Changes

==Political life==

==Political life==

   

   

In the Republican primary in 2008, Sheffield and three other candidates filed to succeed Republican Representative Dianne White Delisi, who did not seek reelection and vacated her seat early. Sheffield finished second in the primary with 4,372 votes (30.9 percent). The leading candidate was Martha Tyroch, whoi polled 5,126 ballots (36.3 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, Republican primary, 2008.</ref>In the ensuing runoff election, Sheffield defeated Tyroch, 4,204 (63.5 percent) to 2,418 (36.5 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, Republican runoff, 2008.</ref>In the [[general election]], Sheffield defeated the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Sam Murphey, 30,189 (53.9 percent) to 24,290 (43.4 percent). Another 2.69 percent was cast for a [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]] nominee, Chris Lane.<ref>Texas Secretary of State, General Election Returns,  2008.</ref> Because Delisi left the seat early, a [[special election]], with a lower turnout of voters, was held in conjunction with the general election. In that contest, Sheffield prevailed 49.7 percent to Murphey's 44.96 percent.<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 4, 2008.</ref>

In the Republican primary in 2008, Sheffield and three other candidates filed to succeed Republican Representative Dianne White Delisi, who did not seek reelection and vacated her seat early. Sheffield finished second in the primary with 4,372 votes (30.9 percent). The leading candidate was Martha Tyroch, whoi polled 5,126 ballots (36.3 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, Republican primary, 2008.</ref>In the ensuing runoff election, Sheffield defeated Tyroch, 4,204 (63.5 percent) to 2,418 (36.5 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, Republican runoff, 2008.</ref>In the [[general election]], Sheffield defeated the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Sam Murphey, 30,189 (53.9 percent) to 24,290 (43.4 percent). Another 2.69 percent was cast for a [[Libertarian Party]] nominee, Chris Lane.<ref>Texas Secretary of State, General Election Returns,  2008.</ref> Because Delisi left the seat early, a [[special election]], with a lower turnout of voters, was held in conjunction with the general election. In that contest, Sheffield prevailed 49.7 percent to Murphey's 44.96 percent.<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 4, 2008.</ref>

   

   

Since that time, Sheffield has faced only one other competitive race, the 2012 Republican primary, in which he defeated John Alfred Alaniz (born c. 1961) of Temple, an earlier opponent from 2008. In that race, Sheffield polled 6,400 votes (57.4 percent) to Alaniz's 4,752 votes (42.6 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, Republican primary, May 29, 2012.</ref>

Since that time, Sheffield has faced only one other competitive race, the 2012 Republican primary, in which he defeated John Alfred Alaniz (born c. 1961) of Temple, an earlier opponent from 2008. In that race, Sheffield polled 6,400 votes (57.4 percent) to Alaniz's 4,752 votes (42.6 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, Republican primary, May 29, 2012.</ref>