2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas

The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the 36 U.S. representatives from the state of Texas—an increase of four seats in reapportionment following the 2010 United States census. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election and an election for the U.S. Senate. The primary election had been scheduled to be held on March 6, 2012, with a runoff election on May 22; because of problems arising from redistricting, the primary was postponed to May 29, and the run-off to July 31.

With 58% of voting age people turning out, all existing seats were held by their respective parties with one exception, the Democrats picking up the 23rd District. Of the four new seats, two were won by the Republican Party for a total of 24 seats, and two were won by the Democratic Party for a total of 12 seats.

Redistricting
In March 2011, The Texas Tribune conducted a poll of Texas "insiders" which found 54 per cent to believe three of the state's four new congressional districts would be drawn to favor the Republican Party, with one district drawn to favor the Democratic Party; while 37 per cent of those polled felt two districts would favor Republicans while two would favor Democrats. In April, Republican U.S. Representative Lamar Smith argued that the seats should be evenly split between the parties in order to reflect Texas's growing Hispanic population and abide by the Voting Rights Act. Joe Barton, also a Republican U.S. Representative, disagreed, arguing that three or four of the districts should favor Republicans.

Also in April, the Mexican American Legislative Caucus filed a lawsuit against Governor Rick Perry and the state of Texas, seeking to halt redistricting based on census data which allegedly failed to count up to 250,000 Hispanic residents of colonias. Later in April, Democratic U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett released a map which he alleged had been submitted by Republican members of Congress to leaders of the Texas Legislature. The map would divide Travis County between four districts, three of which would favor Republicans and one of which would favor Democrats.

In May, state representative Burt Solomons, a Republican, expressed concern that the legislature would not produce a congressional redistricting map by May 30, when it was scheduled to adjourn, and that a special session would be necessary. State senator Kel Seliger, the chair of the Senate's Select Committee on Redistricting, also downplayed the likelihood that redistricting legislation would be passed but emphasized the importance of creating a "credible instrument for the court to consider." Joe Barton later filed a lawsuit in response to perceived "inaction" by the legislature on redistricting. On May 25, Seliger confirmed that the legislature would not pass redistricting legislation, and that a congressional map would be drawn either by a federal court or in a special session. The same day, Rick Perry reiterated his position that the Legislature rather than the courts should draw the map, and three days later said he would call a special session on the condition that legislators decide on a map in advance.

On May 30, Perry called a special session. On May 31, the first day of the special session, redistricting was added to the list of matters to be addressed and Seliger and Solomons released a proposed congressional map. In Seliger and Solomons' map, African Americans and Hispanic Americans form majorities in two of the new districts, while the other two new districts gave Perry more than 56 per cent of their vote in the 2010 gubernatorial election. The districts represented by Doggett and Republicans Quico Canseco and Blake Farenthold would be made more favorable to Republicans. Democratic state representative Marc Veasey and Nina Perales of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund criticized the plan, which they said failed to increase the number of minority opportunity districts. Democratic U.S. Representative Gene Green filed a lawsuit against the map, alleging that it would neglect Hispanic population growth primarily in Harris County. On June 2, Solomons acknowledged that the map was likely to undergo significant changes.

A new map was proposed by Seliger on June 2, under which Republican U.S. Representative Ron Paul's district would be significantly modified and a district which linked urban Houston to rural East Texas counties would be redrawn. The map was passed by the State Senate's redistricting committee, and by the full Senate on party lines on June 6. A slightly different map from that passed by the Senate was passed by the House of Representatives' Redistricting Committee. The House map would lower the Hispanic population of Canseco's district by concentrating Hispanics in Democrat Charlie Gonzalez's district. The map was passed by the full House of Representatives on June 14. On June 20, the Senate voted to accept the House's amendments. The map was signed into law by Perry on July 18.

On September 13, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice said that, based on a preliminary investigation, the map appeared to have been "adopted, at least in part, for the purpose of diminishing the ability of citizens of the United States, on account of race, color, or membership in a language minority group, to elect their preferred candidates of choice to Congress" and would have a discriminatory effect.

On November 8, a federal court refused to approve the Legislature's proposed map, thereby necessitating lengthy legal proceedings and the implementation of an interim map for the 2012 elections, to be drawn by a panel of federal judges. On November 23, a panel of three federal judges drew a map in which three of the four new districts would favor Democrats. However, three days later, Greg Abbott, the Texas Attorney General, announced that the state would file for an emergency stay from the U.S. Supreme Court. On December 9, the Supreme Court blocked the use of the map drawn by federal judges. This was expected to necessitate delaying the state's filing deadline and primary elections.

On January 20, 2012, the Supreme Court rejected the map drawn by the federal court, holding that the court had not paid enough attention to the maps drawn by the legislature, and sent the case back to the lower court.

District 1
Republican Louie Gohmert, who had represented TX's 1st congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Louie Gohmert, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * Dr. Shirley McKellar, Army veteran and non-profit businesswoman

Nominee

 * Clark Patterson, photographer

District 2
Republican Ted Poe, who had represented tx's 2nd congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Ted Poe, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * Jim Dougherty, attorney and CPA

Nominee

 * Kenneth Duncan

Nominee

 * Mark Roberts, teacher

District 3
Republican Sam Johnson, who had represented tx's 3rd congressional district since 1991, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Sam Johnson, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Josh Caesar, software engineer
 * Harry Pierce, Air Force veteran

District 4
Republican Ralph Hall, who had represented tx's 4th congressional district since 1981 (as a Democrat from 1981 to 2004), sought re-election.

Republican primary
There was speculation that Hall might retire due to his age - he was 89 years old - and a closer than usual primary in 2010 (though he still won with 57% of the vote). Hall faced two opponents in his party's May primary: businessman and 2010 primary candidate Steve Clark, and businessman Lou Gigliotti.

Nominee

 * Ralph Hall, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Steve Clark, businessman and candidate for this seat in 2010
 * Lou Gigliotti, businessman

Withdrawn

 * John Cooper

Nominee

 * VaLinda Hathcox, attorney and nominee for this seat in 2010

Nominee

 * Thomas Griffing

District 5
Republican Jeb Hensarling, who had represented tx's 5th congressional district since 2003, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Jeb Hensarling, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * Linda Mrosko, legal assistant

Eliminated in primary

 * Tom Berry, U.S. Navy veteran, retired train conductor, nominee for Illinois 6th in 1994 & 2002 and nominee for this seat in 2010
 * Pat Wallace

Nominee

 * Ken Ashby, teacher, engineer and nominee for this seat in 2010

District 6
Republican Joe Barton, who had represented Texas's 6th congressional district since 1985, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Joe Barton, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Joe Chow, former mayor of Addison
 * Itamar Gelbman, Israeli-American security consultant
 * Frank Kuchar, accountant

Nominee

 * Kenneth Sanders, manufacturing consultant

Eliminated in primary

 * Brianna Hinojosa-Flores, attorney
 * Don Jaquess, businessman

Withdrawn

 * David Alameel, dentist and horse racing advocate (running in the 33rd)

Declined

 * Chet Edwards, former U.S. Representative
 * Chris Turner, former state representative
 * Allen Vaught, former state representative

Nominee

 * Hugh Chavin, construction manager and former U.S. Air Force staff sergeant

Nominee

 * Brandon Parmer

District 7
Republican John Culberson, who had represented Texas's 7th congressional district since 2003, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * John Culberson, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Bill Tofte

Nominee

 * James Cargas, energy lawyer for the City of Houston

Eliminated in primary

 * Phillip Andrews, accountant and nominee for the State House in 2010
 * Lissa Squiers, activist

Nominee

 * Drew Parks

Nominee

 * Lance Findley

District 8
Republican Kevin Brady, who had represented Texas's 8th congressional district since 1997, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Kevin Brady, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Larry Youngblood, computer consultant

Withdrawn

 * Chris Irish, health care consultant for Pfizer and founder of the North Houston Tea Party Patriots

Declined

 * Scott Baker, businessman

Nominee

 * Neil Burns, former executive at the Shell Oil Company

Declined

 * James Wright, retiree from New Caney and nominee for this seat in 2004 and 2006

Nominee

 * Roy Hall

District 9
Democrat Al Green, who had represented tx's 9th congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Al Green, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * Steve Mueller, business analyst, activist and nominee for this seat in 2010

Nominee

 * John Wieder, clergy member

Nominee

 * Vanessa Foster

District 10
Republican Michael McCaul, who had represented Texas's 10th congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election. He did not seek the open U.S. Senate seat.

Nominee

 * Michael McCaul, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Eddie Traylor, pilot

Nominee

 * Tawana Walter-Cadien, consultant, registered nurse, MMA surgery supervisor and quality assurance director

Eliminated in primary

 * William Miller Jr.

Withdrawn

 * Dan Grant, foreign policy expert and candidate for this seat in 2008

Declined

 * Larry Joe Doherty, attorney, TV show host and nominee for this seat in 2008
 * Michael Peter Skelly, entrepreneur and nominee for the 7th district in 2008

Nominee

 * Richard Priest

District 11
Republican Mike Conaway, who had represented Texas's 11th congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Mike Conaway, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Wade Brown, real estate investor
 * Chris Younts, insurance agent and co-founder of the San Angelo Tea Party

Nominee

 * Jim Riley, businessman

Nominee

 * Scott Ballard

District 12
Republican Kay Granger, who had represented tx's 12th congressional district since 1997, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Kay Granger, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Bill Lawrence, former mayor of Highland Village

Nominee

 * Dave Robinson, retired schoolteacher and veteran

Nominee

 * Matthew Solodow, senior project manager

District 13
Republican Mac Thornberry, who had represented Texas's 13th congressional district since 1995, sought re-election.

Nominee

 * Mac Thornberry, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Pam Barlow, veterinarian

Democratic primary
No Democrats filed.

Nominee

 * John Deek

Nominee

 * Keith Houston

District 14
Republican Ron Paul, who had represented Texas's 14th congressional district since 1997 and ran for the Republican 2012 presidential nomination, did not seek re-election to the House of Representatives.

Nominee

 * Randy Weber, state representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Tim Day, retired businessman and filmmaker
 * John Gay, former Spring Independent School District administrator
 * Robert Gonzalez, chair of the Clear Lake Tea Party
 * George Harper, Tea Party activist and civil designer in the petro-chemical industry
 * Felicia Harris, Pearland City Councilmember
 * Mark Mansius, engineer
 * Jay Old, attorney
 * Michael J. Truncale, attorney and regent of the Texas State University System

Withdrawn

 * John Faulk
 * Paul Hawes

Declined

 * Dennis Bonnen, state representative
 * John Manlove, former mayor of Pasadena
 * Debra Medina, political activist and candidate for Governor in 2010
 * Steve Stockman, former U.S. Representative (running in the 36th)
 * Larry Taylor, state representative

Nominee

 * Nick Lampson, former U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Linda Dailey, veteran

Declined

 * Joe Jaworski, Mayor of Galveston

Nominee

 * Zach Grady

Eliminated in primary

 * Eugene Flynn, lawyer
 * Amy Jacobellis, real estate agent
 * Bob Smither, engineering consultant

Nominee

 * Rhett Rosenquest Smith

District 15
Democrat Rubén Hinojosa, who had represented Texas's 15th congressional district since 1997, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Rubén Hinojosa, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * David Cantu, farmer and rancher
 * Jane Cross, businesswoman
 * Johnny Partain
 * Ruben Ramirez, attorney and educator

Nominee

 * Dale Brueggemann, businessman

Eliminated in primary

 * Rebecca Cervera
 * Jim Kuiken, Marine Corps veteran
 * Eddie Zamora, sales consultant

Nominee

 * Ron Finch

District 16
Democrat Silvestre Reyes, who had represented Texas's 16th congressional district since 1997, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Beto O'Rourke, former El Paso city council member

Eliminated in primary

 * Paul Johnson Jr.
 * Ben Mendoza
 * Silvestre Reyes, incumbent U.S. Representative
 * Jerome Tilghman

Nominee

 * Barbara Carrasco, small business owner

Eliminated in primary

 * Corey Dean Roen, Army lieutenant colonel and business owner

Nominee

 * Junart Sodoy

District 17
Republican Bill Flores, who was elected to represent Texas's 17th congressional district in 2011, ran for reelection.

Nominee

 * Bill Flores, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * George Hindman, business owner

Democratic primary
No Democrats filed.

Nominee

 * Ben Easton, former teacher and freelance author

District 18
Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee, who had represented Texas's 18th congressional district since 1995, ran for reelection.

Nominee

 * Sheila Jackson Lee, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * Sean Seibert, Afghanistan veteran

Nominee

 * Christopher Barber

District 19
Republican Randy Neugebauer, who had represented Texas's 19th congressional district since 2003, ran for reelection.

Republican primary
Neugebauer, considered perhaps the most conservative of all House members, faced opposition in his primary from Chris Winn, the former Lubbock County GOP chairman.

Nominee

 * Randy Neugebauer, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Chris Winn, former chair of Lubbock County Republican Party

Nominee

 * Richard Peterson, professor emeritus at Texas Tech University

District 20
Democrat Charlie Gonzalez, who had represented Texas's 20th congressional district since 1999, retired rather than run for re-election.

Nominee

 * Joaquín Castro, state representative

Withdrawn

 * Ezra Johnson, attorney

Declined

 * Charlie Gonzalez, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * David Rosa, independent insurance agent

Nominee

 * A. E. Potts

Nominee

 * Antonio Diaz, small business owner

District 21
Republican Lamar Smith, who had represented Texas's 21st congressional district since 1987, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Lamar Smith, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Richard Mack, former sheriff of Graham County, Arizona
 * Richard Morgan, software developer

Nominee

 * Candace Duvál, business owner

Eliminated in primary

 * Daniel Boone, small business owner

Nominee

 * John-Henry Liberty

Withdrawn

 * Fidel Castillo
 * Bill Stout

District 22
Republican incumbent Pete Olson, who had represented Texas's 22nd congressional district since 2009, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Pete Olson, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Barbara Carlson, conservative newspaper columnist

Nominee

 * Kesha Rogers, LaRouche movement activist and nominee for this seat in 2010

Eliminated in primary

 * KP George, financial planner

Withdrawn

 * Doug Blatt, candidate for this seat in 2010

Libertarian primary

 * Steven Susman

Green primary

 * Don Cook

Campaign
Rogers was disavowed by some local Democrats for her controversial platform, which included impeaching President Obama and colonizing outer space. She was frequently seen on the campaign trail singing, "25th Amendment now--he is nuts! Obama is nuts!" referring to LaRouche's call to have Obama removed from office on the grounds of insanity.

District 23
Republican Quico Canseco, who had represented Texas's 23rd congressional district since 2011, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Quico Canseco, incumbent U.S. Representative

Democratic primary
Former U.S. Representative Ciro Rodriguez, who represented the 23rd district from 2007 until 2011, had initially planned to seek the Democratic nomination in the 23rd district; however, in November 2011, he announced he would instead run in the new 35th district, and later said he would run in whichever district contained his home (which transpired to be the 22nd).

Nominee

 * Pete Gallego, state representative

Eliminated in primary

 * John Bustamante, lawyer and the son of former U.S. Representative Albert Bustamante
 * Ciro Rodriguez, former U.S. Representative

Declined

 * Manny Pelaez, employment law attorney and trustee of VIA Metropolitan Transit

Results
Gallego won the primary run-off against Rodriguez.

Nominee

 * Jeffrey Blunt, engineer

Nominee

 * Ed Scharf, retired federal employee

District 24
Republican Kenny Marchant, who had represented Texas's 24th congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Kenny Marchant, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Grant Stinchfield, former television reporter for KXAS-TV

Democratic primary
On March 5, 2012, Patrick McGehearty, a computer scientist, dropped out of the Democratic primary to support his wife through a medical problem. McGehearty endorsed Tim Rusk, an attorney from Euless.

Nominee

 * Tim Rusk, attorney

Withdrawn

 * Patrick McGehearty, computer scientist

Nominee

 * John Stathas

District 25
Democrat Lloyd Doggett, who had represented Texas's 25th congressional district since 2005, had intended to seek re-election in the new 35th district; however, the November 2011 interim map would allow him to instead run in the 25th district. In the event, he ran in the 35th district, as the final version of the 25th was almost entirely a new, and much more Republican leaning seat.

Nominee

 * Roger Williams, former Secretary of State of Texas

Eliminated in primary

 * Ernie Beltz Jr., former federal agency program manager, former business owner, and ex-marine
 * Bill Burch, thead of the Grass Roots Institute of Texas
 * Dianne Costa, former mayor of Highland Village
 * James Dillon
 * Dave Garrison, former Halliburton and USAA executive
 * Justin Hewlett, Mayor of Cleburne
 * Charles Holcomb, U.S. Air Force reservist
 * Brian Matthews, businessman
 * Wes Riddle, businessman
 * Chad Wilbanks, former executive director of the Texas Republican Party;
 * Michael Williams, former Railroad Commissioner

Withdrawn

 * Ralph Pruyn, businessman

Declined

 * Donna Campbell, ophthalmologist and nominee for this seat in 2010
 * Jason Isaac, state representative
 * Sid Miller, state representative

Nominee

 * Elaine Henderson, retired airport operations supervisor

Declined

 * Lloyd Doggett, incumbent U.S. Representative (running in the 35th)

Nominee

 * Betsy Dewey

District 26
Republican Michael Burgess, who had represented Texas's 26th congressional district since 2003, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Michael Burgess, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * David Sanchez, former Diversity Chair of the Denton County Democratic Party

Nominee

 * Mark Boler, computer scientist

District 27
Republican Blake Farenthold, who had represented Texas's 27th congressional district since 2011, ran for re-election in the redrawn 27th district, having considered running in the new 34th district.

Nominee

 * Blake Farenthold, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * John Grunwald, accountant
 * Don Al Middlebrook, business owner
 * Trey Roberts, attorney

Declined

 * Todd Hunter, state representatives
 * Raul Torres, state representatives

Nominee

 * Rose Meza Harrison, former chair of the Nueces County Democratic Party

Eliminated in primary

 * Murphy Alade Junaid
 * Ronnie McDonald, former judge for the Bastrop County Court
 * Jerry Trevino, attorney and business owner

Declined

 * Solomon Ortiz, former U.S. Representative
 * Filemon Vela Jr., attorney (running in the 34th)

Nominee

 * Corrie Byrd, assistant manager at Walmart

Independents
Businessman Bret Baldwin, a conservative Republican from Victoria, ran as an independent.

District 28
Democrat Henry Cuellar, who had represented Texas's 28th congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election.

Guadalupe County, a Republican stronghold, was removed from the reconfigured District 28. Cuellar lost four counties and was held to 56 percent of the general election vote in 2010, when he defeated the Republican Bryan Keith Underwood.

Nominee

 * Henry Cuellar, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * William Hayward, ostrich rancher

Nominee

 * Patrick Hisel, physician, nominee for the 12th District in 2010

Nominee

 * Michael D. Cary

District 29
Democrat Gene Green, who had represented Texas's 29th congressional district since 1993, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Gene Green, incumbent U.S. Representative

Republican primary
No Republicans filed.

Nominee

 * James Stanczak

Nominee

 * Maria Selva

District 30
Democrat Eddie Bernice Johnson, who had represented Texas's 30th congressional district since 1993, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Eddie Bernice Johnson, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Barbara Mallory Caraway, state representative
 * Taj Clayton, lawyer

Nominee

 * Travis Washington Jr., U.S. Air Force veteran

Nominee

 * Ed Rankin, leadership development consultant

District 31
Republican John Carter, who had represented Texas's 31st congressional district since 2003, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * John Carter, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Eric Klingemann, small business owner

Nominee

 * Stephen Wyman, technician

Nominee

 * Ethan Garofolo

District 32
Republican Pete Sessions had represented Texas's 32nd congressional district since 2002, and had represented District 5 from 1996 to 2002. He ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Pete Sessions, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * Katherine Savers McGovern, former Assistant United States Attorney, Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division

Eliminated in primary

 * Walter Hofheinz, attorney

Nominee

 * Seth Hollist, political columnist

District 33
The new Texas's 33rd Congressional District includes parts of Dallas County and Tarrant County. In Dallas County, the district covers parts of Dallas, Irving, and Grand Prairie, and all of Cockrell Hill. In Tarrant County, the district includes parts of Arlington, Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Haltom City, Saginaw and Sansom Park, and all of Everman. It was expected to be a safe seat for the Democrats.

Nominee

 * Marc Veasey, state representative

Eliminated in primary

 * David Alameel, dentist and businessman
 * Chrysta Castañeda, attorney
 * Domingo García, former state representative
 * Kathleen Hicks, Fort Worth City Council member
 * J.R. Molina, attorney
 * Carlos Quintanilla, business owner and activist
 * Jason Roberts, founder of the National Better Block
 * Steve Salazar, former Dallas City Council member
 * Kyev Tatum, community activist and head of the Tarrant County chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
 * Manuel Valdez, justice of the peace

Withdrawn

 * David De La Paz, businessman

Declined

 * Art Brender, attorney and former chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party

Republican primary
Though his hometown of Arlington is contained entirely within the 33rd district, Republican Joe Barton, who had represented the 6th district since 1985, ran again in the 6th district. During redistricting, Republicans Bill Lawrence, former mayor of Highland Village, former Secretary of State Roger Williams and former Railroad Commissioner Michael L. Williams had all at one point considered running in a district numbered the 33rd. After the district map was finalized, Lawrence ran for the 12th district, and Roger Williams and Michael Williams both switched to the 25th.

Nominee

 * Chuck Bradley, retired businessman

Eliminated in primary

 * Charles King, SMU graduate and car wash manager

Withdrawn

 * Al Lee, retired systems consultant
 * Monte Mitchell

Nominee

 * Ed Lindsay

District 34
The 34th is a newly numbered district. Half of the voters came from the 27th district once held by both Solomon Ortiz and Blake Farenthold, and most of the remainder came from the 15th. It contains all of Cameron, Willacy, Kleberg, Kenedy, Jim Wells, Bee, Goliad and DeWitt counties, and parts of Gonzales, San Patricio and Hidalgo counties. It is 73.1% Hispanic by citizen voting population, and voted for President Obama 60–39 in 2008.

Nominee

 * Filemon Vela Jr., attorney

Eliminated in primary

 * Elmo Aycock, U.S. Marine
 * Denise Saenz Blanchard, former Chief of Staff to Solomon Ortiz
 * Ramiro Garza Jr., former Edinburg City Manager
 * Juan Angel Guerra, attorney
 * Salomon Torres, former district director for Rubén Hinojosa
 * Anthony Troiani, Brownsville City Commissioner
 * Armando Villalobos, Cameron County District Attorney

Results
Vela and Blanchard advanced to the July 31 runoff, with Vela easily winning.

Nominee

 * Jessica Bradshaw, political news commentator

Eliminated in primary

 * Adela Garza, small business owner
 * Paul Harding, attorney

Withdrawn

 * Marc Young

Results
Garza and Bradshaw advanced to the July 31 runoff.

Nominee

 * Steven Shanklin

District 35
Texas's 35th Congressional District includes parts of the San Antonio metropolitan area, including portions of Bexar County, thin strips of Comal and Hays, and all of Caldwell and Atascosa counties, as well as portions of southern and eastern Austin in Travis County largely from the 25th.

Democratic U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett, who had represented Texas's 25th congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election in the 35th district.

Nominee

 * Lloyd Doggett, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Maria Luisa Alvarado, retired United States Air Force master sergeant and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2006
 * Sylvia Romo, Bexar County tax collector

Withdrawn

 * Patrick Shearer

Declined

 * Joaquín Castro, state representative (running in the 20th district)
 * Richard Perez, former San Antonio City Council member
 * Ciro Rodriguez, former U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * Susan Narvaiz, former mayor of San Marcos

Eliminated in primary

 * Rob Roark, conservative activist
 * John Yoggerst

Results
In the Republican primary, conducted May 29, 2012, Narvaiz won and avoided a runoff by obtaining 51.78% of the votes cast.

Nominee

 * Ross Leone

Nominee

 * Meghan Owen, activist, musician, engineer, former military contractor and HVAC technician

District 36
Texas's 36th congressional district is one of four new districts, including all or part of Chambers County, Hardin County, Harris County, Jasper County, Liberty County, Newton County, Orange County, Polk County and Tyler County.

Nominee

 * Steve Stockman, former U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Keith Casey
 * Jerry Doyle
 * Jim Engstrand, U.S. Army Reserve colonel and small business owner
 * Ky Griffin, funeral director and small business owner
 * Mike Jackson, state senator
 * Charles Meyer, attorney
 * Kim Morrell, former Seabrook City Council member and small business owner
 * Lois Dickson Myers, real estate broker
 * Stephen Takach, financial advisor
 * Daniel Whitton
 * Tim Wintill

Declined

 * Brian Babin, dentist and nominee for the 2nd district in 1996 and 1998
 * Travis Bryan, precinct chair and former Texas State Guard soldier
 * John Manlove, Mayor of Pasadena
 * James White, state representative

Nominee

 * Max Martin, businessman and pilot

Nominee

 * Michael Cole, educator