1986 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas
← 1984 November 4, 1986 1988 →
All 27 Texas seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election 17 10
Seats won 17 10
Seat change Steady Steady
Popular vote 1,716,978 1,263,413
Percentage 57.0% 42.0%
Swing Decrease 0.6% Decrease 0.3%
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The 1986 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas occurred on November 4, 1986, to elect the members of the state of Texas's delegation to the United States House of Representatives. Texas had twenty-seven seats in the House, apportioned according to the 1980 United States census.[1]

These elections occurred simultaneously with the United States Senate elections of 1986, 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 Republicans retained the four seats they gained in 1984 under the coattails of Ronald Reagan's re-election.[2]

Overview

1986 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas[3]
Party Votes Percentage Seats before Seats after +/–
Democratic 1,716,978 57.03% 17 17 -
Republican 1,263,413 41.97% 10 10 -
Libertarian 13,005 0.43% 0 0 -
Independent 17,010 0.57% 0 0 -
Totals 3,010,406 100.00% 27 27 -

Congressional districts

District 1

See also: Texas's 1st congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Sam B. Hall resigned to become a U.S. District Judge.[4] This prompted a special election to be held. Republicans saw this special election as a prime opportunity to demonstrate the political realignment of East Texas, as the district had supported Republicans Ronald Reagan and Phil Gramm in 1984. Gramm had arranged Hall's appointment to the judiciary in an attempt to see a Republican elected from the area.[5] In the end, however, Democrat Jim Chapman narrowly won the election in a runoff.[6][7] He ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 1st congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Chapman (incumbent) 84,445 100.00
Total votes 84,445 100
Democratic hold

District 2

See also: Texas's 2nd congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Charlie Wilson ran for re-election.

Texas's 2nd congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charlie Wilson (incumbent) 78,529 56.76
Republican Julian Gordon 55,986 40.47
Independent Sam Paradice 3,838 2.77
Total votes 138,353 100
Democratic hold

District 3

See also: Texas's 3rd congressional district

Incumbent Republican Steve Bartlett ran for re-election.

Texas's 3rd congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Bartlett (incumbent) 143,381 94.09
Independent Brent Barnes 6,268 4.11
Libertarian Don Goush 2,736 1.80
Total votes 152,385 100
Republican hold

District 4

See also: Texas's 4th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Ralph Hall ran for re-election.

Texas's 4th congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ralph Hall (incumbent) 97,540 71.66
Republican Thomas Blow 38,578 28.34
Total votes 136,118 100
Democratic hold

District 5

See also: Texas's 5th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat John Wiley Bryant ran for re-election.

Texas's 5th congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Wiley Bryant (incumbent) 57,410 58.52
Republican Tom Carter 39,945 40.72
Libertarian Bob Brewer 749 0.76
Total votes 98,104 100
Democratic hold

District 6

See also: Texas's 6th congressional district

Incumbent Republican Joe Barton ran for re-election.

Texas's 6th congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Barton (incumbent) 86,190 55.80
Democratic Pete Geren 68,270 44.20
Total votes 154,460 100
Republican hold

District 7

See also: Texas's 7th congressional district

Incumbent Republican Bill Archer ran for re-election.

Texas's 7th congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Archer (incumbent) 129,673 87.38
Democratic Harry Kniffen 17,635 11.88
Libertarian Roger Plail 1,087 0.73
Total votes 148,395 100
Republican hold

District 8

See also: Texas's 8th congressional district

Incumbent Republican Jack Fields ran for re-election.

Texas's 8th congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jack Fields (incumbent) 66,280 68.40
Democratic Blaine Mann 30,617 31.60
Write-in Wesley Moshay 6 0.01
Total votes 96,903 100
Republican hold

District 9

See also: Texas's 9th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Jack Brooks ran for re-election.

Texas's 9th congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jack Brooks (incumbent) 73,285 61.52
Republican Lisa Duperier 45,834 38.48
Total votes 119,119 100
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, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic J. J. Pickle (incumbent) 135,863 72.32
Republican Carole Keeton Rylander 52,000 27.68
Total votes 187,863 100
Democratic hold

District 11

See also: Texas's 11th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Marvin Leath ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 11th congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marvin Leath (incumbent) 84,201 100.00
Total votes 84,201 100
Democratic hold

District 12

See also: Texas's 12th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Jim Wright ran for re-election. He was subsequently elected Speaker of the House.[8][9]

Texas's 12th congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Wright (incumbent) 84,831 68.72
Republican Don McNeil 38,620 31.28
Total votes 123,451 100
Democratic hold

District 13

See also: Texas's 13th congressional district

Incumbent Republican Beau Boulter ran for re-election.

Texas's 13th congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Beau Boulter (incumbent) 84,980 64.93
Democratic Doug Steal 45,907 35.07
Total votes 130,887 100
Republican hold

District 14

See also: Texas's 14th congressional district

Incumbent Republican Mac Sweeney ran for re-election.

Texas's 14th congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mac Sweeney (incumbent) 74,471 52.33
Democratic Greg Laughlin 67,852 47.67
Total votes 142,323 100
Republican hold

District 15

See also: Texas's 15th congressional district

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

Texas's 15th congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kika de la Garza (incumbent) 70,777 100.00
Total votes 70,777 100
Democratic hold

District 16

See also: Texas's 16th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Ronald D. Coleman ran for re-election.

Texas's 16th congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ronald D. Coleman (incumbent) 50,590 65.69
Republican Roy Gillia 26,421 34.31
Total votes 77,011 100
Democratic hold

District 17

See also: Texas's 17th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Charles Stenholm ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 17th congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles Stenholm (incumbent) 97,791 100.00
Total votes 97,791 100
Democratic hold

District 18

See also: Texas's 18th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Mickey Leland ran for re-election.

Texas's 18th congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mickey Leland (incumbent) 63,335 90.20
Independent Joanne Kuniansky 6,884 9.80
Total votes 70,219 100
Democratic hold

District 19

See also: Texas's 19th congressional district

Incumbent Republican Larry Combest ran for re-election.

Texas's 19th congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Larry Combest (incumbent) 68,695 61.99
Democratic Gerald McCathern 42,129 38.01
Total votes 110,824 100
Republican 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, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Henry B. Gonzalez (incumbent) 55,363 100.00
Total votes 55,363 100
Democratic hold

District 21

See also: Texas's 21st congressional district

Incumbent Republican Tom Loeffler retired to run for governor.[2][10]

Texas's 21st congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lamar Smith 100,346 60.61
Democratic Pete Snelson 63,779 38.52
Libertarian Jim Robinson 1,432 0.86
Write-in Others 10 0.01
Total votes 165,567 100
Republican hold

District 22

See also: Texas's 22nd congressional district

Incumbent Republican Tom DeLay ran for re-election.

Texas's 22nd congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom DeLay (incumbent) 76,459 71.77
Democratic Susan Director 30,079 28.23
Total votes 106,538 100
Republican hold

District 23

See also: Texas's 23rd congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Albert Bustamante ran for re-election.

Texas's 23rd congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Albert Bustamante (incumbent) 68,131 90.68
Libertarian Ken Hendrix 7,001 9.32
Total votes 75,132 100
Democratic hold

District 24

See also: Texas's 24th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Martin Frost ran for re-election.

Texas's 24th congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Martin Frost (incumbent) 69,368 67.22
Republican Bob Burk 33,819 32.77
Write-in Others 4 0.00
Total votes 103,191 100
Democratic hold

District 25

See also: Texas's 25th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Michael A. Andrews ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 25th congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael A. Andrews (incumbent) 67,435 100.00
Total votes 67,435 100
Democratic hold

District 26

See also: Texas's 26th congressional district

Incumbent Republican Dick Armey ran for re-election. Former representative Tom Vandergriff had considered running to regain the seat he had previously held from 1983-1985, but he ultimately declined.[11]

Texas's 26th congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dick Armey (incumbent) 101,735 68.10
Democratic George Richardson 47,651 31.90
Total votes 149,386 100
Republican hold

District 27

See also: Texas's 27th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Solomon Ortiz ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 27th congressional district, 1986[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Solomon Ortiz (incumbent) 64,165 100.00
Total votes 64,165 100
Democratic hold

References

  1. ^ Bureau, US Census. "Historical Apportionment Data (1910-2020)". Census.gov. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Texas State Historical Association; Brown, Sue Ellen (1987). "Texas Almanac, 1988-1989". The Portal to Texas History. The Dallas Morning News. p. 493. Retrieved June 22, 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 z aa ab Federal Elections 86 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Federal Election Commission. 1987. pp. 88–91.
  4. ^ "Sam B. Hall, Jr". University Libraries | Baylor University. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  5. ^ King, Wayne; Times, Special To the New York (August 2, 1985). "U.S. COURT SAYS TEXAS ERRED BUT DOESN'T DELAY ELECTION". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  6. ^ Taylor, Paul (August 4, 1985). "Democrat Narrowly Wins Texas House Election". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  7. ^ "Our Campaigns - TX District 1 - Special Election Runoff Race - Aug 03, 1985". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  8. ^ Texas State Historical Association; Brown, Sue Ellen (1987). "Texas Almanac, 1988-1989". The Portal to Texas History. The Dallas Morning News. p. 512. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  9. ^ "House of Representatives–Tuesday, January 6, 1987" (PDF). Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 100th Congress, 1st Session. Volume 133–Part 1. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1987. pp. 2–3. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  10. ^ Reinhold, Robert; Times, Special To the New York (May 5, 1986). "TEXAS PRIMARY SETS STAGE FOR REMATCH FOR GOVERNOR". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  11. ^ Dunham, Richard (January 1, 1985). "Defeated congressman ponder political future". Dallas Times Herald.
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