provision for the creation of a hospital district in Hidalgo County.

The measure passed.

Proposition 9

Proposition 9 expanded the types of sanctions against a judge or justice following disciplinary proceedings instituted by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

The measure passed.

Special elections

Texas's 50th House of Representatives district special election

A special election took place in Texas's 50th House of Representatives district after the resignation of Democratic Representative Mark Strama, who left politics to lead Google Fiber's operations in Austin. As no candidate reached 50% of the vote in the November 5, 2013 election, a runoff election took place on January 28, 2014. The runoff was won by Democratic candidate Celia Israel, who defeated Republican Mike VanDeWalle.

November 5, 2013

Candidates

• Jade Chang Sheppard (Democratic), owner of Gideon Contracting
• Celia Israel (Democratic), realtor and community activist
• Rico Reyes (Democratic), attorney and former Marine
• Mike VanDeWalle (Republican), chiropractor

Endorsements

Results

January 28, 2014 (runoff)

Results

Texas's 6th Senate district special election

On October 16, 2012 State Senator Mario Gallegos Jr. of the 6th district died from complications associated with his liver transplant. However, during the 2012 general election, Gallegos' name remained on the ballot and he was re-elected. As a result, a special election was called for January 26, 2013. As no candidates reached at least 50% of the vote in the special election, a runoff took place on March 2. There, Democrat Sylvia Garcia defeated fellow Democrat Carol Alvarado to win the seat.

January 26, 2013

Candidates

• Carol Alvarado (Democratic), State Representative from the 145th district
• R.W. Bray (Republican), 2012 election candidate
• Susan Delgado (Democratic), real estate broker
• Sylvia Garcia (Democratic), former Harris County Commissioner and City of Houston Controller
• Joaquin Martinez (Democratic), community leader
• Dorothy Olmos (Republican), educator and State Board of Education candidate
• Rodolfo Reyes (Democratic), business consultant and former League City Council member
• Maria Selva (Green), community organizer

Results

March 2, 2013 (runoff)

Results

Local elections

• Arlington: Incumbent mayor Robert Cluck was re-elected for a sixth term.
• El Paso: Oscar Leeser was elected to his first term as mayor, as incumbent John Cook was unable to seek a third term due to term limits.
• Houston: Incumbent mayor Annise Parker was re-elected to a third term.
• San Antonio: Incumbent mayor Julian Castro was re-elected to a third term.

See also

• 2013 United States elections

References