Democrats Thomas Ray Garcia, Coretta Mallet-Fontenot, Allison Bush and Michelle Palmer won State Board of Education seats, according to the Associated Press. Democratic incumbent Tiffany Clark also won. Republicans Kason Huddleston, Mindy Bumgarner and incumbent Julie Pickren won their races.
One seat is still undecided. In District 8, Democrat Dana Van de Walker leads Republican incumbent Audrey Young by fewer than 600 votes, with about 1% of the vote not yet counted, according to unofficial returns. Provisional and mail-in ballots are pending, and a candidate can request a recount in close races. Without that race, Democrats and Republicans each hold seven of the 15 seats.
Republicans currently hold an 11-4 majority. Even if they keep control, the margin will be much smaller, and Democrats will have more influence over the board's work. Upcoming duties include overhauling Texas' math standards, approving social studies textbooks and reviewing proposals for new charter schools.