1978 United States Senate election in Texas

Summary

The 1978 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John Tower narrowly won re-election to a fourth term. This is the closest that a Texas Democrat has come to defeating a Republican incumbent U.S. Senator.[1]

1978 United States Senate election in Texas

← 1972 November 7, 1978 1984 →
 
Nominee John Tower Bob Krueger
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,151,376 1,139,149
Percentage 49.79% 49.26%

County results
Tower:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Krueger:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Tie:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

John Tower
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

John Tower
Republican

Republican primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Senator Tower was unopposed for re-nomination.

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Campaign edit

Krueger and Christie had contrasting styles, and many voters were undecided until late in the campaign.[2]

Results edit

Democratic primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Krueger 853,460 54.67
Democratic Joe Christie 707,738 45.33
Total votes 1,561,198 100.0

General election edit

Campaign edit

Krueger held a narrow lead in the polls late in the race, although the race was considered to be a 'toss-up.' On the issues, Tower attacked Krueger for voting for a constitutional amendment that would have granted U.S. senators to the District of Columbia, while Krueger attacked Tower for being an ineffective representative and a drunk. As a result of the charge, Tower refused to shake Krueger's hand at a joint appearance.[4]

Results edit

Republicans celebrated the result in this election year as the 'best in a century' despite the narrow win. One analysis in the New York Times cites the growing urban middle-class voters in Houston who migrated from the Northeast as the reason for Tower being able to pull ahead and win.[5]

General election results[6][7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Tower (incumbent) 1,151,376 49.79%
Democratic Bob Krueger 1,139,149 49.26%
Raza Unida Luis Diaz de Leon 17,869 0.77%
Socialist Workers Miguel Pendas 4,018 0.17%
N/A Write-ins 128 0.01%
Republican hold

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Formby, Chris Essig, Ryan Murphy and Brandon (November 7, 2018). "Where Ted Cruz's close victory over Beto O'Rourke stands among Texas' historical election results". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved November 30, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Curry, Bill (May 4, 1978). "Texas Senate Race Pits the Scholar Against Just Plain 'Joe'". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  3. ^ "TX US Senate- D Primary". OurCampaigns.com.
  4. ^ Curry, Bill (October 28, 1978). "A Gut-Level Horse Race in Texas". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  5. ^ Times, William K. Stevens Special to The New York (November 9, 1978). "G.O.P. Victories in Texas Reflect Shift of Party Lines in Southwest". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  6. ^ "Our Campaigns - TX US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1978".
  7. ^ Clerk of the United States House of Representatives (1979). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.