Ernest Bailes
2017 - Present
2025
7
Ernest Bailes (Republican Party) is a member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 18. He assumed office in 2017. His current term ends on January 14, 2025.
Bailes (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Texas House of Representatives to represent District 18. He lost in the Republican primary on March 5, 2024.
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Bailes was assigned to the following committees:
2021-2022
Bailes was assigned to the following committees:
2019-2020
Bailes was assigned to the following committees:
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Economic & Small Business Development |
| • Land & Resource Management |
| • Rules & Resolutions |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Texas House of Representatives District 18
Janis Holt and Seth Steele are running in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 18 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
 | Janis Holt (R) | |
| Seth Steele (L) | |
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Shanna Steele (L)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 18
Janis Holt defeated incumbent Ernest Bailes and Stephen Missick in the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 18 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Janis Holt | 53.2 | 15,014 |
 | Ernest Bailes | 38.8 | 10,952 | |
 | Stephen Missick | 8.0 | 2,258 | |
| Total votes: 28,224 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Robert Duke (R)
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Texas House of Representatives District 18
Shanna Steele advanced from the Libertarian convention for Texas House of Representatives District 18 on March 23, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ |  | Shanna Steele (L) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Campaign finance
Endorsements
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2022
See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
The general election was canceled. Incumbent Ernest Bailes won election in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 18.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 18
Incumbent Ernest Bailes defeated Janis Holt, Ronnie Tullos, and Stephen Missick in the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 18 on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ernest Bailes | 56.2 | 12,742 |
| Janis Holt | 26.4 | 5,995 | |
 | Ronnie Tullos | 11.6 | 2,631 | |
| Stephen Missick | 5.8 | 1,313 | |
| Total votes: 22,681 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
2020
See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Texas House of Representatives District 18
Incumbent Ernest Bailes won election in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 18 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ernest Bailes (R) | 100.0 | 56,026 |
| Total votes: 56,026 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 18
Incumbent Ernest Bailes advanced from the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 18 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ernest Bailes | 100.0 | 17,076 |
| Total votes: 17,076 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
2018
General election
General election for Texas House of Representatives District 18
Incumbent Ernest Bailes defeated Fred Lemond in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 18 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ernest Bailes (R) | 75.5 | 35,597 |
| Fred Lemond (D) | 24.5 | 11,559 | |
| Total votes: 47,156 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 18
Fred Lemond advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 18 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Fred Lemond | 100.0 | 2,326 |
| Total votes: 2,326 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 18
Incumbent Ernest Bailes defeated Emily Kebodeaux Cook in the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 18 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ernest Bailes | 59.3 | 11,105 |
| Emily Kebodeaux Cook | 40.7 | 7,608 | |
| Total votes: 18,713 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Overview of 2018 Republican primaries
The 2018 Texas state legislative Republican primaries featured conflict between two factions. One group was opposed to House Speaker Joe Straus (R) and his preferred policies on issues like education financing and property taxes. The anti-Straus wing included members of the Texas Freedom Caucus and organizations such as Empower Texans and Texas Right to Life. The other group was supportive of Straus and his policy priorities. The pro-Straus wing included incumbent legislators allied with Straus and organizations such as the Associated Republicans of Texas and the Texas Association of Business. To learn more about these factions and the conflict between them, visit our page on factional conflict among Texas Republicans.
The primaries occurred on March 6, 2018, with runoffs on May 22, 2018. There were 48 contested state legislative Republican primaries, outnumbering contested primaries in 2016 (43) and 2014 (44). To see our full coverage of the state legislative Republican primaries, including who key influencers were backing and what the primaries meant for the 2019 House speaker's race, visit our primary coverage page.
The charts below outline the March 6 primary races for the state Senate and the state House. They show how the factions performed on election night.
| Texas Senate Republicans | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Before March 6 primaries | After March 6 primaries | |
| Pro-Straus | 2 | 1 | |
| Anti-Straus | 1 | 3 | |
| Unknown | 3 | 3 | |
| Open seats | 1 | - | |
| Runoffs | - | - | |
| Too close to call | - | - | |
| Total | 7 | 7 | |
| Texas House Republicans | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Before March 6 primaries | After March 6 primaries | |
| Pro-Straus | 20 | 20 | |
| Anti-Straus | 4 | 9 | |
| Unknown | 2 | 5 | |
| Open seats | 15 | - | |
| Runoffs | - | 7 | |
| Too close to call | - | - | |
| Total | 41 | 41 | |
Primary we watched
This primary was one of 48 we tracked for the March 6 elections.
Did the incumbent file to run for re-election?
| Yes. |
What made this a race to watch?
| Emily Kebodeaux Cook challenged state Rep. Ernest Bailes, an ally of Speaker Joe Straus. As of January 31, 2018, only Cook had signed the form committing to vote for the Republican caucus' choice for speaker on the House floor. Endorsements for Cook
Endorsements for Bailes |
Campaign finance
2016
Elections for the Texas House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was December 14, 2015.[3] Incumbent John Otto (R) did not seek re-election.
Ernest Bailes defeated Evan Nagel in the Texas House of Representatives District 18 general election.[4]
| Texas House of Representatives, District 18 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Ernest Bailes |
88.01% | 40,966 | |
| Libertarian | Evan Nagel | 11.99% | 5,581 | |
| Total Votes | 46,547 | |||
| Source: Texas Secretary of State | ||||
Ernest Bailes defeated Keith Strahan in the Texas House of Representatives, District 18 Republican primary runoff.[5]
| Texas House of Representatives, District 18 Republican Primary Runoff, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Ernest Bailes |
67.43% | 7,560 | |
| Republican | Keith Strahan | 32.57% | 3,651 | |
| Total Votes | 11,211 | |||
The following candidates ran in the Texas House of Representatives District 18 Republican Primary.[6][5]
| Texas House of Representatives, District 18 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Keith Strahan |
28.14% | 6,464 | |
| Republican | Ernest Bailes |
25.80% | 5,928 | |
| Republican | Wesley Hinch | 20.47% | 4,703 | |
| Republican | James Morrison | 10.77% | 2,474 | |
| Republican | J. Turner | 9.01% | 2,071 | |
| Republican | Van Brookshire | 5.80% | 1,333 | |
| Total Votes | 22,973 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ernest Bailes did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Ernest Bailes did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Ernest Bailes did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Bailes' campaign website highlighted the following issues:
| “ |
Enforcing Border Security: Ernest supports the Texas Legislature’s groundbreaking border security package that provides 250 additional troopers and high-tech surveillance to secure our porous border. As our State Representative, Ernest will fight to protect our sovereignty, stop sanctuary cities, and enforce our existing immigration laws. Cutting Taxes: As our conservative representative, Ernest will strengthen the Texas economy by fighting to cut taxes, reduce burdensome overregulation, slash wasteful government spending, and achieve lasting property tax reform. Improving Local Schools: As a father of two students, husband of a 3rd grade teacher, and son of a local school board member and former board president, our local education is very personal for Ernest. He knows each student has different needs that cannot be addressed with a big government, one-size-fits-all approach. That’s why Ernest strongly supports the reduction of standardized tests, increasing local control, teachers’ classroom resources, and the ability for parents to have a say in their child’s education. Ensuring Private Property Rights: The federal government must respect the 10th Amendment, uphold individual freedom, and follow the Constitution. Yet we still continue to see the rapid expansion of big government through the use of imminent domain. As a lifelong rancher and landowner himself, we can count on Ernest to always fight to protect our private property rights. Protecting Life: A strong Christian guided by the Word of God, Ernest believes each life is a precious gift. He supports the complete defunding of Planned Parenthood and will fight for conservative policies that protect the lives of the unborn, sick, and elderly.[7] |
” |
| —Ernest Bailes[8] | ||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Texas scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Texas State Legislature was in session from January 10 to May 29.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Texas State Legislature was not in session. |
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Texas State Legislature was in session from January 12 to May 31.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Texas State Legislature was not in session. |
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Texas State Legislature was in its 86th legislative session from January 8 through May 27.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Texas State Legislature was in its 85th legislative session from January 10 through May 29. A special session was held from July 18 to August 15.
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Texas House of Representatives District 18 |
Officeholder Texas House of Representatives District 18 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedBLASTj25 - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedNFIB - ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 14, 2015
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2016 General Election," accessed December 2, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current Election History results," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2016 March Primary Election Candidate Filings by County," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Bailes for Texas, "Issues," accessed February 23, 2016
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Texas House of Representatives District 18 2017-Present |
Succeeded by - |
