Just like the rest of America, Texas’s hotel industry is carefully watching and anticipating the November election. Predictably, most attention is focused on the presidential race. This is understandable; control of important policies and agencies such as the U.S. Department of Labor and Department of Commerce hangs in the balance. However, “down-ballot” state and local elections are also vitally important to the future of the Texas economy. 

Statewide, incumbent Senator Ted Cruz is locked in a tight race with challenger Congressman Colin Allred. Allred has out-raised Cruz in campaign contributions and this is shaping up to be one of the most expensive Senate races in U.S. history. 

Most polls show Senator Cruz with a slight but consistent advantage.  Because Democratic versus Republican control of the U.S. Senate is so close, a competitive Senate race in Texas is gaining national attention. Odds are that Senator Cruz will survive Allred’s challenge, but we are expecting the race to remain close all the way through election day.

As for the Texas Legislature, all 150 seats of the Texas House and 15 of 31 seats in the Texas Senate are up for election.  With just a few exceptions, most of the competitive elections for the Texas Legislature took place in the March primaries earlier this year. 

At the Capitol, eyes are on the Speaker of the House race, which is taking place largely out of the public eye. Incumbent House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) is facing several challengers. 

This race will be decided on January 14^th, the first day of the 2025 Legislative Session. The Speaker is elected from the ranks of the 150 House members, and the selection is vitally important because it will determine the composition of the House committees and how that chamber interacts with the Texas Senate, the Lt. Governor, and the Governor.

Locally, many Texas cities and counties are electing mayors, city council members, county judges, and county commissioners.  Even though the national and statewide races always command the most media attention, these local races often have a more direct impact on the operations of a hotel business.  DMO funding, hotel tax expenditures, short-term rental regulation, zoning, permitting, fees, inspections, convention center improvements, and operations, law enforcement management and funding, homelessness response, etc., are all local issues.

As a reminder, early voting is occurring now through November 1^st.  Election Day is Tuesday, November 5^th.  THLA will provide state race information after the results are determined, along with information about our 2025 Legislative agenda.