Texas's 14th congressional district
Texas's 14th congressional district - since January 3, 2023.
Representative
  Randy Weber
RFriendswood
Distribution
  • 86.57% urban[1]
  • 13.43% rural
Population (2022)773,046[2]
Median household
income
$68,463[2]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+17[3]

Texas's 14th congressional district for the United States House of Representatives stretches from Freeport to Orange, Texas. It formerly covered the area south and southwest of the Greater Houston region, including Galveston, in the state of Texas.

The district was created as a result of the 1900 U.S. census and was first contested in 1902. The Galveston area had previously been included in Texas's 10th congressional district. Its first representative was the Democrat James L. Slayden, based in San Antonio, who had served the 12th congressional district since 1897 and was redistricted. He was elected from the new district and began representing the 14th in March 1903 as a member of the 58th United States Congress. He was repeatedly re-elected and served until 1919. He refused nomination in 1918.

Republican Harry M. Wurzbach carried this district in several elections, from 1920 to 1926, serving from 1921 to 1929. He successfully contested the election of 1928, taking his seat in 1930 for the remainder of the term, and was re-elected in 1930. The district during that era included the aberrant counties of Gillespie, Kendall, Comal and Guadalupe, whose German Americans had historically opposed slavery and became Texas' only consistent Republican Party voters during the "Solid South" era.[4] In addition, Galveston was a major port of entry for immigrants, with many arriving from southern and eastern Europe. At that time, many found the Republican Party more welcoming than the dominant Democratic Party. In 1901, the Democratic-dominated legislature had passed a poll tax, which effectively had disfranchised most blacks and many poor whites and Latinos.[5]

The district's ultimate shift to the Republican Party in the 1980s has been attributed to the coattail effect of Ronald Reagan's electoral successes. A few Democrats have won local and state elections in the 1990s.[6] Former Republican and Libertarian Presidential candidate Ron Paul held congressional office from 1997 to 2013. The district's current representative is the Republican Randy Weber.

Election results from presidential races

Year Office Result
2000 President Bush 63 – 34%
2004 President Bush 67 – 33%
2008 President McCain 66 – 33%
2012 President Romney 59 – 40%
2016 President Trump 58 – 38%
2020 President Trump 59 – 40%

List of members representing the district

Member Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history
District established March 4, 1903

James L. Slayden
(San Antonio)
Democratic March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1919
58th
59th
60th
61st
62nd
63rd
64th
65th
Redistricted from the 12th district and re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Retired.

Carlos Bee
(San Antonio)
Democratic March 4, 1919 –
March 3, 1921
66th Elected in 1918.
[data missing]

Harry M. Wurzbach
(Seguin)
Republican March 4, 1921 –
March 3, 1929
67th
68th
69th
70th
Elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Lost re-election.

Augustus McCloskey
(San Antonio)
Democratic March 4, 1929 –
February 10, 1930
71st Lost election challenge.

Harry M. Wurzbach
(Seguin)
Republican February 10, 1930 –
November 6, 1931
71st
72nd
Successfully challenged McCloskey's election.
Re-elected in 1930.
Died.
Vacant November 6, 1931 –
November 24, 1931
72nd

Richard M. Kleberg
(Corpus Christi)
Democratic November 24, 1931 –
January 3, 1945
72nd
73rd
74th
75th
76th
77th
78th
Elected to finish Wurzbach's term.
Re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Lost renomination.

John E. Lyle Jr.
(Corpus Christi)
Democratic January 3, 1945 –
January 3, 1955
79th
80th
81st
82nd
83rd
Elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
[data missing]

John J. Bell
(Cuero)
Democratic January 3, 1955 –
January 3, 1957
84th Elected in 1954.
Lost renomination.

John Andrew Young
(Corpus Christi)
Democratic January 3, 1957 –
January 3, 1979
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
Elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Lost renomination.

Joseph P. Wyatt Jr.
(Bloomington)
Democratic January 3, 1979 –
January 3, 1981
96th Elected in 1978.
[data missing]

Bill Patman
(Ganado)
Democratic January 3, 1981 –
January 3, 1985
97th
98th
Elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Lost re-election.

Mac Sweeney
(Wharton)
Republican January 3, 1985 –
January 3, 1989
99th
100th
Elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Lost re-election.

Greg Laughlin
(West Columbia)
Democratic January 3, 1989 –
June 26, 1995
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
Elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Lost renomination.
Republican June 26, 1995 –
January 3, 1997
104th

Ron Paul
(Surfside Beach)
Republican January 3, 1997 –
January 3, 2013
105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th
Elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Retired.

Randy Weber
(Friendswood)
Republican January 3, 2013 –
present
113th
114th
115th
116th
117th
118th
Elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.

Election results

1928

The incumbent Harry M. Wurzbach successfully contested the 1928 election of the Democrat Augustus McCloskey to the 71st United States Congress, and was finally seated on February 10, 1930.

1928 election:[7] Texas District 14
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Augustus McCloskey 29,085 50.3 +7.5
Republican Harry M. Wurzbach (Incumbent) 28,766 49.7 -7.5
Majority 319 0.6 -13.8
Turnout 57,851
Democratic gain from Republican

1996

In "one of the stranger Congressional elections of modern times",[8] the incumbent Greg Laughlin switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican in 1995. The Republican National Committee, hoping to encourage other Democrats to switch parties, threw its full support behind Laughlin. He had support from Republican leaders, including House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Governor George W. Bush, as well as the National Rifle Association of America and other interest groups.[9] Ron Paul, an ob/gyn and former U.S. Representative from Texas's 22nd congressional district, opposed Laughlin. Paul hoped to have more influence in Congress after the Republicans took over both houses in the 1994 election.[10] Though Laughlin defeated Paul in the open primary, a runoff between the two candidates followed.[11]

While Gingrich and other Republican leaders visited the district stumping for Laughlin, Paul ran newspaper ads quoting Gingrich's harsh criticisms of Laughlin's voting record 14 months earlier, before the party switch.[9] Paul won the low-turnout primary runoff[11] with the assistance of a largely out-of-state free-market network of support, such as his Foundation for Rational Economics and Education and other market-oriented organizations.[8] Though he continued to maintain his home in Lake Jackson, Texas, Paul had run for the coastal 14th Congressional district rather than the 22nd district he had previously represented, due to redistricting borders.[12]

Charles "Lefty" Morris, a trial lawyer, was Paul's Democratic opponent in the fall election; he was strongly supported by the AFL–CIO and ran numerous attack ads. Morris cited Paul's past votes to repeal federal drug laws in favor of state legislation, and also ran numerous ads about newsletters which had contained derogatory comments published in Paul's name concerning race and other politicians.[13] Paul's campaign responded at the time that voters might not understand the "tongue-in-cheek, academic" quotes out of context, and rejected Morris's demand to release back issues.

Paul's large contributor base outraised Morris two-to-one, giving him nearly $2 million,[11] the third-highest amount of individual contributions received by any House member (behind Gingrich and Bob Dornan).[14] In his campaign, Paul characterized Morris as a tool of trial lawyers and big labor.

Paul won the election by a close margin of 51% to 48%,[15] the third time he had been elected to Congress as a non-incumbent.[8]

1996 election:[16] Texas District 14
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ron Paul 99,961 51.1 +6.7
Democratic Charles Morris 93,200 47.6 -8.0
Natural Law Ed Fasanella 2,538 1.3
Majority 6,761 3.5 -7.7
Turnout 195,699
Republican hold Swing

1998

In 1998 Paul again won the Republican primary. The Democratic primary candidates included education professor Margaret Dunn; former congressional aide Roger Elliott; car dealer Tom Reed; and Bay City rice farmer and cattle rancher Loy Sneary. Reed, who claimed to be the only Texas-born candidate in the race, had served in local economic development projects and had been appointed to the White House Conference on Small Business; he was endorsed by the AFL–CIO. Sneary, a self-described "conservative Democrat" and also a former Matagorda County judge, prevailed in the primary; by December 31, 1997, including self-loans, Sneary had outraised Reed by $175,000 to $33,000.[11]

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee made the general election its "No. 1 challenge race in the state of Texas".[11] The Texas Farm Bureau endorsed Sneary and ranked Paul's agricultural record poorly. Sneary also said that Paul's anti-government stance left constituents inadequately represented.[11] Paul ran ads warning voters to be "leery of Sneary".[17] Paul accused Sneary of voting to raise his pay by 5%, increasing his judge's travel budget by 400% in one year, and creating more government bureaucracy by starting a new government agency to handle a license plate fee he enacted. Sneary considered Paul's attack to consist of "half-truths and no truths", claims supported by Austin TV station KVUE;[15] his aides replied that he had actually voted to raise all county employees' pay by 5% in a "cost of living" increase. Paul countered that he had never voted to raise Congressional pay.[10][18]

Paul won the election 55% to 44%, outraising his opponent by a large margin ($2.1 million to $0.7 million).[15]

1998 election:[19] Texas District 14
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ron Paul (Incumbent) 84,459 55.3 +4.2
Democratic Loy Sneary 68,014 44.5 -3.1
Independent Cynthia Newman (Write-in) 390 0.3
Majority 16,445 10.8 +7.3
Turnout 195,699
Republican hold Swing

2000

In 2000, Sneary ran against Paul again, with Paul winning 60% to 40% and raising $2.4 million to Sneary's $1.1 million. As in the prior two elections, the national Democratic Party and major unions had continued targeting Paul with heavy spending.[15]

2000 election:[20] Texas District 14
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ron Paul (Incumbent) 137,370 59.7 +4.4
Democratic Loy Sneary 92,689 40.3 -4.2
Majority 44,681 19.4 +8.6
Turnout 230,059
Republican hold Swing

2002

Paul was re-elected to Congress in 2002. Two Democrats without political experience ran for the primary, but not much support from the Democratic Party was visible. Local Democratic consultant Ed Martin criticized Paul's frequent budget dissents as "180 degrees opposite from" his campaign promises to protect Social Security. Paul's free-market foundation and network of support continued its fundraising strength.[6]

2002 election:[21] Texas District 14
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ron Paul (Incumbent) 102,905 68.1 +8.4
Democratic Corby Windham 48,224 31.9 -8.4
Majority 54,681 36.2 +16.8
Turnout 151,129
Republican hold Swing

2004

Paul was re-elected to Congress in 2004 (running unopposed).

2006

In 2006, Paul was opposed in the primary race by Cynthia Sinatra, the ex-wife of Frank Sinatra Jr., son of the legendary singer.[22] Paul won the primary handily with nearly 80%, though his opponent campaigned on Paul's lack of support for President George W. Bush.[23] Paul then won the general election by 20%,[24] entering his tenth term and outraising Shane Sklar $1.2 million to $0.6 million.

2006 US election: Texas District 14
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ron Paul (incumbent) 94,375 60.2 -7.9
Democratic Shane Sklar 62,421 39.8 +7.9
Majority 31,954 20.4
Turnout 156,796
Republican hold Swing

2008

In March 2007, Paul announced his candidacy for U.S. president. According to Texas law, Paul could run for president without having to relinquish his Congressional seat.[25] In the 2008 primary, he was opposed by Chris Peden, who informally announced his challenge on May 22, 2007. Peden, a certified public accountant, was elected to the Friendswood city council in 2005[26] with 67%, and was chosen as mayor pro tem.

The Victoria Advocate and Galveston County Daily News both endorsed Peden.[27] Paul had a larger national source of funding, while Peden raised more money from the district, the majority of which came from within his own family or loans to himself.[28] Paul won 70% to 30%.[29][30]

US House primary, 2008: Texas District 14
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ron Paul (incumbent) 37,220 70.2
Republican Chris Peden 15,813 29.8
Majority 21,407 40.4
Turnout 53,033 100

On November 4, 2008, Paul was reelected. The election was uncontested because the Democrats did not run a candidate.

2010

On March 2, Ron Paul won the Republican Party nomination for re-election to the US House. Robert Pruett and Winston Cochran from the Democratic Party faced a runoff election in April to determine which one will get the nomination, a faced a runoff election in April to determine which one will get the nominations neither received a majority.[31][32] Pruett won the run off election with just 52% of the vote, and lost to Paul in the general election.[33]

US House primaries, 2010: Texas District 14
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ron Paul (incumbent) 45,947 80.7
Republican Tim Graney 5,536 9.7
Republican John Gay 3,003 5.3
Republican Gerald Wall 2,402 4.3
Turnout 56,888 100
Democratic Robert Pruett 6,836 41.5
Democratic Winston Cochran 5,107 31.1
Democratic Jeff Cherry 4,493 27.4
Turnout 16,436 100
2010 election:[34] Texas District 14
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ron Paul (incumbent) 140,623 76.0 +15.8
Democratic Robert Pruett 44,431 24.0 -15.8
Majority 96,192 52.0
Turnout 185,054
Republican hold Swing

2012

On July 11, 2011, Ron Paul announced that he would not seek re-election to the US House.[35] Randy Weber and Felicia Harris from the Republican Party faced a runoff election in July to determine which one would get the nomination, a faced a runoff election in July to determine which one would get the nominations neither received a majority.[36] Weber won the run off election with 63% of the vote, and went on to win the general election against Democrat Nick Lampson.[36]

US House primary, 2012: Texas District 14
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Randy Weber 12,062 27.6
Republican Felicia Harris 8,268 18.9
Republican Michael J. Truncale 6,197 14.2
Republican Jay Old 6,136 14.0
Republican Michael Truncale 6,197 14.2
Republican Robert Gonzalez 4,277 9.8
Republican Bill Sargent 3,309 7.6
Republican George Harper 829 1.9
Republican Mark Mansius 549 1.3
Turnout 43,691 100
Democratic Nick Lampson 18,470 83.2
Democratic Linda Dailey 3,719 16.8
Turnout 22,189 100
2012 election:[36] Texas District 14
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Randy Weber 130,937 53.5
Democratic Nick Lampson 109,264 44.6
Majority 21,502 8.9
Turnout 240,201 100
Republican hold Swing

2014

Randy Weber ran for re-election in the 2014 general election, easily defeating his Democratic opponent Donald Brown.

2014 election:[37] Texas District 14
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Randy Weber (incumbent) 90,116 61.8 +8.3%
Democratic Donald Brown 52,545 36.1 -8.5%
Libertarian John Wieder 3,037 2.1 +2.1%
Majority 37,571 25.7
Turnout 145,698 100
Republican hold Swing

2016

2016 election:[36] Texas District 14
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Randy Weber (incumbent) 160,631 61.9 nil
Democratic Michael Cole 99,054 38.1 +2.1
Majority 61,577 23.7 -2.1
Turnout 259,685 100
Republican hold Swing

2018

2018 election:[37] Texas District 14
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Randy Weber (incumbent) 138,942 59.2 -2.6
Democratic Adrienne Bell 92,212 39.3 +1.2
Libertarian Don Conley III 3,374 1.4 +1.4
Majority 46,730 19.9 -3.8
Turnout 234,528
Republican hold Swing

2020

2020 election: Texas District 14[38]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Randy Weber (incumbent) 190,541 61.6
Democratic Adrienne Bell 118,574 38.4
Total votes 309,115 100
Republican hold

2022

2022 election: Texas District 14
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Randy Weber (incumbent) 149,543 68.5
Democratic Mikal Williams 68,606 31.4
Total votes 218,149 100
Republican hold

Historical district boundaries

2007–2013
2013–2023

See also

References

  1. "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (State-based)". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 2, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.
  3. "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  4. Kesselus, Ken (2002). Alvin Wirtz, The Senator, LBJ, and LCRA. Austin: Eakin Press. pp. 21–22, 39. ISBN 1-57168-688-6.
  5. "Nixon v. Condon. Disfranchisement of the Negro in Texas". The Yale Law Journal. The Yale Law Journal Company, Inc. 41 (8): 1212–1221. 1932. doi:10.2307/791091. ISSN 0044-0094. JSTOR 791091. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Vlahos, Kelley Beaucar (February 11, 2002). "Rep. Ron Paul, Friend of the Taxpayer". Fox News. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
  7. "1928 House election results" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on January 5, 2007.
  8. 1 2 3 Caldwell, Christopher (July 22, 2007). "The Antiwar, Anti-Abortion, Anti-Drug-Enforcement-Administration, Anti-Medicare Candidacy of Dr. Ron Paul". New York Times Magazine. Archived from the original on November 15, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
  9. 1 2 Beiler, David (June 1996). "Paul vs. Laughlin — Ron Paul's campaign against Representative Greg Laughlin". Campaigns and Elections. Archived from the original on November 18, 2004.
  10. 1 2 "Paul vs. Sneary". Human Events. June 26, 1998. Archived from the original on January 11, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2007.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Birtel, Marc (February 21, 1998). "House Races Steal Show In Nation's First Primary: Who Has Paul?". Congressional Quarterly. Retrieved May 15, 2008.
  12. Elliott, Lee Ann (November 5, 1990). "Federal Election Commission Advisory Opinion Number 1990-23". Federal Election Commission. Archived from the original on May 29, 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2007.
  13. Bernstein, Alan (May 22, 1996). "CAMPAIGN '96 U.S. HOUSE: Newsletter excerpts offer ammunition to Paul's opponent: GOP hopeful quoted on race, crime". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 12, 2007. Retrieved October 5, 2007.
  14. Doherty, Brian (January 22, 2007). "Paul for President?: The maverick libertarian Republican talks on war, immigration, and presidential ambition". Reason. Retrieved May 28, 2007.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Gwynne, Sam C. (October 1, 2001). "Dr. No". Texas Monthly. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved October 23, 2007.
  16. "1996 General Election – Texas Secretary of State". Archived from the original on November 8, 2006.
  17. Copeland, Libby (July 9, 2006). "Congressman Paul's Legislative Strategy? He'd Rather Say Not". Washington Post. Retrieved October 23, 2007.
  18. "Foes lock horns over Paul's radio ads". Houston Chronicle. August 14, 1998. Archived from the original on November 30, 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2007.
  19. "1998 General Election - Texas Secretary of State". Archived from the original on November 8, 2006.
  20. "2000 General Election - Texas Secretary of State". Archived from the original on November 8, 2006.
  21. "2002 General Election - Texas Secretary of State". Archived from the original on November 8, 2006.
  22. "The Facts".
  23. Taylor, Jay (March 17, 2006). "Congressman Ron Paul Talks About Gold, Oil & the Economy". J. Taylor's Gold & Technology Stocks. Retrieved February 14, 2008.
  24. "State Races: Texas". Elections 2006. Cable News Network. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
  25. "Shane Sklar won't run against Paul in 2008". Victoria Advocate. Elections 2008. Retrieved June 14, 2007.
  26. "Paul gets primary challenger". San Antonio Express-News. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
  27. "Ron Paul obhájil své místo ve Sněmovně reprezentantů" (in Czech). Archived from the original on May 3, 2008.
  28. "Schedule A Itemized Receipts: All Listed Line Numbers 2008". Federal Election Commission. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012.
  29. "2008 Republican Party Primary Election: Results". Archived from the original on July 9, 2008.
  30. "GOP primary only race in House District 14". Galveston County Daily News. February 17, 2008.
  31. http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/mar02_148_race6.htm
  32. http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/mar02_149_race0.htm
  33. http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/apr13_151_state.htm
  34. "2010 General Election - Texas Secretary of State". Archived from the original on November 8, 2006.
  35. "Ron Paul Will Not Seek Re-Election". The New York Times. July 12, 2011.
  36. 1 2 3 4 Tribune, The Texas (January 11, 2018). "U.S. House of Representatives District 14". The Texas Tribune.
  37. 1 2 https://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist175_state.htm
  38. "Texas Election Results - Official Results". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
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