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| Texas State Senate District 6 | ||
| Current incumbent | Carol Alvarado  | |
| Population | 812,881 | |
| Race | 12.4% White, 85.3% Black/Hispanic, 2.3% Other | |
| Ethnicity | 26.2% Not Hispanic, 73.8% Hispanic | |
| Voting age | 67.8% age 18 and over | |
Texas' sixth state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator Carol Alvarado.
As of the 2010 census, a total of 812,881 civilians reside within Texas' sixth 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.
A special election for the office of Texas State Senate District 6 was held on December 11, 2018. Candidates had until November 16, 2018, to file nomination papers with the secretary of state.
On November 9, 2018, state Sen. Sylvia Garcia (D) resigned from the state Senate.
Carol Alvarado (D) defeated Ana Hernandez (D), Martha Elena Fierro (R), and Mia Mundy (D) in the special general election for Texas State Senate District 6 on December 11, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Carol Alvarado (D) |
50.4
|
7,602 |
|
|
Ana Hernandez (D) |
24.3
|
3,670 | |
|
|
Martha Elena Fierro (R) |
23.2
|
3,493 | |
|
|
Mia Mundy (D) |
2.1
|
319 | |
|
|
Total votes: 15,084 |
Elections for the Texas State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was December 14, 2015.
Incumbent Sylvia Garcia ran unopposed in the Texas State Senate District 6 general election.Texas State Senate, District 6 General Election, 2016
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Sylvia Garcia Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 119,891 | |
| Total Votes | 119,891 | |||
| Source: Texas Secretary of State | ||||
Texas State Senate, District 6 Democratic Primary, 2016
| Party | Candidate | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sylvia Garcia Incumbent (unopposed) |
Sylvia Garcia (D) won election in the special election for Texas State Senate District 6. The seat was vacant following Mario Gallegos's death in October 2012. Garcia faced Carol Alvarado (D), Joaquin Martinez (D), Susan Delgado (D), Rodolfo M. Reyes (D), R.W. Bray (R), Dorothy Marie Olmos (R), and Maria Selva (G) in the special election on January 26, 2013. The field of eight candidates was narrowed to two in the runoff election. Democrats Garcia and Carol Alvarado met in a runoff on March 2, which Garcia won.
Texas State Senate, District 6, Special Election Runoff, 2013
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sylvia Garcia |
52.9% | 9,595 | |
| Democratic | Carol Alvarado | 47.1% | 8,546 | |
| Total Votes | 18,141 | |||
Texas State Senate, District 6, Special Election, 2013
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sylvia Garcia |
45.4% | 7,424 | |
| Democratic | Carol Alvarado |
41.6% | 6,813 | |
| Democratic | Susan Delgado | 0.3% | 53 | |
| Democratic | Joaquin Martinez | 2.5% | 405 | |
| Democratic | Rodolfo M. Reyes | 0.8% | 125 | |
| Republican | R.W. Bray | 6.2% | 1,015 | |
| Republican | Dorothy Olmos | 2.8% | 461 | |
| Green | Maria Selva | 0.4% | 73 | |
| Total Votes | 16,369 | |||
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. Incumbent Mario Gallegos (D) defeated R.W. Bray (R) in the general election. Gallegos was unopposed in the Democratic primary election. Bray was unopposed in the Republican primary election. A total of $320,857 was raised in campaign contributions. Gallegos raised $302,613, and Bray raised $18,244.
Gallegos passed away in October 2012, prior to the election. However, his name still appeared on the ballot. Due to the general election win for the deceased Gallegos, a special election was set for January 26, 2013. The winner of this election was set to serve a four year term.
Texas State Senate District 6
Mario Gallegos (D) died of liver failure in October 2012. However, he ran for re-election and his name remained on the ballot. He was re-elected on November 6, 2012, triggering a special election to fill the seat. The special election was held January 26, 2013. With eight candidates, it looked likely that a runoff for the top-two vote getters would be necessary, and indeed that is what happened. Democrats Sylvia Garcia and Carol Alvarado headed to a runoff on March 2.
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☑ Texas State Senate District 6 | |
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Mario Gallegos (D) died of liver failure in October 2012. However, he ran for re-election and his name remained on the ballot. He was re-elected on November 6, 2012, triggering a special election to fill the seat. The special election was held January 26, 2013. With eight candidates, it looked likely that a runoff for the top-two vote getters would be necessary, and indeed that is what happened. Democrats Sylvia Garcia and Carol Alvarado met in a runoff on March 2, which Garcia won.
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From 2002 to 2012, candidates for Texas State Senate District 6 raised a total of $2,525,469. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $280,608 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.
Campaign contributions, Texas State Senate District 6
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | $320,857 | 2 | $160,429 |
| 2010 | $423,319 | 1 | $423,319 |
| 2008 | $470,953 | 2 | $235,477 |
| 2006 | $412,022 | 1 | $412,022 |
| 2004 | $657,600 | 2 | $328,800 |
| 2002 | $240,718 | 1 | $240,718 |
| Total | $2,525,469 | 9 | $280,608 |
R.W. Bray
