1978 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas
← 1976 November 7, 1978 1980 →
All 24 Texas seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election 22 2
Seats won 20 4
Seat change Decrease 2 Increase 2
Popular vote 1,285,348 889,450
Percentage 58.9% 40.7%
Swing Decrease 5.8% Increase 5.8%
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The 1978 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas occurred on November 7, 1978, to elect the members of the state of Texas's delegation to the United States House of Representatives. Texas had twenty-four seats in the House apportioned according to the 1970 United States census.[1]

These elections occurred simultaneously with the United States Senate elections of 1978, the United States House elections in other states, and various state and local elections.

Democrats maintained their majority of U.S. House seats from Texas, but they lost two seats to the Republicans, decreasing their majority to twenty out of twenty-four seats. These elections produced a high level of turnover due to the retirements of several representatives, as well as the electoral defeat of others.[2]

Overview

1978 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas[3]
Party Votes Percentage Seats before Seats after +/–
Democratic 1,285,348 58.90% 22 20 -2
Republican 888,215 40.70% 2 4 +2
La Raza Unida 7,185 0.33% 0 0 -
Socialist Workers 1,632 0.07% 0 0 -
Totals 2,182,380 100.00% 24 24 -

Congressional districts

District 1

See also: Texas's 1st congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Sam B. Hall ran for re-election.

Texas's 1st congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam B. Hall (incumbent) 73,708 78.07
Republican Fred Hudson 20,700 21.92
Total votes 94,408 100
Democratic hold

District 2

See also: Texas's 2nd congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Charlie Wilson ran for re-election.

Texas's 2nd congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charlie Wilson (incumbent) 66,986 70.09
Republican James Dillion 28,584 29.91
Total votes 95,570 100
Democratic hold

District 3

See also: Texas's 3rd congressional district

Incumbent Republican James M. Collins ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 3rd congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James M. Collins (incumbent) 96,406 100.00
Total votes 96,406 100
Republican hold

District 4

See also: Texas's 4th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Ray Roberts ran for re-election.

Texas's 4th congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ray Roberts (incumbent) 58,336 61.46
Republican Frank Glenn 36,582 38.54
Total votes 94,918 100
Democratic hold

District 5

See also: Texas's 5th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Jim Mattox ran for re-election.

Texas's 5th congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Mattox (incumbent) 35,524 50.32
Republican Thomas W. Pauken 34,672 49.12
Socialist Workers James White 397 0.56
Total votes 70,593 100
Democratic hold

District 6

See also: Texas's 6th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Olin E. Teague opted to retire rather than run for re-election.[4]

Texas's 6th congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Phil Gramm 66,025 65.10
Republican Wes Mowery 35,393 34.90
Total votes 101,418 100
Democratic hold

District 7

See also: Texas's 7th congressional district

Incumbent Republican Bill Archer ran for re-election.

Texas's 7th congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Archer (incumbent) 128,214 85.24
Democratic Robert Hutchings 22,415 14.90
Total votes 150,418 100
Republican hold

District 8

See also: Texas's 8th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Bob Eckhardt ran for re-election.

Texas's 8th congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Eckhardt (incumbent) 39,429 61.51
Republican Nick Gearhardt 24,673 38.49
Total votes 64,102 100
Democratic hold

District 9

See also: Texas's 9th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Jack Brooks ran for re-election.

Texas's 9th congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jack Brooks (incumbent) 50,792 63.28
Republican Randy Evans 29,473 34.23
Total votes 80,265 100
Democratic hold

District 10

See also: Texas's 10th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat J. J. Pickle ran for re-election.

Texas's 10th congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic J. J. Pickle (incumbent) 94,529 76.32
Republican Emmett Hudsoeth 29,328 23.68
Total votes 123,857 100
Democratic hold

District 11

See also: Texas's 11th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat William R. Poage opted to retire rather than run for re-election. He resigned on December 31, 1978, four days before his term would have expired.[5]

Texas's 11th congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marvin Leath 53,354 51.64
Republican Jack Burgess 49,965 48.36
Total votes 103,319 100
Democratic hold

District 12

See also: Texas's 12th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Jim Wright ran for re-election.

Texas's 12th congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Wright (incumbent) 46,456 68.50
Republican Claude Brown 21,364 31.50
Total votes 67,820 100
Democratic hold

District 13

See also: Texas's 13th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Jack Hightower ran for re-election.

Texas's 13th congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jack Hightower (incumbent) 75,271 74.86
Republican Clifford Jones 25,275 25.14
Total votes 100,546 100
Democratic hold

District 14

See also: Texas's 14th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat John Andrew Young ran for re-election. He lost in the Democratic Primary to Joseph Wyatt.[6]

Texas's 14th congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph Wyatt 63,953 72.45
Republican Jay Yates 24,325 27.55
Total votes 88,278 100
Democratic hold

District 15

See also: Texas's 15th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Kika de la Garza ran for re-election.

Texas's 15th congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kika de la Garza (incumbent) 54,560 66.20
Republican Robert McDonald 27,853 33.80
Total votes 82,413 100
Democratic hold

District 16

See also: Texas's 16th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Richard Crawford White ran for re-election.

Texas's 16th congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard Crawford White (incumbent) 53,090 70.01
Republican Robert McDonald 22,743 29.99
Total votes 75,833 100
Democratic hold

District 17

See also: Texas's 17th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Omar Burleson opted to retire rather than run for re-election.[7]

Texas's 17th congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles Stenholm 69,030 68.12
Republican Billy Fisher 32,302 31.88
Total votes 101,332 100
Democratic hold

District 18

See also: Texas's 18th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Barbara Jordan opted to retire rather than run for re-election.[8]

Texas's 18th congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mickey Leland 36,783 96.75
Socialist Workers Deborah Vernier 1,235 3.25
Total votes 38,018 100
Democratic hold

District 19

See also: Texas's 19th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat George H. Mahon opted to retire rather than run for re-election.[9]

Texas's 19th congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kent Hance 54,729 53.24
Republican George W. Bush 48,070 46.76
Total votes 102,799 100
Democratic hold

District 20

See also: Texas's 20th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Henry B. González ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 20th congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Henry B. Gonzalez (incumbent) 51,584 100.00
Total votes 51,584 100
Democratic hold

District 21

See also: Texas's 21st congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Bob Krueger retired to run for U.S. Senator.[10]

Texas's 21st congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Loeffler 84,336 57.05
Democratic Nelson Wolff 63,501 42.95
Total votes 147,837 100
Republican gain from Democratic

District 22

See also: Texas's 22nd congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Robert Gammage ran for re-election.

Texas's 22nd congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ron Paul 54,643 50.56
Democratic Robert Gammage (incumbent) 53,443 49.44
Total votes 108,086 100
Republican gain from Democratic

District 23

See also: Texas's 23rd congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Abraham Kazen ran for re-election.

Texas's 23rd congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Abraham Kazen (incumbent) 62,649 89.71
Raza Unida Agustin Mata 7,185 10.29
Total votes 69,834 100
Democratic hold

District 24

See also: Texas's 24th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Dale Milford ran for re-election. He lost in the Democratic Primary to Martin Frost.[11]

Texas's 24th congressional district, 1978[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Martin Frost 39,201 54.06
Republican Leo Berman 33,314 45.94
Total votes 72,515 100
Democratic hold

References

  1. ^ Bureau, US Census. "Historical Apportionment Data (1910-2020)". Census.gov. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  2. ^ Texas State Historical Association (1979). "Texas Almanac, 1980-1981". The Portal to Texas History. The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Guthrie, Benjamin; Henshaw, Edmund (April 1, 1979). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978": 35–36. ((cite journal)): Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ Walsh, John (January 12, 1979). "Builder of New Science Committee in House, "Tiger" Teague, Retires". Science. 203 (4376): 155–156. Bibcode:1979Sci...203..155W. doi:10.1126/science.203.4376.155. PMID 17834709.
  5. ^ "W. R. "Bob" Poage Biography". August 28, 2003. Archived from the original on August 28, 2003. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  6. ^ Curry, Bill (June 5, 1978). "Young Defeated In Texas Runoff". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  7. ^ "OMAR BURLESON DIES". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  8. ^ Jordan, Barbara; Lyn, Shel Hearon; Barbara Jordan represented the 18th Congressional District of Texas from 1973 through 1978 She now holds the (January 7, 1979). "Barbara Jordan: A Self-Portrait". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved July 16, 2022.((cite news)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "Rep. Mahon of Texas Says He Will Retire". The New York Times. July 7, 1977. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  10. ^ Curry, Bill (May 4, 1978). "Texas Senate Race Pits the Scholar Against Just Plain 'Joe'". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  11. ^ Communications, Emmis (January 1979). Texas Monthly. Emmis Communications. p. 54.
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