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1976 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas

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1976 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas

← 1974 November 2, 1976 1978 →

All 24 Texas seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election 21 3
Seats before 20 4
Seats won 22 2
Seat change Increase 2 Decrease 2
Popular vote 2,368,543 1,277,165
Percentage 64.7% 34.9%
Swing Decrease 7.6% Increase 7.5%

The 1976 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas occurred on November 2, 1976, 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]

Texas underwent mid-decade redistricting as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court case White v. Weiser. The court's modified districts were used in 1974. In 1975, the Texas Legislature modified the boundaries District 2 and District 6 to move the town of Streetman, which is on the border of Navarro County and Freestone County, fully within the boundaries of District 6.[2][3]

These elections occurred simultaneously with the United States Senate elections of 1976, the United States House elections in other states, the presidential election, and various state and local elections.

Democrats maintained their majority of U.S. House seats from Texas, gaining two seats from the Republicans, increasing their majority to twenty-two out of twenty-four seats.[4]

Overview

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1976 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas[5]
Party Votes Percentage Seats before Seats after +/–
Democratic 2,368,543 65.38% 20 22 +2
Republican 1,277,960 35.27% 4 2 -2
American 13,960 0.39% 0 0 -
La Raza Unida 2,515 0.07% 0 0 -
Socialist Workers 735 0.02% 0 0 -
Totals 3,622,918 100.00% 24 24 -

Congressional districts

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District 1

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Incumbent Democrat Wright Patman, the Dean of the House, died on March 7, 1976.[6] This prompted a special election to be held, which was won by fellow Democrat Sam B. Hall.[7]

Texas's 1st congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam B. Hall (incumbent) 135,384 83.72
Republican James Hogan 26,334 16.28
Total votes 161,718 100
Democratic hold

District 2

[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Charlie Wilson ran for re-election.

Texas's 2nd congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charlie Wilson (incumbent) 133,910 95.04
American James Doyle 6,992 4.96
Total votes 140,902 100
Democratic hold

District 3

[edit]

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

Texas's 3rd congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James M. Collins (incumbent) 171,343 74.04
Democratic Les Shackelford 60,070 25.96
Total votes 231,413 100
Republican hold

District 4

[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Ray Roberts ran for re-election.

Texas's 4th congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ray Roberts (incumbent) 105,394 62.72
Republican Frank Glenn 62,641 37.28
Total votes 168,035 100
Democratic hold

District 5

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Incumbent Republican Alan Steelman retired to run for U.S. Senator.[8]

Texas's 5th congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Mattox 67,871 53.97
Republican Nancy Judy 56,056 44.57
American Sam McDonnell 1,841 1.46
Total votes 125,768 100
Democratic gain from Republican

District 6

[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Olin E. Teague ran for re-election.

Texas's 6th congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Olin E. Teague (incumbent) 119,025 65.93
Republican Wes Mowery 60,316 33.41
American Harley Pinon 1,193 0.66
Total votes 180,534 100
Democratic hold

District 7

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Incumbent Republican Bill Archer ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 7th congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Archer (incumbent) 193,127 100.00
Total votes 193,127 100
Republican hold

District 8

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Incumbent Democrat Bob Eckhardt ran for re-election.

Texas's 8th congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Eckhardt (incumbent) 84,404 60.65
Republican Nick Gearhart 54,566 39.21
Socialist Workers Gene Lantz 193 0.14
Total votes 139,163 100
Democratic hold

District 9

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Incumbent Democrat Jack Brooks ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 9th congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jack Brooks (incumbent) 112,945 100.00
Total votes 112,945 100
Democratic hold

District 10

[edit]

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

Texas's 10th congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic J. J. Pickle (incumbent) 160,683 76.82
Republican Paul McClure 48,482 23.18
Total votes 209,165 100
Democratic hold

District 11

[edit]

Incumbent Democrat William R. Poage ran for re-election.

Texas's 11th congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William R. Poage (incumbent) 92,142 57.40
Republican Jack Burgess 68,373 42.60
Total votes 160,515 100
Democratic hold

District 12

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Incumbent Democrat Jim Wright ran for re-election.

Texas's 12th congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Wright (incumbent) 101,814 75.83
Republican W. R. Durham 31,941 23.79
American Larry Kutchinski 504 0.38
Total votes 134,259 100
Democratic hold

District 13

[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Jack Hightower ran for re-election.

Texas's 13th congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jack Hightower (incumbent) 101,798 59.30
Republican Bob Price 69,328 40.38
American William Hathcock 547 0.32
Total votes 171,673 100
Democratic hold

District 14

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Incumbent Democrat John Andrew Young ran for re-election.

Texas's 14th congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Andrew Young (incumbent) 93,589 61.42
Republican L. Dean Holford 58,788 38.58
Total votes 152,377 100
Democratic hold

District 15

[edit]

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

Texas's 15th congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kika de la Garza (incumbent) 102,837 74.37
Republican Lendy McDonald 35,446 25.63
Total votes 138,283 100
Democratic hold

District 16

[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Richard Crawford White ran for re-election.

Texas's 16th congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard Crawford White (incumbent) 71,876 57.79
Republican Vic Shackelford 52,499 42.21
Total votes 124,375 100
Democratic hold

District 17

[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Omar Burleson ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 17th congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Omar Burleson (incumbent) 127,613 100.00
Total votes 127,613 100
Democratic hold

District 18

[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Barbara Jordan ran for re-election.

Texas's 18th congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Barbara Jordan (incumbent) 93,953 85.51
Republican Sam Wright 15,381 14.00
Socialist Workers Sylvia Zapata 542 0.49
Total votes 109,876 100
Democratic hold

District 19

[edit]

Incumbent Democrat George H. Mahon ran for re-election.

Texas's 19th congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George H. Mahon (incumbent) 87,908 54.64
Republican Jim Reese 72,991 45.36
Total votes 160,899 100
Democratic hold

District 20

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

Texas's 20th congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Henry B. Gonzalez (incumbent) 90,173 100.00
Total votes 90,173 100
Democratic hold

District 21

[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Bob Krueger ran for re-election.

Texas's 21st congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Krueger (incumbent) 149,395 71.04
Republican Bobby Locke 56,211 26.73
Raza Unida Ramon Carrillo 2,515 1.20
American Ed Gallion 2,179 1.03
Total votes 210,300 100
Democratic hold

District 22

[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Robert R. Casey resigned to become commissioner to the United States Maritime Commission.[9] This prompted a special election to be held. Republican Ron Paul won the election in a runoff against former State Senator Robert Gammage, running primarily on Libertarian economic issues, flipping the district.[10][11] He ran for re-election.

Texas's 22nd congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert Gammage 96,535 50.07
Republican Ron Paul (incumbent) 96,267 49.93
Total votes 192,802 100
Democratic gain from Republican

District 23

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Incumbent Democrat Abraham Kazen ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 23rd congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Abraham Kazen (incumbent) 96,481 100.00
Total votes 96,481 100
Democratic hold

District 24

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Incumbent Democrat Dale Milford ran for re-election.

Texas's 24th congressional district, 1976[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dale Milford (incumbent) 82,743 63.39
Republican Leo Berman 47,075 36.07
American Earl Armstrong 704 0.54
Total votes 130,522 100
Democratic hold

References

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  1. ^ "Historical Apportionment Data (1910-2020)". Census.gov. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  2. ^ "History". redistricting.capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  3. ^ "Texas Congressional Districts 1976-1980 Elections" (PDF). Texas Redistricting.
  4. ^ Texas State Historical Association (1978). "Texas Almanac, 1978-1979". The Portal to Texas History. The Dallas Morning News. p. 528. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  5. ^ 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 15, 1977). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 2, 1976" (PDF). pp. 47–48.
  6. ^ Times, Eileen Shanahan Special to The New York (March 8, 1976). "Wright Patman, 82, Dean of House, Dies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  7. ^ "Our Campaigns - TX District 1 - Special Election Race - Jun 19, 1976". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  8. ^ "What will it take to persuade Americans on impeachment? Former Dallas Rep. Alan Steelman has some experience on the issue". Dallas News. October 6, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  9. ^ House Committee Print (December 2010). A Concise History of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations.
  10. ^ "Our Campaigns - TX District 22 - Special Runoff Race - Apr 03, 1976". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  11. ^ "Up in the Air - Ron Paul, 1976-03-18 | ArchivesSpace Public Interface". archives.library.rice.edu. March 18, 1976. Retrieved July 20, 2022.