Johnson, Eckhardt Win Statewide, Vacate Senate Seats
Texas Attorney General and Comptroller winners leave Senate districts 14 and 16 vacant, triggering special elections before January 12, 2027.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Elections
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Democrats Nathan Johnson and Sarah Eckhardt won Texas statewide races for attorney general and comptroller, vacating their state Senate seats. Texas law requires expedited special elections to fill both vacancies before the next legislative session.
Why it matters
Whoever wins the special elections will serve the remainder of their predecessors' terms, shaping the balance of power in the Texas Senate. Republicans currently hold a 19-12 majority, and flipping the vacant districts would give them a two-thirds majority.
Republicans hold a 19-12 majority in the Texas Senate, and the vacant District 14 (Austin area) and District 16 (Dallas area) seats will be filled by special election. The outcome of those races is not yet known and could change the chamber's partisan balance.
The players
Nathan Johnson
Nathan Johnson is a Texas state senator who won the Texas Attorney General race, vacating his Senate seat.
Sarah Eckhardt
Sarah Eckhardt is a Texas state senator who won the Texas Comptroller race, vacating her Senate seat.
The details
Johnson won the Texas Attorney General race and Eckhardt won the Texas Comptroller race, both on Election Day, November 3, 2026. Texas law requires an expedited special election to fill the Senate vacancies, and Republicans held onto the Galveston-area district in the same election.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Election Day, when Johnson and Eckhardt won statewide races and House seats chose new representatives.
Before January 12, 2027: Expedited special elections must be held to fill the Senate vacancies.
January 12, 2027: The next Texas legislative session begins.
Political Context
Texas law mandates expedited special elections to fill legislative vacancies, meaning the Senate composition will be settled before the next session begins. Senators will still need to work with the Texas House to pass legislation or override a veto, regardless of the final partisan split.
Voters in the Austin and Dallas-area districts will choose new state senators in special elections before the session starts. The result will determine whether Republicans gain a two-thirds Senate majority that could affect pending legislation.
The takeaway
Special elections in Texas can quickly reshape Senate control, so readers following Texas politics should watch the District 14 and 16 races closely. Voter participation in these contests will help determine the chamber's direction for the coming session.
What happens next
Expedited special elections for Texas Senate Districts 14 and 16 must be held before the next legislative session begins on January 12, 2027.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore more Texas Elections stories.
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