Texas has 40 electoral votes. Here’s how the Electoral College works for the state.

The winner of the 2024 presidential election in Texas will capture all 40 of the state’s votes in the Electoral College. Texas’ 40 electoral votes are the second-most of any state, behind only California.

How many Electoral College votes has Texas had for past elections?

The 2024 presidential election is the first election in which Texas is allotted 40 Electoral College votes. After years of explosive population growthTexas gained two seats in the House of Representatives following the 2020 U.S. Census. States receive a number of electoral votes equivalent to their seats in the House of Representatives plus their two U.S. Senate seats.

In the 2012, 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, Texas had 38 electoral votes. In 2004 and 2008, Texas had 34 electoral votes.

The last time a Democrat won the state was 1976, which netted former President Jimmy Carter 29 electoral votes.

How does Texas award its Electoral College votes?

Texas, along with 47 other states and the District of Columbia, awards its electoral votes to the winner of the statewide popular vote.

However, in the 2016 presidential election, two of the 38 electors who were pledged to then-President-elect Donald Trump did not cast their votes for him. They are known as faithless electors.

Christopher Suprun voted for then-Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Bill Greene voted for Libertarian Ron Paul, according to the Texas Monthly.

How does Texas choose its Electoral College members?

The process for selecting Electoral College members falls on the state political parties.

The Republican Party of Texas chooses them at its biennial state conventions that fall during presidential election years. Delegations representing each Congressional district nominate one electoral college member to the National Nominations Committee. The committee also chooses two more electors to bring the total to the state’s full allotment of Electoral College votes. The whole convention then votes to approve the final list.

The Texas Democratic Party also votes on its presidential electors at its state conventions in presidential election years. Delegations from each Congressional district select one Electoral College Member, while the two districts with the most delegates at the state convention each get to select an additional elector.

To lessen the chances of faithless electors, both parties mandate that their Electoral College members sign an oath or pledge to vote for their party’s candidate.