Texas State Senate District 14 | ||
Current incumbent | Kirk Watson | |
Population | 834,750 | |
Race | 52.8% White, 39.6% Black/Hispanic, 7.6% Other | |
Ethnicity | 70.0% Not Hispanic, 30.0% Hispanic | |
Voting age | 76.7% age 18 and over |
Texas' fourteenth state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator Kirk Watson.
As of the 2010 census, a total of 834,750 civilians reside within Texas' fourteenth state senate district. Texas state senators represent an average of 811,147 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 672,640 residents.
Members of the Texas State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. One-half of the Senate membership is elected every two years in even-numbered years, with the exception that all 31 Senate seats are up for election for the first legislature following the decennial census in order to reflect the newly redrawn districts. After the initial election, the Senate is divided by lot into two classes, with one class having a re-election after two years and the other having a re-election after four years. Texas legislators assume office at the beginning of the legislative session (January).
To be eligible to serve in the Texas State Senate, a candidate must be:
State legislators | |
---|---|
Salary | Per diem |
$7,200/year | $190/day. Set by the ethics commission. |
When calculating a legislators' pension, their normal salary is artificially inflated to $125,000. This goes back to 1981, when lawmakers linked their salaries to those of state judges. Since then, they raised judges' salaries while removing the caps on their own pensions, pushing the maximum benefit up to 100% of a judge's salary.
In 2011, this resulted in an average state employee pension of $17,526 annually. The maximum pension a legislator can earn is $125,000, of which Rep. Tom Craddick (R) will be the first to qualify for when he retires. .
If there is a vacancy in the senate, the Governor must call a special election to fill the vacant seat. A Governor's proclamation to a special election must be delivered to local elections authorities representing the vacant seat no later than 36 days before the scheduled election.
The Secretary of State can declare a candidate duly elected in a special election if there is no opposition.
Elections for the office of Texas State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for March 3, 2020, and a primary runoff is scheduled for May 26, 2020. The filing deadline was December 9, 2019.
Incumbent Kirk Watson (D) defeated George Hindman (R) and Micah Verlander (L) in the general election for Texas State Senate District 14 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
✔ |
|
Kirk Watson (D) |
71.9
|
276,052 |
|
George Hindman (R) |
25.2
|
96,834 | |
|
Micah Verlander (L) |
2.8
|
10,889 |
|
Total votes: 383,775 |
Incumbent Kirk Watson advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 14 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
✔ |
|
Kirk Watson (D) |
100
|
82,626 |
|
Total votes: 82,626 |
George Hindman advanced from the Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 14 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
✔ |
|
George Hindman (R) |
100
|
24,168 |
|
Total votes: 24,168 |
Elections for 15 of the 31 seats in the Texas State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 4, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was December 9, 2013. Incumbent Kirk Watson was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Watson defeated James Strohm (L) in the general election. David Baron (L) withdrew prior to the Libertarian district convention.
Texas State Senate, District 14 General Election, 2014
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Kirk Watson Incumbent | 80% | 154,391 | |
Libertarian | James Strohm | 20% | 38,648 | |
Total Votes | 193,039 |
Elections for the office of Texas State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 29, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. Kirk Watson (D) defeated Ryan M. Dixon (L) in the general election. Watson was unopposed in the Democratic primary election. In 2012, a total of $997,153 was raised in campaign contributions. Watson raised $996,453, and Dixon raised $700.
Texas State Senate, District 14, General Election, 2012
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Kirk Watson Incumbent | 80.3% | 212,527 | |
Libertarian | Ryan Dixon | 19.7% | 52,187 | |
Total Votes | 264,714 |
From 2002 to 2014, candidates for Texas State Senate District 14 raised a total of $8,348,126. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $596,295 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.
Campaign contributions, Texas State Senate District 14
Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | $826,263 | 2 | $413,132 |
2012 | $997,153 | 2 | $498,577 |
2010 | $1,348,812 | 2 | $674,406 |
2008 | $912,691 | 1 | $912,691 |
2006 | $1,573,546 | 2 | $786,773 |
2004 | $226,394 | 1 | $226,394 |
2002 | $2,153,505 | 2 | $1,076,753 |
2000 | $309,762 | 2 | $154,881 |
Total | $8,348,126 | 14 | $596,295 |