The 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas were held on November 8, 2022, to elect the 38 U.S. representatives from Texas, one from each of the state's 38 congressional districts. The state gained two seats after the results of the 2020 Census. The elections coincided with other elections to the House of Representatives, other elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections. Primary elections took place on March 1, with primary runoffs scheduled for May 24 for districts where no candidate received over 50% of the vote.
Republicans had gained one seat in the House due to a special election in the 34th district seeing Mayra Flores succeed Filemon Vela and become the first Mexican-born congresswoman. During the 2022 elections, the Democrats and Republicans each gained one of the two seats Texas gained through reapportionment. While Republicans flipped the 15th district, Democrats flipped back the 34th district, and retained the 28th district, dashing Republican hopes of a red wave in the Rio Grande Valley. This resulted in a net gain of one seat for both parties.
Redistricting
The Texas Legislature drew new maps for Texas' congressional districts to account for the two new congressional districts it gained through the 2020 Census. The Republican Party had a trifecta in the Texas Government at the time, giving them full control of the redistricting process. Legislators drew the maps for the state during a special session in Fall 2021. The maps that passed were widely criticized as racial and partisan gerrymanders designed to keep Republicans in power and reduce the voting power of minorities. News sources specifically noted that both of Texas' new congressional districts were majority white, despite voters of color making up 95% of the state's growth in the previous decade.
Unlike before the 2012 elections, Texas' maps did not have to pass preclearance under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as the Supreme Court had ruled preclearance unconstitutional through Shelby County v. Holder in 2013. Despite this, the Justice Department sued the state of Texas after the map's passage, arguing that they violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
Overview
Statewide
District 1
The 1st district encompasses Tyler, Longview, and Texarkana. The incumbent is Republican Louie Gohmert, who has represented the district since 2004 and was reelected with 72.6% of the vote in 2020. On November 22, 2021, Gohmert announced that he would run for Texas Attorney General against incumbent Ken Paxton.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Nathaniel Moran, Smith County judge
Eliminated in primary
Aditya Atholi, former oil rig worker
Joe McDaniel II, businessman
John Porro, physician
Declined
Louie Gohmert, incumbent U.S. Representative (ran for Texas Attorney General) Matt Schaefer, Texas State Representative
Endorsements
Primary results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Jrmar Jefferson, investor
Eliminated in runoff
Victor Dunn, businessman
Eliminated in primary
Gavin Dass, teacher
Stephen Kocen, self-employed
Endorsements
Primary results
Primary runoff results
General election
Predictions
Results
District 2
The 2nd district encompasses The Woodlands, Spring, Kingwood, Humble, and Atascocita. The incumbent is Republican Dan Crenshaw, who has represented the district since 2019 and was reelected with 55.6% of the vote in 2020.
Republican primary
Incumbent Representative Dan Crenshaw, who had maintained a high profile since his election, faced three primary challengers. All three ran as more conservative alternatives to Crenshaw, criticizing him for his vote to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Candidates
Nominee
Dan Crenshaw, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
Jameson Ellis, marketing executive
Martin Etwop, Christian missionary
Milam Langella, pilot
Withdrew
Mike Billand
Brett Guillory, educator (switched to Texas's 38th congressional district) Lucia Rodriguez