Man, that 2020 election in Texas was something else. I remember standing in line for over an hour at my Austin polling place – mask fogging up my glasses – surrounded by folks who looked more determined than I'd ever seen. That energy showed in the numbers too. We shattered turnout records with nearly 11 million Texans casting ballots. Crazy when you think about it.
Now let's get real about what happened with the Texas 2020 election results. Forget the hype and headlines. I've dug through official Secretary of State data, county reports, and voting patterns to explain what went down in plain English. Whether you're researching for school, settling a debate, or just curious about Texas politics, this is your no-BS guide.
The Big Picture: Statewide Breakdown
Texas stayed red in 2020, but man, it was closer than anyone expected. Trump took the state with 52.1% to Biden's 46.5%. That roughly 5.5% gap might sound comfortable, but compare it to 2016 when Trump won by 9 points. That tightening tells a bigger story.
Voter Turnout Revolution
Seriously, Texans showed up like never before:
• 66.2% of registered voters participated – highest since 1992
• 10.9 million total ballots cast (up from 8.9 million in 2016)
• Mail ballots tripled due to COVID, despite restrictive rules
Frankly, the turnout spike blew away predictions. I spoke to poll workers in Houston who ran out of "I Voted" stickers by 3 PM.
Presidential Results in Detail
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Margin vs. 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donald Trump (R) | 5,890,347 | 52.1% | -3.3% |
| Joe Biden (D) | 5,259,126 | 46.5% | +3.7% |
| Other Candidates | 186,087 | 1.4% | -0.4% |
Down-Ballot Races You Should Know
While everyone obsessed over Trump vs. Biden, other races had lasting impacts:
| Race | Winner | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senate | John Cornyn (R) | Won by 9.5% (down from 27% in 2014) |
| Congressional Seats | Republicans 23-13 | Dems flipped 0 seats despite massive spending |
| Texas House | Republicans held control | 83-67 majority after flipping 1 seat |
Honestly, I thought Democrats would flip at least one congressional seat with all that money pouring into districts like TX-21 and TX-22. Shows what I know. Local issues like energy jobs mattered more than national messaging here.
County-by-County: Where Things Shifted
Forget "red state vs. blue state" – Texas is really about urban vs. rural. The Texas 2020 election results proved that again, but with some plot twists.
Major County Results
| County | Trump % | Biden % | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harris (Houston) | 42.3% | 56.3% | Biden margin +3% vs Clinton |
| Dallas | 34.5% | 64.7% | Dem margin steady since 2012 |
| Tarrant (Ft. Worth) | 49.2% | 49.3% | Biden won by 1,826 votes |
| Travis (Austin) | 27.2% | 71.4% | Most Dem county in Texas |
| Williamson (Austin suburbs) | 48.1% | 50.3% | First Dem win since 1948! |
Suburban Surprises
This is where things got fascinating. Growing suburban counties – once reliably red – showed real shifts:
- Collin County (Plano): Trump won by 4% after 17% margin in 2016
- Fort Bend (Sugar Land): Biden flipped it blue by 5%
- Denton County: Trump margin dropped from 27% to 14%
Meanwhile, rural areas doubled down:
• Trump won 81% in Roberts County (Panhandle)
• Improved GOP margins in oil-producing regions like Midland
Voting Methods and Controversies
Let's address the elephant in the room. Post-election, Texas became a battleground for voting rights debates – some justified, some political theater.
How Texans Voted
| Method | Votes | Percentage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-Person Early | 7.1 million | 65% | Extended early voting period helped |
| Election Day | 2.7 million | 24.5% | Long lines in urban areas |
| Mail Ballots | 1.1 million | 10.5% | Only 7% of voters eligible under TX rules |
Rejected ballots became a huge issue – over 18,000 mail ballots got tossed statewide, mostly for signature mismatches or late arrivals. Harris County had a 7% rejection rate at one point. I saw elderly voters crying at ballot cure tables. Messy process.
Legal Challenges After Election Day
Despite zero evidence of systemic fraud found by:
• Secretary of State's audit
• TX Attorney General investigations
• Federal courts
...over 50 lawsuits were filed challenging Texas 2020 election results. Most got dismissed quickly. Remember that failed suit to throw out 127,000 drive-thru votes in Houston? Courts shut it down post-certification. Still, these fights changed future voting laws.
What These Results Mean for Texas
Numbers aside, the 2020 Texas election results sent lasting ripples:
- Suburban erosion: GOP's suburban firewall showed cracks
- Latino complexity: Biden gained in Rio Grande Valley but underperformed in border areas
- Turnout is king: Dems need huge urban margins to offset rural losses
- The energy vote: Oil/gas workers swung hard Republican after drilling ban talks
And let's be honest – Texas isn't "turning blue" anytime soon. But it's definitely becoming competitive. That 5.5% margin? Smallest since 1996. Democrats would kill for that in California or New York.
After covering Texas elections for 12 years, this one felt different. Not because of who won, but how people voted. More young people, more mail ballots, more split-ticket voters. My neighbor – lifelong Republican – voted straight Dem locally but stuck with Trump. Weird realignments everywhere.
Finding Official Texas 2020 Election Results
Want to check the facts yourself? Here's how:
- SOS Website: Elections section on sos.texas.gov has certified results
- County Data: County clerks maintain precinct-level data (e.g., Harris Votes)
- Third-Party Tools: TX Tribune's election hub or NYT's county-level maps
Pro tip: When researching Texas 2020 election results, avoid memes and screenshots. Go straight to .gov sources.
Your Top Questions About Texas 2020 Election Results
Was there voter fraud in Texas' 2020 election?
Officials found isolated cases (like 43 fraud referrals statewide), but zero evidence of outcome-changing fraud. Multiple audits confirmed results. AG Ken Paxton's "voter fraud unit" secured just 16 prosecutions from 2020 votes – mostly former felons unaware they couldn't vote.
Which counties flipped from 2016 to 2020?
Five counties flipped blue: Tarrant (barely!), Williamson, Fort Bend, Hays, and Nueces. Meanwhile, Zapata County flipped red – first GOP win there since 1920! Shows Latino shifts.
How did mail voting affect Texas 2020 election results?
Despite limited eligibility, mail ballots favored Biden 63-36% per exit polls. But their impact was muted since Texas rejected so many (over 18k) and only 10% voted by mail. Drive-thru voting in Harris County helped Dems more.
Why did Republicans keep the Texas House despite Biden's gains?
Gerrymandering played a role, but also local issues. Democrats spent millions flipping 12 seats in 2018 but got overconfident. Republicans hammered on energy jobs and police funding fears that resonated in swing districts. Lesson: Texas isn't monolithic.
When were Texas 2020 election results certified?
State Board of Canvassers certified results on December 14, 2020 after all 254 counties submitted returns. Delays happened in some counties due to mail ballot processing.
Lasting Impacts on Texas Elections
Post-2020 changes directly affecting voters today:
- SB 1 (2021): Banned drive-thru voting, added ID requirements for mail ballots
- Voter roll purges: 2021 saw aggressive voter list maintenance causing some errors
- County control battles: State took over Harris County elections in 2023
Whether you see these as protection or suppression depends on your politics, frankly. But they're reshaping how future Texas election results get decided.
So what's the bottom line on the Texas 2020 election results? Status quo victory with warning signs. Republicans held power but lost ground where Texas is growing. Democrats energized cities but fell short statewide. And everyone fought harder over voting rules afterward.
Next time someone claims "Texas is turning blue" or "fraud stole the election," show them the actual numbers. The story's more nuanced – and honestly more interesting – than the slogans suggest.
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