Democratic SD-10 Hopeful Has Long Republican Voting History

State Senate hopeful George Boll has filed to run for the SD-10 seat as a Democrat, but the Fort Worth-area attorney has only voted in one Democratic primary since 2000. Meanwhile, Boll’s voting history shows he’s voted in 11 Republican primaries and runoffs.

Boll said he considers himself a longtime Democrat but confirmed he's voted in "primaries on both sides."

"As has the current top Democrat when she ran for the Senate district," Boll said in reference to Sen. Wendy Davis, who is vacating the seat to run for governor. "The thing you have to understand here in Tarrant County ... unfortunately, sometimes you have to cross over. Unfortunately, it's more often than not."

(Davis' voting history was reported by The Texas Tribune's Jay Root in a September profile of the candidate.)

Texas voters become affiliated with a specific party by voting in that party's primary or primary run-off, according to the Texas Election Code. But they can vote for either party in the general election. Boll's voting record does not show what party he voted for during general elections, but Boll said he last voted in a Democratic primary election in 2008.

His voting record does not disqualify him from running as a Democrat.

Boll was the last Democrat to enter the highly contested Senate race. With Davis running for governor, the seat is up for grabs and there's already a crowded Republican field of candidates looking to turn the swing seat back to red. If Democrats lose the seat, they’ll be left with only 11 seats in the Senate and the GOP will be within a single member of the two-thirds majority they need to bring any legislation to the floor for consideration.