1962 – 1971

In 1962, the Bexar GOP captured its first three elected officials. We elected two Justices of the Peace — Bob Strickland and Frank Vaughn (who gave Blair Reaves his only defeat) and Constable Bill Hancock who switched parties and ran for reelection as a Republican. 1964 saw the election of Jimmy Helland as Commissioner, Precinct 3, who was the first Republican at the Courthouse. A permanent county party headquarters was established during that time and has been maintained continuously for over 60 years. It is now the only county party headquarters that has continuously been open since 1959. The Party was gaining momentum.

1978 – 1992

• Governor Bill Clements

• U.S. Rep. Tom Loeffler

• U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith

• Honorable Cindi Taylor Krier

The 1978 election proved to be a watershed year. Bill Clements was elected on January 16, 1979, as the first GOP governor since Reconstruction. Clements served two non-consecutive terms as Governor of Texas between 1979 and 1991 Tom Loeffler was elected to US House of Representatives District 21 on January 3, 1979, and served until January 3, 1987. Loeffler defeated Democrat Nelson Wolff with 57% of the vote, becoming the second Republican to represent Bexar County in Congress. But for the Bexar GOP, possibly the biggest news was Tom Rickhoff’s election as District Clerk — the first county-wide GOP official at the Courthouse.

In 1980, Alan Schoolcraft and Kae Patrick won hard-fought races for State Representative, but the Democrat-controlled Legislature refused to seat them. This triggered a special election in which Schoolcraft obliterated his Democrat opponent. There were now three GOP State Reps for the first time. The Bexar GOP was led by Lamar Smith as Chair and Cyndi Taylor Krier as Vice-Chair at that time.

Another watershed year came in 1982 when we cracked the courthouse wide open with the election of Roy Barrera, Jr., Tom Rickhoff, David Peeples, and David Berchelman as District Judges. Lamar Smith was elected County Commissioner and State Rep. George Pierce switched parties. In 1984, Cyndi Taylor Krier became Bexar County’s first Republican State Senator representing District 26 which she held from 1985 to 1993. Krier was the first female legislator with her defeat of an entrenched Democrat opponent, and, in 1992 she became our first Republican and first female County Judge which she held from 1993 to 2001.

In 1978, Lamar Smith was elected chairman of the Republican Party of Bexar County. In 1980, Smith was elected to the Texas House of Representatives representing Bexar County, the 57th District. He served on the Energy Resources Committee and the Fire Ants Select Committee. In 1982, he was elected to the 3rd Precinct of the Bexar County Commissioners Court and served from 1983 to 1986.

Smith was elected to represent the US House of Representatives from January 3, 1987 to January 3, 2019, and served for 16 consecutive years from 1988 to 2002 he won with over 72% of the voters.

1996 to 2000

• U. S. Rep Phil Gramm

• U. S. Rep Henry Bonilla

• Governor Rick Perry

The November 5, 1996 General election saw Bill Clinton win the presidential bid in Bexar County and in the country to be elected as President. In Bexar County, Phil Gramm was defeated by his Democratic opponent but won statewide as Texas State Senator. Lamar Smith won U. S. Representative District 21 by 77%, and District 23 was won by Republican, Henry Bonilla by 77%. Republicans dominated the Texas Supreme court with a win for Chief Justice, Tom Phillips, Justice, Place 1, John Cornyn, Justice, Place 2, James A. Baker, and Justice, Place 3, Greg Abbott. Tom Price won, Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3, and Bob Offutt won State Board of Education, District 5. Jeff Wentworth ran unopposed for State Senate, District 25. Bill Siebert won State House, District 121 and John H. Shields for State House, District 122, and Frank J. Corte for House District 123.  David Berchelmann was unopposed for District Judge, 37th Judicial District. Wayne A. Christian won for Judge Court of Law No.9 and Lyle Larson won Commissioner’s Court, Precinct 3. And, Jay L. Rutt won Justice of the Peace, Pct. No. 2, Pl. 1. (see details bexar.org)

The November 3, 1998 midterm election was a successful year with Smith winning District 21 by 91% and Henry Bonilla winning District 23 by 78%. George Bush won Bexar County statewide to become Governor of Texas. Rick Perry lost Bexar County but won as Lt. Governor statewide John Cornyn won Bexar and statewide to become Texas Attorney General.  Bexar GOP kept House Districts 121, 122, and 123 and the candidates were unopposed, and we won 10 District Judge races, and Republicans’, Susan Reed won as Criminal District Attorney and Cindy Taylor Krier as County Judge, unopposed. We won 7 District Judge positions, District Clerk and County Clerk. (see details bexar.org)

2008 – 2012

• Hon. Francisco “Quico” Canseco, US House,

The November 4, 2008, election saw the election of Barack Obama against Republican, John McCain with Obama/Biden winning Bexar County. US Senator, John Cornyn, lost Bexar County but won statewide. Lamar Smith won his US House seat in District 21, but the GOP lost US House District 23 as Lyle Larson lost his election. Other notable elections include Joe Strauss winning reelection to Texas House District 122 and Frank J. Corte winning for Texas House District 123. We won three District Judge seats and Kevin Wolff was elected to Commissioners Court, Precinct 3 to replace Lyle Larson. (see details bexar.org)

The Bexar GOP had an exceptional General election on November 2, 2010, with Republicans outvoting Democrats by 53.21 % to 45.74 %. We showed up. Lamar Smith was easily re-elected to US House, District 21 and Francisco “Quico” Canseco won the US House, District 23 race returning that seat to the Republicans. (see details bexar.org)

2012 – 2016

• Senator John Cornyn

• Rep Will Hurd

• Governor Greg Abbott

• Texas Senator Donna Campbell

The November 6, 2012, General election saw the Democrats outvote the Republicans in Bexar County bringing a win in Bexar County for Obama/Biden and statewide. Ted Cruz ran for US Texas Senator replacing Kay Baily Hutchison and he lost Bexar County but won statewide. Lamar Smith was re-elected to US House District 21 and Francisco “Quico” Canseco was re-elected to US House District 23. Donna Campbell was elected to Texas State Senate, District 25, replacing the long-held seat by Jeff Wentworth. Lyle Larson was elected to Texas House District 122. We lost many seats at the Courthouse, but Republican, Susan Pamerleau was elected as Sheriff and Kevin Wolff was re-elected as County Commissioner, Precinct 3, and Mark Vojvodich was elected as Constable, Precinct 3. (see details bexar.org)

The November 4, 2014, election was a low turnout for both Republicans and Democrats, but a banner year for Republicans. We turned the Bexar County Courthouse, RED. John Cornyn easily won reelection for US Texas Senator and Lamar Smith won reelection for US House, District 21, and Republican Will Hurd won for US House, District 23 replacing Francisco “Quico” Canseco. Greg Abbott won for Governor in a heated and contentious race and Lt. Governor, Dan Patrick lost Bexar County, but won statewide. The GOP held the statewide races with Glenn Hegar winning the Comptroller race, Sid Miller winning the Agricultural Commissioner race and George P. Bush winning the Land Commissioner race and Ryan Sitton as Railroad Commissioner. The Republicans won four Texas Supreme Court races and four Court of Criminal Appeals races. Donna Campbell was reelected as Texas State Senator, District 25 and Rick Galindo won Texas House, District 117. Joe Strauss was reelected to Texas House, District 121 and Lyle Larson to Texas House, District 122. Sandee Bryan Marian was elected Chief Justice, Court of Criminal Appeals and we won 14 District Judge seats in the Bexar County courthouse. Susan Reed was reelected to Criminal District Attorney and the Republicans won 14 County Court Judge seats. And, we won the County Clerk and District Clerk seats. (see details bexar.org)

A special election on November 3, 2015 for Texas Representative District 118, was an enormous win for the Bexar GOP as John Lujan won an exciting victory and turned a traditionally Democrat seat to Republican. (see details bexar.org)

2020-2022

• Commissioner Trish DeBerry

• Rep John Luhan

• New Bexar County Republican Logo 2023

The 2020 General election on November 3, 2020, was one of the hardest-fought and contentious elections that played out in the middle of the chaos and confusion of the Covid 19 pandemic. Ultimately, Biden/Harris would win the election. Bexar County voter turnout was 65.08%. Trump/Pence lost Bexar County. John Cornyn lost Bexar County but won statewide for US Texas Senator as did Chip Roy for US House, District 21. Tony Gonzales won his race for US House, District 23 in an expensive and highly contested race. Steve Allison won the former seat of Joe Strauss, Texas Representative, District 121and Lyle Larson won reelection for Texas Representative, District 122. And Kevin Wolff decided not to run, and Trish DeBerry won for County Commissioner, Precinct 3.

A special election was held for House Representative, District 118, on September 28, 2021, and John Lujan won the special election and will on the November 2022 General Election ballot. (see details September 28, 2021 Special St Rep 118 Election Summary Official (bexar.org))

Revised by the Communications Committee, April 29, 2022.