2014 United States Senate election in Texas
The 2014 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate. Incumbent Republican senator and Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn ran for election to a third term. Primary elections were held on March 4, 2014. Since no Democratic candidate received over 50% in the first round of the primary, a runoff election was required on May 27, 2014. David Alameel, who came in first in the primary, won the runoff and became his party's nominee. In the general election, Cornyn defeated Alameel in a landslide.
This is the last time Bexar, Fort Bend, Harris and Hays would vote for a Republican in a U.S. Senate election.
Republican primary
In February 2014, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was featured in a controversial television advertisement by Dwayne Stovall. Stovall belittled McConnell, Cornyn's superior in the Senate leadership, as an ineffective "Beltway turtle" who is out-of-touch with the party rank-and-file. Until the controversial advertisement, the media had largely ignored Stovall's candidacy.Candidates
Declared
- Curt Cleaver, hotel industry consultant and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012
- Ken Cope, aerospace executive and retired United States Army Lieutenant Colonel
- John Cornyn, incumbent U.S. Senator
- Chris Mapp, businessman
- Reid Reasor, Tea Party activist
- Steve Stockman, U.S. Representative
- Dwayne Stovall, bridge construction contractor, school board member from Cleveland and candidate for the State House of Representatives in 2012
- Linda Vega, attorney and immigration activist
Withdrew
- Erick Wyatt, U.S. Army veteran
Declined
- Greg Abbott, Texas Attorney General
- David Barton, author, minister and former vice chair of the Republican Party of Texas
- David Dewhurst, Lieutenant Governor of Texas
- Louie Gohmert, U.S. Representative
- Debra Medina, activist and candidate for Governor in 2010
Endorsements
Polling
| Poll source | John Cornyn | conservative | Undecided | |||
| Gravis Marketing | October 26, 2013 | 563 | ± 3% | 33% | 46% | 21% |
| Public Policy Polling | November 1–4, 2013 | 388 | ± 4.4% | 33% | 49% | 18% |
| Poll source | John Cornyn | Dwayne Stovall | Erick Wyatt | Undecided | |||
| UoT/Texas Tribune | October 18–27, 2013 | 519 | ± 5.02% | 39% | 7% | 6% | 48% |
| Poll source | John Cornyn | David Barton | Rafael Cruz | Louie Gohmert | Ron Paul | Rick Perry | Steve Stockman | Undecided | |||
| UoT/Texas Tribune | October 18–27, 2013 | 519 | ± 5.02% | 25% | — | 41% | — | 18% | — | 3% | 13% |
| 35% | — | — | — | — | 46% | — | 20% | - | - | - | - |
| 34% | — | — | — | 44% | — | — | 22% | - | - | - | - |
| 40% | — | — | 31% | — | — | — | 29% | - | - | - | - |
| 39% | — | 33% | — | — | — | — | 28% | - | - | - | - |
| Public Policy Polling | November 1–4, 2013 | 388 | ± 4.4% | 51% | 18% | — | — | — | — | — | 31% |
| Public Policy Polling | November 1–4, 2013 | 388 | ± 4.4% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Public Policy Polling | November 1–4, 2013 | 388 | ± 4.4% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Public Policy Polling | November 1–4, 2013 | 388 | ± 4.4% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Public Policy Polling | November 1–4, 2013 | 388 | ± 4.4% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Results
Because Cornyn surpassed a majority in the primary, he faced no runoff election. Cornyn's winning percent and margin of victory were the lowest by any Texas Republican U.S. Senator in a primary election in state history.Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- David Alameel, businessman and candidate for Texas's 33rd congressional district in 2012
- Michael Fjetland, businessman, Independent candidate for Texas's 22nd congressional district in 2004 and Republican candidate for the seat in 2006
- HyeTae "Harry" Kim, physician
- Kesha Rogers, Worldwide LaRouche Youth Movement activist and nominee for Texas's 22nd congressional district in 2010 and 2012
- Maxey Scherr, attorney
Declined
- Wendy Davis, state senator
- Bill White, former mayor of Houston and nominee for governor in 2010
Endorsements
Polling
Results
Because no candidate received over 50% of the vote in the primary, the two with the most votes – David Alameel and Kesha Rogers – advanced to a runoff on May 27.Libertarian convention
Candidates
Declared
- Rebecca Paddock, electrical engineer
- Tanuja Paruchuri, holistic wellness coach
- Jon Roland, computer programmer and nominee for Texas Attorney General in 2002, 2006 and 2010
Results
Green nomination
Candidates
Declared
- Emily Marie Sanchez
Results
General election
Debates
Predictions
Polling
With Castro| Poll source | John Cornyn | Julian Castro | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | January 24–27, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 48% | 41% | 11% |
| Public Policy Polling | June 28 – July 1, 2013 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 50% | 37% | 13% |
| Public Policy Polling | November 1–4, 2013 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 49% | 35% | 17% |
| Poll source | Louie Gohmert | Julian Castro | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | November 1–4, 2013 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 44% | 35% | 21% |
With Davis
| Poll source | John Cornyn | Wendy Davis | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | January 24–27, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 48% | 37% | 14% |
| Public Policy Polling | June 28 – July 1, 2013 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 48% | 40% | 12% |
With Parker
| Poll source | John Cornyn | Annise Parker | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | January 24–27, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 47% | 36% | 16% |
| Public Policy Polling | June 28 – July 1, 2013 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 49% | 36% | 15% |
With White
| Poll source | John Cornyn | Bill White | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | January 24–27, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 45% | 42% | 13% |
| Public Policy Polling | June 28 – July 1, 2013 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 47% | 40% | 13% |
| Public Policy Polling | November 1–4, 2013 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 44% | 39% | 17% |
| Poll source | Louie Gohmert | Bill White | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | November 1–4, 2013 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 40% | 39% | 21% |
Results
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Bexar
- Culberson
- Harris
- Kenedy
- Kleberg
- La Salle
- Reeves
- Brewster
- Uvalde
- Nueces
- Val Verde
- Jefferson
- Hudspeth
By congressional district
| District | Cornyn | Alameel | Representative |
| 79% | 21% | Louie Gohmert | |
| 68% | 32% | Ted Poe | |
| 70% | 30% | Sam Johnson | |
| 80% | 20% | Ralph Hall | |
| 80% | 20% | John Ratcliffe | |
| 71% | 29% | Jeb Hensarling | |
| 63% | 37% | Joe Barton | |
| 67% | 33% | John Culberson | |
| 83% | 17% | Kevin Brady | |
| 26% | 74% | Al Green | |
| 64% | 36% | Michael McCaul | |
| 87% | 13% | Mike Conaway | |
| 71% | 29% | Kay Granger | |
| 87% | 13% | Mac Thornberry | |
| 64% | 36% | Randy Weber | |
| 49.9% | 50.1% | Rubén Hinojosa | |
| 44% | 56% | Beto O'Rourke | |
| 68% | 32% | Bill Flores | |
| 27% | 73% | Sheila Jackson Lee | |
| 84% | 16% | Randy Neugebauer | |
| 49% | 51% | Joaquín Castro | |
| 65% | 35% | Lamar Smith | |
| 68% | 32% | Pete Olson | |
| 61% | 39% | Pete Gallego | |
| 61% | 39% | Will Hurd | |
| 67% | 33% | Kenny Marchant | |
| 64% | 36% | Roger Williams | |
| 73% | 27% | Michael Burgess | |
| 69% | 31% | Blake Farenthold | |
| 50.1% | 49.9% | Henry Cuellar | |
| 39% | 61% | Gene Green | |
| 23% | 77% | Eddie Bernice Johnson | |
| 67% | 33% | John Carter | |
| 64% | 36% | Pete Sessions | |
| 32% | 68% | Marc Veasey | |
| 49.6% | 50.4% | Filemon Vela Jr. | |
| 41% | 59% | Lloyd Doggett | |
| 78% | 22% | Steve Stockman | |
| 78% | 22% | Brian Babin |