2010Final results
2010 election for Texas's 21st District
U.S. House · Texas
Lamar Smith (R) won with 68.9% of the vote, defeating Lainey Melnick (D) by 41.0 points.
Lamar SmithRepublican · winner
68.9%162,924
Lainey MelnickDemocrat
27.9%65,927
James Arthur StrohmLibertarian
3.3%7,694
236,545 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 2010
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Lainey MelnickLamar Smith
$35K
Raised by the campaign
$1.3M
$35K
Spent by the campaign
$1.2M
$0
Cash on hand
$854.8K
Other candidates' campaigns: James Arthur Strohm $5.8K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Nov 29, 2010; FEC, through Dec 31, 2010.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2010